Steve & Linda shared our weekly Car Care Update on the Wake Up! show on WINT Integrity Radio this morning… Buying a used car? Follow these easy steps to make sure you get a great car at a great price. Step 1: How Much Car Can You Afford? A general guideline is that your monthly car payment should not be more than 20 percent of your take-home pay. Step 2: Build a Target List of Used Cars To save money, consider buying a second-tier car, from the less popular — but still reliable — manufacturers. Well-known vehicles like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry can cost thousands more than a comparable Chevrolet Malibu or Nissan Altima, even though these are good cars. Step 3: Check Prices and Reviews Go online to see what owners your target cars are saying. Also, check local dealers’ websites for pricing information. Step 4: Locate Used Cars for Sale in Your Area Begin searching for the cars on your target list using the internet. You should consider using on-line classified ads such as AutoTrader, eBay Motors, CarGurus and Craigslist. Step 5: Check the Vehicle History Report Before you contact a used-car seller, you should get a vehicle history report for the car youre interested in buying. This is an essential first step: If the report is negative, you should not go any further with this car. Step 6: Contact the Seller Once you find a good prospective car, call the seller before you go to see the vehicle. This is a good way to establish a relationship with the seller and verify the information in the ad. Sometimes the seller will mention something that wasnt in the ad that might change your decision to buy the car. Step 7: Test-Drive the Car Test-driving a used car not only tells you if this is the right car for you but also if this particular car is in good condition. Step 8: Have the Car Inspected If you like the way the car drives, you should have it inspected before you negotiate to buy it. A pre- purchase inspection can save you thousands of dollars. You can take the car to a trusted mechanic for a thorough inspection or request a mobile inspection. A private party will probably allow you to do  this without much resistance. Step 9: Negotiate Your Best Deal Next week we’ll talk about what to do once you’ve purchased a used vehivcle.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 14:00:00 +0000
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