All posts in Auto Buying Tips

Five of the Best Cars for a Frugal Family

by Carsurfer Admin on 2015/12/09 in Auto Buying Tips with Comments Off on Five of the Best Cars for a Frugal Family

Due to today’s economy, most families understand the value of sticking to a budget and cutting back. When shopping for a new ride, it is especially important to spend your money wisely. Here are five of the best cars for a frugal family that will keep you on the road and your maintenance expenses down.

Honda Civic

Based on its superb reliability ratings, the Honda Civic remains one of the most dependable sedans on the market. A well-maintained Civic can easily last for more than 300,000 miles. Not only does the Civic offer adequate room, but it is also quite fun to drive. The standard four-cylinder engine produces just the right amount of power. In terms of fuel efficiency, some models can deliver nearly 40 mpg.

KIA Soul

For good reason, the KIA Soul has become a very popular crossover SUV. It is a practical family hauler that won’t break the bank. Due to the KIA Soul’s boxy design, it offers far more room than the average compact vehicle, and families will definitely appreciate its five-star safety rating. Some of the available features include satellite radio, heated seats, and Bluetooth technology.

Volkswagen Golf

For years, the Volkswagen Golf has been praised for its practical design. The Golf is certainly one of the best handling cars in its class. Despite the hatchback’s small appearance, it actually provides enough room for a family of five. Some of the newest models come loaded with a touch-screen sound system and a rear-view camera.

Honda Fit

When compared to its competition, the Honda Fit proves to be a true value. Auto banks sell the Honda Fit at incredibly affordable prices and the small hatchback’s bulletproof reliability and efficiency make it an outstanding choice. When behind the wheel of the Fit, drivers will be pleasantly surprised. Despite the engine’s small size, Honda’s VTEC technology helps it to deliver a strong performance.

Nissan Sentra

If you are looking for an inexpensive family vehicle, the Nissan Sentra could be the perfect option. The small sedan’s low-maintenance design will allow you to save a lot of money. Whether you are picking the kids up from school or commuting to work, the Sentra will keep fuel consumption to a minimum.

No longer do families have to spend a fortune in order to purchase a high-quality ride. All five of these cars are extremely inexpensive and reliable.

Check out new and used options at an Autobank of Kansas City or your local area to save even more. Most families can surely stand to save some extra cash and any of these options can help save you a bundle.

5 Important Tips to Follow When Buying Your Next Vehicle

by Carsurfer Admin on 2015/11/18 in Auto Buying Tips with Comments Off on 5 Important Tips to Follow When Buying Your Next Vehicle

Buying a car involves a major investment. By educating yourself on the buying process and its risks, you can avoid making serious mistakes. Here are five tips to help you buy your next vehicle.

Figure Out What You Need

What kind of car is right for you? You will have to look at your driving habits and at your budget. Consider factors like the number of passengers that you have on a regular basis as well as at the amount of cargo that you typically carry. If you carry lots of people and cargo, you may want to focus your search on SUVs and minivans. If the cargo that you carry is often too big to fit inside a standard vehicle, consider a pickup truck.

Keep your preferred driving experience in mind as well. Consider whether you want a car that is sporty and fun to drive like a coupe or one that offers practical benefits such as a sedan. You may be able to find a compromise between those two options. In order to simplify the decision-making process, browse the inventories of auto dealers like Chuck Colvin Ford Nissan.

Plan Your Dealership Visit

Your first visit to the dealership should be done with the intent to look, not to buy. Make it clear to salespeople that you have no intention of buying and resist any attempts to talk you into a deal. Spend some time inspecting vehicles, both inside and out. Look at the color and for signs that vehicle has more miles on it than has been stated. On the inside, consider the quietness of the cabin and the ease with which the controls are operated.

Look into the Costs of Ownership

Once you have decided on a particular vehicle, look into how much it costs to own it. The fact is that there is more to a car’s cost than the car payment.

Test Drive the Car

It is essential to get a feel for the car while it is moving. Remember that the car should be considered alongside other new vehicles and not the car that you presently own. This is because a new car is likely to be better than your present car and may cause you to be overly impressed. Consider factors like ride comfort and how the vehicle accelerates.

Get Ready to Negotiate

Before you visit your dealer with the intention of buying, you should research both the dealer and the car that you want. More information equals more bargaining power.

Given the size of a car purchase, it is important that you enter the transaction as a knowledgeable consumer. Research and planning are essential. Follow the above tips and take your time when going through the buying process.

Things You Should Know When Auctioning for a Car

by Carsurfer Admin on 2015/11/16 in Auto Trades with Comments Off on Things You Should Know When Auctioning for a Car

The ongoing economic crisis, among other things, resulted in tightening of credit rules and eligibility. This naturally caused a decrease in number of people who are able to buy cars on credit and in return increased interest in buying cars at auctions. A cash payment usually means getting a better price, but increased interest means more competition, and in order to get the best price and be pleased with the purchase different pitfalls need to be avoided. Therefore, here are things you should know when auctioning for a car.

Types of auctions

There are two types of car auctions, a government one and a public one. What they have in common is that you cannot test a car before you bid on it, which means you have to be careful and make sure that is the car that fits your criteria and the bidding competition grows bigger every day. In case of government auctions, cars usually have a known background with honest data presented, while at public auctions it is often not the case. Miles Exempt, with shiny appearance and rotten inside are unfortunately not isolated cases anymore.  

