Suggestions for buying a New or Used Cars and Trucks in Vancouver
Posted on Sunday, November 9, 2008 at 4:53 amMany people who need tips on buying a new or used car in Vancouver look online for everything from specs to financing. And if you really want to find the best deals whether you’re considering new or used vehicles, you will need to visit several different Web sites and really do your homework.
There is so much information easily available including everything from sticker price to customer rebate information, that this chore can at times seem overwhelming. This is especially true since much of the information as well as car buying tips will vary from one site to the next. So, the best advice is to contact an auto manufacturer or Vancouver car dealer directly whenever you’re in doubt.
All of this preliminary work will of course, eventually pay off, as it should help to avoid some of the complications of buying a car and make you a much more knowledgeable buyer. So take your time and educate yourself well.
To assist you you out in your quest for useful Vancouver car buying tips, we offer a simple checklist that should help to ensure that you do indeed get the best bargain for your money.
11 Car Buying Tips
1. Before you even start looking for a car, you need to decide what your budget is and what your Vancouver bank’s interest rate is for new and used cars. If you can get pre-approved you should do so because this will enhance your negotiating position and get you your best deal quickly.
2. As we stated earlier, your next step is to find out new and used car prices online, from the library, bookstore or other Vancouver dealerships. Otherwise, insist on seeing the dealer’s invoice. Remember, when looking for a new vehicle, the dealer can still make a profit selling his new cars even at his invoice price.
3. Don’t spend your hard earned money preparing your car so you can get the best trade-in value. Instead replace new tires, radios, trailer hitches and other accessories with friends for extra cash so that you can minimize your losses once you do trade it in.
4. Now, once you begin your shopping at Vancouver dealerships don’t go alone. Take someone with you. This will give you an advantage over with the salesman.
5. Only buy used cars on lots that are associated with a new car dealer. They only keep the best trade-ins to sell themselves. The rest get moved to other used car lots.
6. Most people do not follow this next tip. Don’t get too attached to a car before buying it. If you do it will make it much harder for you to get a descent price and later on you might realize that you actually can not afford it.
7. Never, ever buy a used car before getting it thoroughly inspected by your own mechanic before hand.
8. When you have a trade in as part of the bargain make sure you get back the keys to your trade-in before you begin your negotiations so that you can leave when you want to and not when they want you to.
9. Take the time you need and shop on your own schedule and not that of the salesman’s. Don’t fall for the pressure that you need to hurry with your decision.
10. However, for the best bargain, negotiate your purchase during the last two days of the month and the last two hours of the working day for the dealership. This is always rush time for Vancouver dealers and can work in your favor as they want to close sales at this time so they can get them on the books before the month ends.
11. Here’s the last but not least of our car buying suggestions. When considering mileage and the age of the vehicle remember, the average yearly mileage on most used cars is 15,000 miles. Once they pass that 100,000 mile mark they can be a risky investment.
