5 Keys to Car Shopping
Unlock the Mystery to Buying the Right Ride – Part 1
Know Your Shopping Style
Are you a “value” shopper, “image” shopper, “methodical” or “safety-conscious”? How you answer that question will go a long way toward making the right purchase choice.
Value Shoppers
- USA – 25%
- UK – 18%
- Canada – 21%
Image Shopper
- USA – 27%
- UK – 22%
- Canada – 19%
Methodical
- USA – 21%
- UK – 20%
- Canada – 21%
Narrow Your Shopping List
Size, performance, color, style, comfort, every detail matters. But narrow your search by creating a short list of choices before ever stepping into a dealership.
Most Popular Car Colors
- White – 22%
- Light Grey – 20%
- Black – 19%
- Dark Grey – 12%
- Red – 9%
- Beige – 8%
- Blue – 7%
- Green – 2%
- Other – 1%
Do Your Online Research
Find online advice on pricing, equipment options, safety, quality and five-year cost of ownership. Then research owner opinions and expert reviews.
Vehicle Buyer Search Engine Use
- 71% of both new and used-car buyers shop on the Internet for a car
- 62% access an OEM site
- 61% access a dealer website
- 48% find dealer phone numbers and/or addresses
- 35% access third-party sites
- 16% – other/none
Know When the Price is Right
Car prices change as popularity, supply and other factors change. If you are considering a popular car in short supply, you can expect to pay more.
- Buy in December
- Insist on a bottom-line price
- Shop around
Get the Most From Your Test Drive
What’s important to you? After you’ve completed a thorough walk-around to ensure the vehicle has the characteristics you want, test drive on both city streets and the highway.
Keys to Remember:
- Ride comfort
- Noise
- Power/acceleration
- Braking and handling
