5 Steps for Buying the Right Car
According to Edmunds.com, there are ten steps that everyone should adhere to when they are on the hunt for the 
perfect car suited for them. Five of these steps are listed below. To read the entire article at Edmunds, click here: source.
- What kind of car do you need? There are many variables to consider when purchasing a new car. From deciding whether or not you want manual or automatic transmission, four-wheel drive, safety features, cargo area or flexible seating positions because you are tall- all of these are considerations that you should think about well before you step your foot into any car dealership parking lot.. Your needs (not your wants) should be the key factor driving your decision when you buy.
- How much can you actually afford? This is often the first mistake that people make when they are on the hunt for a new car. They get caught up in the fancy or clever car commercials and want the sleek or fun looking new car. Big mistake. As a general rule of thumb, your total monthly car payments shouldn’t exceed 20 percent of your monthly take-home pay. Additionally, if you have other debts to pay back, you may want to reconsider buying a new car.
- Should you buy or lease your next car? Leasing is often viewed by some as a waste of money; but this depends on the type of driver that you are. For instance, my father leased a vehicle for me when I was in college, and one of the caveats of leasing is that you have to keep the mileage within a certain range. I barely managed to do this because I did a lot of long distance driving. However, leasing is an excellent option for those folks who don’t plan on driving a lot, except to and from work or running a few errands around time. The benefits of leasing are that you can typically drive a more expensive car for less money; you can drive a new car every few years; and there are few hassles at the end of the lease. On the flipside, the advantages of buying are also appealing. For example, when interest rates are really low, it may make more financial sense to own a car versus lease it; there are no unexpected mileage penalties; there is more flexibility (i.e. you can sell the car whenever you want).
- Have you considered all vehicles in that class? With so many different vehicle options out there, it is often difficult to keep up with all of the various vehicles that are available. Use sites such as Edmunds.com and others to research and compare different vehicles.
- Have you considered all the costs of ownership? One of the major mistakes that people make when they buy a car for the first time is they focus so much on the sticker price that they fail to see the entire picture of what it will actually cost for them to own a vehicle. For instance, seemingly little things such as oil changes, gasoline expenses as well as vehicle tax (depending on what state you live in) can all add up pretty quickly.
For more information about car repair or to find a reputable auto repair shop, contact Pinnacle Automotive Service today at 919.828.3113.
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