We are all about the positive side of buying a car and aren't ones to tell you what you should and shouldn't do when car buying. But (big but), we don't want you to make some common mistakes that new car buyers make. FFUN Cars pro tip: buy from us. You never have to worry about having an awful car shopping experience with a pushy salesperson because we don't have any of those. We have Customer Experience Specialists who have the soul purpose of finding you the perfect vehicle.
If you insist on heading out to various dealerships and dealing with salespeople, we've got some no-nos for you that will help you get the best price on your next car.
Wingin' It!
As much as being a free-spirited wingin' it kind of person is awesome, don't do it when going through the car buying process. Buying a pair of shoes or deciding what type of ice cream you want is a decision that can be made on the fly, not when purchasing a new vehicle or used car. Do some research on the type of car you are interested in and narrow it down. Once you have narrowed it down to a few vehicles, read up on the consumer reports to ensure it's a well-made, suitable vehicle for you and your lifestyle.
Salespeople are Sneaky
Gone are the days of having to believe whatever the cheesy salesperson tells you. Ever since the invention of the high-speed internet, information is at our fingertips. Our car buying tip is for you to take advantage of the available information. This adds to the not wingin' it part; being prepared allows you to be upfront with dealerships and their sales managers to avoid being pushed into a vehicle you have no interest in. This isn't a toy Hot Wheels car; this is a real car, and it's a lot of money, so know your stuff. Even if you have all of your research done, remember that salespeople are sneaky and will always try and haggle with you and do everything they can to make you feel like you are getting a smokin' purchase price. That may be true, but be leery if a salesperson seems a little too eager.
Lipstick on a Pig
If you are purchasing a pre-owned car, just because it looks incredible doesn't mean it is. When dealing with private sellers, tread carefully. As much as we would love to believe that people are 100% truthful all the time, they aren't (insert angry and sad emoji). Always, always ask for a vehicle history report. If they are reluctant to give you one, get one yourself or walk away from the vehicle. Never buy a car without taking it for a test drive. If you're not buying from a reputable dealership (like FFUN Cars), consider taking it in for a pre-purchase inspection.
Keep Your Trade-in on the Hush
Don't immediately let the salesperson know you have a trade-in. As soon as they hear that, their whole strategy and game change. They will stroke your ego to make you feel like your old car is so beneficial to the sale and then start throwing around numbers on what your monthly payments could be. STOP right there. In addition to not mentioning a trade-in, ignore monthly payments. These are your personal finances, after all, and you want to consider the car's total price when using a car loan to purchase it. Back to trade-in; you don't have to always trade in a vehicle to buy a new car. If you have the time, try and sell your current vehicle privately; you'll most likely get more money. You can also check out our handy online tool to give you fair market trade-in value for your vehicle in two minutes.
Pump the Brakes on Pulling Your Credit Score
Sales managers always want to pull your credit right away to know if you qualify for a loan and to ensure their time isn't wasted. Do not let them pull anything related to your finances or credit score until you are 100000% sure you have found the perfect vehicle. Every time a credit check is run on you, it can negatively impact your score. If this is done too often, it makes you look like a credit chaser, and many lenders frown upon it. Your best weapon for getting a car loan is to get approved by your bank or credit union. If you hate finance managers and financial institutions being all up in your personal finances, qualify by yourself in the comfort of your own home without impacting your credit score.
If it's impressive loan terms and low payments you're after, having a down payment will significantly lower your payments and loan length. If a salesperson knows you mean business and isn't there to be messed around, they will take you seriously and work to get you the best sales price on a vehicle.
At the end of the day, you need to buy a car the way that feels best for you, and we think if you tried the car buying experience with FFUN Cars it would feel pretty damn good! FFUN Cars has excellent features:
- Buy online or in-store; it’s up to you.
- No haggling with salespeople
- Massive inventory (SUVs, sedans, minivans, electric vehicles, etc.)
- 360° virtual tours
- All vehicles come with a free CARFAX report
- Get qualified in two minutes with ZERO impact on your credit
- Trade-in or sell your car online
- We can deliver right to your door.
- Enjoy a 24-hour test drive
Now, that's a pretty amazing way to buy a vehicle, right? It's only at FFUN Cars.
