12 things to know before buying a car ---2

   Welcome reader, last week I promised the other half of 12 things to know before buying a car. Without wasting any time, let's go to number seven so I can fulfill the promise I made.

• SALESPEOPLE ARE OFTEN AS AFRAID OF YOU AS YOU ARE OF THEM: Most people see car salesmen as sharks that are ready to attack you as soon as you walk into the lot. The truth is that most of them are scared to even talk to you. They know how people see them and it is hard to start a conversation with someone who hates you before you even make eye contact with them. As a rule, seasoned salespeople are likely to have the typical car salesman personna.You may want to avoid them but, then again, remember they know a lot about the product. So whatever you do remember that car salespeople are people too.
• BEWARE OF HIDDEN FEES: Car dealers are notorious for obscure fees that show up on the contract when you are signing the papers. While it is true that they have legal and administrative expenses, everyone does. I am not saying that you should not pay any fees, I am suggesting though, that you ask what it is upfront from the dealer you are buying the car from. It will save a lot of headaches when you get to the finance office.
• YOUR CREDIT DOES MATTER: I cannot wrap my head around this, but many dealers heavily advertise their unique ability to get people who have terrible credit into great cars. For the most part, they are gimmicks. They get you in the door to see if they can get you approved but, most of the time, they cannot and they simply waste three to four hours of your time. And, obviously, if you have bad credit and get approved by a bank, then know that you will be paying a ridiculously high interest rate so do not fool yourself. Car dealers are not miracle workers. If your credit is bad, your chances of financing a vehicle purchase with a credit are not good.
• GO WITH THE BEST INTEREST RATES: Dealers will always try to get you to finance in-house. They often make more money in the finance office than they do in the selling price of the car. It is harder for you to see the money you are spending when it is spread over three to six years. But the dealer sees it right away. Shop around for interest rates, sometimes, the dealership really will be able to get you better rates through the bank  it uses. Sometimes, you will do better yourself. Just be smart and finance with the lowest bidder.
• DON'T FORGET ABOUT CAR INSURANCE: This is something that most people don't consider when buying a car. How will it affect your insurance policy? Some cars raise insurance premiums, others can lower them while most do not affect them all that much. Before signing a contract, call your insurance representatives and give them the VIN number of the car to get an estimate of how it will affect your premium. One thing people do not realize is that different insurance companies have different "appetites" for cars. Just because your current company was the cheapest for your old car does not mean they will be for the new one. Make sure your broker checks all available companies and does not take the easy way out by just doing a "substitution". You will be surprised at how much better the rates get when one shops around and negotiates. Ask your insurance representative how many companies he checked for you and keep him on his toes. This is because it is your money we are talking about.
• GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING: I am typically not a big fan of cynicism, but I will make an exception here. Never take anybody's word for it. A handshake means nothing without a written contract. Anything the dealer promises you, politely ask if you can get it in writing, if they refuse, you probably do not want to buy a car from them. Most of the time though, they will concede. When they fail to deliver on a promise, it is not likely because they are liars. It is often most likely because they forgot about you as soon as you drove off the lot and went right on to the next customer. They sell maybe a hundred cars a month. You buy only one in 5 years. Just get it in writing, it will make everything a lot simpler.

    As far as embracing the new paradigm of transparency and authenticity in buyer-seller relationships, car dealers have along way to go. Sadly, most of them are way too entrenched in the tricks of trade to have open, honest conversations about their methods and motives. That is why buying a car often becomes more of a confrontation than a transaction.
     It does not have to be this way. I have a dream that people will one day be able to buy cars without the fear of being scammed. But, until that day, you have got to be informed. Do not be a jerk. Do not lay into salespeople. Just be ready for anything that might occur. The worst thing you could do is get caught off guard. Above all know your stuff.
     That's it! The 12 things to know before buying a car. Till I come your way again next week, until then, remain blessed.      

12 things to know before buying a car.

    Last week I promised that I will tell you 12 things to know before buying a car. This post is a fulfillment of that promise.
    Buying a car can be a daunting task, most people are not automotive experts, they just need a vehicle or a vehicle for transportation business. And, yes, people like the way certain models look or the way they zip along the road in commercials, but do not know the first thing about getting them into their driveways. Not all car salespeople are shady and not all car dealerships are trying to take you for everything you've got. The only way to hold up your own is to be prepared. Here are points to consider before going to the dealership.

1. KNOW WHAT YOU WANT AND WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD: As with buying anything, the first point is to consider your values and your limitations. What matters to you most? Do you need something big or small? something dark or light in color? Engine Horse power? safety?technology?stereo system etc. People care about different things, see what is available. Then, decide what you can afford either as a one time purchase or, as an installmental rent to own purchase. Look exclusively for those makes and models you know are right for you.
2. DO YOUR RESEARCH ON THE WEB: There is no excuse for modern day car buyers to be uninformed. Car experts provide neutral informative resources on the web that will help you make the best decisions. Even if you are purchasing a used car, I will still recommend that you actually shop for a car on the web to narrow your options down. There are good and legitimate sites on the web if you search.
3. ALWAYS SEE THE CAR IN PERSON: The phrase "condition of a car" is a highly subjective term that makes the salesperson face a difficult dilemma when asked about it.If you are buying a used car, it is not going to be perfect but the salesperson is at crossroads of either stating all its problems or not. Some salespeople take pictures and videos of the car but lighting makes them unreliable. So going to see the car for yourself is the only way to know what you are getting for sure.
4. YOUR CAR IS NEVER WORTH AS MUCH AS YOU THINK: It is all fine if websites tell you how much your car is worth when you put this information in there. But whatever number you get is worthless because those sites are not buying your car. Everybody has an agenda. While there are valuable resources on the web for information about makes and models, the trade-in values they give are not law. These sites rely heavily on ad revenue generated from those who go there to appraise their cars. Your best bet for realistic trade-in values is to take your car to dealerships and offer to sell it to them. The average you get from three or so dealerships should be a realistic amount.
5. EVERYTHING IS NOT ALWAYS NEGOTIABLE: If you find a rare car at rock bottom price that you are driving 90 miles to see, do not expect to haggle, the era of haggling prices is dead. The internet has killed the negotiation process. Most times, communicating with an internet department lets you negotiate price before walking in the door. If you have done your research and know what is out there, then you know the dealer will not drop the price because "No one pays a sticker for a used car". There are no more stickers. Internet pricing is very competitive so don't expect a huge discount or maybe don't even expect any discount at all if you find a car online.
6. SALESPEOPLE ARE NOT MECHANICS: Don't be surprised if your salesperson does  not know anything about the mechanics of a car. (He did not study the technical mechanics of a car, He studied sales, He is now only practicing his sales with cars). Salespeople mostly know all the options and features, what makes the vehicle safe and comfortable--you know, the things that really matter to you. But, for example, if you want to know why your car is making a noise, a bad salesperson will make up a reason that sounds good, and a good salesperson will say "I don't know". So always ask a mechanic. H e is the one that has the technical knowledge of the mechanics of a car. He will tell you why your engine is making a noise or why you are having any other problem with your car for that matter.

      We have gone halfway, we have taken six of the twelve things you should know before buying a car.
This is the much we can take this week. But if you have gained and been enlightened, then keep a date with me next week as I bring you the second and concluding part.
       We shall look at the remaining six. That is the other half of the 12 things to know before buying a car. Keep a date with me till I come your way next week.