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Where to Find Good Used Cars

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Purchasing a quality used car can be a challenge when you start to see the wide variety of lots and vehicles that you have to choose from. There are a few ways that you can make this task easier.

When looking for cars for sale, the first step is to find a reputable car dealership. Ask friends and relatives where they have had their best experiences, as they will often go back to the same dealership for several vehicles. Before you visit, have clearly in mind what type of vehicle you want. Your primary considerations should be a car that gets good gas mileage, is safe and is durable. This will get you the most for your money.

Finding cheap cars is also possible if you comparison shop in your area. You can often find the same, or a similar vehicle at a lower price with another dealership. When you are considering a vehicle, write down the vehicle identification number and check out its history. There are a number of services that offer this for a small fee, which gives you details about wrecks that the car may have been in. This can save you from any hidden surprises after the purchase.

The extra time it takes to do research and comparison shopp can pay off when you buy the right car. You can then drive it off the lot with confidence, knowing that you have a safe and solid vehicle for your investment that will last you for years.

Filed Under: Auto, Finance Tagged With: , ,

Car Dealership Business Model – Loyalty Tilts Naturally Towards Car Makers And Lenders

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It is important to understand how the business model of car dealer works to identify where their loyalties lie. The dealer purchases vehicles in bulk from the automobile manufacturing company and sells the same to the masses.

The dealer does not have freedom of determining the price of the vehicle. The company sets the terms of sale and the dealer simply has to follow the rules. The dealer acts as an agent and bridge between the customer and the car manufacturer.

In return, the dealer earns commission on ever sale. The dealer is dependent on high sales volumes to earn more. Further, finance companies have tie-ups where they pay the dealer to refer clients needing finance. This situation creates loyalty issues

The dealer receives business from customers but receives remuneration from car manufacturers and lenders. When push comes to shove, the dealer will focus on keeping the manufacturer and lenders happy. Losing a client is not a big deal as buyers are aplenty. This is the reason why individuals often complain that dealers do not focus on the interests of the customers. The dealer has a lot to gain by encouraging customers to go in for the most expensive car.

Another flaw in this setup is that the dealer is left free to use the most unscrupulous methods to boost sales. Dealers cannot raise car prices but often jack up price of after sales service by relying on redundant repairs and high labor costs. Rather than complaining about the condition of affairs, you should keep these factors in mind when you rely on a dealer for impartial and unbiased advice.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Auto, Shopping Tagged With: , ,

Buying a Car: Private Seller or Dealership?

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Depending on your need, you may want to buy a used or a brand new car. Considering the number of choices available in terms of places to buy these cars, you will often be faced with the dilemma of buying from a private seller or from a car dealership. Both these options have advantages of their own. And in both cases, if your research and testing are sound, you are bound to get a good deal.

Online directories such as Canada 411 are what will help you find private sellers as well as reputed dealerships. All you need to do is make a choice between the two. A car dealership will be able to offer you certified cars in the used section. This means they have been thoroughly checked and have had an accident-free life so far. You may even get some good deals on car washes as well as oil changes. That is why thoroughly scouring directories such as canada 411 is a good idea.

One of the biggest advantages of approaching a private seller is that you are going to get a good bargain on the price of the used car. A private seller is only looking at his own profits and does not have to deal with overheads. It would be a good idea to approach private sellers who are moving out-of-town or leaving the country, as their reasons for selling their cars are most clear. Making the choice between private sellers and car dealerships depends on your personal needs and the level of research and time you are willing to dedicate.

Filed Under: Auto, Shopping Tagged With: , ,

New Or Used Cars

The first questions that comes to your mind when buying a car is your budget and features After that next thing you thing of is whether to go for new or used one, as both have its on drawback. If you plan to go for a used car keep in mind these points.

Whether the person who is selling you the car is the actual owner of the car or not. Are there any accident cases with the car. Proper documentation is present. Also make sure whether your buying it from individual or used car dealers as there are fair chances that dealers might change the car parts. How well it was maintained like the number of times servicing was done to the car and the car battery details. So when you go to buy a used car take the car mechanic along with to inspect the car as he will have better idea of the car. It is better if you personally approach the bank.

