AS A CUSTOMER WE ASK YOU DO YOUR RESEARCH AS THIS IS OUR OPINION BASED ON OUR STUDIES AND EXPERIENCE AND IN NO WAY INTENDED TO MISLEAD. if you stumbled across this website looking for a $1000 safe reliable car not needing any work and the above statement of reality hasn't pissed you off then keep reading.
MORE STUFF BELOW YOU AIN'T GOTTA READ UNLESS YOU WANNA. (wE COPIED THIS STUFF OFFA THE INTERWEB AND CHANGED A FEW WORDINGS)
Buyer Tip: How NOT To Buy a Car! Hey kid, listen to your dad. We know you're excited to buy a car, but the salesman's been doing this longer than you have. Here's how to save money by avoiding ten rookie car-buying mistakes.
Yep, getting a new set of wheels is one of those wonderful sources of high-octane excitement--but don't get too revved up.
Car buying is, or should be, a calculated decision. It's a major purchase. So, before you go cuckoo for that coupe or raving for that roadster, consider these top 10 mistakes car buyers make.
How NOT to buy a car
1. Buying the wrong vehicle. “With today’s helium prices at an all time low you would have to be an idiot to not buy a blimp!” Sure, those SUVs look big and cool, and dealers are dealing. But do you need one to drive the mile and a half to bingo every Sunday? Is that racy red sports car really the best choice for your family-of-five-kids-and-growing? If you buy the wrong car and try to trade it back in the trade in allowance can be a costly mistake. Check insurance costs, repair estimates and everything associated with what is meant to be a 5 year commitment. .
2. Getting emotional in the showroom If you fall in love with a car, be sure not to overreact and get too eager. Give yourself some time to sit back and make sure it's the car for you. In short, don't let your heart rule your head -- it can lead to aching in both. Also, keep a grasp on reality. If you can afford $20,000 and the object of your affection lists for $30,000, you might be able to negotiate it down to, say, $27,000, but there's no way you're going to be able to buy it for $20,000. Do you need to buy brand new when used can be $10,000 less and get you where you need to go just as well? Are you excited about buying an expensive Hybrid to save on fuel when the cost of fuel over 5 years is still less than the depreciation and maintenance costs of a half priced “gas guzzler?”
3. Choosing a dealer by location No, dealers are not all the same, not even for the same exact makes and models so ask around. Learn from friends' experiences. Also, determine your dealer's Customer Satisfaction Index, or CSI, which is a ranking generally maintained by individual automakers for the dealerships that sell their vehicles. Be careful of internet sites that may be biased towards whatever automaker may be financing the information. Don’t believe everything that is in print and customer references are the best form of advertising.
Ford, for example, gives out what's called the Blue Oval Award to dealers with a top ranking. The CSI is a reflection of how well an individual dealer satisfies its customers in sales and service. Ask your salesman about the dealership's awards. If he balks, you should walk. You can also check a dealership's complaint record with the Better Business Bureau. In Alberta it’s called AMVIC
4. Talking trade-in too early This is another easy trap to fall into, because dealers love to play the trade-in game. Don't let them muddy the waters. Negotiate a satisfactory price for the new car, and then bring up your trade-in. Another thought: If you bring in your old car full of trash and covered in mud, the appraiser will rightly assume you don't put much value on it yourself. Remember that when push comes to shove wholesale to wholesale is the only recourse a dealer has to prove the realistic value of any trade. “The black book” does not lie if you think the dealer is. Your trade in is to be resold and if it is in reasonable condition any dealer will be happy to give you what it is worth…..The key words are what it is worth. When the numbers hit you in the face do you really need to trade in your vehicle or keep it for a few more years or use it as a spare vehicle?
