Buying a Used Truck
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Buying a Used Truck
Buying a Used Truck
My husband and I want to purchase a new (used) truck. When is the best time of the month to find the best deals? We have about $2000 to put down and we need a payment of less than $400 per month. It doesn't have to be a new truck, but it has to have a good/decent record for durability.
Can you help me figure out the best time of the month, how to make an offer, and any other pointers you may have? Thanks in advance for all of your help!
Amy
It's All About Meeting Quotas
The best time of the month to shop from dealerships is the last week, or ideally, the last two days of the month. Dealers are trying to meet quotas and may offer lower prices or extras just to make a sale.
A great way to find the best deal in your area is to start online. You can research the different makes and models and compare features like gas mileage and towing capacity. When you click on local dealerships, they will reach out to you and might even start a bidding war with you being the lucky winner of the lowest price or best terms!
Also, it is advisable to seek financing first from your bank or other lending institution, because dealers may "pad" their contracts or slip in prepayment penalties that can cost you in the long run. Look for a simple interest loan, no prepayment penalty, that you can afford. By getting "pre-approval" on a loan from your bank, the dealer may come up with better financing.
Shaunna P. in Fargo, ND
Safety First
Before you buy a car/truck, take a safe first step. Go online at www.carfax.com. They will let you know if the car/truck has had an accident or if the odometer is correct.
Kathy D. in Sonora, CA
Know What You Really Need
So you are in the market for a truck. Your President and the economy applauds you for this. Here are some pointers for your quest:
- Develop your needs (shopping) list before going shopping. You need to identify how much truck you really need. There is a huge difference in cost, maintenance, gas, etc. between a compact truck and a super duty one. Do you need a back seat for the kids or just the front seat? What loads will you haul? Will you need to tow a trailer? If so, how heavy will it be when fully loaded? You get the idea.
- Visit your public library to read the reviews by Consumer Reports to narrow your search by eliminating trucks with high frequency of repairs.
- Know your credit score and shop your financing. I have had dealerships try to talk me into vehicle loans that would have been 2 or 3 percent higher than the best rate I qualified for. The dealer, of course, gets a handsome rake off if they can sell me a loan rate higher than I deserve. This process may also get you focused on trucks that you can afford.
- Talk with your insurance agent to see if any of the trucks you are considering have a disproportionate insurance cost. No sense in buying a truck that has a huge insurance cost.
- Use the Internet to find the approximate price of the truck(s) you are most interested in. This will be a great help in negotiating the final sale price.
- Shop at or near the end of the month. If possible, the last couple of business days seems to be best, especially if the weather that month has been frightful. Salespeople have monthly quotas and bonuses. At the end of the month, salespeople seem more anxious about meeting their quota or boosting their bonus.
Focus on the End
The best time to buy a "new to you" truck is at the end of the month. Salespeople have quotas to meet and can be very lenient toward the last of a month and the last of a quarter. The very best time to buy is at the end of the year. The staff needs to meet their goals for the year. So there is extra pressure on them with end of the month, end of the quarter and end of the year facing them. I bought a two-year-old Jeep at the end of December and got a very good deal. I had the staff fill up the gas tank and put a new inspection sticker on the vehicle too. This did all this before I signed on the dotted line. Don't appear to eager. Take your time and research you intended purchase. Most of all, make it fun.
Deborah
Creative Truck Purchase
I purchased a '97 Ford Ranger extended cab 5 speed 4 cylinder from Atlanta on eBay, sight unseen. I realized that it needed an engine, so I got a price from my mechanic and figured it into my bid. Since the "new" engine only had 50,000 miles on it, it was like buying a much newer vehicle. I have about $2,800 in it and have driven it for a little over a year. Included are tires that I purchased from a junk dealer for $100. They were "take offs," tires that were taken off a new vehicle because the owner wanted better tires.
Paul
Discuss "My Husband's Truck" in The Dollar Stretcher Community
Do you have a time or money saving idea that wasn't included in this article? Please send it to tips@ stretcher.com. We get the best ideas from our readers!
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