Purchasing a used car is an especially daunting task compared to new cars even for educated Kitchener-Waterloo consumers, much less to say for newcomers in Ontario. Bearing in mind that buying used cars actually broadens to a larger breadth rapidly, and becomes quite a frustration for the less well educated in the art of used car purchases. Therefore, it would be quite an upper hand to understand some tips before delving into your first car purchase.
1. Budget
Firstly, perhaps the most crucial thing of all, ensure that you establish a firm monthly budget and adhere to it strictly. Some unscrupulous dealerships do indeed prey on the ignorance of the less informed customers, and these customers at times may overextend their budget too much. Take note that buying a car isn’t just about how much money you’re spending on the car, you have to think about the maintenance, fuel consumption, tax, depreciation, interest rate, urgent repairs, etc. It’s all about the long term, and if you can just barely afford the price tag, it’s likely that you cannot keep the car running anyways. Thus, ensure that your budget is reasonable and shop around for the best deal that fits your needs. If necessary, you can increase your budget by a bit if it means netting a better deal.
 
2. Choose a vehicle that fits your needs
Moving on, be sure to actually understand what is the type of car that slots into your case suitably, and then widen your scope taking into other similar classification of vehicles into consideration. When you know your budget and the type of vehicle applicable to your needs, you can come up with a list of models that are appropriate for you. It’d be even better and prudent if you can research the models thoroughly beforehand. It’s not just about the initial reviews, long-term ownership is often far more pertinent to the subject of used car sales. If you can know the models’ known faults and quirks better than the salesperson or finance specialist, it’s a big advantage for you too.
3. Research your dealership
Furthermore, you must understand how you intend to make the car purchase. For used cars nowadays, you can often shop for opportunities online and see the car dealer reviews which is a massive convenience or go directly to local used car dealerships in Kitchener Waterloo or Cambridge to look around. Then, you can either choose to buy from a dealership or private sellers. It’s much easier to search for private sellers online of course. While private sellers can be seen as a convenience options, in reality it’ll be a bigger hassle to set up meets and set up a loan, let alone piece of mind for arising legal issues or reliability. On the other hand, any used car dealerships worth their salt should have an up-to-date online inventory on their website, so you can compare your potential choices. And if you require car financing, it’ll certainly be an edge to understand all the options you have available to you, and how to utilize them for the best deal possible. It’ll be beneficial to understand the warranties that some used car dealership offers too.
4. Enjoy the shopping experience
Finally, when you’re actually inspecting the vehicle in person, don’t hesitate to go all out. Remember, even a used car is a big financial dedication, so take the time to scrutinize your future ride properly. This will help you to avert any potential headaches that may otherwise arise after the purchase. Don’t ever feel emotionally driven when buying a car, bring a friend to pull you away if you have to.
Buying a car should never be a scary endeavor. Don’t be afraid to approach it. While it can be costly, it’s undoubtedly a new, exciting and very rewarding experience that everyone should be exposed to at least once. If you’re still apprehensive, go ahead and visit us at Garston Motors at 2235 Eagle St. Cambridge Ontario, we’re certain that we can advise you on your first car purchase, and we do have a large inventory that you can browse freely in person or online!.