Buying A Car: What Questions Should You Ask?
Buying a new car can be a stressful experience whether you are a novice or a veteran of the practice. The interesting thought, however, is that it doesn't have to be so stressful. If you do your research ahead of time and ask some fairly simple, specific, and straightforward questions, you can make the right decision. Failure to do this, however, can result in you purchasing a car that you don't really like and having to sell it at a loss of cost down the road. In this article, we'll go over some of those questions you can ask prior to purchase and why you should ask them.
This is an extremely important piece of the puzzle because you definitely don't want to have to worry about your finances as you are driving the car of your dreams. Sure the interior feels really nice in those leather seats but your internal or "responsible" voice in your head will be screaming at you, telling you constantly how bad an idea this was once you start cutting down on how often you go out to eat on the weekends in order to pay off the cost of the vehicle.
If you absolutely need to have the car and you still don't have the finances to properly cover the cost of the vehicle, try to see if the dealership is offering any kind of financing that might put you on more stable footing on a monthly basis in order to pay off the vehicle. Dealerships typically offer additional financing during negotiations when selling new vehicles. If you are buying a new car from an individual, on the other hand, you may need to take out a small loan from a bank which can open up a whole new can of worms. At the end of the day, you should try to keep your vehicle purchasing to what you can afford but if you need it, you need it and we can't argue with that.
Also, think about the depreciation rate for the cost of the vehicle should also be a part of your initial strategy when deciding on a purchase. Newer vehicles tend to depreciate at a faster rate than older ones so this should also be taken into account.
Can I Test Drive The Car?
Test driving a vehicle, whether new or old is one of the most important things you can and should do when looking into whether or not you should purchase it. You wouldn't rent out an apartment if you were not able to see the inside for yourself, would you? The same concept can be applied to purchasing a car. If the seller is not letting you test drive the car, it might be time to move on to a different seller. Test driving a vehicle can prevent buyer's remorse that might happen down the line if you are not comfortable with the vehicle or are not satisfied with its performance.
What Is The Gas Mileage?
Similar to the financing situation described above, cars that don't get very good gas mileage in the city or on the highway can be subject to frequent stops at the gas station. This can have the effect of siphoning out money from your wallet, pun intended. Asking what the gas mileage is before you decide on a purchase, can give you an adequate sense of how much money you will be spending on fuel costs. This is very important for new cars but can also be a situation that comes up in older vehicles. Older vehicles might not get as good gas mileage as newer ones so asking these historical questions of a seller of a used car is extremely important.
Is There Any Maintenance History?
If you are looking into purchasing an older vehicle, make sure to ask the seller about the maintenance history. This will help you determine how much money you will need to put into getting the car updated and whether or not your finances can handle what is required to get the car working in good condition again. On one hand, you may have a seller that was diligent about regular oil changes, tire rotations, and air filter replacements while on the other hand, the owner may have slacked on the maintenance side of the vehicle and you could be dealing with a vehicle that is quite "unhealthy" and will need lots of upgrades.
At the end of the day, when deciding on purchasing a vehicle, these questions can give you a guide on what is important when making the decision. Use this list to figure out whether your finances can take the hit or how you can prevent buyers remorse. If you have any other questions or would like to schedule an appointment, feel free to reach out to us today.