5 Used Car Buying Tips from Castlegar Toyota's Pros
Buying a used car doesn’t have to be unpleasant. That’s right, we said it. You also don’t need to be a professional level business negotiator to walk away with a great deal. You can get a reliable vehicle and save some money in the process. When you follow these tips from our Castlegar Toyota sales team, buying a previously owned car can be, dare we say, a positive experience.
Tip #1: Take Your Time & Do Your Research
Before you delve into used car shopping, we recommend that you decide on a few vehicles which you are interested in taking for a test drive. When you’ve made your list, look up their values using Kelley Blue Book. If you are trading in your current vehicle, you should look up the value of it too. You want to be informed about the prices you can expect when you do step into our dealership.
Tip #2: Buy From People Who Will Listen to Your Needs
How much time do you have today? What is your goal for this meeting?
As part of our approach, we make sure that all of our product advisors consider how much time you have with us, and what you want to accomplish during that time. If you have an hour-long lunch break and want to test drive two vehicles, that's what we'll accomplish together. We know that your time is valuable, and we don't want to waste it. That's why we ask these questions, and why we've also implemented no gimmicks used vehicle pricing; pricing that is truly our best offer, so that you don't have to worry about the irritating stress spent haggling, that so many buyers are often faced with elsewhere.
Have you ever heard these questions coming from the mouth of a car salesperson? If you haven’t, you need to come into Castlegar Toyota where we will respect your time and listen to your needs. At a lot of dealerships, they are more concerned about making the sale rather than getting you into a vehicle which fits your life and budget. We’ll gladly accommodate your needs as we work with you. For example, if you have an hour to test drive three vehicles, we will make sure they are ready to go for you. Are you considering buying from a private seller? You’ll be working around their schedule to arrange a meeting and a test drive. You are making a significant purchase, and it helps to have someone guide you through the process.
Tip #3: Take a Long Test Drive
At Castlegar Toyota, we see a lot of people take a used vehicle for a five or ten-minute test drive; we don’t think that is nearly enough time to decide if it's right for you. We encourage you to take it out for an extended test drive - at least thirty to forty minutes. Listen carefully to the sounds the car makes while you drive. Open up the engine on highway 3 or 22 to see how it accelerates, steers, and responds at various speeds. A longer test drive helps you decide if you feel comfortable in the vehicle.
Tip #4: Make Sure You Know the History of the Vehicle
If you want to be confident in your purchase, you should take a look into the past of any used car. Your Castlegar Toyota Product Advisor will gladly provide you with a CarProof report and review the previous repair and service tickets of the vehicle that you’re considering. You can also purchase an ICBC vehicle claims history report for added protection.
Tip #5: Buy Certified Pre-owned
Take a deep breath, Toyota’s Certified Pre-owned Program has your back and gives you the peace of mind that you are buying a reliable and thoroughly inspected vehicle. These vehicles are used Toyota's that meet a serious list of important specifications for the vehicle's quality, safety, and reliability. Certified Pre-owned vehicles carry a factory-backed warranty for six months (or 10,000 km), twelve months of roadside assistance, reconditioning of the interior and exterior, and your first oil and filter change on us. Better yet, at Castlegar Toyota, you always drive away with a full tank of gas knowing that we'll take care of you after the sale and make sure you are happy with your purchase.
Looking to buy a used car, SUV, or truck? Take a look at our inventory of used vehicles and arrange a test drive with us today.
