Are you in the market for a used car?
If you are, judging by the massive 68 percent growth in the sector since 2009, you have a lot of company! However, you may be a bit apprehensive about finding the best deals.
After all, there are several stories out there about people buying cars that turned out to be lemons. You don’t want to end up a statistic so you need to find the best way to buy a new car.
Thankfully, there are many tips you can use to get a good deal, here are some of the best ones.
1. Set Your Budget
Your budget is extremely important when you decide to buy a used car, this is because the prices vary widely. You need to know exactly what type of car you want and what you can afford in order to narrow your search.
Once you have made your budget and know what you are looking for then you can start visiting dealerships that sell used cars.
2. Shop Around and Negotiate
In order to get the best deal, you shouldn’t be in a rush. Try to shop around and check as many dealerships as you can to see if you can get the best price possible.
While you may have decided in the first step exactly what kind of car you want, you should be flexible. This is because the more in demand the car is, the more you will have pay and the harder it will be to negotiate the price.
Always remember that any price you are told for the car at the outset is probably on the high end, so always try to negotiate to take it down.
3. Start Inspecting
Even if you are a person who does not normally pay attention to the mechanical side of how a car works, you should at least try to learn a few things before purchasing a used car.
You can always take a mechanic with you but you should know what to look out for and have your own checklist ready, so you can know if a car is a lemon.
There is an oil cap located on the engine, you should check under that cap to see if it is milky. If it is, this is a sign that the oil is mixing with coolant and is a common indicator of a blown head gasket which costs thousands to repair.
The next major thing you should look at is the transmission fluid dipstick. The fluid on the stick should be red or pink.
Transmission fluid that is black and smells burned is never a good sign. This is because transmission problems are expensive to repair and it really isn’t something you want to take on when you buy a new car.
4. Dig Deeper
The tires that you get with the vehicle are very important. You want to ensure that they are sturdy and without cracks. Make sure there is a good spare tire available, as well.
The next thing you should check is all the lights to ensure that they are working correctly. Check the car’s headlights as well as brake lights. Make sure all the turn signals are working, as well.
Always take the car for a test drive. Plan the route of your test drive carefully. You should take the car over hills and even through a few potholes to check out its resiliency and durability.
Final Thoughts on the Best Way to Buy a New Car
You now know exactly what is the best way to buy a new car even if it has been used before. Knowing how much you can spend and exactly what you want is the first step to getting the best deal.
If you can afford to, carry a mechanic with you when checking out used cars. However, if you can’t afford a mechanic, you can take along a friend or family member who is knowledgeable about cars.
Once you have made sure that the structure and mechanics of the car are sound, then you are on your way to enjoying your new car.
If you would like more information about buying a car, please visit our blog.