10 tips for Buying a New Car

5 minute read

Here are some tips if you are interested in the new car route. I just passed 10k miles on my 2019 Golf R and I thought I would share the gist of what I did.

1. Come up with a budget: I had recently paid off my previous vehicle, 2013 Ford Focus ST about a year before considering buying a new vehicle. I had been able to handle the previous payment plan of my Focus so I tried to stay in that range of that monthly payment. I also figured out the reasonable trade-in value of the Focus to start evaluating the plan.

2. Research the Market: I then spent time looking at dealers around the area and what they were charging for the Golf R. I also went on VW.com website to see what they charge to make sure I wasn't being charged a huge premium from the dealer. The car was also considered "rare," the dealer told me about 3,350 were sent to the US, ~330 Color spectrum (word of mouth, don't hold me to it). However this didn't seem to matter to me as there were plenty in the Detroit area, Chicago area, and Milwaukee area in which I was considering shopping. The dealer also tried to use this as "leverage" stating "we only get a few of these per year, however there were about 15 in a 30 mile radius of me, so not a problem for the customer.

3. Go out to multiple dealers: Visit and talk to the dealers, get an estimate for what they will take for your current vehicle and the best offer they could do for a new vehicle. I visited at least 3 dealers and had contacted 6 before buying my car. This is all leverage for YOU! As well I would recommend driving the car before purchase. Who knows, it may get all the rave reviews, but not the vehicle for you.

4. Check your insurance: Ive known people who buy the car first without consulting their insurance to get a quote. ITS FREE, and takes less than 5 minutes. I found out that the 2019 Golf R was actually CHEAPER than my 2013 Ford Focus ST! This made the overall consideration of a new car much more appealing. 

5. Warranty: For me this is huge, VW had a 5-6 year warranty on their cars INCLUDING the Golf R which I thought was awesome! Especially when spending this much money I wanted to feel secure in my purchase. VW dealer also had optional extras which was great, I paid an extra $1,300 for extra body/paint protection and wheel protection for 5 years. The roads here in Detroit are gnarly so I wanted extra protection from flying debris and pot holes.

6. Making a Deal will take time: It took over 5 hours, yes 5 HOURS to make a deal on my Golf R. There were many back and forth convos, it almost fell through, and they like to keep you waiting. My suggestion is bring lunch or some snacks lol! 

7. Read Reviews: When spending 10's of thousands of dollars I like to spend plenty of time hearing what people think of the car. I watch countless Youtube reviews, written articles, Build the vehicle on VW's website, and anything else that provides information. Also there are plenty of reviews that provide, 10 best things about... or 10 worst things about.. I love these as it gives me some insight into potential quirks or issues that I may encounter. CarandDriver is a great website too as they rate the vehicle and provide pros and cons.

8. Take your Time: What you want today may not be the same in a weeks, month, or years time. Plan ahead and keep options in mind, if you still feel the same about this large purchase after time has passed then maybe it is the right decision for you.

9. MPG: Money is money, and depending on your route and what you do this can be HUGE. If you have to drive 50+ miles a day for work that can add up quickly. Try to find a vehicle that suites what you want and also can help you save a few shekels.

10. 95% of your Driving: What is your route, where do you drive, what are the roads like, and what do you want? I plan when buying my car for this, what/when/where will I be driving this 95% of the time. If you are hauling dirt/rocks every day, I would buy a truck. If you drive long distances and want to be relaxed, buy a luxury car. If you live in the mountains and have a short curvy drive everyday, get something that handles well. Most importantly WHAT DO YOU WANT and what will make you happy most of your driving experience.

Hope this can help you out! Get out and drive and enjoy your vehicle.

-Nick