10 Steps to Buying a New Car
Step 3: Finding Your New Car
Now that you have reviewed the recent best-sellers and have an inside track on available rebates and incentives, it is time to narrow down the number of cars you want to test drive and price. The easiest way to do this is to simply list your wants and needs and match them up with a car. The cars that meet the demands of your lifestyle should be investigated further. Here are ten common questions to ask yourself when you start searching for the perfect car:
1. How many people regularly ride along with you in your car?
2. How much time do you spend in your car during your commute?
3. Do you need a manual or automatic transmission?
4. Do you need all-wheel-drive, front-wheel-drive, or rear-wheel drive?
5. How important is fuel mileage?
6. Do you need lots of cargo space or towing capability?
7. Are children going to be riding in your car on a regular basis?
8. Will the car fit in your parking space?
9. Are there any features you absolutely need to have?
10. How important is warranty coverage?
If you are flexible on optional equipment, color, and trim level, you will have an easier time locating a car to buy. However, never compromise if there is a piece of equipment or a specific color you are looking for -- you will be happier with your purchase in the end, even if you pay a little more for it.
After answering the questions and thinking more about the type of car that will serve you well in the years to come, the next thing to do is visit the Autotropolis New Car Research Center and read about your top choices. You can also use the Autotropolis Vehicle Selector Aid to help you narrow down the choices. It is a good idea to select three or four top contenders, because you will want some options when it comes time to do the test drive. Read up on trims levels, check out our expert reviews, compare safety features, and print pages for your car-buying folder. Once you have narrowed down the choices, you will start to look for some specific cars you can test drive.
Locating a Specific Car – The easiest way to locate a specific model with the options you want is to submit a Autotropolis True Internet Price™ quote. What this does is let dealers in your area know you are looking for a specific car. They will do their best to find you a car that comes as close as possible to fitting your requirements. Getting a TIP price quote is completely free and there is no obligation – so why not try it?
If a dealer has the car you want and comes back with a price that sounds good, you can head down to the dealership and give it a test drive. Remember, you can submit multiple TIP price quote requests for different makes and models. Let us say you want to compare a Honda Civic, a Ford Focus, and a Hyundai Accent. You can submit three TIP price quotes requests – one for each model – and have comparable prices for your car-buying folder.
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