We all love to feel like we’ve got a good deal when we buy something, especially when it is something as important and expensive as a new car. When shopping around for a car, you are always looking for that little gem that will leave you feeling satisfied with your purchase. Of course, when buying a car, it can be just as easy to get it wrong, so how do you spot a really good car deal?
Here we have put together our top tips of things to look out for if you want to make sure you can the best car for your money.
Do your homework
They say that failing to prepare is preparing to fail, and it could not be truer when it comes to car shopping. There is a lot of work that you need to do in your hunt for a car before you even leave the house.
A good place to start is knowing exactly what car it is that you are looking for. Don’t just say you’d like a Ford, pick the make, model, engine size and even the trim that you want as it will make it much easier to narrow down the search, and you can then compare like for like to see which ones look like the best deal. You can then search for manufacturer discounts, and even ones from individual dealers.
Know your car
Once you have decided on the car that you want, you need to find out as much as possible about it, especially if it is a used car. You need to find out whether there are any common faults with the car that you need to look out for, what the typical mileage might be and whether one careful lady owner really does make any difference. This will help you to find the good ones and put you in a stronger negotiating position.
Be prepared to travel
It would be great to find that the best deal can be had at the dealership just down the road, but this is rarely the case. Sometimes, if you want to get a really good deal, you might need to be prepared to travel a little further afield than normal. Even if you are not prepared drive hundreds of miles down the motorway to find your dream car, you can use the price that you have found to negotiate with dealers who are a little closer to home.
Haggle
No-one should ever accept the first price that they are given when buying a car, as there is always a little room for haggling. Dealerships have margins that they can play with, and even private sellers can be willing to budge for a quick sale. Make sure that you stay cool and polite throughout and stay friendly in order to win the other party over.
Don’t be afraid to ask if there is anything more that they can do with the price, and state your position, such as being a cash buyer or being ready to buy today. You could ask them to match other prices that you have found online or se if they will be prepared to lower the price because the vehicle hasn’t been serviced recently or needs certain things doing to it.
Be wary of finance
Most car dealerships will now offer finance options, and these can be great for anyone who doesn’t have access to all of the cash but treat these with caution. The interest rates on these deals can often be very high, meaning that any good deal you get on the price of the car will soon be swallowed up by the amount of interest that you will be paying. Many sales people also get commission on the finance packages that they sell, so they will probably be pushing you in that direction.
Make sure that you have access to the money that you need before you walk into the showroom so that you have all options open to you. That might mean cash in the bank or knowing what loans are available and the interest that you will pay on them compared with the car finance packages.
Walk away
When looking for a new car, it can be easy to set your heart on something and end up paying over the odds for it, so it is important to remember that there are plenty more of them out there. If the deal isn’t good enough for you, be prepared to walk away. It will either focus the mind of the sales person to offer you a better deal, or it will take you away from something that was not meant to be.
Additional costs
You should also work out what the additional costs for any car might be. There is nothing worse than getting a good deal on a car and then losing all the advantage when you get a quote from your insurance company, find out that it is liable for some hefty road tax or that it drinks a litre of petrol just getting it off the drive.
Little tweaks
Sometimes it can be easy to overlook a car that is not in perfect condition, but it can be worth a second look. Think carefully about what is really wrong with it and whether there are some easy and inexpensive tweaks that could be made to get it up to scratch. For example, could you buff out a scratch? If the interior looks a little tired and dated, then a new set of luxury car mats can be the thing it needs to look as good as new.
Only you know what a good deal to you is, but with a little preparation, you can find it. Put some time into researching cars, dealers and finance options before putting together a plan. If you know what it is that you want, then you are in a much better position to go out there and not only find your dream car but also get a good deal on it too.