I'm a 21 year old college student who will be purchasing his first brand new car this coming Monday (a 2011 Honda Fit Sport). While I have considerable experience maintaining my 1989 Honda Accord I am looking for any advice or tips for a first-time new car buyer. Anything is appreciated, thanks!
First Ever New Car Purchase
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Originally Posted By: mareakin
The Fit Sport seems to get poor gas mileage at only 33mpg highway. The new Hyundai 2012 Accent will likely get more than 40mpg highway.
I have a 2007 Corolla btw. A car that I despise.
The rated gas mileage is something i'm not too worried about after I drove a 2010 Fit Sport across country from MN to Florida and back and averaged near 40 mpg. Mostly i'm picking it for being fun to drive and very utilitarian. That and I do have a bit of a brand bias towards Honda's!
Some things i'm worried about are door dings on campus and the removal of our required parking stickers that we need to affix to the bumper of the car to park (any tips for removing those bumper-sticker like things cleanly?)
The Fit Sport seems to get poor gas mileage at only 33mpg highway. The new Hyundai 2012 Accent will likely get more than 40mpg highway.
I have a 2007 Corolla btw. A car that I despise.
The rated gas mileage is something i'm not too worried about after I drove a 2010 Fit Sport across country from MN to Florida and back and averaged near 40 mpg. Mostly i'm picking it for being fun to drive and very utilitarian. That and I do have a bit of a brand bias towards Honda's!
Some things i'm worried about are door dings on campus and the removal of our required parking stickers that we need to affix to the bumper of the car to park (any tips for removing those bumper-sticker like things cleanly?)
Make sure they do not gouge you on dealer prep. There is a dealer prep sometimes on the window sticker and another one shows up on the final bill....
I chatted up a storm with the business office guy @ the dealer and managed to get to the front door with the keys and receipt before asking him if he wanted the money...... lol
Enjoy!
I chatted up a storm with the business office guy @ the dealer and managed to get to the front door with the keys and receipt before asking him if he wanted the money...... lol
Enjoy!
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Originally Posted By: CivicFan
You don't need any add-ons - no need for "rust proofing", upholstery treatment or any doodads they they try to sell nowadays.
Good tip. You don't need most of anything they try to tack on, and it can add THOUSANDS to the price. No special wax coatings. Scam.
Also, do your research, try to see if you can get a good price.
You don't need any add-ons - no need for "rust proofing", upholstery treatment or any doodads they they try to sell nowadays.
Good tip. You don't need most of anything they try to tack on, and it can add THOUSANDS to the price. No special wax coatings. Scam.
Also, do your research, try to see if you can get a good price.
If you not checked already check the insurance cost.
My only advice is wait till you get older and insurance rates drop and drive a decent car you only need liability on until rates drop.
However otherwise simply enjoy it. Have a credit union or bank figure out financing besides dealer. I got raked over the coals with interest rate at age 22 on my first car.
My only advice is wait till you get older and insurance rates drop and drive a decent car you only need liability on until rates drop.
However otherwise simply enjoy it. Have a credit union or bank figure out financing besides dealer. I got raked over the coals with interest rate at age 22 on my first car.
I've been saving for quite a few years and will be purchasing the car outright with no financing, as for insurance my parents have offered to pay for my insurance costs until I graduate college in a year and a half, at which time I will take over the payments. At this time my primary concerns are not getting ripped off by the dealer and new car care.
I really appreciate the responses!
I really appreciate the responses!
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Awesome! You are going to buy a car the right way...you can PAY for it!
Originally Posted By: nfs480
I've been saving for quite a few years and will be purchasing the car outright with no financing
Great! Get what you want and enjoy!
I've been saving for quite a few years and will be purchasing the car outright with no financing
Great! Get what you want and enjoy!
I'm disturbed by the requirement of your school to have a sticker on your BUMPER to park. Why can't they offer a mirror hang tag or winshield sticker? I refuse to put any stickers on my car and with you getting a new car, I am sure that may be a concern to you as well. They can be removed by a little heat from a blow dryer and goo-b-gone, but really?? Why should you have to go thru that? And what happens if you take another car to school? You can't prove your parking permit when the sticker is on the other car!
During the signing make sure that the FINAL price is what you agreed to, dealers always try to add extra administration fees etc. Do not sign anything that has a bigger figure then what you negotiated.
