For years I’ve wanted to head to the Detroit Auto Show which happens annually in January. I’m generally invited every year by gracious car manufacturers, but unfortunately the timing never seems to work out on my end. Someday I’ll hopefully get there to check out the latest and greatest in the auto industry.
This year I had the best of both worlds. I discovered that I didn’t have to travel far to get to a fabulous auto show. Who knew the New England International Auto Show was happening just a few minutes from my home?!
When I was invited to attend the New England International Auto Show by SheBuysCars as a guest of Chevrolet I was beyond excited. I love how they refer to this show on the website as “Sneak Peeks for Auto Geeks”. I’m not sure I qualify as an auto geek, but I do love checking out the newest imported and domestic vehicles. I’ve been reviewing various cars on my site for a few years- so maybe that does place me in the “auto geek” category?
The day did not disappoint. It kicked off with a Design and Urban Mobility panel discussion. Of course I couldn’t help myself and had to ask the panel to name a few of their favorite sustainability initiatives. Wade Bryant, Manager, GM Advanced Design Studio & Design Senior Consultant on the Urban Active Solutions was all over my question. He spoke about how Chevy is in the forefront when it comes to sustainability. Check out some of their initiatives here. He also spoke about how there’s always room for improvement and it remains a work in progress.
After the panel came the reveal of the Chevrolet Trax. This is Chevy’s cross between an SUV and a compact car. This smaller car can seat up to five. One of my favorite features is the ability to fold the front passenger seat flat. This would allow for storage of long items such as skis or a surfboard, up to eight feet long. Not bad for a small vehicle.
We were then taken on an exclusive tour of the auto show led by James Bell, the Head of Consumer Affairs for General Motors. Mr. Bell knew his stuff and gave us the low down on many of the vehicles at the auto show.
Women and Cars
My favorite panel happened after lunch. A few dynamic women spoke about Women in Automotive: How We’re Changing the World. They spoke about how on the consumer side more and more women are making the car deals. On the business side they are seeing more women rising to the top within the car industry. Pretty impressive.
For those of you who haven’t heard of SheBuysCars, it’s a pretty amazing organization. SheBuysCars is a web community for women who buy, care for, and live their lives in and around their cars. The brainchild of TravelingMom.com founder Kim Orlando and editor and journalist Scotty Reiss, SheBuysCars is created for the 80 percent of women who influence car purchase decisions. Their mission is to empower women as owners and buyers of cars.
3 Tips for Buying a New Car
When it’s time to invest in a new car here are three quick tips to help you through the process:
- Test drive the car. I can’t emphasize this enough. Have your entire family pile in the car and make sure everyone fits. Especially if your car has a third row. Many of those third rows are a tight squeeze. Make sure the car is comfortable. Think about how much time we spend in a car!
- Do your homework. There is very little that remains a secret when it comes to car purchases. Once you find a car you’re interested in spend some time researching the available features and the value of the car. Look at reviews and be sure to check out safety records, Head over to She Buys Cars for great advice.
- Check out the repair costs BEFORE purchasing the car. Head to the dealer or a local repair shop and ask for comparisons on what repairs will cost on a few vehicles you’re interested in.
The day ended with a group photo of the fabulous Boston Parent Bloggers . I also had a chance to catch up with my friend and fellow YoGetter, Alison from Green With Renvy.
Overall the day was a complete success.
Just curious- did you walk into the dealership and make the deal on your car?
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Disclosure: Chevrolet and SheBuysCars provided me with complimentary access to the New England International Auto Show and compensation for this post. As always, all opinions are my very own.
I was just looking at a new car today but I didnt pull the plug. Maybe next year.
I’m in the same boat. I’m curious but have never wanted to travel to go to the car shows. Maybe they’ll do one in Minneapolis some day!
Micaela @MindfulMomma recently posted..Kind Eye: Safe Personal Care From Companies with a Conscience {Giveaway!}
Years ago, I bought a new car. Before doing so, I researched all the features that I wanted and how much each cost the dealership (this info is available thru the Consumer Guide). Armed with that information, I want to the dealer and told the salesman, upfront, that I would negotiate a price from his cost up, not the sticker price down. Several dealerships refused to work with me. I walked out. Finally one was willing to do it my way. I purchased my car for $100 over the dealers cost. The trick is knowing the facts and being prepared to walk out. Worked for me!
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Great seeing you at the auto show! It was a super fun day with SheBuysCars and I’m really looking forward to our next vehicle! Car buying can be such a hassle!
Factoring repair costs is important! I have friends who really regretted not doing that before buying!
I could have used this last year ha ha! Sad that I missed the Chevy event, but I couldn’t work out with child care. I did walk into the dealership and make a deal on the car. It was definitely different the last time since people price compare so much now on the internet!
Jessica Morrison recently posted..How to Stop Using Treats as Rewards for Kids
We bought a new car last summer and followed all of your tips (without realizing it). That test drive really makes a difference!
Looks like it was a fun event! It’s great Chevy could answer your sustainability question.
Emily recently posted..Monday Meal Plan Jan 19th
I am itching for a new car so your tips are so timely for me.
Michelle recently posted..Cheesy Beefy Macaroni Skillet
TrueCar.com has estimates of the total cost of owning a car: including insurance, maintenance, etc. Search by make and model.
CelloMom recently posted..The EV chicken-and-egg problem has hatched several solutions
Thanks for the helpful site link CelloMom. Wish I had that a year ago when I was shopping for a new car.
