Shopping for new car time, opinions on dealerships wanted.

[TheProfessor]

Originally Posted by VitaBene

We just used Banks Chevrolet in Concord. They were a pleasure to deal with. I know it is really not north, but it is only an hour drive for us.

I've had great luck with Banks Chevrolet/GMC/Buick in Concord. This is a family owned business. Service after sale has been excellent.

Do your homework. Go to kbb.com and edmunds.com and price out the vehicle you are interested in. No website provides all correct information but a good start.

With gas prices climbing stay with only 4 cylinder engines.

If a Japan manufactured car there will be shortages coming of cars. And prices will rise for those. Even some US made foreign brands will be in short supply as critical parts made in Japan will still be in short supply. So if you want a Japanese car get to dealership soon. Subaru is a popular brand here. Subaru will be in a short supply soon so if you find one you like then buy it.

This is a great time to purchase an American car. The new Ford Focus is supposed to be a real good car. As well as the Chevrolet Cruze. Chevrolet Equinox is a good choice for a 4 cylinder SUV.

I would avoid all cars manufactured in Korea, Mexico, and Europe. View the window sticker where it states: Final Assembly Point.

No matter what JD Powers states Korean cars do not hold their value well and many of the components may or may not hold up over time. Just look at a 5 year old Korean car.

Mexico cars. Quality may or may not be good. Some state that the Ford Fiesta (Made in Mexico) is a high quality car. Others state that all Volkswagens made in Mexico have short term and long term mechanical issues.

European cars. Basically 4 companies. Volkswagen (includes Porsche and Audi), Mercedes, BMW, and Tata. Tata owns Jaguar, and Land Rover. Saab is going bankrupt. Geely (China) owns Volvo. Parts and service are just plain expensive for all European cars. If you have the money for such then fine.

Understand what the Window Sticker price means. Understand what the invoice price is. Understand what the 3% holdback means.

Never go for any dealer add-ons. Such as Scotch Guard and never purchase an aftermarket alarm. With Scotch Guard all they do is spray the same stuff you can purchase at the supermarket. Aftermarket alarms will only cause you problems down the road. Never go for an after market warranty. Most are not worth the paper they are printed on. These are 2nd party warranties that usually cost the dealership around $200.00. And READ what is covered and READ what is not covered. If you think that you need an aftermarket warranty then you should not be buying that brand of car.

And if you do purchase a new car do change the oil twice the frequency as the manufacturer states. The engine will last virtually forever if you change the oil frequently.

Used cars and "Executive" cars are a different story.