What to know before you buy a car

Before you start thinking about the fun things about shopping for a car like whether you want a sports car or an monster truck, you need to do some thinking. First you need to examine your budget and set a reasonable price range for a car and start to eliminate the ones that are out of that price range. A car will end up being more of a hassle for you if you can't afford to go places in it.

You also need to know your credit history. If there's something on the report you think the dealer might question be prepared to answer the question. Also remember that many of the promotions that you see on television are reserved for people with excellent credit, so it's a good idea to have a copy of your credit report.

Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, the three large national credit bureaus, offer single reports and packages from their Web sites. A copy of your report costs around $9 plus taxes, shipping and/or handling charges. You can even get 3-in-1 reports, showing your credit history as reported by all three major credit reporting agencies.

You'll also need to know what your automobile needs are. For example:

• Do you need to haul heavy equipment? You may want to think about a pick-up truck.
• Do you have a sizeable family or head up a carpool? You may want to think about a minivan, wagon or large sport utility vehicle (SUV).
• Do you live in an area where you need four-wheel drive? You may want to think about an SUV with all-wheel or four-wheel drive.
• Do you travel far or use the car rarely? If you log a lot of miles, you may want to research cars that get good gas mileage, like a hybrid car.
• Do you have a towing requirement -- perhaps you need to tow a horse trailer or a boat? You may want to consider a heavy-duty pick-up truck or an SUV with a towing package.

When you narrow down your choices there are some things you'll want to learn about the cars so that you can get the best deal possible when you're ready to buy. You will need to know the average price of the car, so you won't overpay. You can get a good idea of the base price by visiting different dealerships and comparing prices and by using the Internet to get price quotes.

You should also get an idea of how much the dealer will add on for various options like air conditioning, a cd player or anti-lock brakes. If you can, try to find out what the dealer price is and negotiate up from that figure. According to ConsumerReports, it's actually a lot better to do it that way as opposed to working from the sticker-price down.

In addition to visiting dealerships to do your research, you should also be reading car reviews in magazines and online. You can learn which cars are given high marks for safety, which cars get the best gas mileage, and so on. Once you've narrowed your list down to a few possibilities, you should read as many reviews on those makes and models as you can. Some good places to look for both professional and consumer car reviews are:

• MotorTrend magazine
• ConsumerGuide.com
• Automobile magazine
• Car and Driver.com
• Edmunds.com
• CarReview.com

Another good way to find out about a car is by simply asking your family, friends, co-workers and neighbors. Among all these people, you're bound to find someone that drives or has driven the make or model you're researching.

And if you plan to trade in a car you already own, you want to know the price of your trade-in. Remember that some car dealers make big money paying you way too little for your trade-in. Do your homework and check out what publications, such as the N.A.D.A. Official Used Car Guide, the Kelley Blue Book and the Consumer Reports Used Car Buying Guide, list as the market value of your trade-in. Keep in mind that these estimates are based on cars in good condition with an average of 12,000 miles per year. If you have enough information, no one will be able to take you for a ride!

Bob Tyler Toyota
7201 Pensacola Blvd.
Pensascola, FL 32505
Sales • (850) 478-9999 Toll Free • (888) 496-8207 Fax • (850) 477-9669
http://bobtylertoyota.com/default.aspx?