Buying a New-to-You Vehicle? Follow these steps!

Buying a New-to-You vehicle can be nerve racking. Honestly you never know what you’re going to get. You could luck out and end up with a gem or draw the short straw and end up with junk. Here are nine tips to help you need up on the right side of the coin and avoid getting ripped off.

Have the car inspected- Are you a mechanic? If not, take the car to one, before you buy the car! It’s better to find out there is something wrong with the car before you buy it than after.

Test drive the vehicle adequately- Don’t just drive the vehicle around the parking lot. Take it out on the road, get it up to highway speed, try out the accessories, run the A/C even in the winter. You don’t want an unexpected expense after to agree to the deal.

Never buy sight unseen- For some reason, people will buy cars off the internet without going to look at them first. Consumers have bought a car which did not match the pictures on the internet. Who'd have thought someone on the internet you have never met might be dishonest?

Check the title before you shake hands- After you inspect the car, be sure to inspect the title. People have shook hands and handed over money, only to be presented with a salvage title or one branded in some other way. You also need to make sure there are no liens on the title. 

Read and understand the purchase agreement- If you are buying from a dealer you will sign a Purchase Agreement or Buyer's Order which will govern the transaction. Most boilerplate Purchase Agreements contains paragraphs of legalese limiting your rights but reserving all of the dealer's rights. The salesman made a verbal promise to you that's not on the agreement? The salesman told you the car had a warranty but the purchase agreement says the car was sold as-is? And read the back side of the contract. The front often has a signature line saying that you have read both sides of the document and agree with all of it. Don't sign it until you have read it all and understood it.

Know who your buying from- Are you buying from an individual? Are you sure? Many dealers sell off lot in an attempt to make buyers think they are buying from an individual. But the documents then show the seller is a dealer

Never buy a car premised on repairs being made after delivery- I can't even guess how many times I have heard from buyers who noticed something wrong with the car before they bought it – and bought it anyway. "The seller said he'd fix it if I bought it."

No. Fix it, then I'll buy it. 

Know what “as is” means if you are buying a used car- a dealer can sell you a car "as is" and it means the car comes with no warranty of merchantability. The car can blow up the minute you start to drive home and there won't be much (if anything) you can do about it.

Understand the warranty, if you are given or sold one- When the seller tells you the car comes with a warranty make sure to find out what the terms of the warranty are. Aftermarket warranties for used cars come in all shapes and sizes and some are next to worthless. The seller should be able to provide you with some sort of contract, brochure or documentation showing who the warrantor is and how you will make any claims you might have.

Follow these tips and should hopefully be in the clear of getting ripped off.  One of the best pieces of advice is to buy for someone worth trusting. Driver’s Choice in Davenport, IA is your used car supercenter and can help you with any of your questions or concerns. Contact us today to get you next New-to-You vehicle!

Used Cars and Recalls- How to Protect Yourself

 

 

 

There is really no way around the fact that vehicle recalls have been on the rise lately.  From the Takata airbag issues, which have affected millions of vehicles from several manufacturers, to the Volkswagen diesel scandal, it seems as though it is as likely as not that a used car has had some sort of recall issued.

 

As a used car shopper, it is important to know if the vehicle you are buying has had the appropriate recall work done.  At Driver's Choice, we use the AutoCheck system, so you can know what work has been done.  As a consumer, put your own mind at ease- ask the questions.  We take pride in our systems to make sure that we are selling you a car that is safe, so we welcome your inquiries.  If you  ever encounter a dealership that isn't willing to answer questions regarding recalls, it should be considered a red flag.  You want your dealer to know everything possible about the vehicle they are selling you.

 

We have a state-of-the-art service department here at Driver's Choice, and we are certified to do recall work on the vast majorities of brands. If you own a vehicle, whether you purchased it from us or from somewhere else, our service department would be happy to run a VIN check on your vehicle to see if it has any current recalls that need to be addressed.  Or, you can use our simple online recall checker. 

