This is a guest post about one of the sponsors of the FamousBloggers CommentLuv $3550 CASH PRIZES Blogging Contest by Stephanie Suesan Smith. Stephanie is a Master Gardener who offers gardening advice based on years of experience and extensive course training.
Buying cars can be a frustrating experience, particularly if you are a woman. I drive my vehicle until the mechanic finally tells me there is nothing more he can do to keep it running, or that it will cost more to fix it than the car is worth. Then the search for another vehicle begins.
I admit that I do not know all that much about cars. My main objective is a pickup (I do live in Texas, after all) that runs and gets me where I need to go. Creature comforts like cruise control and a good radio are nice, too. Everything sold in Texas has an air conditioner because riding around in 100 degree F heat without one is dangerous.
In the past, I have had to deal with condescending sales men who though I was stupid because I was a woman. That made buying a car rather miserable. With the internet, however, I can research a car and buy it online. Or, research it and then go to the dealership armed with the knowledge I need to strike the very best bargain possible.
You can go to the website of the car manufacture if you want a list of the features available on a certain model. However, they are not exactly unbiased when it comes to telling you the features of the vehicle and any drawbacks it might have. For that you need a third party site.
Auto Monster Cars Blog gives information about different makes and models of cars and trucks. It is aimed at Canadians, but the information is helpful to everyone in North America. Once you read their reviews and pick out a car or truck, you can look at Monster Auto’s classifieds and find one at a price you can afford. They have new and used cars.
Buying a car should not be torture. While it will probably never rank right up there on your top ten fun things to do, Auto Monster Cars Blog can give you the information to get the vehicle you need without all the hassle.
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Buying used cars is good, but for me its not ok to buy or search it on eBay, I have nothing againts ebay but i just encountered something bad.
Hi,
Buying a car was, it is and will be a torture, it is very hard to find a good car at a normal price, a price that the car really deserves. It also is a matter of passion, how much do you wish for that car and how much are you going to work to earn the money to buy it ? It all depends on you, and how ‘cool’ do you want you car to be?
Best regards,
Maria
Maria Pavel would love you to read ..How To Become A CNA Instructor
Really buying of cars should be free decision as it involve a lot of money and it’s the matter of passion
Buying a car is a real fun for me. But one should be very careful before buying used car as there might be many problems in the car.So i advice to please check cars properly before buying and if u get frustrated than chance of wrong decision increases.
Yep..buying a car shouldnt be a torture. Based on my experience, ignorance is the one turtoring siince I dont know anything. When I bought my Porsche, it takes me six months to totally have it. Eventhough I have money to buy, I cant help it to make a research. But its all worth it. I also make a reservation and listed some online and local stores to the parts I needed whenever I have a problem as I used it every now and then.
Women seems to be so confused when it comes to buying a cars as very few of them know about the technologies and engines ..they just check out the exterior and interior of the car if they like it they will buy that car ..this sales person also have a big role in frustrating then by keep telling them about technology…
Twitter: GrowMap
December 17, 2010 at 2:37 pm
Twitter: @GrowMap
I’m surprised the stereotypes about women and cars are still so strong. Some women are just as knowledgeable about cars as men are; most just have many other interests they find more important.
Today there are probably just as many men who only care what a car looks like and don’t know anything about the mechanical aspects.
growmap would love you to read ..Best of GrowMap – Our Most Important Posts All in One Place
Yes you are right buying or selling a car is too difficult work for a women.I have my grandfather’s BMW car which was good till last year but now it has started giving problem..which is very difficult to maintain…
Twitter: GrowMap
December 17, 2010 at 2:36 pm
Twitter: @GrowMap
Hi Shirlyn,
The main reason many hate buying cars is because of high pressure sales people – not because buying or selling a car is “too difficult” for women or anyone else.
growmap would love you to read ..Local Search Directory Listings
Well, we share the same sentiment. Since I had my own place, I’ve been driving my car till it cannot start anymore, I haven’t checked it yet, though I am planning to shed some bucks again for a mechanic since it is really helpless to fix it by myself. Unlike when I was still living with my parents. ugh.
We all know that we can purchase cars online nowadays so it is not a torture in our present time. The other good thing is the availability of car parts which are very useful when there is a need to replace damage car parts or the owner wish to upgrade.
Post is very informative, I am really satisfied to post my comment on this blog . It helped me with ocean of knowledge so I really believe you will do much better in the future.
Twitter: Romanacci
September 17, 2010 at 2:49 pm
Twitter: @Romanacci
Unfortunately, it is true that women have a tougher time. But if you do your homework ahead of time and understand the true cost of things (ie:Invoice price, financing rates etc, then you should have no trouble getting a good deal whether you are a man or a woman.
Paul would love you to read ..2007 Acura TL in Madison- Connecticut
You really hit the nail on the head with this post. There are darn few blogs other than football or cycling that I even bother to read.
Its amazing, looking at the time and effort you put into your blog and detailed information you provide. I’ll bookmark your blog and visit it weekly for your new posts
I am always looking for blogs dealing with organic ideas and after reading this I now I am convinced the time has finally come to give up my personal automobile. In the future i will only use public transportation and my bicycle. I suspect it will be a challenge at the beginning but I am convinced that it is possible.
