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Friday, August 12th
Edmunds is an automotive expert. In business for half a century and then some, they offer an incredible array of resources to help you pick the right new car - even video test drives to go along with their thorough reviews and comparisons. Would you believe that their editorial team drives about half a million miles every year to tell you where the rubber really meets the road?
Easy to get started
So, let's say you've used all of the Edmunds research to pick the right make and model for your needs. Ready to find one to buy? Enter the make or model in the search bar at the top of the site, or go to the New tab. (Or you can use the By Type or By Price options on that page too, if you're still open to different makes/models within your budget or preferred body style.) Plug in your zip code to see the specifics for new cars near you.
...or not
You'd expect the next page to show you vehicle listings that match what you entered, right? Maybe not so much. Instead, Edmunds shows you the MSRP range for the make/model you chose, more in-depth review information"and then way down at the bottom, you'll see a small selection of vehicles of various trim levels that are available near you. This didn't even come close to matching the inventory results we got when using other sites for buying new cars.
Extra steps that might get you there
From there, when you click on one of those nearby vehicles, Edmunds takes you to a page where you can see the dealerships that may or may not have it in stock; we noticed that, in our list, one dealer was not automatically included, probably because it had a one-star rating. When you enter your first and last name, email address and phone number, you might be taken to a page that shows specific in-stock vehicles and where they're located. You could use that information to go right to the dealer website. But, Edmunds makes a point of telling you that most dealers can't post their lowest prices online, and you should use the Edmunds quote request to get the dealer's best out-the-door price on the vehicle you want. You also have some Edmunds tools to help with your negotiations, like how long the car has been listed and if there have been any price changes.
Other services are more direct
But, it felt like a lot of hoops to jump through - ones that Edmunds' higher-ranked competitors didn't usually require before getting to the nitty-gritty of cars' locations and real-time availability. There's nothing saying you can't use this service to get a ton of research done, and maybe even request a price quote, but if you're in a hurry (or if you're looking at a car that's likely to sell fast) you might not want the added steps of the Edmunds process.
Good reputation, best for research
Edmunds has a reputation you can trust, demonstrated by their "A+" and accreditation from the BBB, and you won't risk anything by using their service. Just don't expect it to be as fast or as linear as its rivals during the actual buying process.
Gone are the days of heading blindly over to the nearest dealership, hoping to find something you'll like and being largely at the mercy of the salesperson who greets you at the door. Now, most people do extensive research online before ever setting foot on the lot - and that's assuming they're not having the vehicle delivered directly to their home, sight unseen. Today's new car-buying experience is vastly different from what it was even ten years ago.
So, what are the ways you can put online car-buying platforms to good use? Your first step is to gather information. What makes and models do you prefer? Which cars have a stellar track record for quality and safety? How much should you expect to spend to get your must-have features? The best sites will give you all of that knowledge and then some.
Next, use a car-buying site to figure out what cars are in stock near you - or nationwide, if you're willing to make a trip to pick it up or if the dealer offers delivery (usually for an extra charge). Use all of the available tools to narrow down your options by color, price, desired technology, miles per gallon, or any other criteria you've prioritized. When you click on a specific vehicle's listing, you can typically see which dealership is selling it and how to get in touch. You may even be able to see ratings from previous customers to determine if the dealer has a good reputation.
Finally, it's time to work with the dealership to make your purchase. At this point, most shoppers will head to the lot to finalize the deal: setting up financing if needed, bringing in their trade-in when applicable, and driving away. But, look at the vehicle listing closely and you may find you have the option to have the car brought right to you. Why not?
There are quite a few websites offering to help you find your new car. How can you tell which one to use? Keep these factors in mind:
To help you in the search for your new set of wheels, TopConsumerReviews.com has evaluated and ranked the best options for online car-shopping. We're sure that this information will save you time and get you connected with a vehicle you'll love to drive!
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