Glendale Nissan Official Blog
Are you making the right choice when shopping for your Nissan?
By Product Expert | Posted in Tips & Tricks on Tuesday, July 11th, 2017 at 3:49 pm
7 common mistakes new car shoppers make
If you buy the wrong appliance, say a $20 toaster, and you find that it isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, no harm, right? It’s not that you are glad to throw away money, but everyone makes a mistake or two when it comes to small purchases. A car, however, is no small purchase. You want to make the right choice, but it’s easy to fall into some pitfalls when it comes to haggling or selecting the right vehicle for your lifestyle. Here are some of the 7 most common mistakes new car shoppers make, so you know what not to do when you stop by to select your next Nissan.
New Car Shopping Tips and Tricks
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Not doing research
The research process should be the very first step before you even consider buying a car. You need to identify your own needs, select a segment, narrow down brands based on reliability and reputation, then select from a variety of options that fit your needs.
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Failing to contact the internet department
The internet department is a valuable asset to shoppers, as you can strike a deal and haggle from the safety of home, find out what incentives you qualify for and play hardball. Plus, if there is a specific model, feature, or color you need, you can let the staff members do the legwork for you.
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Discussing monthly payment rather than overall price
If you walk in the door with a monthly payment in mind, you might walk out the door with that payment. Shop with the overall price in mind, and see if you can haggle down from there.
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Failing to appraise your trade-in value
There are a variety of websites that will allow you to do a quick online appraisal of your vehicle before you stop by a dealership, so you know what it’s worth and you have a jumping off point to haggle, or decide to sell privately. You can also do an online appraisal from us.
[Read More: Most Common Causes of Car Accidents]
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Not taking a test drive
Most shoppers know to take a test drive, but fail to take a thorough one. Don’t be shy. Take your time, test it on the highway. Find a curvy road.
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Not verifying insurance costs
This is especially important for those who have been driving an older model. It’s easy to consider your monthly payment and budget from there, but if your insurance costs are particularly low, you might get a nasty shock when you finance and are forced to take out more aggressive insurance.
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Failing to consider financing
You can easily get pre-approved for financing online, but you might also want to look at what your personal bank offers and compare your options. You’ll also want to familiarize yourself with the different packages, add-ons and protection plans available for your new car, as well as what those features should cost.
Have you ever made an enormous blunder when shopping for a new car? Share your experience with a comment below, and be sure to check back here at the Glendale Nissan Blog for more tips and tricks.
