139 Queen St. Port Perry, Ont. FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 2000 - Checklist to a good (NC)-Educating yourself on the true workings of the automotive sales business will mini- mize the aggravation and bring the excite- ment of buying your next new car back to the forefront. Follow these "insider" tips and cre- ate your own personalized list. Wh vehi looking for? Do you have children or cargo to consider? e Will you be driving long distances? 655-3324 PRICES SLASHED! Green, V8, auto; air, 147 K. "85 CRE BERET] Dr., 4 cyl., ato, air, 129 K. "7,900 f 1 DAKWOoD AUTO EB 1874 £ 50K * Do you prefer the look of a sporty two-door or the convenience of a four-door? * Should your next.car be one of practicality like a mini-van or sport-utility? Establish your budget. e What is your cash price total or monthly payment that you are comfortable with. e Factor insurance rates. . * Avoid looking at a vehicle outside of your 1 YEAR WARRANTY ON ALL CERTIFIED VEHICLES Green, 4 Dr., V6, auto, leather, 95 FORD Red, V6, auto, loaded, 136 K. i x "2 13 EF £0 budget to avoid temptation. e Establish a short list of vehicles that fit both of the above criteria and proceed to research stage. T l vehicl Tap into Canadian sites like www.carcost- canada.com and www. canadiandriver.com that offer Canadian pricing. * Get the dealer cost. www.carcostcanada.com is the only Canadian website that allows public access to dealer costs. * Find all the nitty-gritty on MSRP, cashbacks, holdbacks, rebates, options, etc. Research publications that offer road test results, reliability ratings, and crash test results. e Ask others who drive the same vehicle about their personal experiences. - Investigate dealerships. o Referrals are always the best way to find a good dealer. o Ask others where they have purchased * their vehicle and whether they would recom- 2 mend that specific dealer. ATTENTION MOTORCYCLISTS ROYAL STAR VENTURE » Ask a mechanic or parts rep in a dealership whether they would buy from that dealer and why. Choose a salesperson. This is often over: looked but very important. The salesperson will be your main contact at the dealership, therefore a positive relationship is neces- sary. * Ask a mechanic or receptionist which sales- person has been there the longest and which salesperson has the best rapport with cus- tomers as well as coworkers. * Keep in mind that the better salespeople tend to be the busiest so make an appoint: ment with him/her to discuss any issues or concems. N * Present your findings to the salesperson and make a firm an reasonable offer. ioy! * Buying a new vehicle should be an enjoy- able experience. By following all of the above criteria you can assure yourself of find: ing the right vehicle, the right dealer, the right salesperson and the right deal. Above all, you sacyip with peace of mind!