Used Car Buying Tips at Kufleitner

Before you start browsing for the car you want, you need to figure out your budget and how much you can spend on your vehicle. The vast majority of buyers will take out a loan, and if you're one of those people, you will need to calculate how much you can spend on monthly payments. In addition to the cost of the car, you're going to have to factor in other costs such as insurance, registration, and fuel. It would also be best to set aside some money for maintenance for things like tune-ups down the line. The point here is to set a budget, whether $10,000, $20,000, or $30,000, and make sure you stick to it. Keep in mind that you have more responsibilities than the car, such as rent, bills, food, and other household expenses. 

Once you have figured out how much you can spend on your vehicle, it's time to figure out which vehicle is best suited for your needs. Keep in mind that there are hundreds of available vehicles out there, including some great ones here at Kufleitner Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Boardman, and this may seem difficult, but you might want to start with what type of vehicle you want, whether that be a truck, SUV, or sedan. When you choose the right vehicle for you, you have many factors to consider, including if it will fit in your garage and if you like the color. As with any vehicle you purchase, you have to consider your future needs as much as your current ones. Are you planning on growing your family? Then it's probably not the best time for a two-seat sedan. Look into three-row SUVs instead. 

Now that you've narrowed down your list of potential vehicles, it's time to talk about price. In addition to finding a suitable price for a certain make and model, be sure to figure out what kind of options you want, such as four-wheel-drive or certain tech features. One of the best ways to get what you want is getting a certified pre-owned vehicle. Vehicles in the certified pre-owned program have been tested rigorously and must meet certain mileage, age, and condition criteria. Certified pre-owned cars are backed by outstanding warranties, which can be better than certain new vehicles. In addition, they have been fully detailed so they might look and perform as well as a new one. It's really the best of all worlds as you will get a car that costs a lot less due to depreciation but will give you a lot of years due to all of the testing. 

Now that you have a good vehicle picked out and your budget lined up, you need to research your finance options. Here at Kufleitner, Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Boardman have a complete finance department where we will assist you in getting a great deal, but you can always get a loan from your bank or credit union. Normally, we will offer you a better deal here at our dealership, but getting a solid pre-approved loan and your financing ready will be of great help in the long run. 

Now that you have worked out the budgeting and researched all prospective vehicles, it's time to take a test drive! This is the most exciting part of the process, but you need to be objective. Before you take the car out on the road to test the acceleration, handling, and steering, you want to focus on how you feel in the car. For example, is the driver seat comfortable, and can you adjust your seat to your liking? This is extremely important as you will spend a lot of time in this car for thousands of miles, so you must be comfortable in it. Next, check for visibility. Is there a blind-spot monitoring system? Then you're going to want to consider the passengers. If you have a child seat in the vehicle, bring it along to test the fit and get a feel for how easy it is to get in and out. When you have finished with the test drive and testing the acceleration, you will want to check the tech. Does your phone pair? Do you have enough USB ports to suit your needs? If the audio is important to you, play your favorite tunes to see how they come in. You can even take the car to your house to see how it fits in the garage. 

If you have been searching for the perfect pre-owned vehicle, head down to Kufleitner Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Boardman and check out our vast inventory. We have hundreds of pre-owned vehicles waiting for a test drive, and our dealership's vehicles are always of the highest quality. If you find something you like, feel free to ask our knowledgeable and friendly staff about taking a test drive. We can even accompany you on the test drive, so you get the full feel of all the vehicle's features. We can also help you with financing through our financing department. Can't make it down to the dealership right now? Be sure to check out our complete used inventory here on our website!