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Show New car shopping? Take advice of business bureau Buying a new car is an important investment Here are several tips offered by the Better Business Bureau to help you make a smart buying decision. Get the facts on size and costs. Consider your needs first not "wants." The full-size car costs more initially than the others. It costs more to operate and maintain. However, it can be more comfortable and carry 6 or more passengers. The intermediate-size car is slightly smaller than its full-size cousin. It may seat five and costs a 1 bit- less to operate and -maintain than a full-size. Compact cars seat two to four fairly comfortably. The compacts are usually cheaper to operate, although maintenance runs about the same as for the other cars. Factor in all costs and credits before buying. This includes trade-in, trade-in, leased, and rental car factors. Shop for the best dealer. The dealer should be dependable. If you're in doubt, check the local Better Business Bureau for a reliability report. Check all options and warranties. Warranties must tell you what is covered, who covers it for how long, and what you must do to be satisfied if something goes wrong. Most warranties must be clearly labeled as full or limited. Ask about options and their cost: These include fabric sealers for upholstery,"- undercoating rustproofing. , ? Test -drive the car. Put it through its paces. Negotiate the price. Check your bank's "Blue Book" for your old car's wholesale price; use it as a benchmark when considering a trade-in. You may get a better deal on last ; year's model car. And you may get a better deal buying an in-stock car rather than ordering from the factory. Shop other dealers for the same model. Financing a new car can be done in many ways: through the dealer or your bank; financing companies; insurance companies; credit unions. Find out who is loaning the money and what company receives the payments , and what the loan will cost. o Closing the deal. Don't sign any final papers until you make sure the car is what you want, the body isn't damaged, parts aren't missing. The dealer must sign that all pre-delivery services have been made. Have all warranties dated and signed. The final paper work includes a car title, insurance, registration certificate, license plates, citycounty tax licenses, inspection stickers, sales tax on the vehicle. Find out the costs before buying. |