In today’s economy it seems everyone is concerned about saving money, especially when it comes to buying a car. But what car buyers need to understand is that the cheapest new car to buy is not always the best deal. As a consumer, the bargain you get should be the car you are happiest with long-term. Sometimes this is the car with the lowest sticker price, other times you pay a little more for it. But the cheapest car you get, and the one you will be happiest with, will be the one that you are still driving ten years from today.

Your first question should be “What does the Blue Book say?” The Blue Book is a large third-party book that provides information on all cars both created in the U.S.A. and internationally. It will give you the actual value of the car. It will also give you other information about the car such as miles per gallon and horsepower. Depending on what you need your car for some of this information may be far more important than things like the price. Read the Blue Book and see what it says about the cars you are interested in.

Ask friends and family for names of car dealerships they have been pleased with. Buying a car is not a typical purchase in that the majority of us don’t buy a car often. Usually we buy a car every three to five years or so. That’s a very long-range purchase. The car dealership you went to then may have changed or doesn’t offer cars that interest you now. It might have even gone out of business. Try asking family and friends for referrals to car dealerships – and the salespeople they dealt with that were trustworthy and reliable.

Understand that buying a car takes time. One of the most challenging things about buying a car is that it often takes at least six months to find the ideal car for you. Sometimes you have a specific car or brand in mind. Other times you have a certain price range that you need to stick to. All of this information can help you find the right car, but taking the time and having the patience to find the best car is very important. Don’t expect to find a car within a week or even two months. It’s just not that easy.

Remember to investigate warranties and other offers before accepting. A manufacturer’s warranty is usually a good offer you’ll want to accept. Additional warranties and protection for your car (other than car insurance) is usually unnecessary although you should do your own homework before saying “yes” or “no” to any offer. Each of these offers will likely cost you money and is a way a dealerships add profits to your deal.

The cheapest car you’ll be happy driving is one that is well made and rarely needs repairs. Investigate what people are saying about the car on the Internet. While not every car review is going to be 100% accurate, the overall picture can be very helpful in giving you a sense of what the car is like in terms of performance. Try also to talk to others who own this car and see what their experience as car owners was. All of these tips will tell you if the cheapest car is the right car for you.

Author Bio: Thinking about buying a car this year? Don’t let yourself get swindled by shady car salesmen. Get all the car buying tips you need to get the best possible deal at StreetSmartCarDeals.com

Category: Automotive
Keywords: car dealerships,blue book,buy a new car,cheap new car