Do not pretend to be someone you are not

If it seems that a car needs only a little repair, but you do not have either knowledge or means to do it yourself, do not lie to yourself that you will learn and be able to do it in no time. What looks simple and cheap often turns out in a lot of work and a lot of investment, making the purchase a bad one meaning loss of money, or even worse loss money and vehicle if it turns out unrepairable.

Observe everything carefully

Since test drives are not an option on either of car auction types, your eyes are what you have to rely on.  Make sure you check both exterior and interior in detail. Repaint spots, rusty corners, scored brake disks, not completely smooth sheet metal surfaces, missing parts and wet floors are just some of the common issues that need to be paid attention to in order to score good deals at car auctions.

There is much more than meets the eye

Paint covers are sometimes there to cover some minor scratches, while the mechanical part of the car is in perfect shape.  On the other hand, they sometimes cover some serious damages, especially when public auctions are in question. More than two paint layers usually mean stay away, just as any strange smell coming either from the outside or inside of a car does.

VIN

Check VIN in several locations, dashboard, driver side doorpost and front of the engine block, for example. All of them need to match. In case they do not, some serious repairs had been done to the car, usually due to crashes. You can use VIN to check the entire history of a car, from its origin, true age to all service repairs it has undergone and the number of previous owners it had. A price to pay for this service is well worth considering the amount of crucial information on a car that you will receive.

Once again, being careful and taking your time at the car auction is required in order to get a good deal. If you are uncertain about some things, make sure you take someone more experienced to help you, especially when mechanics are concerned. Happy bidding.

Bucking the “Scam” Trend: 5 Reasons to Buy Used Cars from Dealers

by Carsurfer Admin on 2015/09/23 in Used Autos & Trucks with Comments Off on Bucking the “Scam” Trend: 5 Reasons to Buy Used Cars from Dealers

Purchasing a used vehicle is quite a different process than purchasing a new vehicle with variables such as the current status of the title, miles on the drivetrain, unseen mechanical issues, and cosmetic problems. While it may seem appealing to haggle down prices with a private seller, there are some compelling reasons that car dealerships are selling more new and used vehicles per year than ever before.

Rigorous Inspections

Finding a vehicle that is safe and mechanically sound should be a buyer’s priority. Unlike purchasing a vehicle from a private party, used car dealerships must adhere to strict laws when it comes to inspecting a vehicle and notifying the buyer of any mechanical issues. This means that you will have a much smaller chance of being cheated or sold a lemon.

More Options

Contacting and meeting with dozens of private sellers can turn into an expensive and time-consuming affair. Instead of only looking at one car at a time, dealerships give buyers the opportunity to look through a wide variety of cars within their price range before making a final decision.

On-Site Financing

Heading into a local bank or credit union to get pre-approved for a loan or financing plan is just one more unnecessary step in this process. Instead, buyers can browse through the cars at the dealership, like Autobank of Kansas City, and be approved for a loan or financing on the spot. Many dealerships offer loans no matter one’s credit score.

Instantly File Paperwork

Figuring out the paperwork when buying or selling a used vehicle is not always an easy task. Many private sellers will simply sign the pink slip and then assume that the buyer will take care of everything else. It is in a dealership’s best interest to make sure that all paperwork is completed before the buyer drivers off the lot.

Warranties

Once the pink slip has been signed over, private sellers have almost no obligation to ensure that the vehicle continues to work properly. Dealerships, on the other hand, typically provide at least some type of warranty on new and used vehicles so that buyers can be confident in their purchase.

Finding the perfect used car will generally be much easier when going through a dealership. Those that want to get the most out of every dollar they invest in their next vehicle must ensure that it is carefully inspected, backed by a warranty, and from a reputable dealer.

Six Things To Look For In Car Dealerships Before Buying

by Carsurfer Admin on 2015/08/24 in Auto Buying Tips with 1 Comment

Many people go to car dealerships to buy a car without looking for anything specific in terms of what the dealership has to offer. This is a common mistake that many make. Here are six things to look for when going to car dealerships before buying.

A Negotiable Salesman or Dealership

Regardless of whether you are buying a new or used car, you want to get the best deal possible. The only way you will get a good deal is by being able to negotiate with either the dealer or car salesman present. Usually, car dealerships are mostly focused on turning over inventory. Meanwhile, salesmen are interested in hitting their quotas, which will bring them more money. Some more expensive cars and junk cars may not have much wiggle room in terms of price, but in many cases, one can lower the price simply by negotiating. If the dealership you are at doesn’t allow you to negotiate, you can almost certainly be assured that another will.

Reviews

Do your research before purchasing from any given dealership. Many dealerships have Yelp or Google pages that can help you in seeing if the dealership is good. Talk to others in the area who have worked with them and read online reviews.

Being Able to Get an Appointment with the Sales Manager

Meeting with the dealership’s sales manager shows to them that you are serious about purchasing the vehicle in question, and you know what you’re doing. Ultimately, it will also help you with getting a better deal on your next vehicle.

They Do Credit Checks

Serious car dealerships will do a thorough and reputable credit check through a company like NCC Direct, Inc. You will want to know your own credit history, as a less reputable dealership may try to rip you off by saying your credit is not worthy of a better interest rate.

Coupons

Many dealerships will accept coupons, most likely obtained online or in a circular. Even if a specific dealership doesn’t accept coupons, it doesn’t hurt trying.

Competitive Prices

Although this ties into coupons, it deserves its own category because you absolutely do not want to overpay. A good dealership will have competitive prices, whether that is reflected in the sticker price, or a policy such as price matching.

These are six effective ways to evaluate whether one should visit a specific car dealership. While thorough, this list is by no means exhaustive, and you should do all your research before buying a car.

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →