Buying a Car

by ERIC SOTIUSO

Most of us need a car for one reason or another. Buying a car is a very big investment, one of the biggest investments you will ever make. So naturally it is a very important purchase and you need to consider numerous items before you spend your hard earned money.

Selecting a Car

When selecting a car you want to think outside the box, not just I like the red car. Some of the items you need to think about are:

?What are you going to be using the car for? ?How many people will be using the car? ?What type of driving will I be doing? ?What do I like or hate about my previous cars? ?What will I be hauling in the car? ?How important is gas mileage? ?How much does prestige matter? ?Do you want a new or used car? ?How much money do you want to spend or better yet how much can I afford to spend?

Other important items to think about are the resale value of the car when you sell it down the road? What type of maintenance will I have to perform on this vehicle? What will insurance cost? There are many online resources or car guides to help determine which car is good for you. One example is chicagolandauto.com. This is a good website to research resale value of a car. Once you pick the make and model, you can go there and look at how many used cars are for sale and what price they are getting. This is a great way to see true value.

Once you find the car that you think make the most sense, go and take a test-drive. When you are driving the car think about the following items:

?Do I have room or is this to small for me? ?How easy is it to load people or items in the car? ?Do I feel comfortable? ?Do I have good vision, can I see other cars around me? ?Does the car have good acceleration? ?Does the car handle well? ?IS this car for me?

Getting the price

Now that you found the car you want, you need to think about the price. Do some research on the car and what the invoice is. There are plenty of places online you can go to see the invoice prices. This is a good starting point for negotiations. Remember to include any options you want on the vehicle.

Don��t be afraid to look around at multiple dealerships to get the best price, but remember that sometimes it can be worth paying a little more for some extra features such as being close to home for service issues, a good service facility and more.

?If your trading in an old car, decide if it is better to sell it on your own. If not, stay focused on negotiating the new car first, then the trade in. ?Don��t feel stuck to that one model you had in mind. Manufactures make a lot of different types that are similar and could be more affordable.

Agreeing on the Purchase

Once you agree on a price, you will have to sign paperwork and other information. You will also need a loan if your not paying it off in full. Remember many banks, credit unions as well as dealerships can give you a loan. Again this is something that you need to shop around for. You should always know you credit score before you apply for a loan. A lot of times manufactures may offer special financing, so don��t forget to check these specials at the dealership.

The final thing to take care of is Insurance. Just make sure you shop around for fair quotes. Have fun and drive safely!!!

For more information, please visit Chicagolandauto.com http://www.chicagolandauto.com.