It's fun to drive a new car, but buying that new car can be a major pain. Add in the credit crunch due to today's economic crisis, and you can find buying a new car you like that won't break your budget really frustrating.
But you can get a good deal on a car without breaking your budget. First of all, figure out what you can afford. This is the most important step and should be the first place you start. Sit down and take a good, hard look at your budget. Figure out what you can realistically afford. Make sure you include insurance premiums, gas, maintenance, license and registration in your costs. Once you have a shopping budget, you can move on to the next step.
Second, think about how you will use your vehicle. Will you be doing a lot of city driving? Highway driving? Do you need room for several passengers or room to haul luggage or equipment? Your budget and needs will determine what kind of car you should shop for.
Next, decided whether your next car needs to be new to the world or just new to you. In the past, most people bought new cars because they were considered to be, and generally were, more reliable. With improvements in technology, however, previously owned cars are more reliable?but you do have to access the vehicle's maintenance and repair history. You do not want to buy a used car that has had major repairs you do not know about.
You have two options for budget car shopping. You can either buy a car or lease a car, and that is a decision you need to make before you start shopping. Leasing a car tends to be cheaper because the monthly payments are lower, a smaller down payment is required, and it?s a good option if you trade cars every two or three years. But if you tend to keep cars for longer than three years and can afford a down payment, buying is your better option in the long run. High mileage drivers should also consider buying over leasing because leases have restrictions on the amount of miles you can drive in a given period, and if you go over your allotted miles, then you have to pay extra fees on the lease, which will eat up any savings you may have gained from the lease in the first place.
Regardless of whether you buy or lease, be prepared to negotiate. Get bids on cars from several dealers. Shop around for sales and specials, especially if you are buying a car at the end of the year. Dealers often want to get rid of cars at the end of the year in order to make room for new models. The internet makes it easier than ever to negotiate and shop around for good car deals.
Finally, if you plan to finance, have your loan approved even before you go to the dealer. Having that preapproval makes you a much more attractive customer to the dealership, and makes it much more likely they will negotiate with you and give you the best deal.
But you can get a good deal on a car without breaking your budget. First of all, figure out what you can afford. This is the most important step and should be the first place you start. Sit down and take a good, hard look at your budget. Figure out what you can realistically afford. Make sure you include insurance premiums, gas, maintenance, license and registration in your costs. Once you have a shopping budget, you can move on to the next step.
Second, think about how you will use your vehicle. Will you be doing a lot of city driving? Highway driving? Do you need room for several passengers or room to haul luggage or equipment? Your budget and needs will determine what kind of car you should shop for.
Next, decided whether your next car needs to be new to the world or just new to you. In the past, most people bought new cars because they were considered to be, and generally were, more reliable. With improvements in technology, however, previously owned cars are more reliable?but you do have to access the vehicle's maintenance and repair history. You do not want to buy a used car that has had major repairs you do not know about.
You have two options for budget car shopping. You can either buy a car or lease a car, and that is a decision you need to make before you start shopping. Leasing a car tends to be cheaper because the monthly payments are lower, a smaller down payment is required, and it?s a good option if you trade cars every two or three years. But if you tend to keep cars for longer than three years and can afford a down payment, buying is your better option in the long run. High mileage drivers should also consider buying over leasing because leases have restrictions on the amount of miles you can drive in a given period, and if you go over your allotted miles, then you have to pay extra fees on the lease, which will eat up any savings you may have gained from the lease in the first place.
Regardless of whether you buy or lease, be prepared to negotiate. Get bids on cars from several dealers. Shop around for sales and specials, especially if you are buying a car at the end of the year. Dealers often want to get rid of cars at the end of the year in order to make room for new models. The internet makes it easier than ever to negotiate and shop around for good car deals.
Finally, if you plan to finance, have your loan approved even before you go to the dealer. Having that preapproval makes you a much more attractive customer to the dealership, and makes it much more likely they will negotiate with you and give you the best deal.
About the Author:
Tom Martens is the content syndication coordinator for Carinsurancesa.co.za. South Arica?s leading car insurance portal.
No comments:
Post a Comment