A Buyer''s Guide to Car Shopping
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Copyright 2009 San Jose Mercury NewsAll rights reserved San Jose Mercury News (California)
Sunday 8 March 2009
SECTION: BUSINESS; Automotive
LENGTH: 1125 words
TITLE: A guide to buying the car shopping
Signature: By Sue McAllister Mercury News
Are you in the market for a car, or think you might be soon? If yes, there are many things to resolve before stepping away from your new vehicle.
In the automotive market, manufacturers of new cars are offering an ever-changing range of incentives, but the cars have their attractions, too. Financing May be difficult to get car dealers, once it was, but the savings and loan can be a good source for loans.
The experts offer the following advice for prospective car buyers in search of a set of wheels.
Buy or wait?
"Do you really need a new car now or is there a way to earn a few more months of your old car?" said Eric Evarts, associate publisher Consumer Reports auto. If you have an old car that has no modern safety features, you're more likely to be on the market to buy a car. But the repair of your old car in May more sense than replacing, Evarts said.
When zero financing and credit conditions judged to be easy, many people are used to purchase a new vehicle during the repairs on their cars to pesky. However, Evarts said, "Brake jobs are not cheap" compared to new cars expenditures. Even for a bombing "catastrophic" the repair of a new engine for $ 5000 would be wiser to buy another car, said Jack Gillis of the Consumer Federation of America and author of "The Car Book." 'If you add up to 10 per cent payment of a new vehicle, plus insurance and higher monthly loan payments, he said, "It is very easy to eat that $ 5000 and you will see how this new car will really cost you. "
New or Used?
If you really need to buy a car, good deals abound on new models.
"There are values truly extraordinary, compared to retail manufacturer's suggested price," said Gillis of the Consumer Federation. With a new car, buyers can get more options in the economy fuel (hybrids, for example), the latest security technology and features, styles and updated no mystery stains on the carpet.
Gillis said buyers of used cars in the $ 7000 to $ 12,000 for mid-range cars, said it may consider new cars now on sale at the discount price ranges.
But there are many good quality for the sale of used cars these days, "said Consumer Reports' Evarts. That's because leasing has been popular in recent years and the low-mileage cars are returned to dealers now, and offered for sale.
"I think now is the perfect time to look at a used car, and I do not think that will continue for more than two years," said Evarts. This is because supply will fall by more people opt to save money by buying used cars. "You can find a good, low mileage used cars for not much money now."
Philip Reed of Edmunds.com, a car search and purchase of the site, decided that the cars are increasingly popular. "We're in an economy of mind, as a country," said Reed, who wrote the "Strategies for Smart Car Buyers."
"I strongly recommend people buy used cars. At the end of a year, the new car has depreciated by 30 per cent. The impairment loss is your savings, it's that simple."
Edmunds.com data shows that 27 percent of car buyers who went to the showrooms to buy a new car in February ended up buying a used one instead. This has been a significant increase compared to three months when 16 percent of buyers has increased again to use.
But not everyone enjoys the unknowns that may come to buy a used car (what the owner really change the oil often? Sunroof leak in the rain?).
Also remember: Buying a car usually means that you must pay in cash.
HOW CAN I WORK WITH DEALERS?
Remember that dealers incentives for new car buyers are constantly evolving, so that your research close to the time you plan to buy, "said Reed of Edmunds.com. "Employee discount" offered to the public on a model of this month may not apply next month, for example.
Also, comparison shopping is more important than ever. Depositaries part of a metropolitan area can offer lower prices than the other, "said Reed.
After studying the car you want, the best way to get the best price is to pit two or three dealers against one another, "said Gillis of the Consumer Federation. If you show that you dealers are a good faith purchaser and they know they have against each other tenders, they will give you their best price. And remember, Gillis said: "You have the most important in the negotiation, and that the 180-degree turn. "
WHERE DO I LOOK for used cars?
You can find dealers of used cars "lots, the independent used car lots, private parties through advertisements in print publications as the San Jose Mercury News and online at www.mercurynews.com., And friends and family.
Gillis said buying through friends and family is the best, because you might get an honest assessment of the history of the car, and your friends are not liable to sell you a problem of car.
Another option is to look for cars that have been "certified" by the car dealers. These programs do not mean that the car is perfect, but to indicate the dealer has given "some attention to the critical elements on the car," said Gillis.
Private party sales are less than its preferred option, because he said they include everything from "great deal" to "rebuild the wreckage, and it is not always easy to distinguish.
On the other hand, Reed Edmunds.com. said he likes the purchase of private parties, because "prices are negotiable and very good for me ... is like a treasure hunt."
How can I avoid being a clunker?
The experts suggest that buyers take the car they are considering buying a mechanic for an inspection. This is particularly important if the purchase of a private party, as opposed to "certified used" programs offered by some car manufacturers and dealers. The inspection can cost $ 100 or, but it is the sentence of the investment, "said Gillis of the Consumer Federation.
Another good tool is the Web site online Carfax.com., "Said Reed. The buyers of a car between the vehicle identification number to review the history of the car, including the number of previous owners, before service, and accidents and damage, among other information.
What about financing? Leasing deals have largely dried up, said the experts, and the best financing rates dealers are only available for buyers with excellent credit. The experts said buyers expect to save 10 to 20 percent down to get a car loan.
Edmunds.com 's Reed and others recommend pre-financing before going out to buy. But if the dealer in terms of financing is better than what the buyer was already lined up with another funding source, he or she may opt to apply for it.
Contact Sue McAllister smcallister@mercurynews.com or (408) 920-5833.