Though used cars have its own disadvantage at times consumers who bought used cars are pretty happy as it serves the best like a new car which is bought from showroom. If your driving the car for the first time it is better to go for used car as it will help you to get better practice on the roads. But always a new car has its own pride when you drive as your the first sole owner of it.

Filed Under: Auto, General Tagged With: , ,

Add Ons to a Car’s Cost

If you are looking to buy a new car, you will go through several dealerships and look at a host of models before zeroing in on the model that you like the most. However, once you have selected a car of your choice, then starts the process of getting the best price for it. While you may want to get the best bargain out of a car dealer, there are certain factors, the knowledge of which can help you strike a better deal. The sales price of a car consists of many things, some of which can be used by the dealer to make bigger profit. That, however, means that you end up paying more than you should! So here is a list of things you should check up on before bargaining with a car salesman:

1. The Monroney Sticker: Way back in 1958, Oklahoma Senator Almer Monroney backed by the National Automobile Dealer’s Association and Detroit manufacturers, helped in the passing of a law that made it mandatory for new cars to carry a sales sticker. This sticker informed you of retail price suggested by the manufacturer as well as a list of features already installed by the manufacturer before the car was delivered to the dealer. This helps in preventing any kind of fraud or malpractice regarding the retail price and add ons on the part of the car dealer.

2. False Stickers: Dealer sometimes place a sticker of their own next to the Monroney sticker and try to pass it off as the original. In addition to mentioning accessories installed by the dealer, this sticker may include costs such as Additional Dealer Markup (ADM) or Additional Dealer Profit (ADP) that are fully negotiable by the customer.

3. Fees for Documentation: Dealers often add a ‘Document Fee’ which they say is payment for getting the vehicle title, plate and registration done and also other activities like checking for recalls. This fee can range anywhere from $30 to $500! Although you can’t have this cost reduced, you can keep it in mind while bargaining the over all price.

Filed Under: Auto Tagged With: ,

Used Car Buying Tips

There are number of things that you should look out for when buying a used car. To start with first do your research on what car you want to buy. The key factor that you should find out is the current market value for the car that you are eyeing on. This will give you a good picture of the price that you should be paying for the car and for that particular model. Before you go to a used car dealer, make sure you make a checklist of things that you want to check on the car before you decide on buying the car.

The things that you should do homework on are the dealer from whom you are buying the car, the price that you are willing to pay, how many years has the car been used, what make the car is of, the exterior and interior color and condition and definitely the mileage of the car as this sums up for a lot of things giving you an idea of how new or old the car could be.

It will always be better to involve your friends when you are looking for a used car, this way you will cover more ground quicker and also get different opinions on the car that you want to buy. Make sure that you spend enough time on scouting for the right car at the right price so that you don’t repent after spending the money on the car. Make sure that the car goes through your self-made checklist and passes it. You should also take note on the dealer from whom you are dealing with. Use references and previous customers of the dealer to find out about the genuine quality of the cars they sell and if they are at the right price. Little homework to find the right car is the best way to buy a used car

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Things to Remember While Buying a Car

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Everyone will want to buy a new car at one time or another. Shopping for an old car is one thing, but when you are buying a new car, it is entirely a different game. The best way will be to use a guide about buying cars. Though buying a car always gives the excitation and thrill, you have to calm down so that you do not look over the fine prints. You should know to see if the car has a high interest finance bundle to if it the car is genuine of stolen. Following a few simple rules will help you from causing a disaster when buying a car.

Before you enter any showroom, make sure you do some homework. Check out the manufacturer’s top newest deals for the car that you want to buy. Try not to stick to a single manufacturer, keep yourself open to a good car from any manufacturer. Whether you want to or not, always take the car for a test drive. A test drive of minimum 20 minutes will tell you a lot about the vehicle. Drive it through different terrains to see how the car responds at different situations.

When it finally comes down to the topic of choosing finance for the car that you want to buy, make sure that you spend enough time deciding on the details of the finance. You do not necessarily have to fix with the finance that the car dealer offers, there could be other options where you can get your car financed for a much lesser interest. Make sure that the dealer is giving you some free things like car floor mats and other stuff. Though these are not big, they could definitely save you some money and time that you will spend looking out on your own.

