Choose a model
- Great overview regarding available models from TrueCar
- At least in comparison to Western Europe, new cars (especially US brands) are rather cheap in the US and used cars rather expensive (or the depreciation seems to be lower)
- Test drives can be arranged without much planning, just stop by a car dealer with your drivers license
- Check owner satisfaction ratings at J.D. Power
- Price comparison & estimation:
- TrueCar - very helpful for finding fair prices for new cars, based on statistics of real sales in the same region
- Kelley Blue Book - price estimation for new and used cars (also called 'preowned')
- Craigslist
- Just stop by dealers and talk to them
- Note: advertised prices often don't include tax and other fees yet
Buying process
- US car dealers are known to be sales geniuses and sometimes rather pushy, as they have a huge advantage vs. foreigners in terms of available information and experience during price negotiations
- Car brokers can save stress and unnecessary overpayments, as they can work as your 'independent' agent to buy cars to the cheapest price (in the best case) for a small fee and in addition they take care of the whole registration process - we got these recommendations:
- Robert Hammer, (650) 210-1800, hammerauto.com
- Dale Reynolds, (925) 954-1196, The Stockbridge Group
Image by paraflyer via Flickr
