All posts in Auto Buying Tips

Five Things to Ask a Private Seller When Buying a Used Car

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/05/13 in Used Autos & Trucks with Comments Off

The purchase of a vehicle is one the the largest investments you will ever make on a single item, so it is crucial to have a good understanding of the car or truck you may have in mind. While there are advantages of buying from a private seller, there are no warranties, so it is important to ask five crucial questions when buying a used car from a private seller.

Reason for the Sale

Behind every car sale from a private owner, there is a logical reason why the transaction is taking place. The first question you should ask a private seller is what their motivation is for the sale. If they are selling because they purchased a new vehicle, this means they want to sell quickly, and this can be advantageous for you. Some owners will be completely honest and admit that the vehicle is not economical, reliable, or fuel-efficient, which is important to know.

Past Owners

Once you meet with the seller, it is time to inquire more about the car’s history. Make sure to ask them where they bought the car. If they are the original owner, this is a good sign. They should be able to provide all of the maintenance records. If they cannot provide an adequate record of the vehicle’s history, a specialist from a used car dealership in Utah recommends that you walk away. An incomplete car history could be hiding parts replacements, repairs, and illegal ownership—none of which any new owner would want to deal with.

Condition of the Vehicle

This is a question that can be asked over the phone prior to the first meeting. Ask the seller how they would describe their car’s condition. Terms such as "excellent", "good", and "fair" are all positive responses, and it could be worth the time to check out. At the same time, be wary of hesitation or unwillingness to provide pictures of any part of the vehicle.

Independent Inspection

After you have taken the vehicle on a test drive, ask the seller if they mind if you get an independent inspection done. If they are at all hesitant to agree, this should be a huge red flag that something is not right. An inspection performed by an unbiased third party is your best chance at receiving a complete and accurate evaluation of the vehicle’s condition and should be performed on any used car you consider purchasing, especially from a private seller.

Oil Type

A clever way, recommended by experts from used car dealerships in Utah, to discover how well maintained the vehicle has been is to ask what kind of oil it uses. A seller able to quickly answer this question likely did oil changes themselves and took care of the vehicle. If hesitant, it is a good idea to have a mechanic look over the vehicle.

Getting the Best for Your Money

Buying a used car from a private seller can be a bargain, but there are bad apples in every barrel. By asking these five questions, you can rest assured in your decision. A car is a major purchase, and a used car can be quite a gamble, but by standing your ground and employing the tips discussed above, you can ensure the vehicle you buy is in good shape and priced fairly.

Vehicle Price Haggling: What to Know before you step onto the Lot

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/05/12 in Auto Buying Tips with Comments Off

Buying a vehicle is not at all like buying a pair of shoes or a bunch of grapes. You are going to be paying for this object for the next several years and will need it to last for as long as possible. Therefore, it is critical that you do not pay more than your desired vehicle is worth. What are some ways that you can haggle effectively to get the right price on your next car?

1) Know What You Want Before Going to the Dealership

The easiest way to spend too much on a car is to have no idea what you want before you go to the dealership. The goal of the dealership is to maximize profits and get you to spend as much money as possible. By knowing what you want ahead of time, you can skip the sales pitch and go straight into negotiating the price. For example, if you know that you want a Hyundai Elantra, you won’t be duped into buying a Porsche for $20,000 more.

2) Negotiate Price, Trade In and Then Talk Payment

Whenever you negotiate a car deal, you want to negotiate the price of the car first. This is because a salesperson may try to get you to pay more by offering a lower monthly payment or by guaranteeing more for a trade in. However, your monthly payment and the value of your trade in mean nothing if you are still paying too much for the car. Remember, you want a 60 month loan if possible because you pay the least amount of interest without breaking the bank for the monthly payment.

3) Never Be Afraid to Walk Away

Whether you are dealing with a private seller or a dealership, you should never be afraid to walk away. When a customer walks away, it represents a lost sale and a potential commission out the window. Therefore, do not be afraid to exercise your power as a consumer to get the best possible deal.

4) Have Alternate Financing Available

When you start to negotiate a deal, make sure that you have financing lined up in case the dealer tries to play games with you when it comes to paying for the car. Some dealers may try to tell you that your credit score is lower than it is to hike up your interest rate or tell you that you can only qualify if you have a cosigner. This makes it necessary to only go to credible dealerships. Your local credit union may be able to get you a new car deal with an APR of 2 percent or less.