5. Going it alone when you need a helping hand If hassles give you headaches and negotiations make you nauseated, turn it over to an auto broker or a service such as the AAA Endorsed Auto Buying Program, which nets members special pricing through authorized dealers. If you don’t know anything don’t be a know it all and it is alright to ask for the advice to a salesman as they are supposed to know what they are talking about. If you learn some proven facts about a make and model you are shopping for, you can test the salesman with a Q and A session and have gained trust earned with the right answers. Any salesman who makes up answers for the sake of a sale should be walked away from. It’s wise to ask what kind of history is known about what you are potentially buying. If you do not want an ex rental car from a dealer you have to say that. If you don’t want a car purchased from an auction you will probably not buy anything but at least you will be educated on the remarketing of used automobiles.
6. Forgetting that it ain't over till it's over Or, in the case of car buying, it ain't over till the business manager sings. You may think you have bought your car once the sales manager shakes your hand and tells you what a great deal you got. But beware the business office, often called the finance and insurance office. Dealers often make as much money in this room as they do on the showroom floor. Insurance, dealer add-ons, extra fees and interest rate changes are among the common ploys you could get clobbered with on your way out the door. Also remember that the “buy now limited supply, or sale ends this week” is a load of BS. Avoiding a high pressure sales pitch will always save you money. If the deal is offered once it will be again and maybe even less.
7. I can get a better deal privately cause dealers rip people off Hmmm. An auto dealer is a seller who’s goal is to profit and make a living just like the car buyer who goes to work for a paycheck. A private seller is selling their vehicle for any number of reasons and realistically many of the reasons is the last repair estimate of the auto in question. This is very important….After shopping for a month and you find the 2 of the best suited autos for you. One is a licensed dealer and one is a private seller. The dealer is $1000 more but comes with a small warranty safety inspection and payment plans. The private seller has no warranty, no payment plans and no inspection. The wise thing to do is ask private seller to allow for an inspection, title search and do all of the things a dealer would do before selling the vehicle. If the repair cost brings the price the same as the dealer sale the wiser choice is to go with the dealer and get in writing the warranty terms as well as payment options. If after inspection the private seller after repairs cost is remarkably less than what the dealer is offering start dealing between the 2 parties for the best deal. After in the end business is business and both sellers want to make a deal.
Sometimes expect a for sale by dealer auto to be priced slightly higher than a private sale because of the simple costs involved like the inspections and reconditioning associated with selling a car with a clean bill of health. Beware of curbers. These guys pose as private sellers and will sell anything to anybody often selling their “mothers, sisters brothers, uncles vehicle etc: for pure profit without conscience and it is illegal.You must get a somewhat clear history of the vehicle in question and don't be the victim of purchasing a ''Salvage non repairable, Out of Province, Big fat lien, stolen, or a usa imported New Orleans special.''try to Insure and register before paying for the vehicle unless you are buying through a licenced dealer. When shopping for a used car leave the ego at home and make an educated decision as there are deals in both directions as well as costs involved.
8. I don’t want to pay for Inspections and a newer car is better You are already going to be spending around 3000 bucks, what’s another $100. All dealers must provide inspections if one is not offered don’t walk away….RUN! This is a law to protect both buyer and seller and is called a Mechanical Fitness certificate. A used vehicle can be declared complete junk and fail the inspection but it is up to the seller to provide the information declaring mechanical fitness so the buyer can make an educated choice on what is being purchased. The signature on the form acknowledges the buyers has accepted the vehicles condition and the seller in this case the dealer cannot be blamed for mechanical failure. Always be leary of an auto dealer insisting on selling a vehicle without inspection. Yes the law says it is wrong but like in any profession there are rotten apples and not all auto dealers are good guys. Unless you are a mechanic or have money to burn buying any vehicle without having a professional inspect it is just ludacris! Why why why would anyone risk thousands of dollars on something that may be dangerous but looks great often referred to a polished turd? How much is your life worth surely an extra $100 is worth the safety of you and even the children that may be riding with you. Used cars buyer are known to rationalize buying a car that is new enough to avoid the legal registration inspections to save the $100. is that you? If so STOP It! what are the plans when the vehicle becomes the age where the insurance company demands an inspection to continue to insure the car? Cars get older every year not younger and inspections are for safety and can avoid buying a mistake no matter what year, age, make or model. yes, a 6 year old car with low mileage can fail an inspection and can be as good or bad as a 15 year old one.
