Buying your first Toyota can be an amazing, life-changing experience, but it’s also a serious decision. Here at Longo Toyota of Prosper, we understand that buying a car can be stressful, so we want to do everything we can to make the process as easy and painless as possible. It’s our goal to help you drive off the lot in a stylish car that not only meets your needs but exceeds them. To help out our first-time buyers, our staff has put together this guide to buying your first Toyota.
Determine Your Budget
Image via Flickr by JeepersMedia
Before you browse new models and schedule any test drives, the first step to buying a Toyota is determining what your budget is. Identifying how much you can afford to spend each month on insurance, car payments, and gas is one of the best ways to start narrowing down your list of potential cars. At this point in the process, you should figure out how you plan to pay for the car. If you’ve built up a comfortable level of savings, paying in cash can be a good way to save money on interest payments over time.
Most people will work with loans when buying their first car. Taking out a loan allows you to pay for the car in monthly installments over the course of a few years, so this option is great for people who need a car but don’t have the funds to buy one using cash. When buying your Toyota with a loan, you will still need to pay an upfront cost, but it’s much less than if you were to use cash. Even with this payment strategy, it’s still important to determine how much you can afford to spend.
Once you determine how much you can spend each month, you still might be unsure how much your payment will be. To determine the exact amount that you will have to pay each month, we recommend that you use our payment calculator. This tool will help you calculate your monthly bill, so using it to create your budget can be a smart strategy.
Identify Your Needs
After you figure out how much you can afford to spend on a Toyota, the next step in narrowing down your choices is to identify your needs. Ask yourself what you need the vehicle for. Will it be used primarily as a daily driver for your commute? Do you want a car that can handle off-road terrain? How important are features like navigation, heated seats, and safety devices?
It can also be a good idea to browse some popular features and create a checklist of things you need in a car. Designing a checklist of features that you want in your Toyota can help you find the vehicle that’s perfect for you. Once you know what features you need, you can check out our inventory to see what’s available.
Decide on Buying New or Used
After identifying your needs, the next step is to decide whether you want to buy a new or used car. When buying your first Toyota, you have access to amazing new models with all the innovative technology and safety features that have just hit the market. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do your research on used options. For instance, if you are in love with a certain car but the newest model is out of your price range, you might want to buy a used Toyota. Buying used allows you to purchase an amazing car at an affordable price.
If you’re uncertain about buying a previously owned vehicle, we recommend that you browse our selection of certified pre-owned cars. Certified pre-owned cars have undergone a rigorous inspection process that guarantees their quality. Our certified vehicles also come with a 12-month/12,000-mile warranty, so owners of these cars can have peace of mind with their new vehicle at the price of a used one.
Do More Research
After narrowing down your list and finding some in-stock options, you will want to perform some in-depth research into the Toyota of your choice. Not only should you look into the standard features of the model, but you might also want to speak with one of our representatives to learn more about what the car has to offer. Speaking with a qualified professional is one of the best ways to get answers to your questions without spending a lot of time poring over Toyota’s spec sheets.
Shop for Insurance
Once you know what year and model you want, you should determine how much your insurance payments will be. To do this, you might want to shop for insurance rates online or through local insurance agents. Identifying how much you will pay for insurance is another important part of establishing your budget, so it’s important to find this number before committing to your new Toyota.
Schedule a Test Drive
One of the last steps is to schedule a test drive. You can never be certain about a vehicle until you’ve taken the time to experience how it handles on the open road. Taking your prospective Toyota on a test drive gives you the chance to see how it feels to be in the driver’s seat. It also gives you the opportunity to test out the tech features and see how the interior looks.
Have the Car Inspected by a Mechanic
After finding a Toyota that meets your needs, fits your budget, and feels great to drive, the last step is to have it inspected by a mechanic. While we guarantee that all the cars on our lot adhere to the highest standards of quality, we want you to have complete peace of mind when buying. That’s why we recommend that you always have a car inspected before you sign any contracts. This gives you a chance to find any potential issues or ask for repairs before buying.
This was just a brief overview of some of the steps that you should take when buying your first Toyota. If you have any questions about how you should prepare for this process, please give us a call. One of our team members at Longo Toyota of Prosper would be happy to work with you every step of the way. It’s our goal to get you in the car of your dreams.
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