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4 Steps to Make Your Best Deal on a New Car

If you’re middle-aged like me, you may remember the days when shopping for a new car was a game heavily weighted in the dealer’s favor. Back then, it was difficult if not impossible to find the dealer’s true cost on a vehicle. Most often, the deal you got on the car was determined by how good you were at negotiating. Today the game has changed. While negotiating is still important, it is made much easier by the ability of us consumers to compile loads of information about our desired vehicle on the internet.

With this in mind, here are 4 steps to help you get your best deal on a new car:

1.Research the current pricing on the car you want.

Get a hold of the MSRP (suggested retail price) and the factory invoice (what the dealer had to pay) for the car you want. Never walk into a dealership without being armed with this information.

2.Find out what special offers are available on the vehicle.

Many new cars have rebates, buyer incentives or special financing available. Some of these are advertised to the public, others are not. It is worth the time and effort to search these out and make sure you know all that is available before go to the dealership.

3.Research what others are paying in your area for this vehicle

These days, there are forums on just about everything. Buying cars is no exception. It takes some effort, but again it’s worthwhile to join some of these forums and ask others what they have been paying for the vehicle you want. Sometimes, a simple question to Yahoo Answers could get you the info you need.

4.Wear your poker face when you go to the dealership.

When the negotiation phase begins, make sure you keep your emotions steady. Never let on how much you like the car, and always indicate a willingness to walk away if you don’t get your price.

Filed Under: Auto, Transportation Tagged With: , ,

How to get the best value out of your trade-in

People who work at the dealerships will tell you that there is a whole systems of assessing your trade-in and it is not only mechanics, it is also psychology.

Remember, dealerships make the most money on used vehicles ‘ not on new ones. When you bring your car to the dealership, the goal of the car sales representative is to get your trade in from you for the least amount of money possible. That’s just how the business is done. Some of the dealerships will outright convince you that your car is a worthless pile of metal and you would do yourself a big favor by giving it to them for free, so be prepared.

First, self-assess the condition of your car. When you take it in for the oil change, ask for the mechanics to do a quick inspection. You may even want to fix or tune up whatever you feel can be tuned up because it may pay off big when you take your car into the dealership. Keep you receipts. You want to be able to prove that you have been taking a good care of your vehicle and show them that you just recently took it in for a tune up.

Second, right before you take it in, clean it out as well as you can possibly clean it out. Vacuum, scrub and polish everything. One of the strategies that dealerships use is looking for dirt and pet hair in your car. The salesman may see pet hair and say, “Oh, I see you have had dogs in here. It’s going to take quite an effort to clean out”. Also, clean all of the areas where the VIN numbers are located. The premise is that talking about the messiness of your vehicle lowers its value in your own eyes, thus making it easier for the dealership to offer you less that you deserve.

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Smart Car Shopping Tips

1. Plan Ahead
Purchasing a car doesn’t have to be a harrowing experience. Taking the time to do some on-line background before heading to the dealership can save both time and money.

2. Budget
Having a budget that includes your bottom line is a good starting point when looking for a new or used vehicle. Staying firm and within your budget is helpful in keeping your car purchasing experience positive. Remember to factor the cost of taxes and other fees into your final cost. Supplemental insurance will raise your monthly premium, but will protect you by paying your car note in the event of job loss or disability medical issues.

3. Prepping for the Back Office Manager Conversation
Selling cars well takes skill and the gift-of-gab. At some point your salesperson will leave you alone to report your bottom line to his/her manager located in a back room, and whom you will never see. This may be the most stressful part of the car purchase process. Don’t sweat. Remember that dealerships want to move cars. Stand firm in your pre-determined price range.

4. Car Shopping Support System
Take an experienced car buyer with you when you visit the dealership. A knowledge base that you can pull from is always helpful when making a purchase. In this case it can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars.

5. Test Drive
You will be asked if you want to take a car out for a test drive. Research shows that if you test it and like it, you stand a good chance of purchasing. Words of caution even if you love the car, don’t show it. Stay neutral this one tip may get your price down. If this is your fist car purchase you may find it helpful to take an experienced friend along.

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