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Whether you're looking for a new car or used car, have as much information as you can. Look at the April issue of Consumer Reports magazine to compare models, features, safety, reliability information and prices. If you're considering a used car, look at Consumer Reports for the particular year you are researching. Consumer Reports gives their test reports for braking performance, emergency handling, visibility and seat comfort. You'll also want to check the frequency-of-repairs charts. Based on readers' annual survey results, more than 500,000 vehicles are rated from worse-than-average to better-than-average on reliability.
Determine beforehand what you can afford and what type of vehicle best suits your needs. In addition to the initial purchase price, consider the cost of insurance, registration, taxes, maintenance and operation. Comparison shop. Up-to-date car reviews can be found at www.cars.com. Consumer's impressions about exterior, interior, engine and driving can be found at www.autoweb.com and www.carpoint.msn.com. You can obtain real price information from nearby dealers for the cars and features you want by accessing www.autobytel.com and www.autovantage.com. Personally check with local dealers, but go armed with the critical information that you've already researched. Pay attention to the price you pay after everything has been added in. Getting a huge trade-in allowance doesn't mean much if the car you're buying would have been discounted anyway.
Before buying a used car, have it thoroughly inspected by a qualified individual you hire to determine if any repairs are needed now or may be needed in the future. Learn as much as you can about the car. Examine the car yourself using an inspection checklist. Test-drive the car under varied road conditions. Ask for the car's maintenance record. Talk to the previous owner, especially if the present owner is unfamiliar with the car's history.
Shop for financing just as you shop for the car itself. Look at all the terms of financing. Make sure you understand the following aspects of the loan agreement before you sign any documents: the exact price you're paying for the vehicle, the amount you're financing, the finance charge (the dollar amount the credit will cost you), the APR (a measure of the cost of credit expressed as a yearly rate), the number and amount of payments, and the total sales price (the sum of the monthly payments plus the down payment). If you're arranging your own financing, don't agree to buy until you have the lender's approval.
If the vehicle comes with a warranty, know exactly what it does and does not cover, how to have repairs done and what you must do to keep the coverage in effect. With the purchase of a used car, a full or limited warranty doesn't have to cover the entire vehicle. The dealer may specify that only certain systems be covered. Some parts or systems may be covered by a full warranty, others by a limited warranty. Most used cars are sold "as-is" without any sort of guarantee. If an "as-is" car breaks down after you buy it, don't expect the dealer to repair it, because he doesn't have to. His only liability is for the equipment required by state law. A private sale probably will be on an "as is" basis, unless the purchase agreement with the seller specifically states otherwise.
Read everything, and don't sign until you're sure you understand all the terms of the purchase, including the finance contract. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Get copies of everything you sign! Have all promises put in writing. Spoken promises are difficult to enforce because there may not be any way for a court to determine with any confidence what was said.
"High pressure" by itself is not illegal. Don't be afraid to bargain, and don't be afraid to say no or walk out! You do not have 72 hours to change your mind. Once you sign, you've probably bought yourself a car.
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