EXPLORE, TEST, OWN: YOUR JOURNEY TOWARD FINDING A NEW MAZDA VEHICLE

Buying a new car is exciting! You get to decide which make and model of car suits your lifestyle, needs, and desires best. But there are a lot of things to consider—where do you even start? How do you find the right new Mazda vehicles in San Antonio?

Since technology is literally at your fingertips, you don’t need to wander from dealership to dealership to see what deals are currently on the market. Here are five tips to think about to get you started on your car-buying journey!

1. MONEY MATTERS

The best way to start is to figure out what kind of budget you have. If you have a current vehicle you can trade in, take a look at what you might receive for trading it in. There are a few different ways to have it evaluated, such as looking online at Kelley Blue Book or the National Automobile Dealers Association. This can give you an estimate of what you can expect. Later, when you’ve decided on a dealership, they can give you an exact amount, since they can inspect the condition of your vehicle right there.

You’ll also want to set a budget for yourself. You don’t want to swamp yourself with a big monthly payment. Even $20 over your monthly budget will add up to an extra $240 over a year. Also, remember that the more money you put down initially, the smaller your monthly cost will be, so consider what kind of down payment you can afford.

Lastly, there may be additional fees or costs, such as the interest on your loan, DMV and DEQ costs, and warranties, if you decide to go that route. Make sure you pay attention to all of these charges so you don’t get an unexpected bill.

2. LIFESTYLE

Next up, what kind of car do you need? Think about all the places you will drive to. Will you drive in the city every day as you commute to work? Do you often take long drives, such as on road trips to the coast or the mountains? If you live in a rural area, maybe you want a car with better gas mileage, such as the Mazda3 sedan. If you live in an urban area, maybe you want a smaller vehicle so you can navigate city streets better.

Think about how often you drive around your family and friends. Do you have kids or plan to have kids? Is this car just for you? How much trunk space do you typically need? Do you need something the size of an SUV or crossover SUV, or what about getting a hatchback like the very stylish Mazda3 Turbo Hatchback? Think hard about what you’ll need and how you foresee the next 10 or 112 years of your life. According to Progressive Insurance, most conventional cars can last for 200,000 miles, or up to 300,000 miles if you maintain them well. This usually translates to a car lasting for about 12 years.

3. TEST IT OUT

Test driving is the fun part! Once you have an idea of the make and model of the car you want, go and test it and a few others. Try at least three different cars, just to see if one of them surprises you. On the other hand, you may get into a car you think is the One and find it has huge blind spots or that it’s not as comfortable as you thought.

While you’re testing these vehicles out, make sure you ask lots of questions. Here are a few to start with:

• Have there been any recalls for this make and model?
• What kind of fuel economy does the vehicle have?
• What safety features come standard with the vehicle? Can they be demonstrated?

Another cool thing about a test drive is that you get to test out the features of the car. Technology you’re unfamiliar with and new safety features could be your new favorite driving tools.

4. FINANCE VS. LEASE

This is something you should think about when you’re first considering your budget, but you may end up changing your mind when you find the right car for you. For instance, monthly lease payments tend to be more affordable than loan payments, so if you decide you’d like a more expensive vehicle than you initially planned, you may opt for a lease instead.

Auto loans and purchasing typically require more money up front than leases, with higher down payments and a variety of fees that need to be paid. Plus, you’ll need to pay interest on your loan. When that loan is paid off, however, the car is completely yours. When you purchase, you can customize your car the way you like, drive it as far or as little as you want, maintain it when you want, and you have the freedom to choose whether to take it to the dealership or to an independent mechanic for maintenance.

If you decide to lease your car, as we’ve said, the monthly payments are likely to be lower, and you won’t have the large down payment at the start. You also won’t be paying interest on a loan; instead, you’re financing the depreciation of the vehicle as you drive it. This means you can drive a car that might usually be out of your price range. There will also be fewer maintenance costs to you since the terms of the lease are much shorter than the life of the vehicle, typically between 36 and 48 months. There are pros and cons to both choices.

5. FINDING A DEALERSHIP

Not all dealerships are exactly the same. If you know for a fact you’re going to buy a Mazda, you can find your nearest dealership via a search engine. Just search “Mazda dealer near me.” However, each Mazda dealership is independently owned and operated, so you may see fluctuations in prices and services between different locations, so it’s always wise to do a little shopping around.If you’re looking for new Mazda vehicles in San Antonio, Texas, look no further than Ingram Park Mazda. Our sales and service are top-notch, and we serve the San Antonio community with quality new and pre-owned vehicles. Stop by for a test drive today. You’re sure to find something special here!