For many, this time of year marks the beginning of road trips, visiting friends, and plenty of outdoor activities. This time of the year may also mark a significant milestone in your life if you’re a recent college graduate and find yourself on the job hunt and trying to make the most of some well-deserved time off. With college behind you and your first full-time job on the horizon, you may find yourself needing to purchase your first car. Buying your first car can seem like a big deal, but with some preparation, you’ll feel confident about the process and your decision.
Here at Woody Folsom Chrysler Dodge Jeep® RAM, we want to help. That’s why we’re offering up some helpful tips for first-time car shoppers.
Whether you’ve just graduated or your old hand-me-down car is finally on its last legs, the first thing you should do is establish a realistic budget. You’ll want to factor in all your expenses like rent, credit card bills, groceries, health insurance, spending money, and anything else like that Netflix subscription. Once you know how much of your income is left over, you’ll have a good idea of what you can afford for a down payment and monthly payments, assuming you finance your new car.
With your budget set, it’s time to determine what you want and need from your car. Think about what features excite or are important to you, but also take into account what you’ll need and use your car for. Think about how much garage space you have, how many passengers you’ll usually have, and factors like safety ratings.
Once you’ve found a few options that fit within your budget and that appeal to your wants and needs, it’s time to test drive a few cars. Head on down to 1859 Golden Isles West to get a feel for your top choices. Also, be sure to talk to our friendly sales staff. We’ll help you with your budget and can go over your checklist to help you find a new car at a price that works for you.
