It’s that time again: time for me to buy a new car. To be honest, it’s something I don’t really look forward to. I don’t enjoy the games, the bargaining, and the hustling that goes on at many car dealerships. Nonetheless, I have learned from past experiences and have a good idea of what I want and how to get it. Here is my plan:
Get the best warranty
I simply can’t afford to have a car give me costly problems. Even “minor” repairs can cost hundreds. Therefore I am looking exclusively at car companies that have the best warranties. Sure, I could always buy an extended warranty for any vehicle, but I don’t want the extra expense. I want the warranty included in the price of the car. For this reason, I am strongly considering Kia. According to a Kia dealer I spoke with, they have a 5-year/60,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 100,000 mile power train warranty on all their vehicles.
Pay attention to mileage
Gas is not cheap, and I will be doing a lot of driving. I need something that will get good mileage, but I am not interested in a hybrid. Hybrids have a lot of advantages, but I am planning on keeping the car for a long time and don’t want to have to pay for a new battery when the time comes. As smaller vehicles tend to get the best mileage, I am looking for something small but roomy. Cars in the size I am considering include the Mazda 3, the Ford Focus, and the Kia Forte.
Find something versatile
I won’t simply be commuting in the car I purchase. I will need to do a variety of tasks, including hauling small loads and driving the family around. I like cars that have fold down rear seats, as this allows for a lot of extra room when I need to fit something larger in the car. This means I will probably choose a 5-door or hatchback, as these vehicles are great for almost every type of driving I would do.
Choose a car online before going to the dealership
Selecting a car from dealer inventory online takes a lot of pressure off. There are no salespeople to wrangle with, no bickering about price, and no unexpected surprises. I only choose dealerships that show the prices of their vehicles online and avoid all those that say “call for price”. It gives me a good feeling to go into a dealership knowing the exact car that I will get and precisely how much I will have to pay.
Finally, if I have satisfied all the above conditions, I want to buy from somebody that is not out to put one over on me. This means no tricks, no high pressure, no magic deals, and no hidden fees. If I even sense any trickery, I will be out the door.