Consumer Advice for Buying a New Car

Buying a new car is a different experience than buying a used one. Be aware that you are paying for a warranty and peace of mind when buying from an established dealer, but you won't necessarily be getting more car for your money than if you bought a vehicle that's one or two years old.

Choosing the Car for You

Your job as a new car buyer is to sift through the spectrum of economy cars, sedans, trucks, SUVs and vans to determine what vehicle will suit your needs most effectively. Your needs will be affected by where you live (rural or urban), the prevailing weather conditions, how big your family is and whether you frequently haul large amounts of merchandise. Don't buy a vehicle that is bigger than you need.

Researching Dealers

Some car dealers cater to high-end buyers while others cater to low-end buyers. Research your local car dealers by reading their websites, checking for any complaints that might have been made to the Better Business Bureau, and most importantly, talk to friends, family members and colleagues who have purchased cars from dealers. A dealer who consistently sells high-quality vehicles and treats her customers fairly will develop a good reputation in his community, and people will be happy to recommend him.

Test Drives

The test drive is the moment of truth when buying a new car. The dealer might stretch a fact here and there to make a sale, but the car can't lie. Take it out for as long as the dealer will allow, and put it through its paces. Drive it at high speed on the highway, then in traffic in town. Parallel park it, back it up, take some tight corners, and generally do everything you can think of to reveal any weaknesses or problems that it may have. Take a friend along to give you a second opinion.

Haggling

You might find that dealers are less flexible when it comes to the price of a new car as opposed to a used one. If you are trading in a used car that is less than five years old and in good condition, you will probably have some wiggle room regarding how much the dealer will take off the new vehicle in exchange. While he may not come down too much on the price, you can probably haggle in some extras if you are persistent. Learn about what options are available for the car you're looking at before you take the test drive.