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Show 18 CONSUMER NEWS Jan. 19, 1990 Hilltop Times Buying an automobile a big investment mer and early fall (when dealers are clearing their inventory for new models). It's a good idea to call as many dealers as possiradius of your home to see what ble within a When are you do visit the showroom, offering. they tell the salesperson you prefer to look over the cars yourself first. Don't talk about your price preference range yet. Discuss prices only after you've decided the model and options you want. Before you sign a sales contract, thoroughly inspect and test drive the car. Make sure the contract is neat, clear and includes all oral promises made by the salesperson. Always .check the salesperson's arithmetic. Most importantly, don't sign the contract until everything is in writing. Keep your copy where you can find it. Never let a salesperson pressure or coerce you into signing something you don't feel good about. Never buy a car in one day. Try sleeping on the deal for at least one night and see if you feel just as good about it in the morning. Shop around for financing. The low financing rates offered by dealers often require a larger down payment and shorter repayment than those to another type of financial institution. But remember, there is more to financing a car than a low monthly payment. If you finance that new $14,000 car at 14 percent for five years, you would pay about $325 per month. Total cost of the car after five years is $19,545. The difference, $5,545, represents interest. If you bought the same car for nine years, you would pay about $228.67 a month. Total cost of the car is $24,696. You would pay $10,696 in interest. Don't buy a car with a monthly payment you can't handle. Also, make sure you know whether your interest rate is fixed or variable and if you are leasing or buying. There is an enormous difference. Be a smart buyer. Look at all the options and choose carefully. . Editor's notet For more information, call Mr. Searle, personal financial management manager, at the Family Support Center, Bldg. 308, at Ext. 74681 or the Law Center, Bldg. 1278 at Ext. 76756. and see what kind of car you can afford. After listing your income and subtracting all your debts and expenses, the resulting number is all you can afford for a car (car payment, insurance and gas). A good rule for determining how much can be spent on a car is that car payments should not be by Trent Searle Hill AFB Family Support Center more than 25 percent of your net income. For example, take home pay of $850 multiplied by 25 perIn 1909 Henry Ford offered the first Model T to cent equals a $200 maximum payment. Americans a practical family-wis- e If you're going to trade your old clunker in on a car for $850. "So low in price that no man making a good salary new car, find out what your old car is worth before would be unable to own one," the car maker claimed. you go to a dealership. Call a bank or credit union But, a mere 80 years later, the average price of to get the car's value as found in the National Aua new auto is approaching $14,000 well beyond the tomobile Dealers Association car value book, somereach of many car buyers today who make a good times called the blue book value. The Hill AFB salary. library has car value books available for reference. Since the first Model T was introduced, numerous Most of the time, you will usually do better sellcar manufacturers have emerged with literally ing your clunker and using the cash for a good down hundreds of different cars and options to choose payment, rather than using the car as a trade-in- . Affrom. Buying a car is a very confusing experience ter all, car dealers are in business to make money. for most consumers. For many, buying a car can be They are not going to give you top dollar for your their second largest purchase next to buying a trade, because they have to resell it. home. Here are some tips that will help in making Once you find a car you like that fits your budgthat important selection. et, check out the data on its durability, engine size, First, before you go and look for a car, get an idea performance and craftsmanship. Find out if it will of what kind of car you need. Remember, this may in a little bumper thumper, or if it will be not the same as the car you want. Evaluate your be a good, safe car for your driving habits and to driving habits and how you will be using the car protect your family. most of the time. With so many cars to choose from, You should also check the value or cost of the new will differfind cars different serve Some magazines and books that can be found that car. you quickly ent purposes. at most libraries will tell you exactly what a dealer Don't forget that you're going to have to pay for paid for the car. insurance and gas before you can get very far in your Add to this the freight charges listed on the sticknew car. People between the ages of 16 and 25 and er and about $125 for overhead. This will give you those over 65 pay the highest insurance rates. In- approximately the dealer's break-evepoint. surance is especially expensive for any type of a Remember, the sticker price is not the dealer cost. sports car or for owners with violations on their driv- It is only the manufacturer's suggested retail ing record. price usually the starting point for negotiating. Before you sign the contract, call an insurance How far can you push the dealer toward this if see on for and the insurance company premium point? That depends on how badly he wants to sell the car you want to buy will fit within your budget. the car. The best time to shop is on a rainy day (when Don't go into a car dealership without doing your sales are slow), at the end of the month (when the homework first. Work through your family budget sales force are trying to meet quotas) or late sum Bo foomovjorCx bofforo shopping ffoc nov; car self-destru- 50-mi- ct n WHEN M SOUTHERN le AM MCA COMMMV CALIFORNIA VISIT m At PETERSEN MOTORS mm 1989 CHEV SUBURBAN Silverado. 4x4. full power CAIJC7 iJnU $lf1 CTC U) O T 1989 TOYOTA SHORTBED 4x4, like new, lowmiles..red.. 1989 FORD Full 0' power, . 1988 FORD BRONCO XLT I Fully equipped, m hi r SQQTC b fcr 4x4, red. low miles 1987 FORD F-2- 50 4x4 I Low miles, equipped, nice 1986 NISSAN PICKUP 4x4 If Low 1986 CHEV BLAZER &rarwt AUiJ Excellent throughout 4x4 1983 HONDA ACCORD $rEWE? 2 dr., fully equipped, sharp 1984 DODGE CONQUEST i -- i 'r.v-i: l39ji5 new 1984 TOYOTA CELICAGT t "rfSJif 2 dr fully equipped, nice ; m.. "The extra mile MH W. im M MktM 1978 TOYOTA LANDCRUISER -- Qr.c & SrwArwt Silverado, loaded, nice '!j:t 1 yifV7E M hJ mileage Low miles, like 1 1 k39S7 M sharp 1988 FORD RANGER XLT I? acij $4I r XLT LARIAT like new.-- the Petersen Style" Rjyrdat Rd.. Oiden, Utah Ogdew 621-807- 0 SLC 511.914 5 |