The Metro East s Ultimate Car Buying Guide Helpful Tips and Benefits of Buying a Used Vehicle Advertising Supplement Volume 3 of 6 New Car Buying Used Car Buying Service
Why Buy a Used Vehicle? Four years ago some 41 million Used cars were sold compared with 17 million New cars. (Source: Edmunds.com) Why are so many more used cars being sold? THE PRICE! Here are a few examples: 2010 White Diamond Cadillac CTS AWD, Luxury Loaded, One Owner, Clean Car Fax, Sunroof, 8600 Miles MSRP $44,035 Sold at Auction for $28,500 That s 35% Less WOW!
Get More Car for Your Money 2010 Chevrolet Impala LTZ Auto, Air, Tilt, Cruise, Leather, Heated Seats, Sunroof, 24,770 Miles Original MSRP $31,470 Sold at Auction for $17,300 That s 45% Less! WOW! If you don t want to take that depreciation hit, a pre-owned vehicle will give you more for your money. After the 1st and 2nd year, the depreciation slows dramatically. *2010 Impala price source: Smart Auction GMAC Nov. 30th, 2011. *2010 Cadillac price source: Smith Auction GMAC Nov. 30th, 2011.
Have a Process in Place Take Your Time 1. Make Your Wish List. Narrow your selection down to 2 or 3 types of vehicles. 2. Start Your Search. Use any source you can find. The internet is a great place to start. Try Cars.com & Kelley Blue Book. Just type in the distance try to stay local then put in options and hit search. Now compare the prices. Car Buyer s Wish List Color Preferences Exterior 1 2 3 Interior 1 2 3 2 Door 4 Door Sport Utility Pickup Truck Short Bed Long Bed Minivan Cargo Van Station Wagon Engine 4 cylinder V6 V8 Transmission Automatic Manual 5 Speed Air Conditioning Anti-Lock Brakes Alloy Wheels Air Bag Driver Passenger AM/FM Stereo Cassette CD Equalizer Upgrade Sound System Power Antenna Telephone Sunroof Manual Power Moonroof Manual Power T-Top Seating Bucket Bench Cloth Leather Power Seats Power Windows Power Locks Rear Window Defroster Speed Control Tilt Wheel Steering Theft Deterrent Spoiler Mirrors LH/RH Manual Electric Privacy Glass Carpet Floor Mats Luggage Rack Bike Rack Truck Bedliner HD Towing Other
Have a Process in Place 3. Compare Prices and make sure they are in line. Try these websites: KBB.com Edmunds.com NADA.com This will give you a common reference point. Look at private party & retail as a guide. These prices reflect any reconditioning the vehicle would have needed! Compare similar vehicles. Their prices should also be similar. If the price is too good to be true, it probably is! 4. Ask Questions. This will eliminate some sellers & cars before you waste too much of your time a. Do you have the service records? b. Is this a one owner vehicle or has it had multiple owners? Is it a local trade? c. Is your price negotiable? d. Has the vehicle been in an accident and do you have a Carfax?
Keep Focused 5. Arrange Your Financing before you go to the dealership or private seller. This way you can get pre-qualified for your loan. Now you can negotiate like you have cash in your pocket. This also allows you to know your monthly payments so you know if it will fit in your monthly budget. Since you have been pre-qualified, you want to give the dealer a chance to try to get you a better interest rate, many times they can.
Keep Focused 6. Test Drive & Evaluate the Vehicle with the Score Card. (See helpful score card on the following pages.) Now after all your searching and research, you get to test drive that car. Ask the dealer if you can take the car for an extended drive for at least 3-4 hours. Remember, you asked for a CarFax. Make sure the dealer provides it for you. Look for the obvious things before you even leave the lot: Dings, Dents, Scratches, Miscolored Paint Matches, Dirty Stained Interior, Warning Lights on the Dash, etc. ALL GOOD? NOW LET S GO DRIVE!
Test Drive Score Card Use the score card as a guide, especially if you are comparing or interested in more than one vehicle. The Performance and driveability of the vehicle is very important. When you start the vehicle does it make any strange noises? Does it take a long time to start? After starting, any ticking noises? These can be signs of bad fuel delivery, bad starter or a number of other things. Take notes!! When you put the vehicle in gear. Does it hesitate or go right into gear? Does it clunk while driving down the road. Does it seem to shift normally or does it shift hard? If equipped with overdrive button, push it to see if it s operational. Once on, the RPM Gauge will drop to a lower number. Remember, take notes and score it! TEST DRIVE SCORE CARD Take this score card with you when you give your prospective purchase a road test. Rate each item from 1 (worst) to 5 (best). Consider every item individually and have a companion write down each rating separately as you drive. If you are alone, pull over and park often to record your impressions. Don t wait until the end of the drive to jot them all down or you ll risk confusion. This checklist should help you make an informed decision. Category Entry/Exit Seats Gauges Controls Vision Sound System Trunk Assembly quality Acceleration Braking Steering Ride Handling Transmission Ventilation Noise Total Rating
Test Drive Score Card Does the vehicle pull left or right while driving? If so, look at the tires. If they are brand new, there is probably an alignment issue. If tires are rounded or cupped, this needs to be addressed with the dealer immediately. Watch the gauges. If equipped, they should stay in the normal ranges no red lines and no lights should be on. Regardless of time year, if winter, check the air. If summer, check the heat. Also, check all your controls: cruise control, power windows, power locks, CD player, seats, mirrors, heated or cooled seats. Catch it before you purchase. TEST DRIVE SCORE CARD Take this score card with you when you give your prospective purchase a road test. Rate each item from 1 (worst) to 5 (best). Consider every item individually and have a companion write down each rating separately as you drive. If you are alone, pull over and park often to record your impressions. Don t wait until the end of the drive to jot them all down or you ll risk confusion. This checklist should help you make an informed decision. Category Entry/Exit Seats Gauges Controls Vision Sound System Trunk Assembly quality Acceleration Braking Steering Ride Handling Transmission Ventilation Noise Total Rating
Test Drive Score Card Let the vehicle sit for awhile, if possible, with cardboard under the engine and drive line. See is any leaks. Ok Fit N Finish open and shut all the doors and trunk & hood. See if they shut easy or catch. They may need to be adjusted. Also, while open, run your fingers along the edges to see if the vehicle has had paint work. Also, look at the rubber moldings around the car. If they have paint on them the car probably has had paint work done. These are tips that should be helpful in purchasing your next vehicle. TEST DRIVE SCORE CARD Take this score card with you when you give your prospective purchase a road test. Rate each item from 1 (worst) to 5 (best). Consider every item individually and have a companion write down each rating separately as you drive. If you are alone, pull over and park often to record your impressions. Don t wait until the end of the drive to jot them all down or you ll risk confusion. This checklist should help you make an informed decision. Category Entry/Exit Seats Gauges Controls Vision Sound System Trunk Assembly quality Acceleration Braking Steering Ride Handling Transmission Ventilation Noise Total Rating
What s a Fair Price? What should you offer the dealer for the vehicle you want? First Go Back to These Sites: NADA.com KBB.com BlackBookUSA.com Edmunds.com Put the information that pertains to the vehicle you re considering. Review the equipment, miles, etc. Stay away from sites that want your personal information. Now look... Clean trade and clean wholesale are approximately the same. This price is approximately where the dealer needs to be from a cost basis, (dealer cost). The dealer... Average PRIVATE PARTY between 3 sources. For example: KKB - $11,000 NADA - $11,500 Edmunds - $11,200 Take the Average (total the three numbers and divide by three) $11,233 Average RETAIL between 3 sources. For example: KKB - $13,000 NADA - $12,800 Edmunds - $13,000 Again, take the Average and you get $12,933 Now you can offer somewhere in the middle of $11,233 and $12,933. That s a fair price for the dealer and for you.
You re Closer to a Better Deal Than You Think Get the facts on the 15 Year/150,000 Mile Warranty Covers the same as the factory Powertrain Warranty Service anywhere in the U.S. or Canada Repair anywhere in the U.S. or Canada Just perform the factory scheduled maintenance No Games! No Gimmicks!
FUEL SAVING Maintenance Tips 1. Maintain proper tire pressure - low pressure harms fuel economy (switching to Nitrogen will keep pressures steady) 2. Change oil and filter at regular intervals 3. Change Air Filter - a dirty air filter restricts oxygen to engine and can harm fuel economy 4. Clean fuel induction-injection system - carbon build-up harms fuel economy 5. Change fuel filter S P E C I A L S BEAT OLD MAN WINTER! FUEL MAINTENANCE SPECIAL! Fuel Induction Service, Oil Change, Tire Rotation and Air Filter Replacement Buy a coolant system fluid for $129.95 and receive an oil change and 4-tire rotation AT NO CHARGE! Regular price $180.95 (Most vehicles 5 qts. 5w30 oil) $ 179.95 Regular price $206.95
Lets Sum It Up Get Your Carfax Evaluate the vehicle you re interested in with the score card. If you don t feel comfortable checking the vehicle out yourself, please find a shop that can evaluate it for you. If you would like Reno Guthrie Chevrolet to do this for you, we ll do a complete inspection & provide you a Carfax History Report along with pricing research. 1 Pre-Owned Vehicle Comprehensive Inspection Including 1 CarFax history Report $ 189 99 Price good until 3/30/2012
Meet the Service Staff Harry Shepherd Service Director Carla Grissom Marlene Clouatre Kelle Green Kirk Kasperzick Aaron Francis Bob Knee Jimmy Hoffmann Zachary Stroud Joshua Kelly Mike Woosley
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