7 Tips for Finding the Best Used Car Deal in Town
Starting the search for your used car is both exciting and discouraging. It seems like there are infinite options for both cars and dealerships. How do you narrow down where to start searching? Knowing where and how to find the best deal is going to give you a head start on productive searching. Overall, you want your search to lead you to the perfect vehicle at the right price. Here are our expert tips on finding the best deals on used cars in your area.
Start Your Search in Specialized Car Search Apps
Sometimes, you don’t know how to narrow down your search until you see that something is in fact searchable. Utilizing an app for your smart phone can help narrow down finding a used car by everything from your height to the car’s mileage. Searching via this method tends to be more convenient for most people, instead of limiting your search options to a computer. In addition, although most used car dealerships have updated online inventories, starting with a broader search to narrow down by the specifics will give you a head start in your search. And there are many appsavailable to do that.
Judge the Car A Little Less by Its Exterior
Minor cosmetic damage can dramatically lower a used car’s price, even if the most important parts, such as the engine and brakes, are in mint condition. A fading paint job or a few dents paired with a suspiciously low price tag might make you think the car is in bad shape otherwise, but this is not always the case. Test drive and talk to someone at the dealership about how it runs. If you don’t mind saving money now to fix up the cosmetic damage a little later, this can work in your favor when it comes to saving on a vehicle that just needs a little extra love on the outside. In addition, you might be able to negotiate an event better bargain when you express interest in a car that may not look perfect but runs like a dream.
Look for Bargains That Don’t Sacrifice on Quality
If your budget is tight and you’re looking for a vehicle that will last a long time, the experts adviselooking at some of the top vehicles for reliability such as Honda and Toyota, but these cars can also have higher prices because of this. To get similar durability but save a little bit on the price tag, look at Nissan, Mazda, or Mitsubishi. In addition, used cars from one of the American automakers also have high durability ratings, and they also tend to sell for less than the imported models. Experts advise avoiding European cars if you’re looking for a price-conscious vehicle, as the parts and repairs tend to cost more than other comparable models.
Time Is Money: Know What Used Car You’re Looking For
In 2016, more than 40 million used carswere bought and sold in the United States. In such a large and varied market, having so many options can end up impacting your ability to make decisions. You might wind up making a purchase that doesn’t meet your needs or think that you won’t find the actual car you’re looking for. Being overwhelmed with options can make the search more time-consuming than it needs to be and may end in frustration instead of going to test drive a vehicle. Make a short list of cars that would fit your needs. For example, say you want a full-size sedan that is less than 10 years old and has no more than 100,000 miles. This is a good start to narrowing your search and being able to compare prices among similar models.
Narrow Down Your Search by Using CPO Finders
If you’re shopping for a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle and know the automaker you want, go to the automaker’s website and find their page for CPO vehicles. You can enter the model you’re searching for, and a list of dealers offering that model specifically will come up. From there, you can just click the button to contact each dealer, and shop around for the car you want without hours of searching.
Long-Term Investment vs. Short-Term Solution
At Fairless Motors, we won’t judge you by your car preference or your budget. We know our customers sometimes need a car that can be purchased for a very low price and only drive for a few months while you are job searching, getting ready to graduate from college, or you just moved to the Philadelphia area and need to get around. There are needs for a cheaper vehicle that doesn’t need to run forever, but we also encourage our buyers to think bigger and more long-term. Our inventoryranges from slightly older cars with higher mileage to newer, lower-mileage vehicles that can be a better long-term choice.
How to Consider A Deal on A Deadline
It’s understandable to feel alarmed when a dealership is trying to get you to purchase a car that may not be exactly what you’re looking for. Your reaction might be, “Wow, what’s wrong with it? Why do they want me to take this and not anyone else?” That reaction is reasonable. Some dealerships will try to steer you to a vehicle that they’ve had difficulty selling, so they offer it at a lower price. They are simply trying to offer you a bargain to make more room on their lot for other cars that they have coming in. They might give you a day or two to think about it, and this is when you should do your research to see if this deal is in your favor. Use an appraisal toolto figure out the vehicle’s market value, ask more questions about the vehicle’s condition and history, and you might drive off the lot with a great deal.
Now that you know tips on finding the best deal, read our post on the things you should know before buying a used car.
Fairless Motors has been the area’s best family owned dealership for quality pre-owned carsfor almost 30 years. Shopping for a quality used car at a fair price is stress-free when you shop with experienced team members. Our trained commission-free sales specialists take the pressure out of your buying experience. Our finance department has 50+ years of combined expertise to help customers with any credit history get approved. Our experienced team will help you to get behind the wheel of your dream car with affordable financing, regardless of your credit situation.