All posts tagged auto buying

How to Find The Best Car for Your Needs

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/01/06 in Auto Buying Tips with Comments Off on How to Find The Best Car for Your Needs

Recently, you’ve been experiencing some troubles with your vehicle. On the other hand, maybe you’ve never had a car before, and you’re getting tired of the subway, cabs or biking. Whatever the case may be, following these tips can help you find the best car for your needs.

Determine Your Price Point

Before you can even begin to look at cars, you need to figure out how much overall money you are going to be able to spend on this vehicle. If you are buying a car outright, then you must calculate the total cost. When you’re planning to go into a leasing or financing agreement, you should figure out how much you can spend on the down payment and the monthly payments according to Mazda Miata in Kansas City.

Matching Your Financial Needs with a Dealership

Once you have determined the amount of money you’re able to spend on the vehicle, you’ll have to find a dealership with cars in that price range. Browsing on various websites will introduce you to the cars available. Conducting research about cars online is smart. By doing so, you do not have to take trips to a multitude of dealerships. Instead, you can go to one or two that have cars of interest to you.

Consider The Car Size

You will also need to decide if you want to have a larger car or a smaller car. By purchasing a larger vehicle, you’ll get more space, and this is great if you have a big family or go on a lot of vacations. However, you may have to pay more for the car itself, and the gas might also be more expensive. A mid-sized car might be the best option for you to ensure that all of the elements are accounted for.

Look to The Future

Remember, you don’t want to purchase a car only to find that it needs to be returned in a year. Think about your future needs. Are you planning to go on a long road trip soon? Do you think you will have a couple of kids in the next few years? If the answer to either of these questions is yes, you need to consider getting a car that is able to suit your soon-changing needs.

Finding the best car for you is not something that happens in a brief moment. You’ll need to put some dedication into the research to get it right.

The Family Vehicle: Should You Buy a Crossover or a Minivan?

by Carsurfer Admin on 2013/11/15 in Auto Buying Tips with Comments Off on The Family Vehicle: Should You Buy a Crossover or a Minivan?

The debate over whether a family is better served by a crossover or a minivan is one that is hotly contested in many circles, which  makes it extremely confusing for those people that are looking for a great family vehicle. Many people arguing for the minivan will simply cite that the minivan is larger and therefore better, resting their case at that. However, taking a closer look at what different types of models of specific minivans and crossovers can offer to families allows you to decide for yourself. Understanding some of the advantages and disadvantages of both will allow the debate to be settled in your own mind.

The Debate

The minivan and the crossover are on equal footing in most cases when it comes to seating up to eight passengers, offering three rows of seating, and performing pretty well in the mileage department. These are the traditional needs of the average family. The crossover has attempted to meet these needs while also offering versatility and style as well. The reality is that crossover vehicles are closer in platform to vans than they are any type of truck or car. Although, when it really comes to shopping for your individual family, it usually comes down to some essentials. Outside of the obvious factors such as gas mileage, seating, and cargo space, there are entertainment options, cup holders, and other valuable features that can heavily weigh in.

The Contenders

The Honda Odyssey LX is a vastly popular minivan that achieves 23 miles to the gallon on the highway. It is on equal footing with the Honda Pilot LX, a cross over that has the same fuel efficiency. The Pilot is all-wheel drive and offers just slightly more leg room in the front. However, the Odyssey comes out on top when it comes to cargo space and cup holders. For roughly $1,000 less, the minivan has 13 cup holders and 147 cubic feet of storage space. The Toyota Sienna SE, another popular minivan, comes in at nearly $4,000 less than the popular crossover and similar vehicle, the Mazda CX-9 sport. The minivan also gives customers more seating and more leg room in nearly every area. It also features 10 cup holders as well. Still, the CX-9 offers all-wheel drive and a more stylish look with more nimble handling.

Entertainment and Choice

In the entertainment department, nearly all new models of both kinds of vehicles offer the option of DVD entertainment and television screens that utilize separate inputs. The audio systems can be outfitted for ideal sound, making this dimension one that falls under the discretion of the buyer when they consider optional features. In light of these facts, the minivan does seem to come out on top if you are looking for raw storage space at a lower price. Versatility, style, and handling seem to go to the crossover, although, they do not edge out the minivan in gas mileage as many would assume. The most important thing for buyers to do when they visit local Mazda dealers in Kansas City is to consider their own needs and weigh them against the strengths and weaknesses of each type of vehicle.

