Dec 05 2008
Shopping For Used Cars?
Shopping for used cars whether on the internet or at a dealership can be tricky. Finding the right car, without many needed repairs or upgrades, for the right price can be a lengthy procedure. Before the potential buyer steps foot in a dealership they should have some idea of what they are looking to purchase. The buyer should construct a list of potential used cars they are interested in and do a tiny bit of research involving the Kelly Bluebook value of each of those cars. Once at the dealership, the customer now has a step up on the salespeople because they have a basis for pricing and the salesperson cannot take advantage of them.
There are at least five steps involved in purchasing a used car might be a used Jaguar car, used Honda car , used Mazda car, used Volvo car etc. The first step is the research. Construct the list of cars that interest you, find their Kelly Bluebook values and find any possible cars that the dealership might have on hand and check the pricing on those vehicles. Step number two is making a trip to the first dealership on your list. Try to browse the used car lot upon arrival, before a salesperson hunts you down and starts throwing facts and numbers at you. This way you can browse without any hassle and figure out what you want to either cross off or add to your list.
Step three involves talking to a salesperson. Gather all of the important information regarding the used car; such as mileage, accidents, previous owners, date of manufacture, recent repairs and if there has been any damage to the engine. Once you have all of that information it is time to head home and review your list. Cross off any unwanted cars or add on any new cars. Once the visit to the first used car dealership is complete get ready to visit a second dealership.
At the second dealership, the customer should compare notes between the two dealerships as well as pricing for each desired vehicle. Never leave the dealership without speaking to a salesperson about a possible trade-in. A trade-in can knock some of the price off of the price of a higher-end used car, especially one that is fairly new and hasn’t been used as much as another used car.
Step three and four involve price haggling. Return to the first dealership and see what the salesperson can offer. Then come back with your price, and maybe even drop in that at ‘x’ dealership they can offer this much off the price of the identical car. This could work or it might not. It never hurts to take a shot.
Obviously, step five involves the purchase of the vehicle. Once the price has been agreed upon and the contract has been signed, the dealership will take the car and wash it and put a full tank of gas in it as well. Once that is complete, the customer can finally drive off the lot with their new, used car. Even though the process was a long and tiring one, the end point is quite rewarding.
