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DONE YOUR HOMEWORK?
Here is an article worth reading before stepping into the next new car showroom, click here.
HAVE YOUR TEXTBOOK?
Pick up a Consumer Guide for around $10 at most local book stores. Inside you'll find the MSRP as well as the Dealer cost on all of the current
model year cars and trucks.
Secondly, it allows you to compare the various styles, read comments, and narrow down
what kind of vehicle you want.
Thirdly, while you can do all of this on-line, having all of the information in print
to reference will save you time in the long run - the ol' adage, "pay me now or pay me later" comes to mind.
Think
about what you will be using vehicle for and ask yourself these questions:
What payment can I afford?
How long do I plan to keep it?
What gas mileage would I like to get?
What is the true value of owning the vehicle?
How many miles do I drive on average a year?
Will it be a commuter vehicle, pleasure, work, etc.?
What did I like/dislike about other vehicles I've owned or driven?
You might consider renting the vehicle you plan
to buy and drive it for a day to get a true feel for it. Also, you may want to look at Web sites or speak to people that own
that type of vehicle and get some feedback on how they like/dislike their vehicle.
Other great sites to do research
are Edmunds, Kelly Blue Book, or ConsumerGuide. Also you can check out Consumer Reports, but you may have to pay for some of their services or information.
GOT INCENTIVES?
Another important factor if you're looking at buying a new car is rebates, cash back, or low rate financing. To find
out if any incentives or rebates are avaiable on a vehicle you're shopping for, click here.
Other important considerations are the following:
Buying at the end of the month (sales people and dealers need to make quotas)
Buying at the end of a model year will motivate the dealer to turn over stock and incentives are usually available.
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