Hi!
I agree. Buying a car or buying anything at all shouldn’t be torture. Sometimes, we oversee things that’s beyond the scope of what we really need. Just in case you’re not sure of what you really need,you may ask someone who’s expert enough to come with you and give you ideas on what suits you best. You can bring a friend that you trust enough and whom you also know is quite an expert on cars.
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Stephanie, I forgot to mention the “back end” of the deal when purchasing a car. This is the part that deals with Finance and Insurance (F&I). Dealers make money off of the front end of a deal ( i.e. the marked up price), or on the back end of the deal from finance and insurance.
For example, even if you purchase a vehicle at cost you can still over pay if you are not careful about how you deal with the back end of the deal. If you are financing make sure that the terms are competitive and be careful about the additional warranties and other items that they try to sell you.
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Twitter: lambdakennels1
August 3, 2010 at 4:03 pm
Twitter: @lambdakennels1
This is very true. Of course, cash helps that, but not everyone can pay cash.
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Another thing you should have mentioned is the COSTCO AUTO BUYING PROGRAM for Costco Members.
We have never paid more than $100 over the dealer invoice for our automobiles. (Examples: Dodge Caravan SE 6 cyl $17k, sticker $25k — Toyota Avalon for $27.5k, sticker $35k.)
With the Costco program, you are given a Fleet Pricing which is the same price the Rental Car companies (Hertz, Avis etc) pay for their automobiles.
Costco Auto Program is a great tool and its FREE to all Costco members, even the Gold Star peons.
Twitter: lambdakennels1
July 16, 2010 at 7:18 am
Twitter: @lambdakennels1
I guess if that is true, the annual fee for Costco members might be worth it. There isn’t one near here, but there is about an hour from here. Would they accept a membership over the internet?
I definitely agree that buying should never be a torture and most people shouldn’t worry because there are lots of cars available online waiting to be purchased. This Dodge Caravan SE is rather than a good car and but a bit expensive though we can expect good performance and convenience.
When buying a car, I think it is best to bring along a friend who knows more about cars than you (so that even if you don’t know much about cars, you won’t be taken advantage of by the salesman). It is also most advisable to bring your own mechanic too if you are going to buy immediately. Also, test drive the car twice or thrice so you will really see what are the things you like and don’t like about the car, and not just believing everything the salesman is saying.
Twitter: lambdakennels1
July 16, 2010 at 7:16 am
Twitter: @lambdakennels1
That is a good idea. I bring my Dad, who gets a good deal. I usually test drive cars to see which one I want, he looks at what I can afford, and then we go after it. We are fortunate in that Dallas/Ft. Worth has a lot of car dealers, so if one is unreasonable, we just go to the next one.
Twitter: colleenlane
July 14, 2010 at 10:19 pm
Twitter: @colleenlane
We are kinda lucky in the car purchase area. My husband is on the National Ski Patrol here in the states and Subaru sponsors the NSP. We get Subarus at 5% below the dealer’s price, so there is no negotiating. We simply pick the car, pay the price, then Subaru sends the dealer the discount plus some profit. We are about to purchase our second car this way.
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Twitter: lambdakennels1
July 16, 2010 at 7:14 am
Twitter: @lambdakennels1
That is cool. Of course, the National Ski Patrol is hard work and you earn your discount. I wonder if one of the car manufacturers would sponsor a blogger? Probably not, huh?
Stephanie, you are soooo right. Buying a car should not be torture, but the process can be grueling. For most people, next to their home, it is the most expensive purchase that they will ever make.
Information is king. You must do your research to arm yourself. The use of the source that you mentioned, Autotrader.com, local newspapers, and trader magazines are good sources. Do not rely on NADA or Blue Book unless you really know what you are doing. These are tools that the dealer uses to establish their asking price. It is important to remember that market conditions establishes the value of a vehicle. It dosen’t matter what is printed in a book. One should also look at mileage and vehicle condition.
The bottom line is you should do your research before making an offer. Try to be rational when making your decision.
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Twitter: lambdakennels1
July 16, 2010 at 7:12 am
Twitter: @lambdakennels1
As a research geek, going in armed with information is my game plan. Currently, I also go in armed with my Dad, who negotiated contracts for a living, but he won’t be around forever so I better learn to do it on my own. Thanks for stopping by and making some suggestions.
If you are buying a used car another good resource is eBay. Especially if you look at the completed auctions section as it will give you an idea of the current market price. If you go to a dealer and they tell you the car is worth 15k and you know nothing over 10k has sold in the past 6 months you’ll have more bargaining power.
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Twitter: lambdakennels1
August 3, 2010 at 4:01 pm
Twitter: @lambdakennels1
I agree that checking different sources is a good idea. Ebay can be way under priced or way overpriced, though.
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Twitter: lambdakennels1
July 16, 2010 at 7:18 am
Twitter: @lambdakennels1
Thanks for the compliments. Thanks for stopping by.
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