As the crisp temperatures of fall begin to settle in around
the South Jersey area and the bright colors of the season begin to manifest,
you may be contemplating a trip to the Poconos (or perhaps further) for some
fall leaf "peeping." However, you need a car in order to do so and
maybe you're not too sure of your old vehicle's ability to handle any long
treks. In fact, you've been thinking about getting a new one for a while now
and this might be just the excuse that you need to make it happen.
However, it's been years since the last time you got a new
car and you're understandably nervous about choosing a new vehicle. Not only
may your circumstances have changed (better job, more family members, etc.),
but there seem to be more vehicle styles, shapes, models, and accessories than
ever! So, where do you begin?
The buying process may seem a little overwhelming, but the
following tips should take a great deal of stress out of the process.
Who is the Car for?
The first thing that you need to do is to consider not only
who will be driving the new car, but who will be the regular passengers. For
instance, the number of children or people that you carpool with might have
some bearing on whether you get a minivan or a compact. Is the car for your
spouse? Make sure he/she gets a say in everything from the color to the storage
space. Go camping a lot with friends? That equipment and the people that you
are traveling with may make an SUV a solid option (not to mention the off-road
capacity).
Finances
Before you look at or test drive anything, it's important to
come up with a budget that makes sense for your financial situation. After all,
the last thing that you want is to end up falling in love with a car and find
that you really can't afford it. Take a look at how much you spend a month now,
and then figure in the cost of new monthly car payments, insurance, gas, and
any incidentals or maintenance. When you head into the dealership, be firm with
the dealers and insist on only looking at cars within your price range.
Other Factors
Now that you have established some requirements, you can
start considering your preferences. Consider the following:
- Is
satellite radio something that you've wanted for years?
- Maybe
you'd feel more secure having a rear vision camera.
- Perhaps
you have a long commute and finding a car that gets good gas mileage should be
a priority.
- Make
sure to test drive any vehicle that you are considering to make sure that you
are comfortable in it.
- Whether
you have children or not, don't forget to research any car you are thinking
about getting for safety ratings!
If you're going to be using the car for your fall trip and
any other long distance travel that you might engage in in the future, then
maybe you want to consider getting a vehicle with a DVD player to keep the kids
entertained for the long haul. Perhaps you'll want to have a separate climate
control for the front and back, so that when you get hot in the front because
the sun is shining on you, the kids won't have to freeze when you turn on the
air.
Shopping for a car means making a lot of decisions, both
before you visit any of the
car dealerships
in South Jersey and once you arrive. If possible, bring at least one of
your potential passengers with you when shopping to get a second opinion. And
take your time! With some effort, consideration, and research, you'll find the
perfect vehicle, both for your fall getaway and your life.
Labels: car dealerships in South Jersey