Used Cars, the new way to buy?

With all the uncertainty in today's economy more and more people are reluctant to by new and our buying used cars at a very high rate. Now more than ever it is very important to make sure you check out the car you're going to buy. Don't fall into any traps or be misled by salesmen just trying to make a sale. They're good salespeople out there in the car industry that are very honest and good people to deal with when making a car purchase.

Here are some ideas to help you buy your next used vehicle:

1. First research the car you're going to purchase via ebaymotors, Autotrader.com or Cars.com.
2. Once you narrow your vehicle down to at least 3 to 5 choices call the dealer directly and ask about the vehicle, get a feel for being comfortable about the dealership and the salesperson who might ultimately be dealing with on your purchase.
3. Make sure the salesperson asks your questions about the vehicle. Be prepared, talk about the mileage, where did the car come from, (this important to know if it came from an auction or trade in) remember at least 80% plus of the cars out there go through some form of auction. This is not bad but don't let them tell you any different. The final question you should ask is "tell me about the car", a good salesperson will get to know the cars on the lot, the ones who don't will sell you anything about the car. The more informed the salesperson the better it will be for the both of you during the transaction.
4. Ok, you have your choices, now run a AutoCheck and Carfax vehicle history report. DO NOT RELY ON ONE REPORT, I REPEAT, DO NOT RELY ON ONE REPORT!! Both companies are very good but believe me you want to make sure you're getting what you paid for. What is $30.00 when you're spending possibly $5,000 to $50,000? Too many people will take the salesperson word and then get shafted later on, DO YOUR HOMEWORK and you will be very happy with your purchase.
5. Lastly, go to Consumer Reports and Edmunds to make sure you have all the information on your vehicle to make sure they're no recent call backs or issues that are not published about the vehicle you want to buy. bot sources are very good for getting the right information.
6. You ready to make your way to the dealership or private party you're buying the vehicle from, bring your information with you, DO NOT SHOW THEM THE INFORMATION. You need to put yourself in the driver seat and control the conversation on what you want out of the experience. If you're prepared then you will know right away if the salesperson is leading you down a path that will make you feel uncomfortable. You did the research, you like the car, get what you want out of the experience.
7. Make a fair offer, don't go in there thinking you're gonna get $1000 or $2000 off a used car. Salespeople are paid on how much they make off the cost price of the vehicle. So, if the retail price is 10,599 figure you have anywhere between $500 to $700 to play with, now some people may read this entry and think I am full of it but I am confident to know you have at least that much to play with in a vehicle or a bit more. I have gone to auctions and seen a car for instance, like a 2005 Ford Taurus with 30,000 miles sell for $6K at a auction and then go to a lot for $8,995. Ok, that is $3,000 dollars more but remember a good dealer will make sure the car is fixed, cleaned up and ready for sale. After is all said and done most likely will have $1000 to $1500 left in the car. So be smart and be fair on your side as well.
8. Finally, you both agree on a price now comes the extras, warranties, rust protection and service. Forget Rust protection, the biggest scam out there, wax your car three times a year and you will be fine. Extended warranties, get on if you close to 36,000 miles. If the car has 10,000 miles on it wait and either buy one later from the dealer or go to an aftermarket company. Edmunds or Consumer Reports can recommend one company. If the car has of 50,000 miles on it, get one, especially if you're financing the vehicle. If they are service on the car, it's your call most people will go to a local mechanic or Jiffy Lube but if you feel good about the dealership stick with them and go to know the service manager.

I hope this will help you buying your next vehicle, just remember to stay informed and be prepared to make the right choices to make your experience a good one.

Vince Virzi, spent over five years in the vehicle history business and continues to monitor the used vehicle business to provide you with good information to make your car buying experience a great one!