Researching Your Next New Car

woman with laptop

Shopping Is Researching

When you’re ready to buy a new car, the prospect may be so daunting that you don’t even know where to begin. There are so many makes, models, trim packages, and other options to consider that buying a car can get overwhelming really quickly. But it’s always a good idea to know what you’re looking for when you step onto a car lot; this keeps you from buying a vehicle different from your needs or expectations. Thankfully, there are plenty of resources available to a prospective car buyer, many of which can be found right here on the Internet.

 

Needs

It’s always a good idea to think about what you actually need before you start researching. What do you need from a car? Your car needs will differ depending whether you have a family or if you’re single. Think about the size of the car, the engine, the terrain you’ll drive on most frequently, how comfortable you’ll be in it, and what kind of work you may do that will be associated with your vehicle. Along with other needs, consider how long you want the car for. Over time, things can change. With changing lives, the specific vehicle needs you have may change as well. What do you think life will be like 5 years from now? What will you be needing out of your personal car then?

 

Budget

Setting a clear and defined budget for your car is very important. The price you set will likely make a major difference in the kind of car you buy. Keep in mind how much a car will cost to own as well. For 2013, Kelley Blue Book suggests Mazda for the lowest cost to own award. Consider the prices of insurance plans, parts and maintenance costs, and fuel efficiency. A cheap car up front can end up being costly down the line.

 

Resale Value

You might run the car you buy into the ground, but if you’re like many people, you’ll eventually want to trade yours in for a new one. In that case, you’ll want your car to maintain some of its value. Different makes and models have different reputations for resale value. Keep this in mind when you’re hunting.

 

The Research

Once you have some of these things in mind, you can take to the web and start researching. Keep in mind that not everything you find on the Internet will be true, nor will it be completely unbiased. Do as much of your own research as possible and verify your sources. Many websites that offer the best research can also help you locate your ideal car, and put you in touch with the dealership.

 

Cars.com

Cars.com is a full service car-buying site. You’ll find information like reviews, safety features, ratings, and other information. You can browse from thousands of vehicles to gather information on reasonable prices. If you’re looking to buy a new car and get rid of the old one, they even have options to sell.

 

Kelley Blue Book

KBB.com gives you everything from reviews to payment calculators. It helps you find the car you’re looking for, arrange financing, and more. When it comes to pricing out the value of your used vehicle, there isn’t a better place to help guide you to an accurate price than KBB.com.

 

Edmunds

Edmunds might be one of the most authoritative websites out there for car research. With calculators, a car finder, a compare feature, a find-a-dealer function, and cost-to-own information, Edmunds might supply you with just about everything you need to know about your potential new car.

 

Dealership Websites

With rapidly changing technology becoming available to more people and industries, even local dealerships are able to take advantage of new online shopping methods.  A local example built on a national trend is HublerDirect. This website offers customers the ability to shop over 2000 local vehicles, then negotiate the price online.  After you’ve got everything worked, you can go to the dealership, test drive your car, and decide whether or not it’s the perfect one for you without any obligation.

 

With these guidelines and resources, you’ll be researching and finding the car that’s right for you in no time. When it’s time to go to the dealer, bring the most pertinent information with you so that you can keep everything you want in mind.

 

Have you used any other resources, online or otherwise, to research the purchase of your new car?

Posted in Buying, Shopping and tagged , , , .