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Women's Car Buying Tips: Poll Results Revealed
Buying a car remains a hassle for women, according to a recent poll conducted by CarMax. The poll, which surveyed more than 12,000 women on the car-buying experience, shows little improvement in women’s biggest gripes from years past.
Here, we review what car purchases lacked for ladies:
| Criteria |
2006 |
2007 |
| Quick, effortless transaction |
21% |
21% |
| A liked and trusted salesperson |
16% |
15% |
| Lowest, fair pricing |
14% |
14% |
| A fair trade-in value |
13% |
14% |
| Respect for/attention to my wants and needs |
13% |
13% |
| A fair, reasonable finance rate |
7% |
6% |
| Other factors |
12% |
12% |
"We continue to see the same trends as women search for satisfaction in shopping for a vehicle," said Donna Wassel, regional vice president of CarMax. "It is essential for women to find a car retailer that focuses on excellent customer service, and a hassle free car-buying experience."
Next time you're shopping for a new or used vehicle, heed these useful car-buying tips:
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Use the Internet to research vehicle types, makes, models, options, features, and prices. Visit websites such as carmax.com to see actual prices and photos of nearly every vehicle make and model, review vehicle history reports and read actual customer reviews.
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Print out fact sheets or information about the vehicles you are interested in, so you can remind yourself about what you want when you step onto the lot.
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Bring key paperwork items with you, including title and registration for your current vehicle, your driver's license and insurance card.
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If you have been pre-approved for a car loan, bring in the approval letter with you.
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Find a car retailer and salesperson you like and trust by asking friends and family for referrals.
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Try a retailer that offers no-haggle prices and a la carte pricing on each part of the car buying transaction – the vehicle price, the extended service plan, the trade-in and the financing.
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Get a fair offer on your trade-in separately from your car purchase. You can bring your car to CarMax for a free appraisal. Having the appraisal offer will help you understand the fair value of your "trade-in" before you start shopping.
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Have confidence in your car shopping abilities. You have done your research and are prepared to make a smart car buying decision.
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Don't hesitate to ask lots of questions — as many as you need so that you understand exactly what you are paying for.
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Be prepared to walk away if you are unhappy with your car buying experience.
"Being prepared to walk away can be tough to do, especially if you have spent a lot of time on one car lot," said Wassel. "But if you are not pleased with the car buying process, it's worth it — remember, you are the one who has to drive the car and make the payments, not the salesperson."
(Source: CarMax) |
