When and How to Buy that New Chevy You’ve Always Wanted

Before you go searching for that new car at your local Chevy dealer in Columbus, you are probably wondering if it’s even the right time for you to buy a new car or not. Yes, there is a right time — and I’ll let you in on a secret: it’s not last minute when your current car is on its last leg. You also might be wondering how to go about getting a new car. Preparing for your purchase and closing the deal are perhaps the two most important parts of the process. So, it’s important to do a little research on that before you go buy that new car.

First, you need to know when that right time to buy is.

Best Time to Buy? When You Don’t NEED a Car

You don’t want to buy a new car on a whim (unless you’re rich) and you certainly don’t want to wait until the last minute to buy one. The absolute best time to buy a car is when you don’t need one. Let me elaborate on that a bit.

When your current car breaks down, you won’t have wheels to get around. That means you can’t get to your job, pick your kids up from school, or even have a social life. Now, if you decide to wait to buy a new car until your current car breaks down (read: the last minute), you lose your mode of transportation.

Apart from being in limbo between transportation methods, you will also feel pressured to find a new car fast. As we all know, rushing and feeling pressured is a surefire way to make mistakes. When it comes time to buying a car, the last thing you want to do is rush or make a mistake. The process is already stressful enough for most people, so there’s no need to add fuel to that fire.

Not to mention, if you lose your source of transportation and can’t find another one, then there’s no way for you to get a new vehicle.

So, while you don’t want to buy a new car on a whim, you still need to buy one before your current car kicks the bucket. How can you tell the right time? By keeping up with routine maintenance, and having your mechanic tell you when it’s time to get a new car. Or, if you’re automotive-savvy, then you can be the judge of that.

How to Prepare for your Purchase

Before you buy a new car, you need to do some prep work. You can’t just waltz into a dealership and expect to find the perfect car just sitting there, waiting for you with a ray of sunshine hitting it. That only happens in movies.

Part One: Research Brands and Models

The more unsatisfying reality is you need to do some two-part research. The first part is the type of car you want. Do you want a sedan, truck, SUV, electric, compact, subcompact, micro, etc. This list goes on, and with more types of cars on the road than ever before, 2016 proves to make researching vehicles a little more difficult than previous years. There are exceptions to that rule, however.

For example, I’m a truck guy. Always have been, and I grew up around Chevy and Ram, and have had bad experiences with Ford trucks. So chances are, you’ll see me in either a Chevy pickup or SUV, or a Ram truck for the rest of my life.

Point being, if you have any brand preferences (like Chevy for me), that’s a good place to start. It helps you whittle down the brands out there. Now that you’ve found your preferred brand, it’s time to start considering all the model options. The automakers’ websites are a great place to start, since they have a full list of all the new models they offer.

I’m sure you know how to figure out what vehicle is right for you, but I’m going to run through it briefly in order to make this section feel wholesome. It’s really easy to do, and you just need to think about what type of car fits your lifestyle. Do you drive a lot? If so, you’ll probably want a sedan or compact sedan. While I don’t mind, others might hate the amount of gas a pickup truck or SUV chugs. On the other hand, if you need a more rugged vehicle because your line of work requires you to go off the beaten path, then something like a truck or SUV might be more what you’re looking for.

Part Two: Research the Dealership

In 2016, the internet is your greatest ally. Not only can you find plenty of in-depth research on vehicles, but dealerships also have websites that have reviews and an “About Us” page, too. Just search a phrase like “Chevy dealer in Columbus, OH near me” in Google, and start clicking on dealership sites and doing some research. They’ll display both positive and negative reviews, so you can get an unbiased opinion. Also, their “About Us” page will have important information, such as a brief history, their beliefs in car buying, and some general information about the dealership and what they offer.

Finding your preferred brand, model, and dealership all from the comfort of your home is what car buying is all about in 2016. That way, you aren’t driving endlessly from place to place, trying to find the right dealership and car. Doing so creates unnecessary (and avoidable) hassles and stresses that you don’t need.

Closing the Deal

After you find out what car you want and locate the dealership for your purchase, then it’s time to head over. You know how it goes: you walk into the dealership, a sales rep talks to you about your vehicle of choice and a few other options, you go for a test drive, and then you decide if you want the car or not.

While that doesn’t seem too stressful, it’s at the end when you “close the deal” that most consumers get worked up. But, you don’t have to. Expect the sales rep to sit you down with a general manager, sales manager, or a financial expert at their dealership, and draw up the contract. Your job is then to Read. It. Thoroughly. Before. Signing. I can’t stress this enough. It’s not that they are trying to burn you on the deal, there just might be stuff in there you don’t want — or need — that bumps up the overall price of your chosen vehicle. Like an unnecessary warranty, for example. While that warranty might be great for someone else, you might want nothing to do with it. Therefore, read the contract carefully, and make sure to get anything extra removed that you find unnecessary.

Remember, don’t be afraid to ask for what you want when it comes to closing the deal and purchasing the vehicle that is right for you. Most dealerships aim to deliver the utmost in customer service and want you to leave satisfied, particularly if doing so positions you to return for repeat purchases. Hopefully, these little tips will alleviate some stress when it comes time to buy that new Chevy you’ve always wanted.