Also, inspect the car really well upon delivery. Make sure you can do it in daylight, as that's when you can see most scratches and defects. If you notice some defects, again don't sign anything until it's fixed. Dealer may try to say that they will fix it later or something like that, don't fall for it, the car must be perfect when you take it home. With scratches or stains, if you take it home they will blame you and won’t fix it.
Oh, one more thing, when you’re on campus park as far away as you can, students don’t really pay attention when they open the doors and some will actually ding your car on purpose just out of jealousy.
And above all, ENJOY THE CAR!!!
Also, inspect the car really well upon delivery. Make sure you can do it in daylight, as that's when you can see most scratches and defects. If you notice some defects, again don't sign anything until it's fixed. Dealer may try to say that they will fix it later or something like that, don't fall for it, the car must be perfect when you take it home. With scratches or stains, if you take it home they will blame you and won’t fix it.
Oh, one more thing, when you’re on campus park as far away as you can, students don’t really pay attention when they open the doors and some will actually ding your car on purpose just out of jealousy.
And above all, ENJOY THE CAR!!!
Get a set of snow tires on rims. Check to see if the Sport has bigger brakes, if not you can get the base models tire size without any issues. Skinnier is better for snow tires IMO.
Enjoy the car!
Enjoy the car!
Originally Posted By: KrisZ
Also, inspect the car really well upon delivery. Make sure you can do it in daylight, as that's when you can see most scratches and defects. If you notice some defects, again don't sign anything until it's fixed. Dealer may try to say that they will fix it later or something like that, don't fall for it, the car must be perfect when you take it home. With scratches or stains, if you take it home they will blame you and won’t fix it.
You can at least put it on the IOU form. When I took delivery of my 2011 Camry, I noticed that the dealer-installed window tinting on the rear passenger window had a mark in it. I didn't have time to get it repaired until a month down the road, but it was done at no charge and with no hassle. I agree that any blemish needs to be documented at the time of delivery, but it doesn't necessarily have to be fixed on the spot.
Also, inspect the car really well upon delivery. Make sure you can do it in daylight, as that's when you can see most scratches and defects. If you notice some defects, again don't sign anything until it's fixed. Dealer may try to say that they will fix it later or something like that, don't fall for it, the car must be perfect when you take it home. With scratches or stains, if you take it home they will blame you and won’t fix it.
You can at least put it on the IOU form. When I took delivery of my 2011 Camry, I noticed that the dealer-installed window tinting on the rear passenger window had a mark in it. I didn't have time to get it repaired until a month down the road, but it was done at no charge and with no hassle. I agree that any blemish needs to be documented at the time of delivery, but it doesn't necessarily have to be fixed on the spot.
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
I'm disturbed by the requirement of your school to have a sticker on your BUMPER to park. Why can't they offer a mirror hang tag or winshield sticker? I refuse to put any stickers on my car and with you getting a new car, I am sure that may be a concern to you as well. They can be removed by a little heat from a blow dryer and goo-b-gone, but really?? Why should you have to go thru that? And what happens if you take another car to school? You can't prove your parking permit when the sticker is on the other car!
Exactly, I was mildly annoyed having to affix the bumper sticker to my 1989 but am not happy at all about putting it on a new car and am hoping i'll be able to completely remove it after college with no damage.
Unfortunately they will only do mirror hangs as temporary permits for up to 14 days, which you can get if you temporarily drive a different vehicle.
Thanks for the information about the blow dryer and the goo-b-gone, I really appreciate it.
I'm disturbed by the requirement of your school to have a sticker on your BUMPER to park. Why can't they offer a mirror hang tag or winshield sticker? I refuse to put any stickers on my car and with you getting a new car, I am sure that may be a concern to you as well. They can be removed by a little heat from a blow dryer and goo-b-gone, but really?? Why should you have to go thru that? And what happens if you take another car to school? You can't prove your parking permit when the sticker is on the other car!
Exactly, I was mildly annoyed having to affix the bumper sticker to my 1989 but am not happy at all about putting it on a new car and am hoping i'll be able to completely remove it after college with no damage.
Unfortunately they will only do mirror hangs as temporary permits for up to 14 days, which you can get if you temporarily drive a different vehicle.
Thanks for the information about the blow dryer and the goo-b-gone, I really appreciate it.
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