Used Car Buying Guide: 5 Essential Steps
It's exciting to buy a vehicle, whether it's new or pre-owned! Here at Bowman Chevrolet, we've found over the years that buyers who come prepared are the most satisfied ones.
Whether you buy from us or from another Harrisonburg car dealership, we encourage you to be an informed buyer. Here's what we've found that makes for the happiest used car owners.
Do Your Research
We have a lot of used cars on our lot with many makes and models. That's why walking in cold without knowing what you want can be overwhelming!
Do a little research before you come in to the dealership. Know what you're going to use the car for, what kind of gas mileage you're looking for, and your budget. This will help you narrow down your choices.
Get prequalified. You can do it right from our site. We even have a secure online application that determines the best financing rates and options for your auto purchase.
Bring A Second Person Along
Having someone with you can help you through the buying process. They can ask questions you might not have thought of. Their questions may even prompt you to think of other questions to ask! And it will lessen your overwhelm.
Know Whether You Want to Buy or Lease
Depending on your budget, you may want to lease a pre-owned car. It just depends on how much you'll be driving the vehicle because lease contracts limit the number of miles you can drive in a year. Then again, financing a quality used car may be the better route. Bottom line, know which path is better for you.
Know What "As Is" Means
When you buy a vehicle "as is" means you are buying it in its current condition. That could mean unexpected, additional repairs down the line. Joe Bowman Chevrolet used cars have all passed a 75-point inspection to be listed for sale on our lot.
Our certified Chevrolet mechanics have thoroughly examined the vehicle and made repairs, if any were warranted. Then we back up our commitment with either a 30 or 90-day warranty, depending on the year of the vehicle and the mileage.
Take an Extended Test Drive
By that we mean, take the vehicle for a spin down the block to see how it drives. But also take it out on the highway to see how well the car accelerates. Park the car to see how well it handles.
Take it for a drive on a secondary road to see how well it performs with the additional vibration. As far as possible, get a good feel for the kind of car you're purchasing.
Follow these 5 steps and you'll find that you're much more at ease with your new car purchase!
Find your quality pre-owned car at Joe Bowman Auto Plaza.
