Do Your Homework
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| Research the vehicle that will best serve both your wants and needs over the time period you plan to own it. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler) |
Buying a new car is a big decision, but it doesn't have to be a difficult one. The average person will buy 10-12 cars in their lifetime. Preparing yourself and doing your homework is the key to being able to make these decisions with total confidence. Buying the right car at a fair price does have its challenges, but here are some helpful tips and things to be aware of to help you make the process as enjoyable and stress-free as possible.
Research new cars; view different models on line and familiarize yourself with what is available. In doing so, you may discover a particular model that you may not have known about. Try researching through a great Canadian site at www.thecarmagazine.com. You can search by make, model, style, type etc. It provides excellent information about the vehicle's engine and transmission, including standard, optional, exterior and safety features as well as price comparisons and more. They also have a huge library of articles about virtually every make and model.
Don't narrow your vehicle selections down to one car, just yet. If you become set on buying one particular car, you may lose a lot of potential negotiating power. This way, if you can't get a good deal on one car, you can negotiate on another.
Obtain the dealers invoice cost for the makes and models you are most interested in. In addition to the dealers invoice cost, all rebates, factory to dealer and factory to consumer cash incentives as well as all subsidized finance and lease rate programs are listed at www.carcostcanada.com and www.freeinvoiceprices.com