If the internet is a cyber tree of knowledge, then why are people still getting screwed when it comes to buying new cars? There are articles EVERYWHERE advising consumers on how not to get messed with when purchasing a new car. Guess what? Here’s one more!
Don’t Take Anyone’s Word for It — Check it Yourself
I don’t care if Hagrid himself jumped out of your Harry Potter book, beat down your door, told you “you’re a wizard,” lit a fire with a pink umbrella, and said that new 2016 Chevy Cruze you’re looking at ran on sprite giggles and fairy farts. Unless you can open the hood and physically see miniature, mythical winged-people fly out in lieu of an engine, don’t believe him.
This goes for anyone, especially a salesman at a car dealership. While some of these dealers are more honest than they ever were in the past, there are still dealerships that like to play games with your mind and…your bank account. Therefore, check everything for yourself, and make sure it all matches up with what they’re telling you.
This is particularly important when it comes to the MSRP of the car, contract, and vehicle history report. If you do discover something is off, give them the middle finger and walk away, and write an angry and spiteful review on their website warning others.
Skip the Sap — Don’t Fall in Love with a Car
Listen, this isn’t Titanic 2.0, okay? I’m talking about all of you who give your car a name or a persona. It’s a machine to get you from point A to point B safely. Therefore, running up to a red Camaro, and scoping it out with bug eyes and a throbbing heart shouldn’t be the way you make a decision that’s going to cost you tens of thousands of dollars.
Not only will this infatuation blind you to smarter, alternative models, but it will land you a one-way ticket to getting a contract that has you selling a kidney just to keep up with car payments.
Please, Don’t Make Monthly Payments your Main Focus
As soon as you walk into a dealership, don’t be surprised if you hear “Hi, looking for a car? How much are you looking to pay monthly?” from about seven different car salesman fighting for your attention. Monthly isn’t what your interested in, it’s how much the vehicle costs overall that’s important. Because for all you know, your paying $1,000 per month on a car that only works out to be $600 a month in overall value.
Therefore, it’s important to check out how much the dealer paid for the car (or the true market value) and negotiate up from there. Don’t take the sticker price for granted. Always negotiate down. Otherwise, you could land yourself in the situation I just mentioned above.
It all boils down to using the internet wisely, doing a lot of research, and being smart with your purchases. Don’t let any of them suck you in with promises of a $0 down payment, or low monthly payments. Because in the grand scheme of things, you’re most likely getting screwed by interest. Always, ALWAYS, check everything yourself — whether that’s to do with the condition of the car, or the contract and why you’re paying X amount of dollars for it. Even just doing what I said here will save you a lot of money and headaches later down the road.
