For those in the market for a new vehicle, Christmas can be an excellent time of year to go shopping. This goes whether you’re looking to buy a car outright or finance a purchase through borrowing, or lease your car. Whether you’re looking for a brand-new Tesla or a pre-owned Lexus, there are good reasons to pull the trigger before the year is out.
It’s all about quotas
Most car dealerships will have targets and quotas to contend with. In many cases, annual sales figures might translate into bonuses for the person making the sale. In other words, the human being you’re talking to in the dealership might be heavily incentivised to push the sale through before the year turns.
This will give you serious leverage – provided that you have a reasonable idea of when the cut-off point is.
Consider the car you need
If you have an idea of the car, you really want, then you’ll be able to avoid being tempted into making an expensive mistake. It’ll also give you a point of reference when you enter the negotiations. If you’re not sure of how much you want to spend, and what kind of vehicle you’re looking to get for your money, then you might end up feeling a little adrift. The more research you do in advance, the more confident you’ll be when you’re negotiating.
Don’t be afraid to walk away
If a deal has started to turn a little bit sour, then it’s important that you don’t feel wedded to it before it’s gone through. Take a step back, get some perspective, and, if the deal doesn’t sit well with you, then don’t be afraid to walk away. It might be that the act of walking away is what inspires the salesperson to come back with a better offer.
Consider running costs
The cost of a car isn’t paid in a single sum at the start. You should also consider how expensive it will be to fuel, insure, and maintain. This is where your research will come in extremely handy: but you’ll also need to consider your personal circumstances. If you’re putting in a lot of miles, then it’s worth paying a bit more for a more economical vehicle.
Test drive
Buying a vehicle you haven’t driven is asking for trouble. This goes especially if you’re buying second-hand. Give the exterior of the vehicle a quick once-over before hopping into the driver’s seat. Make sure that you test the car on different roads, and that you have a chance to put it into fifth. Be aware of potential problems and their symptoms and keep your ears open for any nasty-sounding engine problems.