The Talk: Car Shopping
When is the last time you went shopping for a new car? Since the process can be overwhelming, The Talk invited Jessica Stafford from AutoTrader.com to share some tactics to navigate the buying process. Here is her advice on the best time to buy a new car.
The Talk: New Car Budget
From AutoTrader.com, Jessica Stafford shared advice on the best time to buy a new car, what to consider to narrow your search, and why to take your time. (GuoZhongHua / Shutterstock.com)
“What you really want to do is start out with that list of the things you need in a brand new car, and the things you want,” Stafford said.
Set your budget in the beginning so that you don’t get off track and search for things you can’t afford. Being practical and focusing on a car that fits your lifestyle will help you streamline the search.
The Talk: Best Time To Buy A New Car
You may have thought that fall or winter was the best time to get a good deal on a car. But Stafford said that’s not the case. The best time to buy a new car, she said, is anytime. Sales go year round, but she said shopping around holidays or at the end of a month can net you extra discounts.
The Talk: How To Buy A New Car
“A big mistake is to rush into a car purchase based on emotion,” she said. Don’t let your emotions make you speed through the process.
Given the financial commitment, you want to make sure you are getting the best car for you, because you are going to have to live with it for awhile.
The Talk: Dream Car Search Winner
An audience member, Erika Barnathan, still drives a 1997 Toyota Tercel. She said the cost of maintenance is getting to be too much. She was reluctant to get a new car, even though her previous car did not have a CD player.
Barnathan is 4’9”, and she is a special education preschool teacher on a fixed income. She said she also needs space to carpool with her daughter and other children. She would prefer a hybrid to save money on gas.
Jessica advised Erika to research cars and reviews online to help her do the homework before going to a lot to buy a car. Jessica mentioned the powerful search features on AutoTrader.com that can help you narrow your search. Then you will know what you want to take for a test drive.
The Talk co-hosts surprised Erika by giving her a 2013 Toyota Prius to help her upgrade her wheels. She was very excited by the gift, even though we could all see it coming from a mile away.
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