Root canals.
Bikini waxes.
Natural childbirth.
Colonoscopies.
These are not a few of our favorite things. These are just a few of the things that people might prefer to do over buying a car. Surely there is a way to make car buying less terrifying than ripping hair out of your body. Don’t worry, we are here to help with some suggestions that can make the process painless and successful, no needles or anesthesia required.
Start Where You Are
Good planning makes almost everything go better, and buying a car is no exception. Before GPS can calculate navigation, it needs to know where you are starting. This same principle applies to car buying. Before you even touch a Google search or step foot on a lot, take some time to check in with where you are and where you want to go. Here are a few key questions to ask yourself in these early stages:
- What do I like about the car I have?
- What don’t I like about the car I have?
- Why do I need a new car?
- What are the most important things I want in my “dream” car?
- How much is my current car worth?
- How much time do I have to make this decision?
Don’t be afraid to go old school with this process–grab a pen and paper and write out some answers to these questions. This process can help you feel more confident and settled before you even begin your search.
Whittle it Down
There are no bad ideas in brainstorming or car daydreaming. Once you have thought through these questions and created a list of ideals for your “dream” car, it is time to start narrowing the search.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of different kinds of cars out there. Your search will be more effective and less frustrating if you are able to zero in more on what you want most.
Take a look at everything you want and see if you can narrow it down to five. Then, try to rank those five in order of importance. Maybe leather interior is really important to you, maybe you don’t care about the interior but what you must have is a good sound system. Perhaps the trunk size matters most, or the layout of the seats. Figure out a few key characteristics that make up a “must have” list, and you can go from there.
To Thine Own Budget be True
Talking about money is never fun, but it is sort of hard to buy a car without it. Once you have your main list of ideals mapped out, you can dig into the details of what you can afford.
If you have a car you can sell or trade in, do some research to see how much that might be worth. Then, be honest with yourself and your bank account and determine how much you can afford to pay, either up front in cash, or on a payment plan.
No car is fast enough to run away from debt, so don’t set yourself up for frustration down the road. If you are going to need financing to purchase a car, it can be really helpful to get pre-approved before you even begin the car shopping process. This gives you knowledge, and knowledge is power!
We are a Salt Lake City based car dealership that offers some of the best lending options in the nation. Visiting our financing page can get you started to find out how much car you can get with your budget. We are here to help.
Let the Search Begin!
You’ve narrowed down your dream list to a top five, you know how much money you are bringing to the table, and you’re pre-approved for a loan, if needed. Now, the fun starts!
Google can be a black hole when you are searching for something, but since you’ve done some smart planning already, then Google can bend to your will and help you find the right car.
The more specific your search, the more specific your results. Search for cars with the exact specifications you want and see what comes. And, don’t be afraid to scroll down. It’s valuable to read a few different articles in the search results.
As you scan through different articles, keep pen and paper handy. Write down any makes and models that you see mentioned in a few different articles. This will help you narrow it down to a make and model that will check as many boxes as possible. It’s just like middle school math–you are searching for the common denominator.
Read as many articles as you can and notice when the same kind of car is mentioned a few times. That will give you a great starting point.
Keep You Ear on the Ground
The world is not short on opinions. And cars are much less dangerous to talk about than politics or religion. Ask around, not only on styles of cars, but on ideas about dealerships. Compare and contrast online reviews, too.
Think Out of the Box
If we have learned anything from the last couple of years, it is that humans are very good at solving problems in creative ways. That human ingenuity will serve you well as you hunt for cars. Focusing on what you really want and being open to finding that in unexpected places will serve you well.
If you’re looking at used cars, consider rebuilt title cars. It’s a great way to get into the car you want for the price you need. Some of these restored title cars have had hail damage or collision damage that can be easily repaired. If they’ve been rebuilt by a meticulous auto body pro and/or mechanic, you could end up with just the car you’ve been dreaming of for a fraction of the price. And in the case of our rebuilt car dealership, we ship nationwide so you can get what you need wherever you’re at.
We can’t help you avoid a root canal and the bikini wax decision is a very personal one, so we will just stick to cars. That’s what we know best. Car buying doesn’t have to be painful or terrifying. Enjoy the process of exploring what you want most and then reach out to a reputable Utah car dealership to help you find it.