Did you ever notice those ads for new or used cars that show a great monthly price, but that come with small print showing a $2000 or $3000 down payment? If so, you know that the price a car is advertised for isn't always the price you'll pay.

 

Let's say that you're being offered a deal for $299/month for 36 months. But to get the car, you have to put $2160 down. Over 36 months, that $2160 represents another $60 per month. So your REAL monthly cost is $359. If you were budgeting for $300 a month, this car is over your budget and you'll end up feeling the pinch in your pocket.

 

The same thing often happens even when not financing. Let's say that you've budgeted for $4000 to buy a used car and you see what looks like a great deal in the newspaper for $3850. You're excited and you go to the dealer; you test drive it, and it seems alright. Maybe you ask the salesperson if you could have your mechanic take a look at it to make sure everything's in good order, just for your own peace of mind.  You are assured there is no need and it is mechanically sound.

 

You are $150 under budget so you proceed with the deal. You decide to buy the car, but as you're signing paperwork, you discover that there is $600 in fees -- something that was never mentioned to you. Now you're $450 over budget. But you're already signing papers and maybe you feel that the extra money doesn't matter or you're embarrassed to back out at this point. So you buy the car.

 

Now you drive off the lot and have the mechanic check things over. Whoops -- another $300 in front-end work your mechanic could have told you about BEFORE you bought the car. Your $3850 car is now $4750 and you don't know where you're going to get all that extra money.

 

One thing you'll always want to do when buying a used car is to ask ahead of time whether there are any hidden fees -- something we never have at Great Lakes Car Connection, because we don't believe in tricks and want our customers to know that they can trust us at every turn. With us, the only cost beyond the sticker price is state charges-tax, title and plate.  These are the EXACT same charges you would pay buying from an individual and going to secretary of state to transfer the title.

 

Secondly, there is nothing wrong with asking if your mechanic could look at the vehicle.  Even if you feel you already know it's mechanically sound, the salesperson should never have a problem with this question.  If they do, they may be hiding something from you.  Just keep in mind nobody wants their car driven 20 miles for an inspection; keep it local, or bring your mechanic with you. 

 

Does this mean that your used car won't have a problem after a week, or a month, or 6 months? No -- there are no guarantees about how well any car will work over time. Maintenance and repairs is part of owning a car. But it does ensure that you're buying a car in good repair at the time of purchase.

 

At Great Lakes Car Connection, we address any known problems before they are offered for purchase. This is why -- with no fees and with mechanical issues addressed -- our sticker price is not just lower than our competitors, the additional savings make the bottom line an outstanding value.  Unlike the big-name dealers, we keep our marketing and overhead expenses low, which simply passes those saving along to the consumer.

Honesty and low prices??? Yes, we are changing the way you buy an affordable used car. It's what we offer at Great Lakes Car Connection on Gratiot Avenue in Macomb County, Michigan.