All About Autos
Buying a car can potentially be a very large purchase, and can be a very big decision. But, rest assured that buying a new or used car can be fairly simple, if you use the resources available to you!
Research
Research the car you want online and know what it is worth and decide what you want to spend before you go to the dealer
Don’t let your emotions determine your decision
Getting emotional about a new car or truck is fine, once you get home. But while you’re shopping, you’ll almost certainly do better if you can remain as detached and uninterested as possible. Never portray more than casual interest in a car, because sales clerks react to emotional buyers. You should convey a “take it or leave” it impression and the more convincing your performance, the more likely you’ll drive home a deal instead of paying more than you probably should have.
Determine how much you can afford to borrow
Secure financing before you start your search. If you’re not paying cash, a loan approval will let you know where you stand.
Stick to your budget
Set a price range that you’re willing to spend and don’t go outside that range, because it may be harder for you to go back to the original price range you set.
Don’t get pressured
Car dealers like to rush you into a decision by saying someone else is looking at the same car. Don't let that influence your decision. If you walk away and see the car you wanted is still at the dealer a week later, you have leverage to ask for a lower price.
Test drive
You should take a thorough test drive of at least two hours’ duration before buying to make sure the vehicle is comfortable and there are no design problems (such as excessive blind spots, uncomfortable seats, noisy engine/hard to shift transmission, etc.) that you might hate to have to live with if you actually owned the car.
Know how much your old car is worth
Decide if you should trade-in, or do a private sale
Below are some helpful resources that can help you determine the value of the car you want to buy as well as the trade-in value of your current car.
Shop with confidence and get pre-approved for your loan. This will let you know how much of a loan Impact Credit Union will make toward the purchase of your new vehicle.