9. The cheaper the better. Used vehicles will have comparable prices within reason. If there are 2 similar cars priced at a $2000 difference there will be a reason and cheaper is not always better so find out why the price is what it is. An Out Of Province vehicle for sale (aka OOPs) will be less to buy and a simple inspection to pass does NOT just happen! These autos for sale need to have a very extensive inspection to be re registered in another province. A dealer must declare these vehicles if offered for sale and are allowed to sell them but how much is the cost to have it roadworthy and pass inspection? It is smarter to buy what you want when you know what that is and a few extra dollars to save the time and headache is worth not gambling. Leave the gambling to the dealers buying the cars for resale as that is their job not yours.
10. I need a new car so I won’t break down! Only a fool believes a machine built buy man will run forever and never leave you stranded. If that were true there would be no such thing as a mechanic. Without mentioning makes and models the reality is every automobile made has an Achilles heel. Automakers would go out of business if what they built did not eventually need service as it is a billion dollar business meant to make money from you the consumer. Most new vehicle warranties are at least a 5 year 100,000km powertrain, meaning moving parts warranty. It is to cover manufacturing flaws which are inevitable as so many vehicles are mass produced. These warranties can be transferred to second and even third owners as well until they expire.
The consumers job is to decide which make and model best suits their budget in overall maintenance costs. When thinking about when the warranty expires it may be wiser to buy a standard transmission in the makes and models that have a history of weaker automatic transmissions to better the odds of longer trouble free driving. That decision may compromise comfort if shifting gears is not a desire, but may be important when comparing the cost of a clutch over rebuilding and automatic shifting car. A new car becomes a used car the minute it drives off the lot with a new owner and unless you park it you MUST maintain it.
"show me the carfax"
OUR OPINION AND EXPERIENCE CONCLUDES TRUSTING THE RELIABILITY OF A VEHICLE HISTORY REPORT IS FOOLISH AS THEY ARE NOT A GUARANTEE. IT'S ONLY A GUIDE AND ONE HAD BETTER EXPECT THAT 'IF IT DRIVES IT WILL BE DAMAGED SOMEHOW SOMEWHERE' HOW A VEHICLE IS REPAIRED IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT. IF THE DEALER IS SO SURE HIS REPORT IS CLEAN GET IT WRITING!
OTHER THAN 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN AUTOBODY AND MECHANICS BIZ.......A REVIEW OF 10 VEHICLES RANDOMLY CHOSEN FROM A DEALER AUCTION SALE RUNLIST REVEALED CARPROOFS HISTORY REPORTS SHOWING 7 OUT OF 10 VEHICLES HAD A CARPROOF CLAIM. THIS WAS REPEATED 3 TIMES FOR A TOTAL OF 30 VEHICLES AND THE RESULTS WERE THE SAME. THIS EQUALED 70% OF VEHICLES HAVING A CLAIM. OUR RECOMMENDATION FROM THIS EVIDENCE IS TO CONSIDER YOUR BUYING CHOICES ON THOSE STATISTICS IF VEHICLE HISTORIES ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU. IN SOME CASES VEHICLES WITH DAMAGES HAVE A CARPROOF CLAIM OF "NO DETRIMENTAL RECORDS FOUND." WE DECLARE AND INFORM THE CUSTOMER AND MAY EVEN PHOTOGRAPH THESE VEHICLES AS PROOF EVEN IF IT KILLS THE SALE. SOMETIMES THE TRUTH HURTS BUT OUR EDUCATED OPINION BACKED BY RESEARCH IS TO USE A VEHICLE HISTORY REPORT AS A GUIDE NOT A BIBLE. WE CHALK UP THE STATS AS "HALF OF WHAT'S ON THE ROAD HAS SUFFERED SOME DAMAGE." SO IF YOU HEAR US SAY "IT'S A CLEAN REPORT BUT SHE'S BEEN SHMUCKED" THAT'S JUST US TELLING IT LIKE IT IS TO LESSEN THE BULLSHIT.
