Car trek

Planning, research help students
avoid backfires when shopping

By KIRSTEN TATE
UNIVERSITY JOURNAL

At some time in almost every American’s life, the moment of truth will come; no failing now — it’s only a car.
Sometimes, the pressure of buying a car can make anyone turn and run. Questions like “Will I get a good deal? How can I be sure it isn’t a lemon? Is the car reliable? Will I look cool driving it?” run through everyone’s heads.
Before attempting to look for a car, the first decision should not be how much money to spend but what features are most important. Deciding the purpose of the vehicle, where it will be driven, and in what weather conditions are keys to buying the right car.
Once the decision is made among economy, compact, mid-sized or sporty vehicles, the search is greatly narrowed.
Next, it is important to know which cars have the best reputation for reliability and durability. Some car models are known to last forever, while others are known for making frequent trips to the repair shop.
The best and worst cars of 1998 were rated at www.autooninfo.net. The car’s reliability percent is rated from 0.00 to 1.00, with 0.00 being the lowest.
The top nine cars with reliability percent ranks between 0.95 and 1.00 include the Honda CR-V with 1.00, the Toyota Tacoma 4WD with a percent rank of 0.99.
Third and fourth place went to Lexus ES300 and LS400 respectively. The Toyota 4Runner had a rank of 0.97, as did the Honda Civic.
The Acura Integra, Honda Accord and Honda Odyssey finished the list with percent ranks of 0.96.
Toyota and Honda manufactured all cars in the top nine.
The worst car of 1998 with a percent rank of 0.00 was the Cadillac Catera. The worst list also includes the Mercedes-Benz M-Class with a 0.01, Dodge Neon and Audi A6 at 0.02, Plymouth Neon, Dodge Ram Van/Wagon B150 and Volkswagen New Beetle had a 0.03 percent rank.
Rounding out the bottom nine were the Chevrolet S-10 Pickup V6 4WD and S-10 Blazer with a percent rank of 0.06, according to www.autooninfo.net.
Once the type of car desired is determined, dealing with the bad reputation of car salesmen can make approaching a car dealership a scary thought.
The next step to buying a car is preparing for the dealership, and knowing what to look for when a potential car is presented.
In Persuasion, Social Influence and Compliance Gaining by Robert H. Gass and John S. Seiter, tips are given for buying a new or used car.
First, a person should do research on cars before visiting a car dealership. He or she should learn about the makes and models most interested in and check the performance criteria, standard features and options.
Some of this information can be found in consumer magazines as well as the Internet.
Second, a person shouldn’t show emotions. If a salesperson sees emotional attachment to a car, he or she is more likely to raise the price of the car.
Third, customers should take a calculator with them. Salespeople’s favorite sayings include, “Let’s see how the numbers shake out.” This implies that numbers aren’t negotiable, but everything is negotiable. Customers should do their own figuring and see if it matches with the salesperson.
Fourth, customers should focus on the total price of the car, not the monthly cost. Four price factors to consider are: total purchase price, finance period, interest rate and, then the monthly payment.
Customers should only discuss the monthly payment with the

 

All things considered, safety, comfort, highway performance, exterior and interior styling, cargo capacity the 2003 Volvo XC90 is an excellent crossover SUV — that is, a combination of a car, an SUV and a van. Buying a car is a delicate process that takes time and consideration.
PHOTO / WASHINGTON POST

finance period in mind. The total price of a car with a $300 per month payment on a three-year loan is thousands of dollars less than a $300 per month payment on a four-year loan.
Fifth, customers ought to remember salespeople are working together. They are not a person’s best friend, even though they might act like it. The better deal given to a customer, the less commission the salesperson gets.
Sixth, customers need to be aware of advertised specials with extremely low prices. Once on the lot, salespeople will perform the “old switcheroo,” then try to promote another car with a higher price.
Seventh, car-shoppers need to watch for extended warranty packages and add-on options. These can add thousands of dollars to the total price of the car, even after a price has been agreed on.
Eighth, customers should find out interest rates at a bank or credit union before shopping for the car. Car dealership interest rates are often higher.Ninth, customers need to research option prices, like for a stereo, before shopping for the car. By knowing retail prices, it is easier to negotiate the price at the dealership.
Tenth, customers ought to discuss the total price of the option, not the monthly or per day price. Adding $1 per day to an option can add $1,100 during a 36-month period.
Finally, car-shoppers shouldn’t let the salesperson know there is a trade-in in advance. Settle on a firm price of the car first; then mention the trade-in to get a better value.
Knowing how to handle the salesperson is only the beginning of buying a car. If the car is used, “it is important to check the car both inside and out,” said Devin Johnson, a junior biology major from Magna.
He also said check the engine first, then the number of miles and the history of the car. This will help determine if the car has been totaled and redone.
Advice on what to look for when inspecting a potential car is available at www.royalbank.com. According to the Web site, customers should ask to see service records or repair bills.
If major problems have occurred, the car probably isn’t worth it.
The site also said to wear casual clothes and bring a flashlight. Customers should look at the exterior, interior and the engine. If it looks good, then take it for a road test.
To inspect the exterior, customers ought to walk around the car slowly looking from top to bottom, check the paint and make sure the paint matches throughout the car. They should also ask the seller if it has been repainted, the Web site reported.
Rust is also important to watch for. Customers need to look at the bottom of the doors, window trim, headlight housings, underneath and inside the car.