Know ahead of time what you want, check your credit and get financed before you start shopping if you want the best deal on your next car. When tens of thousands of dollars are at stake, you want to know that you have spent your money well.

Author Bio:
This Article is written by Erika Remmington in connection with a Lansing, Michigan Car Dealer. Erika is a recent graduate from the University of California, Berkeley in linguistics and a minor in business. Erika enjoys spending time with her family and rock climbing in her spare time.

Time For A New Car? How To Get The Best Deal For What You Need

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/05/09 in Auto Buying Tips with Comments Off

When looking to get a new car, most people are overwhelmed by the process and have a hard time choosing. While this is often the case, you can still find a great price and get the vehicle you need. With this in mind, here is a short guide on how to get the best deal for what you need.

Choose a car

Above all else, when you want to buy a vehicle, you should know what you want before coming into the dealership. A smart buyer should head online and research his or her favorite vehicle options. Not only that, when coming up with a car to buy, you should make sure to choose two or three ones. With this, you will not fixate on one car and overspend. Remember, with this, you can choose the car ahead of time and make the decision once you talk to the dealer.

Go at the end of the month

Next, you should try to head to the dealership at the end of the month. Ideally, you should wait until the end of a quarter. Either way, when walking into the situation at the end of a month, you can talk the company down one even more as salespeople want to close sales and get the biggest bonuses. Not only that, if the end of the month happens to be a bad weather day, you certainly should head out the dealership immediately.

Prepare to walk

Now, when you work with a car dealership, you should never all in love with the car or deal you get. No, instead, you should, at any time, never fear walking away from the transaction. By the time the seller is filling out paperwork, he or she is salivating at the fat commission check. To take advantage of this, a buyer should ask for a little more and look for freebies such as mats or free oil-changes. Remember, towards the end, the salesperson will want to complete the sale quickly, and you must exploit this by asking for free stuff.

Get multiple quotes

Finally, if you have the patience, you should obtain multiple quotes form a few sellers. With this, you can find the best deal on a new car. To take this further, a buyer should get them to compete with each other. Either way, with multiple quotes, you can land a bargain. Dealerships like the Findlay Auto Kia dealership in St. George are great places to start for getting quotes.

With this short guide, you can find the best deal on a new vehicle.

Performance Vs. Style: Five Cars That Give You The Best Of Both Worlds

by Anita Ginsburg on 2014/04/30 in Auto Buying Tips, Auto Design with Comments Off

When selecting a new car, drivers don’t have to compromise on style and performance. Getting the car you want doesn’t have to cost a fortune or require you to sacrifice something else you love about the vehicle. The following five cars offer the best of both worlds so you can have the vehicle you’ve always wanted:

Nissan Juke

With a distinct sporty design, the Nissan Juke has one of the sleekest exterior profiles in the crossover SUV class. The aerodynamic profile of this model is inspired by a compact hatchback. The Nissan Juke is loaded with a turbocharged 1.6 Liter engine that delivers up to 188 horsepower.

Dodge Challenger

A true All-American muscle car, the Dodge Challenger has a design inspired by this model’s early years. The iconic exterior includes traditional style double round headlights and striped decals. The side mirrors are inspired by a classic bullet shape design of the 1960s. The tremendous capabilities in the Dodge Challenger are possible thanks to a 5.7 Liter 8 cylinder engine that yields 375 horsepower. A six speed TRAMAC manual transmission offers smooth handling of this classic Dodge sports car.

Cadillac CTS-V

Inspired by stock car racing, the Cadillac CTS-V combines sporty styling with luxury. A center mounted exhaust, red Brembo brake calipers and fender mounted air extractors are some unique exterior features of this Cadillac coupe. The double honeycomb front grille cannot be mistaken for anything but the work of Cadillac. The CTS-V coupe is capable of running at a whopping 556 horsepower thanks to the supercharged 6.2 Liter V8 engine. In exactly four seconds, the awesome engine block can accelerate this Cadillac from zero to 60 mph.

Mazda3

The 2014 Mazda3 is introduced as an affordable four door sedan that’s loaded with premium exterior and interior features. The aggressive sporty stance in the Mazda3 results from the extra long hood that creates a dramatic visual contrast with the short trunk. A signature 2.0 Liter SKYACTIV engine block generates 155 horsepower and an impressive fuel economy of 41 mpg on the highway.

