How To Buy Your First Car As A College Grad

“The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide you’re not going to stay where you are.”
— John Pierpont Morgan

The time to put on your graduation cap is fast approaching and with it comes a new chapter of life. Change is a great thing; with each chapter you get to start over and improve yourself. So why not get rid of your old hand-me-down car and start fresh with a new ride. As you kick-start your career, having an efficient and reliable car will come in handy. Before you jump on the band wagon of purchasing a new car, here’s a checklist to help you purchase the right car:

Come up With a Budget
The college debt crisis is on the rise with the average student loan debt at $29,400. The last thing you need is digging deeper into debt by making a car purchase you can’t afford. Coming up with a budget will help you get a hold on your finances. When coming up with a budget consider all your financial responsibilities including:

• Mortgage/Rent
• Bills (Phone bill, utilities, insurance)

As a rule of thumb, avoid spending more than 20% of your monthly household income on a car.

Do your Research
Doing research will help you figure out if the car you’re eyeing has the qualities and features you’re looking for. Researching a car before buying is also a great way to save time by weighing your options and eliminating no-go’s. Here are a few features to focus on when researching to help narrow your search:

• Fuel Efficiency
• Resale Value
• Safety & size
• Price

Considering these features will help you figure out what makes a new car the best new car for you.

Buy Used
Buying used cars is becoming more popular especially among young adults. Times have changed and because of advancements in technology cars depreciate at a slower rate. You might not be able to buy a new sports car but you can still get a fun-to-drive car with low mileage and great fuel efficiency. Purchasing a used car will not only save you money but give you a chance to save for your dream sports car. Avoid buying cars that are more than three years old.

Schedule a Test Drive
Test driving a car is the most fun part of the car buying process. You will spend most of your time in the car so be sure to get really acquainted with the interior. Schedule several test-drives and give yourself time to get a sense of the car’s ride quality. Pay attention to the primary controls and the functionality of the interior features. Be sure to test-drive on different surfaces and at different speeds. This will help you determine if the car is the right fit for your lifestyle.

Take your time, ask a lot of questions and enjoy the buying process. Explore JT’s Chrysler Jeep Dodge vast inventory of new and used vehicles. Our team of experts will provide you with the guidance you need. You can find us at 5215 Sunset Boulevard, Lexington, SC 29072.

 

Do Second-Hand Cars Still Have First-Rate Safety?

Crash safety tests administered by all automotive ratings agencies have been effectively “raising the bar” year after year, making it harder for automakers to achieve top scores. The end result is that consumers benefit as manufacturers find more ways to improve safety in their cars.  That said, the changes mean there are test score discrepancies among model years.

In other words, a 2012 model may not score as well as a 2011 despite being nearly identical below the surface. The car has not become less safe – rather, the lower score just means it didn’t perform as well on the new test as it had on the old.

The first changes came from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which changed their five-star crash test procedures for the 2011 model year. The new test simulates a car skidding into a tree, in addition to the front-, side- and rollover tests the agency used for the 2010 model year and earlier. In addition, a new, small female dummy was added to the crash tests along with the average-sized male dummy that had been used previously.  The result?  NHTSA crash test scores for 2010 model year and older cars cannot be compared to 2011 and newer scores!

The second set of changes occurred with the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), the organization that awards “Top Safety Pick” status. In 2012 IIHS added the new “small overlap front test,” which simulates the front of the car hitting a utility pole on one side – approximately in the location of the headlight – at 40 mph. Since IIHS introduced the test in the middle of the 2012 model year, only a handful of 2012 models were tested – and most performed poorly.

One can easily see if the 2012 or 2013 model year car in consideration was subjected to the new test, and how it performed.  The results of the new IIHS small overlap front test will not be part of the organization’s Top Safety Pick criteria until all cars for the model year have been through the new test, and the IIHS says that this will be when the 2014 awards are announced.  Special mention will be made of any cars that score well in the new test as 2012 and 2013 models.

If considering buying a late-model used car, don’t be alarmed if the safety scores are lower for the identical current model. It hasn’t become any less safe — the measurement of safety simply changed.  At JT’s Chrysler Jeep Dodge, don’t forget to check our used car specials – they’re always new!