How to do your "Homework" (from a Car Salesman)

Attend an Auto Show

I'll admit that now it's part of my job to keep myself updated on what's out there in the auto industry. But even before I entered the car business, I liked going to at least one auto show a year. It’s a great opportunity to compare cars side by side without having to go into different dealerships. In Utah, for example, the Utah International Auto Expo comes up every January. Some big auto shows have been running for over 100 years, such as the Chicago Auto Show and New York International Auto Show.

Auto shows are staffed by employees from the manufacturer or local dealerships that’s happy to answer any questions you have about the vehicle. Some manufacturers even bring cars that you can test drive there. While you can request further information, enter into drawings, and might see a business card placed on the windshield, no actual selling is allowed at auto shows.

There is usually a modest cost to enter, but you can find ways to purchase tickets at a discount or get them for free from your local dealership depending on the auto show. All the major manufacturers will be there and certain luxury/ultra-luxury brands may be present as well.

Watch and Read Car Reviews

I watch and read all kinds of car reviews to help me get a balanced idea. There are some auto journalists that will praise a car no matter what because of their personal biases or benefits they are receiving from the manufacturer. There are others who will rehash old generalizations about manufacturers as they direct unmerited criticism on the car.

If you need a recommendation, I'll direct you to Tom Voelk at Driven. He's one of my favorites because of his humorous, well-paced, and high quality content. (I’m not being paid to endorse him nor does he know who I am.)

Use the Configurator

I've seen it called either the build & price tool or the configurator; it's a tool online that most manufacturers provide allowing you to option out the car virtually any way you'd like. Honestly, there’s no better way to learn about the cars that you’re interested in (even I use it frequently to learn what each trim or package does). If a specific package or color option cannot be combined or stipulates certain things, this tool can tell you that as well.

While it's difficult to know whether you'd actually like the rear camera mirror (for example) without trying it out in person, you may be able to rule out the base model when you walk into the dealership based on the features you're interested in.

Identify Your Top Features

Find out what are some features that are most important to you. Is it payment or overall price? Is it fit and finish? Is it safety or technology? You might not decide on one thing alone, but you have to figure out which things are most important to you. Keep your key items in mind as you compare cars online and in-person.

Drive It!

If you found a couple cars you think you'd like - go drive them! It doesn’t matter how much a car makes sense on paper, if you hate how it drives, you’ll be miserable for the next few years. I've seen customers trade in cars after only 5-6k miles on it because they hated the ride or it didn't actually meet their needs. You should try to mimic your normal driving habits on the test drive - take the bumpy roads and push the car on the on-ramp to see how it handles.

If you absolutely can't make it in for a test drive, I've uploaded some point-of-view videos on my channel that can give you an idea of how it drives.

I get it, a short test drive with your salesperson still may not satisfy all your questions about the car. So if you're still unsure, you can...

Take it on a Longer Drive

A. If you really like the car but you're not 100% sure about pulling the trigger, you can ask if the dealership will allow an extended demo. This gives you the opportunity to take it for a few hours to see if it fits in the garage and make sure your spouse gives you the thumbs up. Getting an extended demo depends on the dealership, the car, and you. (Not all dealerships offer it; you won't be able to take a rare performance car on a joyride; you should have a good relationship or rapport with the dealer.) Even so, you can ask to take a longer route or have your spouse take a turn driving.

B. Why don't you rent it for a couple days and take it for a road trip? Hertz offers a variety of Cadillac models within their Prestige collection. If you're considering an Audi, look at Silvercar. Some Toyota dealerships have their own car rental program and you can rent directly with them. For everything else, there’s Turo (which is like Airbnb for cars)!

Review your Credit

Even if you've been planning to buy the vehicle cash, it might still make sense to finance it if you receive additional discounts/incentives for financing or if the interest rate is low enough. Any type of financing term that you're offered will hinge on your credit score and history. Make sure there are no errors on your report or accounts that's unnecessarily dragging your score down (for the best rates, you should strive to be at a 700 score or higher).

Other Sources to Help You

If you're wondering about the...

Fuel Economy: www.fueleconomy.gov. You can get the official government MPG ratings and compare cars for their mileage here. Remember, the guidelines for measuring fuel economy do change over time, so the same car may have different numbers year by year. This does not necessarily mean there's been an improvement or that it's gotten worse. Cadillac (along with GM) is usually conservative with their fuel economy estimate. You can also check http://www.fuelly.com for reports from real owners.

Safety: https://www.iihs.org The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has been around since 1959 and is a "nonprofit scientific and educational organization dedicated to reducing the losses — deaths, injuries and property damage — from motor vehicle crashes." The Cadillac XT6, for example, has won the prestigious Top Safety Pick + for 2020 from the IIHS.

History: https://www.autocheck.com/vehiclehistory/?siteID=0 You don't really have to worry about this if it's a brand new car, but you want to make sure you get the full story if you're considering used cars. I use AutoCheck at my dealership (and provide it to you for free), but you can look at CARFAX as well.

And of course - I'm your go to resource! If you still have questions or if you're in the market for a new vehicle, please don't hesitate to reach me on any of my social media or give me a call at 801-952-5794.