First Time Ford Buyer
Choosing Your Vehicle
Buying a new car or truck may be the second-largest purchase you will ever make but it doesn't need to be a complicated process. Ford.ca and Steve Marshall Ford Lincoln are here to help you determine your needs, answer your questions, and make sure you make an informed choice.
Your needs and wants
Buying a vehicle is like entering into a long term commitment. So while it's important that a car or truck meets all your functional needs, you also want it to satisfy your emotional desires as well. Use this checklist as a guide to coming up with a list of needs and wants.
In the end, what it all comes down to is what you're looking for in a vehicle. Are you a performance-oriented driver, looking for speed and handling? Do your passenger and cargo needs dictate an SUV or a minivan? Are you after luxury features, reputation, or the image of a high-end vehicle?
Deciding on a budget
Once you've decided what you're looking for in a car or truck, it's time to take a look at your finances to see how you can make this relationship happen.
Though it's too early to start calculating what your monthly payments might be (you may be surprised at the vehicle you'll be able to afford), you do want to start thinking about the running costs of the vehicle—such as insurance, fuel consumption, and regularly scheduled maintenance—as well as the cost of the vehicle itself.
A handy affordability calculator will help you determine how much car, truck or SUV you can afford to buy or lease, based on your income.
Doing your research
Now that you have an idea of what you're looking for, and how much you can afford, its time to have a look at which vehicles suit both your functional and financial needs. Arm yourself with as much information as you can:
- Check out the full vehicle lineup -don't limit yourself to one kind of body style just yet; an SUV may meet the same needs as a wagon or minivan
- Build and price a car, truck or SUV to your specifications; use the Payment Estimator to see if it fits into your budget and Request a Quote online from your preferred dealer.
- Schedule a Test Drive with Steve Marshall Ford Lincoln.
By now you should have a good idea of which vehicles are worth more detailed research. After making a short list, it's time to move on to comparing your vehicle.