The car buying process can feel overwhelming, whether you’re a first time car buyer or a seasoned car buyer. There are so many new and used vehicles to choose from, and you have to choose between buying from a private seller or your local car dealership like Whitten Brothers Automotive.
Buying a car from a dealership has many perks, including working with sales advocates and finance team members who provide expert guidance on finding the right vehicle and securing an auto loan or car lease. To ensure you have the best possible experience when visiting our Mazda dealership or CDJR dealerships, there are certain topics to discuss with your sales advocate.
Depending on where you are in the car buying process, be sure to discuss these five topics with your sales advocate and finance team member. This ensures they can give you the most relevant information and properly answer all your questions.
There are three ways to speak with one of our sales advocates: email, phone, and in person. You can email or call us to get more information about working with us or a vehicle you might be interested in.
You can also visit one of our showrooms in Ashland, VA, or Richmond, VA, to explore our inventory and speak with someone. Let your sales advocate know whether you’re just starting the research phase, if you’ve found a vehicle you’re interested in, or if you’re ready to purchase.
It’s also helpful to mention your timeline. If your current vehicle broke down, your timeline is likely much more immediate than if you’re casually considering your options.
Another important topic to discuss is what your needs are when it comes to buying a new or used vehicle. These needs may include good fuel efficiency, a high towing capacity, three rows of seating, off-road capabilities, a hybrid engine, or top safety ratings.
You may want or need a full suite of vehicle safety features, heated and ventilated seats, flexible storage or seating options, a rearview camera, or advanced technology.
It helps us to know you’re car shopping for a family vehicle, daily commuter, or work vehicle. Before contacting us or visiting us in Richmond or Ashland, make a list of “must haves” and “nice to haves” so your sales advocate can help you find the body style and trim level that checks all the boxes.
Providing your Sales Advocate with your budget ensures that they only show you vehicles you can afford. No one wants to fall in love with a car, truck, SUV, or van only to find out it’s too expensive!
Our online car payment calculator helps you estimate how much you can afford each month. If you’re interested in a specific vehicle, click “show payment options” on our new vehicle inventory page to get an estimate for the monthly car loan or lease payment and term months. You can even compare multiple vehicles. Not sure what make or model you want yet? Filter the new vehicle inventory page for the maximum monthly finance payment you can afford, and you’ll see all the vehicles available within your budget.
If you’re buying a new car, let your Sales Advocate know whether you plan to finance a car or lease a car. This allows them to provide the auto finance team with the correct information to make the car buying process quicker and easier for you.
Instead of leasing or financing, you may want to pay in cash. Be sure to let your sales advocate know that you won’t need to review options for a car loan or car lease.
Current vehicles can be traded in, and the vehicle trade-in value can be used to offset the cost of your new or used vehicle. This value can be applied as a down payment or to reduce the total loan or lease amount. Let your sales advocate know you plan to trade in your car, truck, SUV, or van.
Our website makes it easy to get the estimated vehicle trade-in value online. Discuss the Kelley Blue Book value you received, and ask how soon you can have your vehicle appraised.
You may not think a test drive is necessary, especially if you’re not ready to buy. Test driving a car is an important step in car shopping, regardless of where you are in the process.
Experiencing how a vehicle performs in person is the only way to know for sure if it will work for you. To determine whether a car, truck, SUV, or van is right for you, it’s helpful to test drive different makes, models, and body types. If you already have a vehicle in mind, taking it for a test drive can solidify your decision. Or you might realize that the vehicle isn’t actually right for you.
If you like the features included and feel comfortable driving on both city roads and highways, that’s a good sign that the vehicle you’re test driving is a good choice. If you don’t like the vehicle you test drove, say so. Instead of trying to sell you on that car, your sales advocate can find a vehicle that is a better fit.
We’re proud to be a go-to Mazda dealership and CDJR dealership for drivers from Richmond and Ashland to Petersburg, Chester, and beyond. With an extensive inventory of new vehicles and used vehicles, we’re confident we can find a vehicle that suits your needs and your budget. No matter where you are in the car buying process, our team is here to answer all of your questions, take you on a test drive, and explore your financing options. Contact us to get started!