Whether you are interested in a new or used vehicle, regardless of if you want a car, truck, or SUV, a Chevy is a great choice. When you head to your local Chevy dealership, however, there are certain things you should keep in mind to help you through the car-buying process. By having this information in your proverbial back pocket, you will be better equipped to work with salespeople, figure out exactly what you need, and get a financing option that is best for you.
Keep in mind, of course, that no article like this can ever be complete: there are just too many different factors at play and things to keep in mind when shopping for a car. The goal here, however, is to make sure you know at least some of it – and the more you read and research, the better prepared you will be when you go to a Chevy dealership. Also, these won’t involve specific models or trims of different Chevy vehicles – that’s another subject altogether. Instead, this is meant to be general advice, no matter what kind of vehicle you are in the market for.
Tip #1 – Narrow Down Your Options: Types of Vehicles
These first few tips are meant to help you figure out what vehicle is right for you and thereby narrow down your options so it’s easier to find the right one at your Chevy dealership. The easiest thing to start with is figuring out if you want a car, truck, or SUV. Typically, you can pretty easily decide on if a car is right for you – depending on the size of a vehicle you want, the passengers you typically have, and what you need to put in it. If a car is right, then start thinking about if you want something large or small, and either a 4-door sedan or 2-door coupe.
If you know you need something bigger than a car, then either a truck or SUV will be the right choice for you – or maybe a van. Deciding on what’s better for you, however, is not always easy. The number of passengers you need to get in your ride will play a big part in this. A full-size SUV will be able to fit 8 or 9 people, while a truck with a crew cab can fit 5 at most. Trucks have more room for cargo and can typically hold more weight, especially full-size heavy-duty models, while SUVs tend to give you more flexibility for passengers and cargo.
Tip #2 – Narrow Down Your Options: Size and Power
Regardless of what type of vehicle you want, you’ll need to then figure out how big and powerful a ride you need before heading to a Chevy dealership. A small car will usually save you money in terms of initial and overall costs, but has less space for passengers and cargo. A full-size heavy-duty pickup gives you a lot more power, often double the towing capacity of even a mid-size truck, but will also cost a lot more and may be too big to fit into some people lives. Chevy typically offers something in each category, so your needs won’t limit you.
Tip #3 – Research, Research, Research
As you keep narrowing down your options, one of the best things you can do before going to a Chevy dealership is to research all of your choices. There is a lot of information out there about individual Chevy models, as well as comparisons between different models and vehicles made by other manufacturers. Look for reviews and opinions from people who have owned or own the vehicle you are interested in, as well as specs and numbers.
The more you know, the better prepared you will be when going to a dealership. This extends beyond information about specific vehicles and also includes the car-buying process. Reading articles like this is a good step, and make sure you know what different terms mean that you’ll hear while buying a car. Information empowers you and ensures you know what’s going on.
Tip #4 – Know Your Financing Limits
This is incredibly important: figure out what you can afford when shopping for a vehicle before you ever visit a Chevy dealership. The dealer you go to will have a big impact on the kind of financing options you have available, but beyond all of that, you need to know what you can afford. Do some research on this (yeah I know) and see what experts suggest in terms of car payments, insurance, and other expenses as it relates to how much you make. Once you know the most you can afford, then stick to it; no car is worth losing sleep at night because you can’t pay your bills.
Tip #5 – Don’t Fall in Love
This may seem a little strange, but it will serve you well not only when shopping for a car but when looking into any big purchase or investment. You definitely want to find a vehicle that you like and that will meet all your needs, but don’t fall in love with it before you buy it. There’s a reason commercials so often use appeals to your emotions in advertising – when you have an emotional connection with something, then it’s hard to walk away.
Your ability to walk away from a situation that is not in your favor is one of the greatest strengths you have. If you fall in love with a car before you sign on the dotted line, then walking away from a bad deal will be a lot harder. A good Chevy dealership will give you lots of deals and incentives to make purchasing a car as easy as possible – but you always have the option to walk away if you decide it’s not right.
Tip #6 – Don’t Let Yourself be Pressured
This goes hand-in-hand with that last tip (and the next one, really) but it’s something you should always be aware of and watch for. If you are ever at a Chevy dealership and feel like they are trying to pressure you into making a purchase at that moment that you would prefer to think over, then get out of there. High pressure in sales typically means they are trying to avoid letting you think about it – often because you could get a better deal somewhere else.
A good Chevy dealership will have salespeople who want to help you and work with you to find the right vehicle for your needs. A salesperson might make suggestions and try to steer you toward something you would otherwise miss, but you should never feel under pressure. If things seem to be moving too fast or you’re worried about what’s going on, just walk away – again, that’s your greatest power as a customer.
Tip #7 – Trust Your Instincts
This final tip is more important than you might think. Even if you have never been to a Chevy dealership before, or ever bought a car before, you have instincts you don’t know about. Listen to that voice in your head telling you to ask a question or urging you to look at something else before making a decision.
At the end of the day, it’s your money and your vehicle. No one will have to live with the car or the payments but you, so you should always be the one in control. Trust yourself and your instincts, while never letting yourself be pressured into something, and your chances of driving away from your Chevy dealership in the perfect vehicle will significantly improve.
