zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Buying
/
Ten Things You Should Do When Shopping For A New Car
Ten Things You Should Do When Shopping For A New Car-May 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:10:04

Buying a new car? Read this advice first.

10.) Know What Your Trade Is Worth

Don't let a dealer tell you what your trade-in is worth, know what it's worth going in and negotiate accordingly. Often times Carmax will offer more than a typical dealer for a trade, so start shopping there.

Suggested By: , Photo Credit: Getty Images

9.) Arrange For Financing In Advance

Set up financing in advance with a bank to get lower interest rates and more flexibility in payments.

Suggested By: , Photo Credit: Getty Images

8.) Read The Fine Print

Don't just skip to the bottom and sign the paperwork, read every line carefully to ensure you're not getting cheated out of your money or agreeing to something you otherwise wouldn't agree to.

Suggested By: , Photo Credit:

7.) Take A Long Test Drive

Don't just drive the car around the block once and sign the paperwork – spend time with the car you're about to purchase and try to learn what it'll be like to live with every day. Play with all the functions, pair your phone, take it on some rough roads, and above all, be thorough.

Suggested By: , Photo Credit: GF Williams/

6.) Email Every Dealer Around

Fire off an email to all the local dealers so they know they're competing with each other, which will help narrow it down to a handful who will give you the best deal.

Suggested By: , Photo Credit:

5.) Know What You Should Pay

Before you even set foot in the dealer, do your homework and know what you should pay – research rebates, invoice prices, and rebates. Don't just let the dealers tell you what they think you should pay.

Suggested By: , Photo Credit: Getty Images

4.) Get An Itemized Price List

Our resident authority on buying new cars Tom McParland thinks you should get an itemized price list. I'll let him explain why.

"Dealers will discount the car only to make up for it with bullshit charges later. Ask for the following:

Vehicle sale price

Tax

Title/Tags

Total

Then compare with other quotes, you will see very easily who is playing games and who is giving you prices straight up. Also, have the dealer match a price with a VIN. That way they can't play the "Oh that price wasn't for the car you wanted, it was for some other car that we don't have anymore. "

Suggested By: , Photo Credit: Getty Images

3.) Take Your Time

No need to rush making a purchase on something you'll have to live with for a long time. Take your time and make sure you're getting exactly what you want, at the right price.

Suggested By: , Photo Credit:

2.) Don't Lead With Your Heart

This is a tough one for auto enthusiasts but unfortunately necessary. Cars are such an emotional thing, but you can't let your heart lead the car buying process. Use your brain when you're buying it then use let your heart lead once it's yours.

Suggested By: , Photo Credit: Getty Images

1.) Be Prepared To Walk Away

Don't be afraid to walk away from the salesman's desk. If they're not being cool, there are plenty of other dealerships that will do a better job. That and if you walk, the dealer might just offer you a better deal.

In the worst case scenario, walking away will give you the chance to sleep on the deal and look at it with a clear head the next day.

Suggested By: /, Photo Credit:

Welcome back to Answers of the Day - our daily Jalopnik feature where we take the best ten responses from the previous day's Question of the Day and shine it up to show off. It's by you and for you, the Jalopnik readers. Enjoy!

Top Photo Credit: Getty Images

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Buying
At $5,900, Is This 1984 Nissan 720 4X4 A Solid Deal?
At $5,900, Is This 1984 Nissan 720 4X4 A Solid Deal?
According to its seller, today’s Nissan 4X4 shows “pride of ownership.” Let’s see if it would take swallowing one’s pride to pay its asking price. Opinions were split on how well the design of yesterday’s has held up over the years. Some of you commented that the design still...
May 30, 2025
Someone Willingly Paid $16,000 For A Maserati Ghibli On Cars & Bids. Don’t Make The Same Mistake
Someone Willingly Paid $16,000 For A Maserati Ghibli On Cars & Bids. Don’t Make The Same Mistake
Let’s cut right to the chase: buying a is not a good idea unless you have deep enough pockets for the upkeep. For those not in the know, they’re sirens. They draw you in with their premium Italian image and sweet songs of and then go in for the...
May 30, 2025
At $8,600, Would You Go Topless In This 1994 Cadillac Eldorado?
At $8,600, Would You Go Topless In This 1994 Cadillac Eldorado?
The seller of today’s Caddy claims they should be selling it at auction but says who’s got time for that? Let’s see if we have the time for this custom convertible at its non-auction price. Many of you agreed that the $950 asked for yesterday’s was “chump change.” Even...
May 30, 2025
At $18,500, Would You Lean Toward Buying This 2022 Ford Mustang?
At $18,500, Would You Lean Toward Buying This 2022 Ford Mustang?
Today’s Mustang is being sold by a towing yard, which means it’s probably a lien sale. Let’s see if this clean title convertible is priced to put a new buyer on the hook. The general consensus on last Friday’s was that it would be the perfect car for someone...
May 30, 2025
Which One Of You Suckers Is Going To Pay Over $32,000 For A 25-Year-Old Toyota 4Runner
Which One Of You Suckers Is Going To Pay Over $32,000 For A 25-Year-Old Toyota 4Runner
The (and Tacoma) have a death grip on used values. It’s been this way for years. Go ahead, go try and buy any TRD trim that’s a couple of years old; it’ll cost you as much as a new one — not that you could buy a new one...
May 30, 2025
At $950, Would You Go All-In On This 1984 Plymouth Colt GTS Turbo Project?
At $950, Would You Go All-In On This 1984 Plymouth Colt GTS Turbo Project?
One of the calling cards of today’s Plymouth Colt is its “Twin Stick” overdrive gear change, which gives the car eight speeds going forward and two in reverse. Let’s see if this project car has anything else to offer. Just as Goldilocks discovered when appropriating Papa Bear’s lifestyle and...
May 30, 2025
Copyright 2023-2025 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved