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Buying a car

Before buying a car, you need to know what you want and how much you are ready to spend for a car. Can you afford a new car with your budget? If not, than you should consider to buy a used car. Here are some tips to help!

New or used car? What to choose?

It depends on what you are looking for and also on your budget. If you are not sure about your budget, The ConsumerReports.com (see link at the end) offers you calculators and worksheets to help you make the right decision concerning your budget.

Looking for a used car

Before buying anything, you need to shop your used car. First, you need to be sure that the car is in good condition. Is the body and upholstery in good shape?Was it inspected? Also, you need to know how it is equipped: how many doors, manual or automatic transmition, sound system, air conditionning, airbags, etc. Does the car suit your criterias? Get informed about how many miles the car has, and ask why. How was the car used? What's it service history? Did it has changed hands quite a bit since it was new? Has it ever been in an accident? If the owner/dealer has a service record, ask to take a look at it, just to make sure that it had gone back to the dealer or the service station at specified service intervals.

And also, if it's the owner who's selling the car, ask him why. Be wary if the answer sounds evasive. You will probably not be abble to have this information if you are buying from a dealer, thought.

The test drive

Try to have all the vehicles you're interested in in the same day. This way, it will be easier to compare them. A test drive should be at least 30 minutes long, so you may consider the more details you can about the car. You should consider the seats, the brakes, the suspension, the tires, the acceleration, the steering, the handling, the visibility and the quitness. If you don't feel confortyable with one of these details, then maybe it isn't the car for you.

How to deal

*To get the best price, you first need to know the value of the vehicle. Lots of source are abvailable to provide information about used car prices, like the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA). You can also check with several price sources to confirm.

*For the features, you should only take what you need. The more options you take, the more it will cost you.

*Always try to bargain, even if the dealer says the price is non-negociable. Offer less then you are ready to pay and move up from there.

Links

ConsummerReports.com Calculators and worksheets

Car insurance

Loan & Planning

MPF Main Categories