Well, the time has come for you to buy your first car - yay for you, that’s super exciting! We aren’t here to be a buzz kill, but before you jump out of your seat and rush into getting a new car, we want to help by providing you with some things you should know before taking the plunge and buying your first car, whether that’s a new vehicle or a used car. If you’re wondering who “we” are; we’re FFUN Cars, the new kid (dealership) in Saskatchewan. We may be new in town, but we are backed by years and years of automotive industry experience, so we think you’ll like what we have to say. Plus, we’ve changed the car buying process in a way that is fun. But, back to some tips for first-time car buyers out there.
Know How Much You Can Afford
As much as we would all like to have an unlimited budget when buying anything, especially our first car; that’s just not (in most cases) a reality for first-time buyers. So, step one, before you start perusing the internet or car dealerships, establish a realistic budget. That budget should be based on the total purchase price of your vehicle and what monthly payments you could afford if you go the route of a car loan, which we can discuss a bit later.
Establishing a budget is more than the car price and the car payments, it’s also about factoring in car insurance, maintenance costs, and gas, which these days is high so a pro tip is to make fuel efficiency one of your priorities when looking at the type of car you want. If you aren’t sure how much of a budget you can set, use our super cool, and kind of fun, loan calculator tool to get an idea.
Research The Type Of Vehicles You Want
Research is key, and it’s easier than ever to look at vehicles without having to visit multiple dealerships. But, before you set down the road of looking at a bunch of new and used vehicles, make a list of what you need to get out of your vehicle. For example, will it be used for commuting or long-distance driving? How many people do you need to regularly transport, and do you need lots of cargo space? Remember, there is a difference between needs and wants, so make sure you check the needs list fits your budget before moving on to the add-on luxuries.
As part of your research, look at all types of vehicles that can fulfill your needs, such as SUVs, sedans, or even trucks. Once you have determined which is the best body style, you can start to look at specific makes and models. Compare what similar vehicles are selling for so you are prepared when it comes time to negotiate the price.
A lot of people love the idea of having a brand-new car, but don’t be fooled. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t buy a new one, fresh off the lot; just know other options can save you money. Not to mention, when you buy a new car, you are paying upfront for the depreciation of it. Even if you are buying new, read up on some consumer reviews. Just because it is brand-new, doesn’t mean it won't have issues, but at least with new, there’s a warranty that comes with it.
On the used car side of things, you can look at buying it from a dealership or a private seller. Tread carefully, especially when considering getting your first car from a private seller. With a used vehicle, you always want to see a vehicle history report. If the car doesn’t already have one pulled, ask for it. If a private seller is reluctant to provide one, you might want to take that as a red flag and keep moving. Trust us, knowing the full details of the car and any work that’s been done will give you peace of mind. We say, forget dealing with some shady seller off the internet and shop with us at FFUN Cars. We’ve got some sweet used rides that all come with a history report because we are all about being transparent. Not to mention, every vehicle we sell has gone through a 92-point inspection. If it doesn’t meet our (high) standards, we don’t sell it. Plus, when you buy a vehicle from us, it comes with a limited extended warranty.
Test Drive
It may seem obvious, but you have no idea how many car buyers don’t test-drive vehicles before purchasing them. Test driving a vehicle is more than just listening and feeling if there are any issues with the (used) car, it’s also to ensure you like the way it drives; yes, that goes for new vehicles as well. When test-driving it, don’t just go around the block for five minutes, take it on a drive that is similar to what you will be using it for. Turn down the volume on the stereo and listen for any strange sounds, check all the lights, and make sure any of the upgraded features, such as Bluetooth, heated seats, etc., all work. We highly recommend if you are buying a used vehicle and it doesn’t come with an inspection report like ours do (yeah, we brag), take it in for a pre-purchase inspection. Sure it might cost you a few bucks but could end up saving you hundreds, if not thousands over time.
Understanding Your Payment Options
In life, having options is great, and the good news is that there are options on how you can pay for your first car. Option one is you can pay for the vehicle upfront in cash, which saves you a lot of money on interest. If you are like most people and you don’t have a pile of cash stuffed in your mattress, there are financing options. Financing a vehicle can be done through lenders such as your credit union or bank, or the dealership. Yes, the loan terms such as interest rates and the amount you are approved for are based on your credit history. If you are young, new to Canada, or are in a credit rebuilding stage of your life, and don’t have the best credit score, try not to be discouraged; you can still qualify for vehicle financing.
We admit that to qualify for the best rate, you do need to have pretty good credit, and having a lower rate helps to lower your loan payments. If you have a not-so-great credit score, the best way to lower your monthly car payments is to use a down payment. If you are unsure about financing, talk to us, we love helping people get approved. If you’re someone who prefers to do your research on your own, use our approval tool to see what kind of loan terms you qualify for.
Buying From FFUN Cars
Other than having a wicked inventory of used vehicles, including electric vehicles, other benefits come with buying a car from us. We don’t want to brag (well, we kind of do) but we also have a no haggle policy; the price you see is the price you pay, so no need to bring your gloves to battle with the salesperson. Speaking of salespeople, you deal with one, from beginning to end. We promise we won’t pass you from person to person like a hot potato. This all goes with our ONE promise: ONE person, ONE price, ONE hour. Yep, you read that right, we will get you in and out in one hour or less.
One of the most raved-about benefits of FFUN Cars is it’s all about YOU. You can buy your car online or in-store, or even a combination of the two; it’s whatever YOU prefer. You can read up on all of our benefits or stop in and see us. As we said, we are the new kids in town, so we’d love to meet you and make new friends. Come on by today.
