2006-11-01 10:49:06 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Buying & Selling
insurance can you afford the payments....warranties....relability....gas mileage...safety ratings
2006-11-03 19:43:19 · answer #1 · answered by hocsoc779 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try:
Edmunds.com
cars.com
kbb.com
First, don't let a dealer try to make any decisions for you. All the want is your money. If Ford & Chrysler are still offering the no interest 60 month financing, that is a great deal! Test drive several cars to see what you are comfortable in and what you like. Do not buy an extended warranty unless you are going to keep the car for quite a while, and, only buy a warranty that is issued by the manufacturer of the car, not some other company, no matter what the dealer says! Don't buy rust proofing or undercoating, the cars today don't need it. Do not buy any program that "etches" the glass in your car, they are ripoffs. You generally only get a discount certificate towards a new car from that dealer. If they tell you Lojack is already installed in the car, you do not have to pay for it to be activated. Never let a dealer pressure you by promissing a super deal if you buy the car right then and there. Check out each dealer with the Better Business Bureau, and on the Internet.
2006-11-01 18:57:48 · answer #2 · answered by brucenjacobs 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When I buy from a private party, I ask to see the maintenance records. Usually, they don't keep any. I ask when they had the transmission serviced last. If they say never and it's over 30-40,000 miles, I walk away. If the car isn't spotlessly clean, I leave. If they don't care about the outside of the car, they don't usually care about the maintenance. I see what radio stations are preset. I look at the oil dipstick and look at and smell the tranny dipstick. I look at their house, lawn and other vehicles.
Take someone with you that knows some mechanics of cars, or have a mechanic that you can bring a car to. I haven't been burned on a used car since I was about 19. And that was a long time ago. Good luck.
2006-11-01 19:27:33 · answer #3 · answered by Papa John 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Consumer Reports has a service where they tell you what the dealer paid and how to negotiate.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/custo...
American Automobile Club also has a similar service.
http://www.aaa.com/aaa_travel/autobuying...
You will have to pay around $30 to $50 for the service but you can really save thousands.
If you have never dealt with a car salesman you will soon learn that they are very good at seperating you from your money.
You should also go into your bank and ask them to preapprove you for a car loan and find out what the interest rate is. Take this information with you and use it to negotiate financing as well.
2006-11-01 18:54:32 · answer #4 · answered by John L 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
new cars are pretty simple, just research the models you are interested in and shop for the best deal. used cars are another thing altogether. make sure you get a carfax on the unit you want to purchase, service records would be nice to see, and even have it checked out by a mechanic you trust. good luck
2006-11-01 18:52:36 · answer #5 · answered by SKYDOGSLIM 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You didn't say if you were looking for a new car or used car, but here's some good tips on buying used cars:
http://www.used-car-advisor.com/buy-used-car.htm
2006-11-01 23:27:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
cars.com has some good advice for car buying. But it does have lots of advertisements, too, so be aware.
2006-11-01 18:50:45 · answer #7 · answered by kearneyconsulting 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please, please don't do a lease (or 'balloon'). You won't own the car after making payments.
2006-11-01 18:51:45 · answer #8 · answered by sab 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