Looking for a car is a task many Mississippi State University students undertake each year for a variety of reasons. Whether he or she will receive a car as a graduation gift or needs a new car for his or her summer plans, a first-time car buyer should be careful, attentive and confident when looking for a car.
Think about the lifestyle of the buyer:
When buying a car, one of the most important things a potential buyer can do is think about what he or she needs in a new vehicle and why he or she needs this car.
Chris Wilbourn, freshman political science major, said he chose his first car by choosing between something that looked nice or something that was functional.
“I chose functionality when I chose my Jeep. I liked the way it looked, but I also liked how sporty it was. It fits my personality,” he said.
Lindsay Linhares, junior communication and political science major, said she had a list of needs her car had to meet, including dependability, safety, high miles per gallon and a reasonable price. She also allowed herself to identify splurges she wanted in a car.
“Extra aspects that were important to me were an auxiliary plug-in for my iPhone for music, leather seats and the car being a charcoal gray color,” she said.
Students who enjoy mud riding might consider vehicles with four-wheel-drive, while students who rarely use their vehicles except for longer trips should look for smaller cars with high gas mileage.
Research your options:
Once a buyer knows his or her needs in a car, it is important to look at the options that can fulfill these needs. Looking for dependable models and makes is essential, especially if the car is used.
Linhares said she researched cars with her parents and made sure to drive a few before making a final decision.
“Even though the first car I drove was the one I knew I wanted, I made sure to go to other lots and test drove other cars before I settled on my final choice,” she said.
Deb Addington, MSU alumna, said she checks Consumer Guide’s car-buying issue for the best and worst car models and asks advice from other experts.
“It tells you all the problems people have reported on each car,” she said. “I also check with a popular garage because they can tell you what make or model of cars have the least problems.”
Addington said she also looks for past information about the car and its previous owner if it is used.
“Ask for Car Fax to make sure the car has never been wrecked. Ask the seller for information on the previous owner. If it was a young male, it was probably driven harder than if it was an older person,” she said.
Bargain with the salesperson:
One of the most common tips for first-time car buyers is never to accept the list price without first discussing a deal. Buyers need to know the invoice price of a new car or the “blue book” value of a used car to understand the inflation used by car dealerships and how low the price can be.
Lisa Fulgham, an English graduate student, said she thinks buying a car requires a lot of patience and consistency in knowing what the buyer wants.
“Don’t give in until you’ve thought the whole thing over, bargained and made a deal that you’re comfortable with,” she said.
Linhares said knowing the prices offered by other dealerships can help because a salesperson will often lower the price to keep you from buying from another lot.
Addington said she has made a habit of asking the dealership to help cover smaller costs related to a new car as well.
“If you ask, they usually will eat the cost to put an inspection sticker on your car and sometimes will even give you a full tank of gas, but you have to ask,” she said.