Good luck Michelle. Always an interesting process.
I agree Kimberly-I fell in love with a few cars until my kids tried to fit in the third row. They didn’t fit!
Great to see you too Annie. Hope your ride home was better than the ride there!
Good for you! So nice to hear car buying success stories. I think being well armed is key- and being prepared to walk out!
Or you could come to Boston Micaela 🙂
It’s a long process Nicole. It took me well over a year to figure out which car would work for me. Good luck.
Great tips! We’ve never purchased a brand new car before, but we’ve done many used cars. It definitely requires a little more research!
Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? recently posted..10 Things to Never Say to a Parent of All Girls
This looked like so much fun! What great tips but I just bought my new minivan this year so hopefully I won’t be buying anything new for a long time!
Those 3 tips were precious. Buying a new car is a big decision for a lot of us. Taking someone along who already owns a car can be a great option too.
I like what you said about searching. When I bought my car I searched for nearly a month until I found a deal I was comfortable with.
I like what you said in regards to looking. When I purchased my auto I looked for almost a month until I discovered an arrangement I was alright with.
That’s a really good suggestion to look into the repair costs. Not to mention the difficulty of repairs. I helped a friend of mine fix an issue on the engine in his Land Rover and we all cut up our hands trying to reach into a really narrow space to swap out hoses.
I think it’s smart to research your next car purchase online. There are so many resources that will tell you about a car’s reliability, resale value, maintenance costs, and how they compare to other makes and models in that vehicle class too. Before I bought my last used car, I also made sure to drive it to my mechanic on the test drive, so he could have a look under the hood and tell me if he thinks there are problems that I may not have noticed.
I would agree that doing your homework can be a huge game changer in the car buying experience. I have a sister who just buys whatever she sees and likes. It drives me crazy because I research for weeks before making any kind of decision like that. However, I usually end up with cars that last for years past hers, so my research time does really make a difference!
I like your tip to check on repair costs before buying a new car. Like you mentioned, different cars can have different costs for repairs. There’s no point in buying a cheaper car if the repairs will be more expensive, so do your research before you buy. Thanks for the article.
I totally agree! Sometimes, it is not enough that we get to buy a really affordable car. Maintenance is more important because it is a longer-term expenditure.
The only reason to buy a new car is if you can get a great deal and have the cash. So yes, I absolutely agree with you. Another fantastic post. Thank you!
Edward recently posted..The Truth About 0-60 Mph Times In A Car
The advice to ask for comparisons on repairs was a great tip. I wouldn’t have thought to ask multiples places about repair costs beforehand. I am looking to buy a new car, and I appreciated the tip to do your homework and thoroughly research options.
Hey Lori
Before buying a new car, makes upset due to lack of proper knowledge about car buying guides. But here, glad to see this informative post for everyone who are deciding to buy a new car. I must suggest every one to test drive the car before buying a car makes us feel to status about it.
Thanks for sharing such informative guides for buying a new car. It will help us during buying a new car. Thanks a lot! 🙂
Good day.
~ Ravi.
Wow..
What a lovely post.I am on the verge of buying a new car for myself. So, all these tips are ideal for me. I strongly agree with you that a test drive is very important before purchasing a car. It gives you an idea regarding the comfort level of a car. Researching on the features and value of the car is equally important. I had never thought of checking the repair costs of the car before purchasing. This one is interesting and valid too. Thanks for sharing.Keep posting.. 🙂
Regards;
Cortney G
I have never been able to bring myself to buy a new car, I may just be a little uptight but paying for something that will depreciate as soon as you drive away never sat right with me! I always try and buy second hand cars that are a little beat up and then I can always sell for a profit when I get bored of it, I sort of enjoy restoring them though so might just be my way! Great post though! Thanks for sharing!
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Great advice for anyone looking to buy a new car. Now a days, you don’t have to walk onto a lot with no knowledge, you can do so much research beforehand, so when you get to the lot you know exactly what you want and how much you want to pay.
Thanks for this basic advice, which is common but often ignored by buyer. Everyone test drive car but they forget to ask about maintenance cost.
Wow, great post! Definitely some excellent tips and advice for buying a new car. Text driving first and doing some researching on the vehicle are both extremely essential. Thanks for sharing!
Selene recently posted..Used 2012 Ford Fiesta SE Sedan in Lafayette, LA 70508 for sale at Used Car Factory
This looked like so much fun! What great tips but I just bought my new minivan this year so hopefully I won’t be buying anything new for a long time!
I have to admit that I miss my minivan, Jannat. Enjoy your new car!
Great tips! New car owners are sometimes surprised when they find their parts cost a lot during a repair, so doing your homework on part costs is essential to saving money in the long run.
I like the point made about Check out the repair costs when car buying.
planning to buy a new car next month. Thanks for this ideas.
I want to buy a new car in few days. This idea is really helping me. Thank you for shear a great idea.
Overall, autonomous vehicles could be a major technology to fight against climate change. The technology can even pay for itself: It is probably the only technology which lowers overall costs of mobility, maintaining the infrastructure etc. Policy-makers, take note!
Hey Lori thanks for sharing this article, I am planning to buy a new car this month. So these are some great tips for me.
Best of luck, Stefan!
Going to buy a new car. This tips will help me a lot. Thanks for sharing.
I want to purchase my first car soon. So, I liked that you explained that it might be smart for me to do some research on repair costs for the types of cars I am looking at. Personally, I wouldn’t want to buy a car that isn’t too expensive to repair.