My friends keep asking me for "the Secret to a Great Car Deal." It's actually easier than ever!
DO YOUR HOMEWORK FROM HOME!
You don't have to visit several Dealers to shop for your best deal. There are trusted websites available that can give you valuable insight into current market pricing and they will let you know what you should expect to pay for a car in your area.
Visit www.kbb.com or www.edmunds.com and research the model that you are interested in. These sites can give you up to date pricing based on what others in your area are paying.
TRADE-IN VALUES
Trade-in Values can be reviewed at both Kelley Blue Book's website or Edmunds as well. You will notice discrepancies between these two rating services so use their information as a guide.
Depending on what the dealer has success re-marketing, what they may already have in inventory, and the age and condition of your trade, they may not be interested in your car for anything other than the wholesale value. Don't take that personally. Wholesale values run close to Kelley Blue Book's "FAIR" value or Edmunds "AVERAGE" condition.
Your Trade-In may earn you a Sales Tax credit in the State of Ohio that will increase the trade impact by as much as 7.5%.
CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED ALTERNATIVE
If you are a high mileage driver or if you want to avoid "initial depreciation" but are leery of Used Cars, a Cerified Vehicle may be just right for you. Certified Vehicles are usually "off lease" cars that are a few years old with very low mileage. Manufacturers will back these vehicles with warranties that are longer than original new car warranties so that you can buy with confidence. Please CLICK HERE for additional information.
DEALERS TRADE BETTER FOR THE BRAND THAT THEY SELL NEW.
GO WITH SOMEONE YOU CAN TRUST.
Who sells you the car can make a big difference in the buying experience. Ask questions of the salesperson that will tell you a little about who they are such as: How long have they worked there? What did they do before that? What do they drive?
The character of the Dealership should be of concern as well. Do they have any awards? Are they involved with the local community? Ask your friends that may have shopped there to rate the experience. Be sure to ask about follow up after the sale and how easy the Service Department is to use.
AMMENITIES A Dealer should offer services after the sale to make your ownership experience one of a kind. Look for services such as:
*CONVENIENT SERVICE HOURS *EXPRESS SERVICES WHILE-U-WAIT *SHUTTLE DELIVERY AND PICK UP *REPLACEMENT VEHICLES FOR EXTENDED SERVICE VISITS *CONFORTABLE WAITING AREA *Wi-Fi COMPUTER ACCESS *KID FRIENDLY AREAS *REFERRAL PROGRAMS *CUSTOMER APPRECIATION EVENTS *FREE CAR WASHES
CONTACT JIM REDDY CLICK HERE OR PHONE HIM DIRECTLY AT: (866) 645-4080 jreddy@hondamarysville.com
THERE IS MORE TO A GREAT CAR DEAL THAN JUST A GOOD PRICE!
The FUTURE VALUE of your car is important!
"Your car's value at the end is what you should consider at the beginning."
You can get an idea of how well the prospective vehicle holds its resale value by reviewing what a similarly equipped model that is three years old is selling for today. In addition, you should consider average maintenance costs for the vehicle, insurance premiums, and your average miles per year (National average is 15,000 per year). Edmunds has a calculator to assist you. To access this, CLICK HERE.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
When planning the financing of your vehicle, be sure that you are dealing with a company that has your best interests at heart. They should be able to offer several alternatives to make sure that you receive the best value for your buying structure.
Options should include; equity discounted rates when you are making a substantial down payment, zero down alternatives, term extensions for payment relief, and additional services that would help secure your position in case of a total loss or interruption in income due to injury or death.
RESIDUAL BASED FINANCING OPTION
Should you consider LEASING your next car? That's a good question. Depending on your appetite for NEW CARS and the amount of miles that you drive in a year, Manufacturer's have developed CLOSED END LEASES that can keep your monthly auto expenditures in check and have you driving a NEW CAR for a USED CAR payment. The Lease is based on a Residual Value which guarantees the vehicle's worth at the end of the term. It's not for everybody but we do find that it is a plausable alternative to traditional financing options for normal drivers. To take the LEASING QUIZ and see if this is something that you should consider, CLICK HERE.
Look for Dealers that adhere to the standards set fourth by the Association of Finance and Insurance Professionals as recommended by the National Auto Dealers Association.