THE WORD
10 COMMANDMENTS OF CAR BUYING
By Kurt Schlaefer
1. THOU SHALT NOT HAVE OTHER BROKERS BESIDES ME :-). A good broker is on your side. Choose a broker you can trust and give them all the information you can about what you want and why. Don’t hold back. When I bring you a vehicle and a price for that vehicle, I always price it at the very lowest I can for that particular car. Reward your broker’s work with your business. Be available by phone or email to better facilitate the vehicle search and narrow the possible choices more quickly.
2. THOU SHALT NOT BE IN A BIG HURRY!! Patience really is a virtue. Speed and low cost are mutually exclusive. Needing a new car today will significantly increase your cost. Never fall for the “two more people waiting for this car” routine. If it was meant to be, you’ll get it.
3. THOU SHALT NOT WALK INTO A NEW CAR DEALERSHIP UNPROTECTED!! Call Kurt 1st. When you see an ad for any kind of incentive showing a payment, add $100 per month, to be realistic. Especially avoid dealerships on Saturdays in Colorado and beware the “spot delivery”. Only the high pressure folks work Saturdays and they know you can’t look on Sunday. What are they selling? – their cars. What am I selling? – your satisfaction. If you must enter a dealership, ask me first which ones to stay away from. There are very good reasons for this. Beware of “certified” used cars.
4. THOU SHALT NOT PUT MONEY DOWN ON A CAR LEASE!! Should you happen to total the car soon after you lease it, the down money will be gone forever.
5. THOU SHALT NOT FALL FOR PRESSURE TACTICS SURROUNDING THE END OF THE CURRENT FACTORY INCENTIVES! Most incentives stay the same or actually increase from month to month.
6. AT MODEL YEAR END (anytime between July and September) IT IS ALMOST ALWAYS BEST TO LEASE THE NEW MODEL BUT BUY THE OLD MODEL!
7. THOU SHALT NOT PURCHASE OR LEASE BEFORE CHECKING THE INSURANCE through a good insurance agent (an independent agent is best) rather than via an 800 number. A good agent will keep you out of trouble by recommending if and when to file claims to minimize your rates. Does your insurance company offer “gap insurance” and “diminished value coverage”?
8. THOU SHALT NOT BUY USED WITHOUT A CARFAX AND AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTION, EVEN IF THERE’S WARRANTY REMAINING!
9. THOU SHALT NOT BUY A USED EUROPEAN VEHICLE WITHOUT A GOOD EXTENDED WARRANTY unless you’re independently wealthy! Call me to check reasonable cost. Only buy extended warranties that itemize what’s not covered, rather than the other way around.
10. VERY LOW COST “DEALER-ADVERTISED” USED CARS UNDER $7000 are almost never what they seem! If they were, most would be sold before ever reaching an ad. Expect to pay over retail book value for a really nice one in this price range. The best ones are found by word of mouth thru relatives or acquaintances – remember commandment #8.