Car Buying Tips (5) Buy A Car: When Should You Buy?

Buy A Car: When Should You Buy?

There are times during the year when it is better to buy new or used cars, depending on the car and what you are looking for.

For example, as you probably already know, it can be better to buy a convertible or other summer fun car in the fall, when people are looking for more practical cars and those who had convertibles and were planning to sell them after “one final summer” are looking to sell.

If you are buying a car from a dealership, the best time to buy a new car can be in the fall as well. Dealers are trying to empty the lot to make space for next year’s models.

The downside to this can be if you want a specific model or color, as that car may be less available and thus the price can be higher. Also, if you are only planning on owning this car for a few years, the older model will have depreciated more, even if it is bought on the same day as a newer model.

You do not always need to go during a sale to get the sale price. Unless the period of time is the manufacturer’s incentive period, you can get the same deal the rest of the year. Manufacturer’s incentives are only available during the incentive period.

Dealer’s sales prices can be negotiated at other times of the year, and often when people go to sales, they actually end up paying more than they might have negotiated for on a different day, just because a car buyer might feel that the car they want could be sold to someone else. Incentive periods, however, are good times to go. On a day to day basis, it’s best to head to the dealership:

• On a weekday, such as a Tuesday or a Wednesday. These days are quieter at the dealership, and you may feel less pressure. The sales people may feel more conducive to giving you a good deal, so that they can make a few sales.

• Near the end of the month. Dealerships often keep monthly records of car sales, and bonuses are given out on top of commissions based on meeting a monthly target. A salesperson and a manager may be easier to negotiate with if they are trying to get a few more sales to reach a target. Targets are based on numbers of cars sold, not on profits per car, although the profit per car does effect commission at some dealerships.

• On a day when you have a lot of time available. While you do not want to waste too much of your time, rushing through car negotiations can mean that you miss out on a potential for a better deal. The best time to buy a car, of course, is before you actually need one. Even if you do have to have a car that very day, do give yourself some time to figure out the best car to buy and how much you want to pay.

Buy A Car: Should You Buy Online?

There can be many advantages to buying a new or used car online. The internet, of course, is a useful resource when you begin your car buying journey, regardless of where you decide to buy your car – you can compare makes and models and determine what kind of car you want before heading to the dealership.

This is important because car salespeople will often try to sell you what they want to sell you, not necessarily the car you want. (This can be especially true of used car salespeople – who has not been to a used car lot and told that hey, this may not have been the exact car you wanted, but look at what a nice color it is?)

For many people, the advantages of the internet can go one step further and they decide to buy a car online. When buying a car online, it can be difficult to do things like a visual inspection or a test drive, so an important thing is to buy from a website that is reputable.

Read the feedback that other people have left. Go to car websites or message boards and try to talk to people who have bought cars online, to compare their experiences with different websites.

Buying a car online can offer advantages such as the greater choice in make, model, and color you can have over going to a dealership, especially in used cars. Remember that even over the internet, salespeople are still salespeople.

Just because the voice and face on your webcam are pleasant and you want to be nice, remember to act the same as you would if you were at the dealership. Ask questions, and do your research.

Be certain that even after the car is shipped, there is a way you can return the car. If you need to return the car, you may end up paying some of the shipping costs. Be sure to budget for this, as you do not want to be reluctant to return a car that is not perfect for your needs.

Many people have happily bought and sold cars online. If you decide to buy a car online, make sure you are one of the happy buyers by doing your research, choosing the right car for you, and buying from a reputable website where there is a venue for complaints.

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