Finding Your Best Used Car Bargain
Nancy Dunham
It’s still a golden time to buy a used car thanks in large part to the number of late-model cars, trucks
The good news for shoppers is that the glut of gently used cars provides you with an unusually large selection of vehicles from which to choose. Plus many prices are lower than they have been since 2010. But that doesn’t mean every car on the lot is a gem.
“People get themselves into real trouble when they go into car shopping unprepared,” says Matt Jones, Edmunds’ Senior Consumer Advice Editor. “This is a major purchase. It’s not like a TV, where if you get it home and don’t like it, you can return it. You owe it to yourself to do research.”
That research should include calling various dealerships and finding a salesperson with whom you mesh. Work with the person on the phone or computer to ensure they’re attentive, return your calls and communicate well.
Choose the right salesperson
Do you want a detail-oriented salesperson? A laid back salesperson? Most of us aren’t sure. Many car experts recommend you walk into a dealership cold, tell the receptionist you want to work with the best salesperson. He or she will know whom to call.
A good relationship with a salesperson is vital — especially when you are considering used cars that have a wide range of vehicle histories — because they are the ones that can steer you to a car you hadn’t previously considered but that best suits your needs.
“You won’t be able to tell a car salesperson a scenario they haven’t heard before,” says Jones, noting they work with hundreds of customers each year. “They’ve heard ‘I recently got a divorce and need a low payment,’ to “my wife’s pregnant with triplets’ hundreds of times before. Those life changes are why people shop for cars.” Read More
