Whether you’re a car enthusiast or not, when you set foot on any car lot or dealership, your eyes are automatically drawn to the shiny new cars. Keep in mind, this is when you first get to the dealership. You initially have no clue how much these cars will cost you for a down payment, what it will cost you monthly, and if you can even afford any of the cars… all you know is that you can see yourself in all of the cars.
Once you get to the dealership, a salesman will immediately approach you with a big smile, with a look of determination in his eyes, ready to put you in one of those beautifully designed cars. He’ll ask what you’re looking for in a car, and will usually show you the cars that meet your car buying needs.
After he’s shown you the cars that meet your car buying needs, he’ll then show you the cars that meet your car buying wants… that’s where a lot of us get into trouble. Not that the cars that meet your needs aren’t efficient, nice looking, or capable… but the cars that meet your car buying wants are gorgeous, have ALL the cool features (that you probably don’t need), and you driving it will make you the envy of all your friends!
Well, the glitz and glam of a new car is quite tempting, to say the least, but can you afford that glitz and glam? Will you be able to afford the maintenance of that car? What type of gas and how much gas does it require? How much will the car insurance cost every month? You see, people don’t think too hard about all of that at the dealership. So before you go and buy that fully-loaded car of your dreams, take into consideration a few car buying factors first.
Price
Price is an obvious factor to consider when shopping for a new car. Most people go to car dealerships with a set budget. The goal is to stay within, or under your budget, regardless of what the salesman tells you. You may have it in your mind that you want to buy the new 2019 Infiniti Q50, but can only afford the 2019 Toyota Camry, which is still a very nice car… it’s just not what you wanted.
You have to go in strong minded, and if they can’t meet you where you want to be financially, then that particular dealership is not for you… trust and believe, there are several car dealerships that will sell you a car you’ll love, and it will be in your price range.
Reliability and Safety
What’s the phrase you hear people say the most when it comes to picking a reliable car? “I just want a car that will get me from point A, to point B.” That’s what most people say right! That statement really isn’t true though. When car shopping and looking at the reliability and safety aspects of cars, people want a car that will get them from point A, B, and C through Z!
People say that whole point A, point B thing without taking into consideration the seriousness of driving. Every time we get inside a car, or any moving vehicle, we are putting our lives, as well as the lives of others at risk, and that not something to be taken lightly.
You want to be aware of any and all safety features a car does, or does not offer, have the braking system and airbag features explained to you, and if these infotainment centers are actually helpful. A lot of the new cars have these built-in screens that are supposed to be helpful, and ultimately make your driving experience better, but if it’s not user-friendly, then why pay the extra bucks for it if it you don’t even know how to operate it?
Reviews
Reviews are just as helpful for cars, as they are for hotels, restaurants, and businesses. Reviews can be looked at as a reputation of a particular business, person, or product. The same people who take the time out to write reviews (good or bad ones) are the same types of people who take the time out to read them, when trying to make a decision about a particular product. In your case, you will need to look up reviews for a particular car that you like, and you can even look up reviews about the car dealership you are thinking about going to.
Real car enthusiasts definitely check reviews of cars they’re interested in buying… they even create blogs giving expert advice on what to look for when buying new or used. Having resources such as reviews and blogs, are very helpful when car shopping, especially for those who are not well-versed in the car industry. This helps you shop smart
Fuel Economy
Fuel economy isn’t a huge aspect to making your final decision during your car buying process, but it is still something to consider. You know you see people driving these big trucks and SUVs… the first thing that pops in your head is that, that particular vehicle is a “gas guzzler.” A “gas guzzler” is a car that has high fuel consumption… this means you’ll be making several trips to the gas station.
The way cars are made today, they have all kinds of fuel-saving features and technologies. Some of these fuel-saving technologies include automatic starting and stopping of the engine, and transmissions with multiple speeds. Not only do cars have fuel-saving features and technologies, but there are actually cars out now that run off of electricity… all you have to do is plug it up!
All in all, with fuel economy, the goal is to find a car with decent fuel consumption, because the price of gas does fluctuate, and depending on what type of gas your car will require, that fluctuation can be dramatically pricey, so just do your research on the car you’re interested in, and be sure to check out its fuel economy.
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