4 Steps to become a smarter car buyer

[sonya zafar]

Choosing which car or truck to consider for purchase can be a daunting experience…so much so, that many would-be smart shoppers put down their mouse and “go with their gut”…BAD IDEA!

Buying the wrong vehicle is a very bad decision that will stay with you for years and years and years…every time you go to use the new purchase you will be unhappy at the least, and at worst inconvenienced because the vehicle you bought doesn’t do the job you needed it to do…so don’t settle, choosing a short list of the “right vehicles” to buy is as easy as 1 2 3 4.

1 – Determine your PRACTICAL NEEDS for a new vehicle;

How will you be using your new car? How many passengers will you be carrying? What type of topography will you be driving on? How far will you be driving each week? Will your new car be too tall to fit into your garage? Will your 6’5” son be able to sit in the back seat? Do you need to haul lots of luggage or recreational gear? Will you be in a car pool? ETC.

2 – Determine your BUDGET and STICK TO IT

Remember the cost of the vehicle is just one of your monthly costs. Fuel, Maintenance, Depreciation, End Value, Insurance, Repairs are just a few of the additional costs of operating a car.

3 – Determine your EMOTIONAL NEEDS, which car or truck really makes you happy when you drive it.

Today’s cars and trucks are made really well and with the proper care will remain serviceable almost forever, the average age a consumer owns their car has risen to over 8 years…so if you hate it you will have a lot of disagreeable moments over the next decade…so you better make sure you are really happy with your choice.

4 – Test Drive, Test Drive, Test Drive, Test Drive

Buying your next vehicle should not just be a couple of hour task but should take place only after careful considerations and research. And after investing your time to do steps 1,2 and 3, and then coming up with your short list of potentials, DON”‘T BLOW IT! Spend your next two weekends driving each car or truck on your short list.

4A. DO NOT TEST DRIVE WITH YOUR SPOUSE OR PARTNER

DO IT ALONE. THEN COMPARE NOTES ABOUT EACH CAR, BY BEING ALONE NO MATTER WHAT YOU ARE OFFERED OR PRESSURED TO DO, YOU HAVE A BUILT IN EXCUSE TO NOT BUY UNTIL YOU TALK TO YOUR (Fill in the blank____), MAKE SURE YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY 100% SURE YOU CAN HAVE A LONG TERM RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS VEHICLE!

TEST DRIVE WITHOUT A TIME LIMIT

Take your Test Drives not for 10 minutes but for hours, take your potential purchases to the same places you will be driving each day, see how it parks in your regular parking lot… see how it handles a trip to the supermarket, see how it handles the bumpy roads on your shortcuts, see how it does in the rain (or snow and ice), see how it does in stop and go traffic, because the decision you make will either make you happy or miserable forever, and aren’t you worth the time to find out?

OK you say, all the above is easier said than done, bull doo doo says The Auto Channel, because the links below will lead you to the specific tools you must use before choosing which vehicle will earn your votes and become your next vehicle, it’s as easy as 1 2 3 4.

[azi malik]

such a good post after such a long time