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You're finally in a position where you can buy a new car. Maybe you're financially secure to do so, maybe you're tired of your current car, or maybe you're current car has just seen better days. In any case, your next mission is to decide which car to buy. But how? There are so many different car makes and models to choose from that it can sometimes be overwhelming. With television, magazine, radio and billboard ads constantly inundating you with images of you behind the wheel of whatever, it's enough to make your head spin. But fear not, young car buyer. Here, we will give you some tips to help you sort through the rhetoric and sales pitches, and hopefully lead you to a decision.
If you're like most Americans who can't afford to pay cash for a car, you'll have to decide whether to finance or lease it. Having the choice to make this decision before or after you go to a dealer and find a vehicle, it's sometimes better to keep this decision to yourself before you and the dealer have agreed on a purchase price.
"Car dealers just want to make a profit" That's what we have all heard people say. Why begin our purchasing tips with that sentence? Because it is a true and completely defensible generalization about the business of selling cars. If you decide to sell your own car through the newspaper, you would wish to make money, not lose it. So of course dealers want to profit!
Remember simply, the salesperson's job is not only to help you buy a car, but to do so while making a profit. But neither is the car dealer your enemy. Many resources refer to preparing you to do battle against the evil car dealer. However, you won't see that discussed here - not because we're secretly in partnership with dealers, but because it's just bad idea all around. It's not a battle. It is, at most, a game of strategy, and if you want to win this game, you have to be prepared.
As you read our Purchasing Tips Guide, be sure to check out our Negotiating With Deal chapter for even more strategies.
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