Smart Steps to Take Before Buying a New Vehicle

I've been diligent in researching and shopping for a new vehicle for nearly a year. It's not my first time buying a car. However, the last car I bought, I did so in absolute haste. I made the purchase based mainly on the Pontiac G6 Coupe sporty look. It is horrible in snow, and has been through several recalls, one of which is still not fixed after three trips to the service department. Six years and numerous regrets later, I refuse to make that mistake again. Consider the steps I've taken this time around in preparation for buying a new vehicle.

Narrow down the Vehicle Choice- When I began this adventure; there were roughly 12 vehicles that piqued my interest. Among the 12 that I was partial to, some were cars, and others were SUVs. From the 12 I naturally eliminated first, any vehicle that was even remotely out of my budget range. That took six off the list. (Sigh). From the remaining six, I scratched three more for obvious reasons: too small, gas hog, oversized, or it lacked necessary features like side air bags. I now had three vehicles to concentrate my research on.

Utilize the Web to Get the Lowdown- It goes without saying that I visited the Ford, Kia, and Chevy dealership websites. That's a logical step. I wanted to know, though, what actual owners of the vehicles had to say about their purchase. For instance, I logged on to Edmunds.com website to read what Kia Sorento owners had to say in the consumer discussions' forum. This is a terrific research tool to utilize when scoping out new vehicles.

Ask Actual Owners- If they appear friendly, I've asked people in the parking lot at the grocery store how they like their Ford Edge or Chevy Traverse. They were happy to answer my questions. The owner of the vehicle doesn't have anything to lose by sharing their opinion. Nothing beats hearing an honest judgment coming straight from the source.

One-Stop Research- Yahoo! Autos is another website that came in handy throughout my car-buying research process. The site offers a multitude of ways to explore the world of new vehicles. There is a handy research tab I took advantage of. I could read reviews, check ratings and conduct an essential side-by-side comparison of my new car choices.

Check that Junk Mail- Normally, I toss most of the junk mail without a glance. Lately, I have been going through it every day. I found several respectable incentives being offered by local car dealerships. Furthermore, well-maintained used vehicles are sought after right now. I've received above-average trade-in offers, specifically on my Pontiac G6. By the way, Pontiac no longer exists. I almost passed these over because it looked like junk mail.

Supporting Area Businesses- I prefer shopping within a certain parameter in the Massachusetts area where I live. It feels great to give the local economy a boost. While researching and shopping for a new car, I have been tempted to stray. Some dealerships may offer deeper new-vehicle discounts, but I unearthed that their reputation for service is lacking. Service is extremely important to me. I will always pay a little more to buy a new car if I know the dealership will be there when I need them.

Sources:

Author's personal experience

Edmunds.com

Yahoo! Autos