Used Car Buying Tips

Purchasing a used car always feels very daunting. Most car-buyers have limited experience in heading into a dealership as people are starting to hold onto their automobiles for longer periods of time now. Another reason is because of the price tag attached, making people see buying a car in a much different light. If you’re going to be spending that much time, or making the commitment to an auto-loan, then you want to make sure you get it right the first time around. You even have to research the history of the car before buying used. If you’re someone who is thinking about finally purchasing that used car, here are some valuable tips from the Proctor Journal to keep in mind as you start the process.

You need to know what you want. It doesn’t matter that you’re buying pre-owned, you still want to have an idea of what style of car you’re looking for. Are you wanting a sports car to show off, or are you in need of a larger SUV for traveling with the family? Make sure to determine what style of vehicle matches your need based on life-style. Once you know that, start look at the makes and models and see which one you like the most.

Next, determine your budget. You going to need to know your financing limit. If you’re not going to pay the full price for the vehicle, look into getting an auto loan. Make sure before you do that, though, that you know how you’re going to be paying it back. That means knowing what you can afford as far as monthly payments are involved. Speak to the dealership you’re planning on purchasing from about the different options that they have for financing.

After that, plan on taking test drives. It’s a good way to determine if this car has what you’re looking for. You can research and evaluate a car all you want online, but it’s a much different experience once you get behind the wheel. It’ll help give it a feel and may even lead to you discovering an issue that you might not have thought to look for.

There’s plenty of things that you can do, as a car-buyer, before you head in for purchasing. These are simply a foundation to build off of. Go through and make a check-list to make sure that you have the proper preparedness so that you’re not caught off guard. It may seem like a giant commitment to make, especially financially, but with the right amount of leg-work, you’ll find that it’s not so overwhelming.

Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge is the dealership that will help you find the car you need. Give us a try and we’ll make sure to help make the process as easy and as unstressful as possible. You can even start the research by viewing our pre-owned inventory online. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more tips on buying a car.

Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge – Parking/Road Access Changes

Last Friday, Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge was featured in a Times Ledger news piece regarding parking issues with dealerships in the Bayside area. While Bayside’s parking set-up does not violate any zoning laws and was in fact cleared by a review by the Department of Buildings last month, we want to make certain that the sidewalks and streets are accessible for all Bayside residents.

Currently, we are reviewing our dealership’s layout and the surrounding streets, and we will be making adjustments so that we can continue providing quality service to our customers while showing consideration to our friends and neighbors who share these streets.

Want to contact Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge? You can connect with us on Facebook and Twitter or stop by our convenient location at 212-19 Northern Blvd in Bayside, New York.

Improve Your Auto Loan Terms in 4 Easy Steps

Shopping around for an auto loan can be a trying experience, especially with a low credit score. It can seem impossible to find the car you want at rates and terms you can afford. Most people don’t know that they can improve their chances of getting a better rate, though, by following these 4 simple steps.

  1. Be Honest with Yourself: Take a look over your personal finances and ask yourself how much you can really afford to spend. Do you really need a new car, or are you better able to afford a good used car? If your finances are tight already, then a reliable vehicle that generally doesn’t need a lot of repairs is a smarter choice than something flashier (and pricier).
  2. Research Before Going Into a Dealership: When you go into a dealership, that dealership assumes that you are ready to test drive and buy. If you want to research model reviews, it is better to do so before going in. Otherwise, you could end up buying a car you didn’t really want or hem and haw over the pros and cons of a model and waste the salesperson’s time. It is always good to go into a sale certain that this is the car you want, but keep in mind that the dealership’s sales staff make money on commissions. Be considerate of that, and if you aren’t ready to buy, walk away and let that salesperson help another customer.
  3. Bring a Down Payment: Fox Business recommends having a 20 percent down payment for a new car and 10 percent for a used car. By having that down payment, it increases the chances of getting a better interest rate and lower monthly payments.
  4. Shoot For a Shorter Loan Length: The value of a car, especially a new car, depreciates fairly quickly, so it is better to go with a shorter loan length. Even if it means higher monthly payments, you will probably end up with a higher interest rate if you get a longer loan.

Are you shopping for an auto loan but running into problems because of your credit? Give Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge a chance to help you. You can see our online new and pre-owned inventory here, and be sure to like Bayside on Facebook and follow Bayside on Twitter to get the latest news from the auto industry.

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