Most good dealers will still be happy to help. Feel free to ask them questions and such though just be open about the fact that you’re only narrowing things down at this point and have no intention of buying immediately. It doesn’t cost them anything to have you take a look around, but they probably wouldn’t appreciate you using their time and putting wear on their vehicles with zero intention of buying. Plus, car dealers are people too, generally trying to make an honest living. It’s really a waste of time to start driving cars before you’ve narrowed it down to a model and year range you’re really interested in anyway. Look around, even hop in the driver’s seat of a few cars and see how things feel, but no need to start taking test drives. If you’ve got little to no idea of what sort of vehicle you’re looking for, going to a dealership gives you a great opportunity to see a wide range of comparable vehicles first hand, which should help narrow down what you’re looking for.Īt this point, you’re really just trying to get an idea of what’s available. If you’re planning on buying a new car, this only makes sense, but it’s also a good idea if you’re planning on buying used! Models rarely change drastically year-to-year so there’s a good chance that a car that’s only a few years old (and a few thousand dollars cheaper) will be very similar to the ones you see at the used car lot. Once you’ve got an idea of what you need in a car, you could go check out new models at your local dealership. In those cases, it’s still important not to buy more than you need, as well as to avoid overpaying for the financing. Of course, sometimes financing is still necessary for example, say you need a car to commute to a new job but don’t yet have the savings to buy it outright. The simple fact is, neither of these will come close to making up for the depreciation in the first few years, especially if you make sure to check your car out before buying. You will likely hear the argument that new cars make sense because they come with warranties and/or low dealership financing. By buying within your budget, you can save yourself from making payments and put that money in the bank instead. Borrowing money and taking on payments to buy something that’s going to drastically decrease in value over time is usually not a good plan. A car’s value typically decreases 15-20% in the first year, and 10% per year for the following four years. It’s best to figure out how much you can comfortably spend without having to borrow the money. The biggest consideration you’ll have is what your budget is going to be. Do you need space for groceries or a car seat? Do you prioritize MPG over power or vice versa? Are you more interested in style or convenience? Taking time to consider your needs before you start looking at specific cars will give you an idea of where to start and will keep you from buying a sweet ride that turns into a headache when you take it home. You may already have an idea of what you want, but if you start by figuring out what you need, you’re going to end up with a car that better suits your lifestyle. Figure Out What You Needīefore you start looking at cars, take the time to think about what your needs and priorities for your car are. You’ll also get some resources that could help you save thousands during the car buying process. This guide will outline a very simple process by which you can narrow down your selection to a few models that will best fit you and your lifestyle. With so many different makes and models out there, trying to figure out which car you want to buy can be overwhelming.
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