Subaru Legacy

The Subaru Legacy has a contemporary four door sedan design that’s appealing as a family car. This affordable Subaru can be customized with premium leather upholstery and power moon roof. Standard symmetrical All Wheel Drive in the Subaru Legacy is combined with a signature 2.5 L or 3.6 Liter Boxer Engine. The Subaru Legacy offers a fuel economy of up to 32 mpg on the highway.

Modern cars are all about attractive styling and mechanical capabilities. Sleek exterior profiles contribute to aerodynamic designs in vehicles. Innovative engine blocks deliver efficient performance in contemporary cars. With these ideas and a little research, you can find a car that first your needs.

Anita is a freelance writer from Denver and often writes about home, auto, family and business. She enjoys traveling with her family when she isn’t writing. Informational credit to Overland Park Mazda.

Image source: http://www.saidaonline.com/en/newsgfx/man-driving-saidaonline.jpg

5 Cars That Give You The Feel of A Sports Car Without Breaking The Bank

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/04/29 in Auto Buying Tips with Comments Off

Everyone wants to own a sports car. It doesn’t matter if you’re 15 or 50 because sports cars appeal to people of all ages. They’re fast, fun, and generally quite eye-catching, so what’s not to like about them? The price tag. Most sports cars make buyers consider taking out a second mortgage, but there are some gems out there that can be had without making you blue in the face for depleting all of your green.

1. 2014 Volkswagen Jetta GLI

When it comes to performance vehicles, German engineering reigns supreme. The 2014 Jetta GLI is the perfect example of a modest-looking car that packs a surprising punch underneath the hood. The GLI’s got a 2.0-liter turbocharged V4 that produces 210 horsepower. The car just about lifts off when the accelerator is pushed, but most people would never suspect that just by looking at it. For a little more than $24,000, you can have a Jetta of your own.

2. 2014 Mazda 3

The Mazda 3 is a sporty little devil that usually slips under the radars of most sports cars enthusiasts because it technically isn’t one. However, the compact sedan has many features that they look for including aggressive exterior and interior styling, excellent handling, and quick acceleration. The 2014 model is equipped with a 2.0-liter V4 that puts out 155 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. With front-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission, the agile and fuel-efficient Mazda 3 can be had for a base price of under $18,000. The hatchback version will probably be more appealing to fans of sports cars.

3. 2014 Mazda 6

The big brother of the Mazda 3 doesn’t sacrifice performance for an increase in size. The 2014 Mazda 6 drives smoothly, accelerates with authority, and feels very athletic overall. This spacious sports sedan was also redesigned for 2014 like the more compact 3, and both models look similar in a great way. A sleek and seductive body with curves in all the right places describes the Mazda 6 perfectly. Under the hood, the car sports a 2.5-liter V4 capable of 184 horsepower at 5,700 rpm. Cabin design and materials are both top notch for a car of this price. Expect to pay a very reasonable $22,000 to $29,000 for this excellent vehicle.

4. 2014 Ford Focus ST

The hatchback style is synonymous with sportiness, and the Ford Focus ST is just that. Small, extremely maneuverable, and very satisfying to drive, the ST is everything a sports car lover would want in something that isn’t. A 2.0-liter V4 is standard for the ST, and this 252 horsepower engine can get you and this little hatchback around town with very little effort. It’s hard to spend $24,000 in a better way when you’re shopping for a sporty ride.

5. 2014 Hyundai Veloster

Many sports cars look like they came from the future. The Hyundai Veloster definitely fits that description. Aside from killer looks, inside and out, the Veloster drives like a much more expensive car. With impeccable handling and more than adequate speed, the Veloster and its 201 horsepower, 1.6-liter V4 engine feel like they belong on the race track. At just below $22,000, it will surely give you the feel of a true sports car without breaking your bank.

Dedicated sports cars are nice, but they’re often too spendy. You can get a very similar experience with something less costly if you know where to look. The choices above should satisfy anyone with the occasional need for an adrenaline rush.

Chaleigh is a freelance writer that lives in NYC. She enjoys writing and lifestyle photography. She writes about anything from driving a mazda 6 in Kansas City to, to to how to properly how to fix your slice in golf. In her spare time she likes to take pictures, snowboard, golf, and play ice hockey.