Last Saturday, I went store hopping with my friend Liz who was interested in buying a second hand car. We basically visited all car dealers in town. Actually, the car is for her younger sister who is graduating senior high this year. At first, we did not have any idea on how to choose the best deal, so we asked for some assistance from her uncle Ted. Since Ted is an auto-mechanic, he is an expert in cars. He taught us some valuable tips on choosing the best car on sale.
Decide on your budget – since this is your price range, you can have a more specific selection of cars.
Bring a classified ads paper with you – car dealers have non standard pricing so better look at the papers to see the market price of the car you are buying.
Do not rely on brand – we may find the car fascinating because of its front logo, but since the car is already used, it is better if you check on it as a working machine rather that as a fashion accessory.
Let a mechanic tag along – this will lessen you the burden of researching specifics about cars. If you’re mechanic says OK, then you can add that car to your list of options.
Always do a road test – when I say road test, I mean it. Don’t just drive it along the block; try the highway, the sharp corners, and if possible rocky road. The salesperson will be happy to ride with you (with gas expense free). He may even offer you a top rated auto insurance on discount if you’re that lucky.
In summary we got the best car for Liz’s sister. It was a 2001 Civic which was the best deal in town. Now if only we could find a large ribbon and a larger gift wrap for it. ^_^
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