HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-11-01, Page 17THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER 1.2000. PAGE 17.
Checklist helps make you a smart ear buyer
Educating yourself on the true
workings of the automotive sales
business will minimize the aggrava
tion and bring the excitement of buy
ing your next new car back to the
forefront. To begin the process, fol
low these “insider” tips and create
your own personalized list.
What type of vehicle are you look
ing for?
• Do you have children or cargo to
consider?
• Will you be driving long dis
tances?
• Do you prefer the look of a sporty
two-door or the convenience of a
four-door?
• Should your next car be one of
practicality like a mini-van or
sport-utility?
Establish your budget.
• What is your cash price total or
monthly payment that you are com
fortable with.
• Factor insurance rates.
• Avoid looking at a vehicle outside
of your budget to avoid temptation.
Create a shortlist.
• Establish a short list of vehicles
that fit both of the above criteria
and proceed to research stage.
Thoroughly research the vehicle.
• Tap into Canadian sites like
www.carcostcanada.com and www.
canadiandriver.com that offer
Canadian pricing.
• Get the dealer cost.
www.carcostcanada.com is the
only Canadian website that allows
public access to dealer costs.
• Find all the nitty-gritty on MSRP,
cashbacks, holdbacks, rebates,
options, etc.
• Research publications that offer
road test results, reliability ratings,
and crash test results.
• Ask others who drive the same
vehicle about their personal experi
ences.
Investigate dealerships.
• Referrals are always the best way
to find a good dealer.
• Ask others where they have pur
chased their vehicle and whether
they would recommend that specif
ic dealer.
• Ask a mechanic or parts rep in a
dealership whether they would buy
from that dealer and why.
Choose a salesperson.
This is often overlooked but very
important. The salesperson will be
your main contact at the dealership,
therefore a positive relationship is
necessary.
• Ask a mechanic or receptionist
which salesperson has been there
the longest and which salesperson
has the best rapport with customers
as well as coworkers.
• Keep in mind that the better sales
people tend to be the busiest so
make an appointment with him/her
to discuss any issues or concerns.
Negotiate your deal.
• Present your findings to the sales
person and make a firm an reason
able offer.
Enjoy!
• Buying a new vehicle should be
an enjoyable experience. By fol
lowing all of the above criteria you
can assure yourself of finding the
right vehicle, the right dealer, the
right salesperson and the right deal.
Above all, you end up with peace
of mind!
At Hamm’s we’ll keep
your vehicles running
smoothly all winter
Buying a new car worse than root canal?
See us today for:
•Winter Tune-Up
•Wheel Balance
& Alignment
• Oil change
& grease
• Battery Check
•General repairs
• Heating &
Cooling Service
One and a half million Canadians
will buy a new car this year. For
many of them the process will be
frustrating, especially from a price
point of view. Traditionally, buyers
and dealers have come to a final
vehicle price through a combination
Through their website at www.car-
costcanada.com Car Cost Canada
uses the internet to provide accurate
dealer cost information to consumers
to turn a typically negative buying
experience into a pleasant one.
Dealing from a position of
hopefully minimize the aggravation
and bring the excitement of buying a
new car back to the forefront.
Car Cost research data shows that
5-10 per cent is the average mark up
in today’s market. An informed con
sumer realize that dealers must make
a fair profit in order to stay in busi
ness. By getting the cost pricing,
consumers can make a fair deal and
feel good about the price they’ve
paid.
- News Canada
HAMM'S CAR SALES LTD.
Blyth 523-4342
Shop 523-9581
of bluff, intimidation and horse-trad
ing.
All that has now changed thanks to
a revolutionary Canadian internet
company that is re-writing the book
on car buying by making more and
better informa
tion available to consumers.
Maintaining
finish protects
car against
salt damage
By winter’s end our nation’s high
way (and its cars) will have been cov
ered with some 10 millions tons of
salt. While road salt may save count
less lives from icy accidents, it does
take its toll on auto bodies, reminds
Car Care Canada of the Automotive
Industries Association of Canada.
Without proper maintenance on a
car’s protective finish, road salt and
its coastal partner, salty sea air, can
rust fenders and corrode body sheet
metal in no time.
The only protection a car has
against corrosive environmental con
ditions is its primer and paint job. Just
7.6 litres, representing approximately
one per cent of the total cost of the
car, serve as a barrier against rust and
corrosion.
Since only exposed metal can rust
or corrode, trouble begins when a
car’s nicks and scratches are left
untouched. A regular maintenance
routine is recommended to keep a
car’s finish smooth and its body rust-
free.
Start by getting a touch-up paint kit
when you get a new car. Repair small
nicks and scratches promptly to pre
vent corrosion. Then follow a regular
maintenance routine. Wash your car
once a week with warm water, and
promptly remove elements such as
salt, bird droppings and sap that
accelerate corrosion.
Follow with a good coating of wax
or other protective finish two or three
times a year to provide an additional
buffer between the harsh elements
and the car body.
If you are involved in a “fender
bender” on one of the icy days this
winter, be sure that accident repairs
include replacement of the rust-proof
ing undercoat.
strength when buying your next new
car is the key. Get all of the nitty grit
ty, new car MSRP, (Manufacturer’s
Suggested Retail Price) dealer cost,
options, holdbacks, rebates, cash-
backs plus a lot more. This allows
you the consumer to negotiate with
total confidence and peace of mind.
Great links for researching what car
is right for you are available.
Car Cost Canada gets its informa
tion from a variety of sources,
including dealers who realize that an
informed consumer is their best cus
tomer.
The process of purchasing a vehi
cle doesn’t have to be intimidating,
and recently most manufacturers and
dealers are acknowledging that. As a
result, Car Cost Canada’s position in
the marketplace is recognized as an
excellent consumer tool from both
the buyer and seller’s perspective.
Educating the public on the true
workings of the car business, should
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190 Mitchell Rd. S., Listowel
(519) 291-1300 « 1-800-663-5130
A
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plus a wide selection of 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton Ram Pickups
2001 Chrysler LXi Sedan 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan
1996 Dodge Grand Caravan SE 61,000 km
1995 Chrysler Intrepid 124,000 km
1993 Chrysler 5th Avenue 133,000 km
Feature Cars
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plus many more previously enjoyed cars, trucks & vans in-stock
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