Vehicles with the Lowest Ownership Costs
Depreciation cost is actually the largest expense when it comes to buying a new car. When you sell a vehicle later down the road, that loss in value is the depreciation cost. Some cars that are priced higher may hold their value better, costing you less over the long term when compared to a lower priced model.
Other costs such as fuel expenses, maintenance, repair, financing, and insurance also have a significant impact on your overall costs.
This week, Kelly Blue Book revealed their 2012 Total Cost of Ownership Award winners. The awards honor current vehicles with the lowest projected ownership costs in their class for the initial five-year ownership period.
It's really important to consider these overall costs when shopping for a vehicle. Take a look at the winners and make sure they're on your consideration list.
Use the free CarWoo tool to see the best deals in your area.
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3 Steps Every Car Buyer Needs to Take to Save Maximum Money
The key to getting the best deal is to gather price or lease bids from as many local dealers as possible. Then shop that best price around until no one can beat it. Here are the steps:Step 1 Get Prices From My Trusted Network
Select the vehicle you're interested in to see if there are local dealers in my network who will provide you with their best upfront price. You will get direct access to an internet sales manager who you can further negotiate with online (no need to visit dealership).Step 2 Get Prices From TrueCar / CarsDirect
TrueCar, and CarsDirect are my top 2 online price quote recommendations. These services show you pre-negotiated prices from dealers closest to you - and the deals are usually pretty decent. But remember, you can still negotiate further.Step 3 Complete my Checklist
Follow this up with my checklist to make sure you squeeze out every last bit of savings.- Gregg Fidan
Each week, I'll keep you up-to-date on the latest car deals and news that might affect your purchase. This includes...
- Best Rebates, Incentives, and Lease Deals
- Latest Car Buying Scams and Tricks
- The Best & Worst Time to Buy a Car
- Which Cars You Should Avoid
About The Author
Gregg Fidan is the founder of RealCarTips. After being ripped off on his first car purchase, he devoted several years to figuring out the best ways to avoid scams and negotiate
the best car deals. He has written hundreds of articles on the subject of car buying and taught thousands of car shoppers how to get the best deals.
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