Buying something new is always exciting, but this is especially true when it comes to buying a new car. Dealerships and reps tend to charm your socks off and you get to choose the colors and additional features you want in your car. And, let’s not forget that new car smell. With all of the excitement, it can be easy to get lost in it all and maybe not make the best decisions. That’s what we’re here for. Here are a few important and helpful tips you should consider before making a new car purchase.
1. Make Sure it Suits Your Needs and Lifestyle
It is important that you don’t choose a car based on how attractive it is to you. Rather, place the importance of practicality above this. Your car needs to suit your needs and your lifestyle. Consider things like size, space, use, and budget.
Make a list of all of the things you need from a new car and take this with you to a dealership. Budget is important to lots of people, so a new car doesn’t always mean a brand-new car. A great way to get the best of both worlds is to look at demo cars for sale at Redlands Mazda, as these are hardly used. Demo cars come with a cheaper price tag than brand new cars, but have less millage than preowned vehicles. Demo cars also often tend to come with an array of additional features at no extra cost, which makes them a lot kinder to your budget.
2. Consider the Long-Term Value
Before making a purchase, it’s important that you consider the long-term value of a car. New cars tend to depreciate really quickly, which means that in a few years when you want to trade your car in, you could get a nasty surprise. A new car can lose up to 40% of its value in the first year, which is not ideal if you are confined by a budget. This is why a used car option could be more agreeable. They depreciate significantly slower. This being said, different car brands depreciate at different rates. Do your research and find out which cars depreciate the slowest and build your list of cars around that.
3. Add AEB
AEB is Autonomous Emergency Braking. This is a great car feature as it monitors the traffic conditions ahead of you and adjusts your braking accordingly. This comes in handy for rapid breaking. If the car ahead of you suddenly stops in an emergency situation you don’t always have enough time to respond. This system responds for you and has been found to reduce rear-end crashes in real-world situations by about 38.8% This feature doesn’t come standard but is one that is worth adding.
4. Price
Once you’ve decided on the car you’d like to buy, it is important that you do your research. Your research should include finding the lowest prices available for this car online, as this could help you negotiate a lower price at the dealership. Also, find out if there are any local dealers who are offering deals on the same car. Have a maximum price in mind and don’t let anyone push you above it.
5. Different Payment Options
When it comes to getting a car, there are tons of payment options out there. The range of options can be quite overwhelming. Before going forward with anything, it’s important to do your research and really understand the different options and which would suit you best. You can speak to the dealership and see what sort of payment options they offer, but don’t be fooled into thinking that what they have is the best and only option for you.
6. Buying at The Right Time
Did you know that the price you pay for a car can be affected by the time of year? At certain times of the year, you can expect to pay significantly more or significantly less. This differs from country to country, so be sure to do your research. It’s also worth your while to go and visit a dealership on a weekday. Going in on a Friday could get you a really good price. Dealers who are eager to meet their weekly target could value something lower, really working in your favor.
7. Always Try Before You Buy
Don’t pass up on a test drive. Going for a test drive as a passenger doesn’t give you the full effect. You need to know how it feels and how it drives before you make the decision to take it home. This is essential for cars that are new and old. You could get into the driver seat in a brand new car and absolutely hate the configuration, where the clutch is, etc. You’re going to be driving it, so you need to drive it before you decide to buy it. If you have decided on a specific model, but you aren’t whether you want the higher or lower-spec version, see if it’s possible to drive both and make your decision based on that. Every car feels different, so be sure that you like how it feels.
8. Inspect Your New Car
If you are having your new car delivered, you need to take the time to check it over before you do anything else. Make sure that the car is to spec and free from dents and scratches, especially if it is brand new. Start on the outside and work your way in. Then you can start to play around figuring out which button does what, and how to turn on your lights. Make sure to keep up with regular maintenance to keep your car in excellent condition.
9. Insurance
The cost of insurance varies for all sorts of reasons. Make sure to do your research and get it insured as soon as possible.
Getting a new car is great, but it comes with all sorts of questions and considerations. We hope that this list has helped clear a few things up and that you can go on your new car journey better informed.
Photo via Unsplash
.
.
