What’s the main problem buyers are facing in the marketplace? Too many choices. Don’t get us wrong, choices are a great thing and it helps keep the market competitively priced, but it can be overwhelming for buyers, too. The marketplace is crowded with new cars, used cars, dealerships and private listings. Where can you turn?
To help out our fans, we’ve prepared a handy guide for buying either a new or used car. We’ll start with the points on buying new cars, many of which translate into the used car market as well. We will then look at points unique to the used car market.
No matter how sure you think you are about what kind of car you want, you should always do your research and see what’s out there. Start with a wide net and have a look at all the brands that fit your budget. You might surprise yourself. After that, you should whittle down the many options to a simple shortlist of no more than 3-4 models.
What factors are important in a new car vary from person to person, but common examples of things to check in your research include:
Once you’ve got your shortlist ready, it’s time to move on to the next steps.
Most of us probably already know that test driving a vehicle before making a purchase is very important. But have you considered what to do during the test drive? If you aren’t going to test the car properly, then there’s no point testing it at all.
Make your test drive count:
After an initial test drive, pick the one you like best and consider the additional step of renting one for a week and seeing how it fits into your typical driving routine. It’s an extra cost, but it will give you a much clearer idea of whether the car will suit your needs or not.
No matter what you’ve heard, there’s always wiggle room on a car's price. It might not always be as much as you want, but it’s there. Dealerships often sell the cars at the manufacturer’s invoice price in order to secure a deal. The car maker will usually give a bonus for the sale anyways, and that’s where the dealer’s money comes from. Everybody wins.
Your negotiating position will be stronger if you follow the advice of TrueCar and discuss your deal at any of the following times:
These are the times that, for various reasons, dealership salespeople will be keen to complete sales and meet sales targets/quotas.
There is a lot of controversy on financing a vehicle. Obviously, paying cash is always best because you’ll secure a great deal and not have to worry about monthly payments. Since that’s not realistic for most people, financing is the next best thing.
One strategy is to secure a car loan before you go to the dealership. You could get a car loan from the bank or a credit union. The interest rates will be reasonable, but the best thing is that it means you enter the dealership knowing how much you can borrow and therefore how much you can safely spend.
Another strategy is to do the car financing through the dealership. Despite some assuming that dealership financing is usually more expensive, it can actually be very competitive because car financing is a key profit center for dealerships. The best thing about financing from the dealership, is that you can get everything done conveniently in one place and at one time.
Many of the above steps apply equally well to the purchase of a used car, especially if you also buy it from a dealership. On the other hand, if you decide to purchase a used car from a private seller, there are one or two unique things of which you should be aware:
A reputable dealership can offer certified inspection reports for used cars when you’re looking at them, but a private seller might not be as forthcoming. It is therefore crucial that you organize an independent third-party inspection of the vehicle to look for things that the seller may not be telling you about, or that the seller might not even know about themselves.
Different states have different rules when it comes to private car sales. The main issue is transferring the title of the car to a new owner. This needs to be done at a local DMV. Visit your local DMV ahead of time to learn the specific local requirements on buying/selling of cars. You could also chat with the seller, as they may have some experience in selling and may already have everything ready.
There’s no need to lowball to the point of lacking reason, but private sellers are often more motivated for a quick sale than a dealership. The private seller also doesn’t have the burden of sales quotas and corporate shirts breathing down his/her neck. The potential for flexibility is therefore usually greater.
About Me
From the beginning, dichroicglassbylauriek has been a battle of becoming better. At the age of 18 freshly out of high school, I started off as a part-time volunteer firefighter/grocery clerk, commuting 4+ hours a day. I was honored to serve my community and learn the respect and discipline from the fire service, but my passions laid elsewhere.
Since I was young I have loved everything about cars. As a child my parents would give me matchbox cars as a reward for doing chores around the house. I did A LOT of chores. Most days you’d find me in the dirt with my toys, and not a care in the world. I’ve always found solidarity and comfort in cars. Their mechanics and engineering, the artwork and history, the entirety of cars has been my passion. Naturally, you’d think I would become a mechanic, and as much as I enjoy working on them myself, I don’t want the monotony of “work” to ruin something I love.
So I decided to take a different approach. When I was still in the fire service, I would spend my free time building and researching how to run an online business. I found different platforms, products, distributors, etc, that all contributed to creating an online store. I have always felt like an entrepreneur, like most people, and I wanted to build my own business. However, being fresh out of the fire service, working part-time, moving out on my own, and being so young, didn’t make for an ideal time to start a business venture. But I’m stubborn and did it anyway.
My Early Trials
I started many businesses before I founded dichroicglassbylauriek, some of them included; an R/C Drone retailer, a wristwatch reseller, and even a blog. These unsuccessful attempts lead me to feel discouraged. Without having the knowledge to properly rank on Google(SEO), market my product, run ads, etc, all that time felt like a waste. I thought it was impossible to create a promising business. Little did I know that running all those ventures into the ground, was actually building my foundation and teaching me what NOT to do.
dichroicglassbylauriek
In August of 2019, I decided to try one last idea. I had already decided that I wanted this business to revolve around the car community. I figured that if it was focused around cars, it would be more enjoyable and I would be more determined to succeed. I noticed there were many businesses that would only focus on one particular car brand. My goal was to create a community that brings everyone of every make and every model, together. I figured forming a clothing brand that allowed people to express their passion for cars was the way to go.
By 2021 dichroicglassbylauriek has grown exponentially and it’s clear that it’s here to stay.
With my brand continuing to grow, I have many goals I’m working on accomplishing. In the future, I hope to start up my own Car-Giveaway Contest. I want to give the everyday car enthusiast an opportunity to win the car of their dreams.
I’m happy for the accomplishments that dichroicglassbylauriek has already accumulated. Thanks to hard work, all my free time, determination, and the support from all you Car-Lovers, dichroicglassbylauriek will only accelerate to victory.
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