Are you ready to purchase your next vehicle?
Purchasing a vehicle is one of the biggest investments a family can make. Whether you are buying a first vehicle, have your eye on the latest model, or just want to have some fun on the weekends, proper preparation can make the process much more efficient – and enjoyable.
Search: Hendrick Automotive Group New & Pre-Owned Inventory
Before diving into the buying process, HendrickCars.com wanted to provide a few tips and tricks before starting your journey.
Set a Budget
To start, determine how much you can afford based on your overall monthly income and liabilities. Items you need to consider include down payment, trade-in value, insurance and operating costs such as maintenance and monthly fuel/re-charge requirements.
Also, consider how much you want to allocate to monthly vehicle payments. If you plan to put anything down, you will want to have 20% of the overall transaction available at the time of purchase.
What Type of Vehicle Do You Need?
Once you understand how much you can spend, it is time to define the needs of your new vehicle. What are the must haves? What are your desired amenities? Is it a daily driver or utilized for long road trips? A variety of vehicles can fill those needs.
Purpose of Vehicle: What are the primary roles of this vehicle? Is it your daily commuter, needed for long road trips or an off-road adventurer? How about a vehicle that does all three? There are so many options to choose: coupes, sedans or convertibles; compact, sub-compact, mid-size or large SUVs; how about a truck? Single cab or quad, maybe a minivan or station wagon better suites your family. The choices are numerous.
Let’s say you have a family of four. The overall storage capacity of the vehicle with the seats folded may be important to you. If you need third-row seating, what is the storage capacity behind the last row?
Another aspect is the features and amenities you may want. For those that live in colder climates, heated seats and steering wheels are nice options. So are cooled seats, which are also available in certain vehicles. Music and entertainment lovers may enjoy Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, along with SiriusXM Satellite Radio. For those with smart phones or tablets, how many charging stations and options does the vehicle have?
Is the Vehicle Safe? Safety is a big topic of conversation and with today’s technology – it has never been more relevant.
Systems such as lane-keep assist, blind-spot notification, electronic traction and stability control, front, rear and side curtain air bags, pedestrian warning and automatic braking. Each feature keeps you and your family safe during every day or adverse driving conditions.
Efficiency: Another consideration is the efficiency of the vehicle. Do you seek an all-electric powertrain, or is a plug-in electric hybrid (PHEV) more to your liking? Full combustion vehicles are still popular, many equipped with hybridization or fuel-efficient options. However, if you are looking for something more traditional, those are readily available as well.
EV Guide: Those customers interested in learning more about purchasing a fully electric vehicle, please visit the HendrickCars.com guide to electric vehicles. This site is a one-stop shop for all things electric, offering useful information such as the different types of EVs available, current tax credits, and a guide on how to locate the more than 75,000 charging stations available throughout the United States.
Vehicle Research
We happen to know of a terrific place to start – HendrickCars.com. You do not have to go far to have the choice of nearly 30,000 new and pre-owned cars, trucks and SUVs at the touch of your keyboard.
A New Vehicle: Much like being the first to select a new bakery item at your local grocery store or having the first selection in your fantasy football draft, buying new gives you the opportunity to have or order exactly what you want.
Once selected, Hendrick Automotive Group team members will ensure you and your family have a memorable delivery experience at the dealership!
Latest Technology: Automakers never sit still when it comes to the latest innovation or technology. From wide screens, individualized entertainment options to wireless charging, and voice command, your vehicle has more technology than most personal computers. This also applies to the latest driver assistance choices, as manufacturers continually improve upon features such as warning cameras, blind-spot assist and advanced cruise control technology.
Financing: New vehicles command lower financing rates than ones deemed pre-owned. While every lending institution is different, it is important to research what’s considered ‘new’ by the finance company as well.
Maintenance & Warranty: Not only do newer vehicles traditionally require less maintenance, many brands have complete coverage for a certain amount of time or mileage. Warranties vary based on manufacturer, but they come with the vehicle – along with the peace of mind that goes with it.
Pre-Owned Vehicle: The phrase ‘value for money’ applies to those interested in certified pre-owned and pre-owned vehicles. Pricing is usually a factor here, as some age and usage can equal thousands less than its equivalent newer version.
Certified Pre-Owned: Purchasing a manufacturer certified pre-owned gives consumers the peace of mind of buying a vehicle that going to be reliable and safe. Factory-certified service technicians inspect each vehicle according to the stringent certifications the manufacturer provides, allowing vehicles to also have an enhanced warranty.
Hendrick Certified: Hendrick Certified technicians perform a thorough 220-point inspection on each vehicle offered. As part of the program, Hendrick Certified provides a 10-year, 10,000-mile powertrain warranty, whichever comes first. Also included is 24-Hour Roadside Assistance, emergency fuel delivery, flat-tire assistance, battery jumpstart and towing service.
Personal Inspection and Test Drive
While online purchasing has made it more efficient, there is nothing like getting to the dealership and actually placing your eyes on what could be your next vehicle. This is a significant investment, the second largest in most households. It’s important to take your time and make sure you and your family find the right vehicle for the moment.
Inspection: While our service teams do a thorough job of prepping and inspecting every vehicle prior to retail, it is always a good idea to put your eyes on it as well. New or pre-owned, take the time to feel comfortable with the vehicle. Prior to any test drive, you will want to inspect these areas.
Operations: Check to see if key areas of the vehicle are operational. For instance, high- and low-beam lights, turn signals; do the gauges and digital displays work? Anything critical to vehicle operation, you want to put your eyes on.
Seating Position: When you purchase an SUV, the driver’s seating position will be generally higher than that of a car. However, it is also important to get a feel for the driver and passenger seats itself. If adjustable, place the seat in the position you would normally drive. Are you comfortable? Different brands are very different, even when you consider they are in the same market segment.
Take a Test Drive: This is one of the most important parts of the entire car-buying experience. Once you are comfortable, settling areas like the rearview and side mirrors, sample the gauging and screens, it is time to drive.
This is where things like ride quality, handling, blind spots, acceleration, anything that would make you excited or nervous about how the vehicle feels to you. Things like road noise, visibility, highway performance, each of these go into making this the perfect vehicle for you.
Finalize the Purchase: Once comfortable with the transaction presented, you’ll review the contract and go through the F&I process. Purchase options include finance or leasing, as well as what your trade-in package looks like.
Among the items you will review includes the Hendrick Autoguard program, a series of protection offerings that will extend the life of your vehicle. Along with extended maintenance, you can purchase products such as an oil change package, wheel and tire maintenance, paint and chip protection. These are especially appealing to those who prefer the lease option.
Into the Garage: With closing complete, your new chariot awaits!
One of the fun things about Hendrick Automotive Group dealerships is the care they put into delivery. This is where one of the vehicle experts take the new owners through every detail of the vehicle, including how all the gadgets work, some of the features of the car and if any questions needs asking.
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