5 steps to getting the best deal on the car you really want…
The most important thing to remember is not to feel insulted if your salesperson isn’t willing to “give away the store” on your behalf. Some vehicles will require full sticker price in the case of a high demand/low volume vehicle. With Suzie’s help and following these steps, Suzie will get you the absolute lowest price for the vehicle you want.
1. With Suzie’s help research a workable budget and a list of target vehicles that interest you.
Suzie will help you determine a target and maximum payment and she’ll match it to the vehicles that fall in that range. A good rule of thumb: your monthly auto loan payment should not be more than what you can comfortably afford. Take into account the money you have available each month after you pay for your usual living expenses, rent or mortgage, utilities, food and transportation, credit card payments, etc. When reviewing your budget, you should also take into consideration other associated costs including fuel, license, registration, personal property taxes and insurance. Please don’t strap yourself. This is an ongoing enjoyable process.
These vehicles of interest should fit your lifestyle, for example, a Mom of three should not look at small convertibles or vehicles with limited cargo space and seating. Be careful to distinguish between your needs and wants. Suzie can help you find out the ongoing cost of your interested vehicles, i.e., gas mileage, repair cost, insurance, environmentally friendly, etc. Suzie can also check to see what rebates and incentives are available for your target vehicles.
2. Secure your financing with Suzie by filling out the attached credit application if you will be borrowing money to help pay for the car.
Suzie will contact you with the best, up front, pre approved dealer and bank rates available for your situation. This will eliminate the extra hour or two waiting time at the dealership when you pick up your car.
If you're not financing through one of Suzie’s available banks or dealer... don’t tell the salesperson which bank you have qualified as your lender at this point. Only acknowledge that you’ll be financing the purchase. (We don’t want the salesperson holding out for greater front-end profit).
3. Let Suzie set up an appointment with her or one of her "Suzie Knows" specialists at the dealerships to test drive your list of vehicle candidates that fall within your target price.
It’s amazing how many women buy a car without test-driving it first. Bring all passengers that you would normally haul around for the test drive. Ask yourself if the vehicle parks nicely, can merge quickly, and whether it steers with ease. Does it accommodate your iPod, your children’s iPods, and their sporting equipment? Can you see well out the rear window, side windows, over the hood? Is the seat comfortable? Can you get in and out with ease in your work clothes and high heels?
4. Prep your trade in.
So many car buyers skip this part and it’s really a “no-brainer”. If you're trading in your current car for the new, prep your vehicle before you get to the lot for selling. It’s simple and very important. Wash your car and empty out the inside. Make it smell good and appear as immaculate as it can. A car that seems well cared for will get a higher trade value than one that does not have that “pampered” feel.
This would be a good time to Ask Suzie for the approximate value of your trade.
After you and Suzie have worked this process together, you should now be looking at the dealer’s lowest price. At this point, you should accept this offer. Once you’ve obtained the great deal on your vehicle you need to carefully consider Step 5.
5. Ask Suzie what or if an extended warranty is right for you.
If you are keeping a vehicle more than 3 years this is probably a necessary consideration. All vehicles are covered for at least 3 years or 36,000 miles some even cover 10 years or 100,000 miles. If you purchase an extended warranty, our dealership will complete the repairs and your only cost will be your policy deductible amount. Some warranty companies charge extra for high tech sensors, ABS, and emissions system related components. I recommend that if you decide to buy, then buy the top plan, usually called "bumper to bumper", or "exclusionary bumper to bumper package".
If you get a plan that is not an exclusionary bumper to bumper plan, then many expensive parts on your car might not be covered. Some sensors cost hundreds of dollars. You need to make the best decision for your situation based on many factors: the make and model you select, how many miles a year you will drive and what kind of driving you’ll be doing. How much wear and tear will this vehicle get each year? Some extended warranty plans do cover wear and tear some do not, select a warranty plan based on your needs.
Extended warranty contracts warn you to maintain your vehicle according to the manufacturer’s instructions in the owner’s manual, perform all the required maintenance, oil changes, fluids, etc., and only use approved parts and liquids. Your owner’s manual has maintenance schedules for "normal" and "more severe" driving conditions of your car. We, in the Pittsburgh area, are typically rated more severe because of our climate, the hills and the roads. You are required to follow the maintenance schedule that applies to your operating conditions. Our dealerships have the best finance and warranty specialists to help you in this decision.
Keep in mind, many warranties now offer roadside assistance.