Thus, if you need a large amount of space, and don’t really care about style, a minivan will more than likely fit your style and needs. On the other hand, if style is a big factor, and you still want your vehicle to be able to go off-road and perform in poor conditions, a crossover will probably fit better with your needs, though you will need to pay more for these great benefits.

Suggested Reading: The Practical Guide to Van Ownership

Five Ways To Save Money While Buying a New Car

by Carsurfer Admin on 2013/10/30 in Auto Financing with Comments Off on Five Ways To Save Money While Buying a New Car

New cars often come onto the market with high sticker prices. This discourages some people from purchasing a new vehicle. A number of people in the market for a new car do not understand that dealerships have a large amount of control over the final price. There are five ways to save money when buying a new car.

1. Negotiate Everything

Anyone buying a new car should be prepared to negotiate when speaking to a dealer. Auto dealers want to make a sale in the moment. This often means dealerships are willing to reduce vehicle prices or make other accommodations. It is important to negotiate every expense including the fees and details in the contract since some are not strictly necessary or can be waived.

2. Visit Different Dealerships

It is best to visit different dealerships before starting negotiations. Buyers can often get dealers to lower prices or improve contract terms when mentioning there is a better offer at another location. Dealerships do not want to lose business to competitors. Some dealerships might even match advertised discounts or special offers from competitors.

3. Look For Outside Financing

A good way to save money is to get financing for the vehicle outside of the dealership. The financing dealerships offer often has poor or unfavorable terms. Anyone who already owns a vehicle can get fast financing through a company like eTitleLoan. Sites like eTitleLoan.com offer loans secured by an existing car title. The loans require no credit checks. Some auto title loans could be large enough to allow a family to pay for the new car in cash without any of the hassles of dealer financing.

4. Buy When Inventories Change

Dealerships offer more discounts and are more willing to negotiate when attempting to clear old inventory. Dealerships try to sell old inventory fast at the end of each month and after September when new models start coming in. Shopping and negotiating for a new car during these periods will result in noticeable savings.

5. Scrutinize Extended Warranties

Extended warranties are not always necessary or cost-effective. It is important to look at the terms of the warranty, what is needed to maintain the warranty and the overall cost. Some extended warranties actually cost more than standard maintenance and repairs for new vehicles. Additionally, complex terms can invalidate extended warranty coverage if repairs are needed.

Shoppers who are negotiating with a dealer need to be aggressive. This means being prepared to walk away especially when a better offer is available elsewhere. Some dealerships will lower prices or improve an offer just to rescue the sale.

The Power of Negotiation – Saving Cash on Your Car

by Carsurfer Admin on 2013/07/19 in Auto Buying Tips with Comments Off on The Power of Negotiation – Saving Cash on Your Car

Cars are expensive. That applies to everything from basic maintenance to buying one from a dealership. However, you can cut those costs quite a bit if you are able to negotiate. Negotiation is something of a dying art these days, as most buyers don’t have the patience or knowledge to haggle. However, for those who master these skills, considerable savings await. What should you know? Here’s a quick look.

Auto Buying

Perhaps the most important area where you need to develop negotiation skills is in the arena of buying a new car. Whether you’re after the latest model, are working with a used car dealer, or buying from a private seller, the following tips will help.

Be Informed – Information is the key to negotiation in the automotive industry. If you’re not informed, you have nothing to stand on. If you’re considering buying another vehicle, you’ll need to know several things, including what the same or comparable vehicles are selling for at other dealerships. Once you’ve decided on a particular vehicle model, take some time and shop around. Find out what it’s going for from different dealers, and what incentives are being offered.

Armed with the information above, head down to your chosen dealership and negotiate the best deal for you. Let the salesperson know that the car is available for less and where. Most of the time they’ll be happy to meet or even beat their competitors.

You Have the Power – One thing that most buyers forget when dealing with car lots is that they’re the ones in control, not the salespeople. You can exercise that control in a number of ways, and showing the salesperson that you know you have the power in the exchange will help you command a lower price. For instance, don’t be afraid to walk away from a deal. The moment the salesperson sees you’re serious about it, the price will come down.

There’s Always Wiggle Room – Don’t be fooled by “final price” notices or salespeople who tell you that they simply can’t offer less than the sticker price. There is always wiggle room in the world of auto sales. Sticker price is nowhere near what the dealership actually paid for the car, so don’t be afraid to negotiate the price lower. If necessary, tell the salesperson you’re going somewhere else. Always remember – the sticker price is NOT the final price of the car, and there’s always room to knock it down.