GRAPHIC:
LOAD-DATE: March 8 2009
Copyright © 2009 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc.. All rights reserved
Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy
Sunday 8 March 2009
SECTION: BUSINESS; Automotive
LENGTH: 1125 words
TITLE: A guide to buying the car shopping
Signature: By Sue McAllister Mercury News
Are you in the market for a car, or think you might be soon? If yes, there are many things to resolve before stepping away from your new vehicle.
In the automotive market, manufacturers of new cars are offering an ever-changing range of incentives, but the cars have their attractions, too. Financing May be difficult to get car dealers, once it was, but the savings and loan can be a good source for loans.
The experts offer the following advice for prospective car buyers in search of a set of wheels.
Buy or wait?
"Do you really need a new car now or is there a way to earn a few more months of your old car?" said Eric Evarts, associate publisher Consumer Reports auto. If you have an old car that has no modern safety features, you're more likely to be on the market to buy a car. But the repair of your old car in May more sense than replacing, Evarts said.
When zero financing and credit conditions judged to be easy, many people are used to purchase a new vehicle during the repairs on their cars to pesky. However, Evarts said, "Brake jobs are not cheap" compared to new cars expenditures. Even for a bombing "catastrophic" the repair of a new engine for $ 5000 would be wiser to buy another car, said Jack Gillis of the Consumer Federation of America and author of "The Car Book." 'If you add up to 10 per cent payment of a new vehicle, plus insurance and higher monthly loan payments, he said, "It is very easy to eat that $ 5000 and you will see how this new car will really cost you. "
New or Used?
If you really need to buy a car, good deals abound on new models.
"There are values truly extraordinary, compared to retail manufacturer's suggested price," said Gillis of the Consumer Federation. With a new car, buyers can get more options in the economy fuel (hybrids, for example), the latest security technology and features, styles and updated no mystery stains on the carpet.
Gillis said buyers of used cars in the $ 7000 to $ 12,000 for mid-range cars, said it may consider new cars now on sale at the discount price ranges.
But there are many good quality for the sale of used cars these days, "said Consumer Reports' Evarts. That's because leasing has been popular in recent years and the low-mileage cars are returned to dealers now, and offered for sale.
"I think now is the perfect time to look at a used car, and I do not think that will continue for more than two years," said Evarts. This is because supply will fall by more people opt to save money by buying used cars. "You can find a good, low mileage used cars for not much money now."
Philip Reed of Edmunds.com, a car search and purchase of the site, decided that the cars are increasingly popular. "We're in an economy of mind, as a country," said Reed, who wrote the "Strategies for Smart Car Buyers."
"I strongly recommend people buy used cars. At the end of a year, the new car has depreciated by 30 per cent. The impairment loss is your savings, it's that simple."
Edmunds.com data shows that 27 percent of car buyers who went to the showrooms to buy a new car in February ended up buying a used one instead. This has been a significant increase compared to three months when 16 percent of buyers has increased again to use.
But not everyone enjoys the unknowns that may come to buy a used car (what the owner really change the oil often? Sunroof leak in the rain?).
Also remember: Buying a car usually means that you must pay in cash.
HOW CAN I WORK WITH DEALERS?
Remember that dealers incentives for new car buyers are constantly evolving, so that your research close to the time you plan to buy, "said Reed of Edmunds.com. "Employee discount" offered to the public on a model of this month may not apply next month, for example.
Also, comparison shopping is more important than ever. Depositaries part of a metropolitan area can offer lower prices than the other, "said Reed.
After studying the car you want, the best way to get the best price is to pit two or three dealers against one another, "said Gillis of the Consumer Federation. If you show that you dealers are a good faith purchaser and they know they have against each other tenders, they will give you their best price. And remember, Gillis said: "You have the most important in the negotiation, and that the 180-degree turn. "
WHERE DO I LOOK for used cars?
You can find dealers of used cars "lots, the independent used car lots, private parties through advertisements in print publications as the San Jose Mercury News and online at www.mercurynews.com., And friends and family.
Gillis said buying through friends and family is the best, because you might get an honest assessment of the history of the car, and your friends are not liable to sell you a problem of car.
Another option is to look for cars that have been "certified" by the car dealers. These programs do not mean that the car is perfect, but to indicate the dealer has given "some attention to the critical elements on the car," said Gillis.
Private party sales are less than its preferred option, because he said they include everything from "great deal" to "rebuild the wreckage, and it is not always easy to distinguish.
On the other hand, Reed Edmunds.com. said he likes the purchase of private parties, because "prices are negotiable and very good for me ... is like a treasure hunt."
How can I avoid being a clunker?
The experts suggest that buyers take the car they are considering buying a mechanic for an inspection. This is particularly important if the purchase of a private party, as opposed to "certified used" programs offered by some car manufacturers and dealers. The inspection can cost $ 100 or, but it is the sentence of the investment, "said Gillis of the Consumer Federation.
Another good tool is the Web site online Carfax.com., "Said Reed. The buyers of a car between the vehicle identification number to review the history of the car, including the number of previous owners, before service, and accidents and damage, among other information.
What about financing? Leasing deals have largely dried up, said the experts, and the best financing rates dealers are only available for buyers with excellent credit. The experts said buyers expect to save 10 to 20 percent down to get a car loan.
Edmunds.com 's Reed and others recommend pre-financing before going out to buy. But if the dealer in terms of financing is better than what the buyer was already lined up with another funding source, he or she may opt to apply for it.
Contact Sue McAllister smcallister@mercurynews.com or (408) 920-5833.
GRAPHIC:
LOAD-DATE: March 8 2009
Copyright © 2009 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc.. All rights reserved
Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy
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