For the next 10 days, shopping for a car is going to be on the minds of thousands of people because the 2010 Cleveland Auto Show is about to open at the I-X Center.
While the emphasis at the Auto Show is on new cars, thousands of people are still in the market for used cars.
The new car market slumped 30 percent in 2009, but the used car market dropped only 10 percent.
“Here in Cleveland, there are 70,000 cars available for sale,” says Chip Perry. “And even more when you spread out across Ohio.”
Perry says used car shoppers should use every bit of information available at their fingertips online in their search for a used car.
“It’s a really empowering process, to see alternatives and use that information to work with the dealer to come up with a fair price,” he told WKYC.
“When you begin your search online, you first want to find out what car is right for you,” he pointed out. “There’s a lot of comparison tools and content that lets you drill down and learn about different makes and models.”
Perry says a used car shopper’s “to-do” list should start with nailing down the following information online: Make and model, equipment, condition, and the price range you’re looking for.
Once that information is in hand, it’s time to head to the dealer who has the car you’ve targeted.
“All the information you get about the car, as well as the prices, allow you to be a very intelligent negotiator when you walk into a dealership,” Perry says.
Bob Gillingham, owner of the Ford store which bears his name in Parma, says dealers welcome used car shoppers who have armed themselves with lots of information when they walk in his door.
“It keeps our sales team sharp,” he says, “makes them learn all they can about the car as well.”
Gillingham says your “to-do” list at the dealership should include a detailed visual inspection of the car you have found online.
“Take a good look at the car,” Gillingham says. “We encourage people to take a ride in the car, drive it, drive all they want. Then what we also encourage people to do, if they’d like to, is have it checked out by a technician.”
That technician could be a mechanic from another shop. A good dealership won’t mind that, says Gillingham, who also says a potential buyer should check with the Better Business Bureau to see how a dealer handles any customer complaints about used cars.
He says another must is getting a CarFax report on the car you’re interested in. Gillingham and other reputable dealers will often give the report to the potential buyer for free.