Don’t Use Dealer Financing – Dealer financing seems like the most convenient, expedient option when buying a new car, and that’s what the dealership is counting on. Don’t fall for it. You’ll pay more in interest with dealer financing than if you got your own funding, and you’ll find that it’s common practice for dealerships to add interest points just to pad their profits (and this is legal). Get your own loan from a credit union or your local bank and you’ll save big without having to negotiate at all.

Auto Service

While you might not be able to negotiate the price of all automotive services, there are a few tips that can help. For instance, considering bringing your own oil to your service provider – most will discount the price because of this. If you have several vehicles, consider asking about a group/volume discount for your services. If you can guarantee that you’ll bring all of your vehicles to the shop for servicing, most of the time they can offer at least some discount. Finally, shop around for the best deal on the service you need, and then find out if the service provider you prefer will price match.

Don Elfrink is the owner and operator of AutoMatStore.com, that sells custom auto mats throughout the nation. Before AutoMatStore, Elfrink was the operator of an automotive production site. AutoMatStore focuses on logo, carpeted, molded and all weather floor mats.

The Insider Checklist for Buying a New Car: What Everyone Needs to Know

by Carsurfer Admin on 2013/01/21 in Auto Buying Tips with 2 Comments

Its seems like once people know you have worked on cars for decades you are their “go-to” for all car questions—which I love. One of the most common questions I get comes when a person is considering buying a used car for the first time. We constantly hear horror stories and if you’re unfamiliar of what to look for in a quality vehicle you might feel like you’re jumping into this process blind, it can be scary. Here’s an ultimate checklist for the prospective used-car buyer to help you distinguish a great deal vs. a problem waiting to happen.

Making a Budget

Before you get to the car lot it’s important to establish a budget. Buying a car can be a process in itself and it is easy to waste time looking at cars you can’t afford. Think about need vs. want and be realistic with what you can afford. Don’t strain your personal life by trying to stretch your money thin. A lot of companies offer special options like DriveTime buy here pay here financing options. If you’re looking into financing, avoid long-term loans you should be able to pay off a car loan in three years. Consider fuel and maintenance costs.

Looking for a Car

Look for brands and models known for consistency and reliability. Although luxury vehicles are known for their usability, maintaining one can be expensive. What are you using your car for? Is it mostly used for commute to work? Are you an Outdoorsman who takes vehicles into rugged terrain? Ideally you will find a car that’s well-maintained, 3- to 5-years-old and void of any major mechanical problems or a history of collisions. Typically you do not want to exceed 12 to 15 years when purchasing a used automobile. Low mileage is important, but a car cannot be judged on low-mileage alone, be sure to obtain the car history when comparing vehicles.

A cars interior condition usually says a lot about the previous life it lived. Rust anywhere on a vehicle is a bad. Looking for the cheapest car does not translate to being the best deal, you’re looking for the best mechanical condition for the most reasonable price. Try to avoid first-year models, as they usually have more glitches. Go online and see what people are saying about models you’re interested in.

Cost of Insurance

Insurance cost will vary significantly depending on the vehicle history, make, model, year etc. Get an insurance quote before you purchase a car.

Dealing With the Dealer

Going to a dealership prepared is going to make a huge difference in the way you feel at the lot, and the outcome of your buy. A dealer’s goal is to make a sale as high as possible. First check and make sure the vehicle your interested in is still available. A lot of times dealers will keep a car that’s already sold online to get people into their lot.

  • Confirm the price, color and mileage an make sure the car has all the basics: air conditioner, radio, automatic vs. manual, cruise control, working windows ABS etc. Make sure all of these work when you get there.
  • Take the car for a test drive, see how the breaks work, if the AC is cold, if you hear and odd sounds or feel any noticeable bumps in the ride.
  • A car may smoke when it’s cold or the engine may be noisy or the transmission may engage with a delay.
  • Ask about extra charges and fees and ask about what kind of warranty they have available.
  • Ask for the vehicle history and VIN number to check accidents or major repairs for yourself.
  • The price is almost always negotiable; make an offer on the total price to let them know you are a real buyer. Total price is important because often dealers will try to tack on extra fees after you’ve negotiated a price.
  • Be ready to walk away from a deal if you are feeling you’re feeling to pressured.
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