 

 

 



Why Plug-in Vehicles Make Great Used Cars

 

Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) vehicles have been around long enough now that we are starting to get some really useful- and encouraging- data on their value as used vehicles.

 

Hybridcars.com recently wrote an excellent article on the bargains available when looking at used plug-in vehicles.  Even with large federal rebate incentives (up to $7500), the new prices on these vehicles can still keep them out of the affordable range for many consumers.  Since many manufacturers are offering excellent lease deals, there are many more of them coming back into the used market, making them more affordable.

 

According to the article, a "near-new" Nissan Leaf averages just $12,533, compared to the new cost of roughly $30,000, which includes the $7500 federal rebate incentive. 

 

 Hybrid cars are also some of the fastest-selling vehicles on the market, though, so buyers need to active if they are looking for a specific model.  The Toyota Prius, for example, is the fastest-selling car on used dealer lots, with an average selling time of just 19.7 days, which is twice as fast as the average for a near-new car. 

 

We have a great selection of pre-owned hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles here at Driver's Coice.  Take a look at our inventory and schedule a test-drive today. 





Congratulations to Blaire Lemen, our Employee of the Month

 Blaire Lemen, Driver's Choice Employee of the Month

We are proud to announce Blaire Lemen as our Employee of the Month.  Blair is the Assistant Service Manager for Driver's Choice and Lujack Kia-Mazda, and has been with us since September of 2012.  Blair is engaged, has two children, and great taste in baseball teams (Cubs fan!) 

Lujack's Driver's Choice Used Car Supercenter is proud of all of our staff, but we always like to take the opportunity to appreciate excellence.  Thanks, Blair, and congratulations!

Chevys, Chevys, Everywhere Chevys

 

Driver's Choice is the Quad Cities Used Car Supercenter, and as such, we carry a wide variety of vehicle brands.  Everything from Acura to Volvo, we currently have over thirty manufacturers represented in our inventory.

 

That being said, it's no secret that our domestic brands are near and dear to our hearts.  We appreciate not only the American car companies products, but the hard working men and women that produce them.  There is no better example than Chevrolet. 

 

We currently have 11 pre-owned Chevy Equinox on hand.  For someone looking for a mid-size SUV, you can't go wrong with one of these.  It is consistently one of our best-selling vehicles. 

 

2014 Chevy Equinox

If a sedan is more to your liking, you can take your pick of 17 Chevy Impalas.  The wildly popular Impala is a roomy, safe, and stylish 4-door. 

You can see our collection of pre-owned Chevrolet cars, trucks, and SUVs at Lujack's Driver's Choice Used Car Supercenter in Davenport, IA

 





Meet Angela Wilson, Driver's Choice Employee of the Month

Angela Wilson has been with Lujack's since December of 2014 and has worked in the Business Development Center and is now part of our sales staff.  Angela is active in the community, having founded the non-profit organization A Side of Kindness, providing home made meals to residents in need.  She Also serves on the advisory board for the Downtown Davenport YMCA.  Congratulations, Angela, and thanks for everything you do for Lujack's and the community!

Driver's Choice named 2016 Dealer of the Year

 

 

Lujack's Driver's Choice Used Car Supercenter is honored to be named a 2016 Dealer of the Year by Dealer Rater.  Dealer Rater is exactly what the name suggests- a company that rates dealerships and automotive facilities.  These ratings are based on customer reviews.  Over the years, over 2 million customers have offered their opinions on Dealer Rater, and we could not be more proud that the reviews of our customers are the power behind this award. 

 As we go about our business on a daily basis, everything we do is with the end in mind, and that end is making sure that each of our customers walks away from our store knowing that they were treated fairly, professionally, and with the utmost respect.

Once again, we would like to thank you all, our loyal customers, for the faith and trust that you continue to show us, and for all of the kind words and great reviews!