Major financial investments require thorough, sufficient research that can come with inherent challenges that make this process all the more tedious. Car buying is no exception.
Making the decision to purchase a vehicle allows a person to, quite literally, get into the driver’s seat. You’re the boss; you get to consider a wide variety of options presented to you regarding features, upholstery, entertainment/navigation systems, and more. You can test drive your prospective pool of vehicles, equip it with high-tech gadgets and devices–but this must be accomplished while budgeting within your desired price point.
That being said, juggling the multiple variables thrown at you with car buying becomes a hefty task to accomplish while searching for a vehicle with precise price specifications. The options you are presented to ease this process come with their own perks and drawbacks to be listed below:
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SHOWROOM
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DEALER’S LOT
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ONLINE AUTOMOTIVE DATABASE
Showrooms and dealer’s lots prove beneficial in the sense that you are given an in-person review of potential automotive options with on-call assistance readily available should you have any questions or concerns. You are also presented with a wide variety of makes and models that, should the facility hold used cars, allows room for price negotiation.
The downside to this, however, is that car dealers have an agenda that does not always parallel the customer’s; ultimately, a dealer’s primary focus revolves around capital gain. Not only are dealers likely to sway more towards a purchase that would require diverging from your original price point, but they are also very likely to conceal pertinent information on a car’s defects to be able to sell it at a higher value. Oftentimes automotive inadequacies aren’t physically visible outside the hood of a car, so a buyer would be completely oblivious to money going down the train in the near future due to their car requiring frequent expensive repair.
That being said, there is no all-around perfect option available when it comes to weighing between what resource to refer to during your search. There are drawbacks to showrooms and dealerships, but there are also drawbacks to using an online autobase. The most obvious issue is the simple fact that you are online; many buyers prefer to have hands-on time with a vehicle before making a finalized decision, and although pictures can give a buyer a general idea of the car’s aesthetics, they are not always fully sufficient. No test drive can be made, the buyer cannot climb into the driver’s seat of the car, smell the seat upholstery or give the tires a kick before making a final decision. This physical barrier with online car sales also reads true with price negotiations, as no haggling can be done with an in-person dealer.
Online car dealerships make up for the inadequacies local dealerships present in regards to a limited pool of options that are being further narrowed by a tight budget. Online car sales allow a buyer to review the makes and models of cars from all over the world, granting a buyer an immense bank of vehicles to choose from. Online dealerships also work around the clock; doors never close online, so a review of your proponents can be done anytime of day, anytime of week, month, or year, 24/7. You also have easier access to auto comparisons since all relevant information on a car is presented to you right before your eyes on a screen, so side-by-side comparisons become possible with the simple click of a button. Online car dealerships also ensure a buyer will not succumb to the pressure of sales tactics that often coerce customers into making a purchase that breaks the bank for a vehicle that does not meet their specific needs.
There does exist, however, a marriage of your available options that eliminates the aforementioned downsides while optimizing the perks of both resource outlets. Cars.com acts a sufficient resource to refer to throughout your search for your next vehicle that comes with no pressure to make a purchase you were coerced into, gives you accurate information on the pros and cons of your potential options, allows users the option to decide between detailed side-by-side comparisons, provides multiple outlets for car buying advice depending on your individual needs, and can refer you to local dealerships that sell your dream car. Oh, and the best part of Cars.com? All these features are available to users for free.