Whether it’s a luxe Mercedes-Benz or sporty Jeep, for zipping around town, school pick-ups or adventure drives, forking out your hard-earned money on a new car is a big deal. Most of us want something that looks great, is super safe, reliable, fuel efficient and easy to maintain. Oh, and within budget. But where do you start? “Like your graduation or wedding day, buying a car is a major milestone in a person’s life,” explains car pro, Lauren Williams, who is the CEO of CarsGuide.com.au. “While many struggle to get their heads round the minefield of car dealerships and scrolling through endless options in the marketplace, there are a number of essential tricks to help get ahead of the game and bag the best deal, saving time and money in the process.” Here’s Lauren’s tips …
Top 5 tips to help you get the best car deal
1. Get Your Timing Right
Timing is everything. In the car buying market there are predictable, seasonal sales, lifecycle events for individual car models, and outlier sales due to external natural forces which result in car prices being lowered. Being vigilant of these forces means a car buyer can snag themselves a great deal.
Hit the End of Financial Year Sales:
The obvious one, sellers who need to move stock out the door to make the most revenue possible before the end of financial year. Cue lowered prices – say no more.
Can’t Wait til EOFY? Try February and March:
These months are also fruitful for car buyers. This is when last year’s models start to feel ‘old’ and new models enter the market. It’s a time to leverage cheaper deals and negotiate for upgrades to be thrown in.
Take Advantage of Midweek specials:
A superseded model moves from new and desirable on Monday to outdated and bargain-ready on Wednesday when the updated model arrives on the floor. Understanding the release cycle will elevate your bargaining power.
Give Yourself and Early Christmas Present:
The Christmas run-out sales see sellers eager to get rid of cars. Buyers are doing the sellers a favour by helping them get a sale on stock before it becomes outdated at the turn of the year.
Be Up To Date with the Worldly forces:
When the value of currency takes a hit because interest rates are low, dealers are going to encourage us to consider buying a new car by running special deals.
2. Do Your Research
Do some thorough research into the current market price of the car you’re interested in. If you come across a used car with a price significantly lower than the market value, you need to wonder why this is the case. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Also, compile a list of the best cars for resale. Every car depreciates, but there is some flexibility when it comes to how much and how fast. Influences include utility and location, style and upgrades.
The luxe list:
The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class with Intelligent Drive blends aesthetics with efficiency and safety. The Intelligent Drive assistance systems, along with a 360 degree camera which is able to monitor the area around the vehicle, alert the driver to a host of potentially dangerous situations. From driver fatigue to brake assistance, which can detect crossing traffic and boost breaking force if the driver fails to react, thus preventing accidents at speeds of up to 50km. Clever…
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Interior
3. Think Smart About A Trade-in
Even if you plan on trading in your current car for a better deal, keep it out of sight from the dealer and don’t let them know you are thinking of doing so. The car you own is a source of profit. You’d get the most money for your car by selling it privately because dealers pay wholesale prices. A used car’s profit margin is actually more than that of a new car. If you do plan on negotiating a trade-in, arrive at the lowest cost possible without a trade-in first.
Holden’s Buckle Up Kids program is a free child restraint checking service aimed at educating parents and care givers to correctly fit and make adjustments to child restraints,” explains Steve Curtis, Holden’s Manager of Vehicle Structure and Safety Integration.
Holden’s seven-seater Captiva 7 is the medium SUV that boasts power and fuel efficiency – perfect for the whole family.
4. Secure A Rebate
Many manufacturers offer rebates with new vehicles. Keep track of available rebates by contacting the manufacturers to find out about rebate programs they are actively offering and keep a close eye on online, TV and local newspaper ads. Read the small print carefully as rebates are commonly attached to finance packages. Don’t discuss rebates with dealers until you’ve negotiated the lowest prices available without one.
The luxe list:
The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class with Intelligent Drive blends aesthetics with efficiency and safety. The Intelligent Drive assistance systems offer a host of safety features, including enhanced Active Lane Keeping Assist. This can prevent the vehicle from unintentionally drifting out of a lane by applying the brakes on one side when the lane markings are broken and there is a risk of collision. Think vehicles overtaking at high speed, parallel traffic or even oncoming traffic.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Interior
5. Remember, there’s more than one dealer out there!
Remind the seller that they aren’t your only option and let them know that you are taking quotes from competitors. Compare the prices and information provided to you by the multiple sellers you have spoken with and keep asking the dealer, ‘Can you do better?’ and telling them that other sellers have provided better deals.
“Women have very clear priorities when it comes to buying vehicles,” explains Teresa Basile, Holden’s General Manager for Marketing Communications. Initiatives such as Holden’s Women on Wheels program, which is run through our dealerships, gives women a hands on experience of their car.” These free workshops provide practical advice on car maintenance and safety, from changing tyres to maintaining correct tyre pressures, jump starting a car with a flat battery and how to identify worn components such as brake pads and dirty air filters.
Holden’s smallest SUV, the city-sized Trax, has been designed for urban environments.
