Whether you are upgrading or downgrading, seniors should know—and try to remember always—that when buying a car, brandnew or secondhand, you must practice good car-buying techniques all the time. This is because, owning a car should make your life comfortable and not have you miserably stuck with never ending payments for a car that only gives you a headache, more than anything! Here are our best 10 tips when buying a car:
1.    Never trust your emotions when out choosing a model for you. Buying a car is more technical than buying a house. Yes, it needs to be comfortable, like you can live there for the rest of your life. However, your car must be able to perform in a superb manner and would be able to deliver according to your needs and lifestyle whereas in a house, it doesn’t matter as long as you can fix it yourself. Compare as many models as you can and make a wise decision from there.
2.    Go for a test drive. If you know enough how cars should work, you can have the car go for a test drive, if not, have someone knowledgeable enough to take the ride with you, just to assess the cars current state. Be especially aware of the sounds it make and how it shifts from one gear to another.
3.    Don’t go for the cheapest in the market. Chances are, there is a catch somewhere and it might even cost you more in repairs or whatever the catch is. Instead, do your homework and know the real price range for such model. From there, negotiate your price according to the car’s worth. Be reasonable enough when haggling for a car.
4.    Review your options separately. It will do you good if you review and assess your buying power from different perspectives, that is, your monthly payment capabilities, trade-ins, financing, even leasing options. The most important thing is, you must be able to ascertain the price of the vehicle first before any negotiation starts.
5.    Deals are good but they often come with a catch. Knowing where a good deal starts and where it reasonably ends will help you make a better decision when buying a car.
6.    Choose your financing options well. This should be included on your first leg of research and must not wait until the day you visit your car dealer. Seniors should remember that most professional dealers only have what they stand to gain in mind and won’t even consider offering the best route for you.
7.    Consider the car model’s safety features. To know this, you should go directly to their website and look for their test reports. I believe some of the most popular car brands offer a full rundown of their models’ safety features.
8.    Grab extras—only if they are for free, otherwise, skip them altogether.
9.    For trade-ins, be knowledgeable enough to “sell” your car. This includes your car’s worth and the add-ons that come with your car.
10.    For used car, have a mechanic go over the car before actually buying it. While you’re at it, ask for an estimate for repairs and whatever it is they must do with the car to have it up and running in good condition.