Buy Your First New Honda near Arlington Heights, IL
Buy Your First New Honda near Arlington Heights, IL
Overview
The day has finally come for you to purchase your first new car, and you couldn't be more excited. This is a big day for any new driver and probably something you've been dreaming about since you can remember. Underneath all that excitement and anticipation though, you may be feeling a little nervous since you've never gone through the car-buying process before. At Honda of Lisle, we don't want you to feel nervous, so we've worked hard to deliver an honest, fair and transparent car-buying experience that is gimmick- and hassle-free. If you're a first-time car-buyer, put your trust in our Honda dealership near Arlington Heights, IL. To help you prepare for a visit to our dealership, we've created a quick guide to the car-buying process, so you'll know what to expect when you buy or lease with us. When you're ready to get the keys to your first new Honda Fit, Civic or CR-V, we'll be here ready to help you every step of the way!
Step #1: Create a Realistic Budget
Before you even start looking at new Honda models, you need to take the time to create a realistic budget. Owning a car is expensive and comes with additional costs you may not have considered beforehand. When you purchase a new Honda vehicle, you need to be able to afford your monthly payment, fuel, insurance, taxes and maintenance costs. With so many factors at play, we recommend creating an excel sheet to track your monthly expenses. Once you lay all of your monthly costs out, you'll be able to see what you can afford per month for an auto lease or loan.
Step #2: Determine What You Need and Value In a Car
A common trap that first-time car-buyers fall victim to is buying a new car that satisfies their current needs. What they fail to realize is that a car is an investment that lasts over four years when financed. That means you need to be practical with your choice of car because it'll need to suit you and your needs years down the line. We suggest focusing on safety and fuel economy for your first car because those are crucial components of a vehicle, especially for young drivers. If driver-assistive safety technologies cost a little extra, we encourage you to stretch your budget because it's worth investing in features that give you peace of mind.
Step #3: Do Your Research
Doing your research is probably the most important part of the car-buying process. Luckily, the internet has plenty of information about new Honda vehicles, so you'll discover ample details about any model you choose. We also encourage you to research the pros and cons of buying vs. leasing to determine which payment option better suits you and your needs. Buying is ideal for those who can afford higher monthly payments or drive over 15,000 miles a year, and leasing is ideal for those who want lower monthly payments and plan to only drive between 8,000 to 12,000 miles a year. If you want to see if the vehicle you're leaning towards has a good reliability record, you can view Consumer Reports' guide too!
Step #4: Find a Convenient Dealer
Once you have a Honda vehicle in mind, it's time to find the right dealership for you. Our Honda dealership offers many exclusive offers to help you save when buying or leasing you first new car, so finding a dealer that has premium money-saving programs is key. You'll also want to make sure it has a showroom atmosphere that matches your personality, like our hassle-free environment.
Step #5: Take a Test-Drive
Only second to doing your research is taking your selected Honda model on a test-drive. You may love your vehicle's design, fuel economy and tech features, but only during a test-drive can you feel what it's like behind the wheel. You may realize you don't like the seat height, feel of the steering wheel or the outward visibility and thus want to choose another model.
Step #6: Negotiate and Finance
Once you've done your research, found the Honda vehicle of your dreams and took it on a successful test-drive, it’s time to discuss purchasing options. Since you're a first-time car-buyer with presumably very little or no credit, you'll probably need a parent to accompany you and act as your co-signer or take a loan out in their name. You'll also want to be sure you're paying the proper price for your new Honda CR-V or Honda Fit, so be sure to check out Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price. This website gives you an accurate idea of what people in your area have paid for the Honda model you're looking to take home.
Step #7: Drive Away in Your New Honda!
Congratulations! You just successfully acquired your first new Honda vehicle. We hope our quick guide to buying your first car has helped ease some of your worry, and we look forward to meeting you soon at Honda Superstore of Lisle!