First Time Ford Buyer
Comparing Your Vehicle
Now that you have narrowed down which vehicles you are seriously considering, it's time to visit your nearest dealer, have a closer look at the vehicles and take them for a test drive.
Checking your list twice
Before visiting the dealer, print your Needs and Wants Checklist. You'll use it to evaluate the vehicles you're considering, both here and at your Ford/Lincoln dealer. At this stage, you'll probably want to decide which things are most important to you: are you more concerned about a car's performance or passenger capacity? Its tow rating or its luxury features? Though you can have it all if you want, it's good to keep in mind what your priorities are.
You can use the compare models for each model to compare it against others in the Ford or Lincoln lineup, or any other vehicle on the market. The comparison offers four levels of comparison, low detail, high detail, an advantage view and a full report. Visit the Build & Price section of Ford.ca to access the compare models feature. You can also compare vehicles within the Ford or Lincoln lineup using the Full Vehicle Lineup page.
Taking a Test Drive
You can use this Web site to contact a Ford/Lincoln dealer to schedule a Test Drive, and then visit the dealership to talk to a sales consultant. He or she will sit down with you to do a needs assessment, which will help you choose one or more models that best suit your requirements. You can print this handy Test Drive Checklist to help you ask the right questions during your test drive.
Prior to the actual test drive, the sales consultant will do a "walkaround" of the car, explaining its many features and benefits. Once the walkaround is complete, it's time to hop into the car with the sales consultant, where you'll learn about additional operational features.
Once you've taken the wheel, it's time to experience the car; the sales consultant can answer any questions you have, and provide you with a suggested route, so you can try the vehicle out on a variety of roads, in traffic and on the freeway.
Though you'll cover all sorts of driving conditions, and will hopefully have all your questions answered, you may want to come back for another drive. If you do, you may want to bring friends or family, too--they may notice things you don't, and also, their impressions of the car as passengers will be almost as important as yours as the driver.
If you still need more time with the car before making a final decision, consider renting a similar vehicle for a few days.
Test-driving your dealer
Buying a car is a long-term commitment; when you're considering a vehicle, also consider the dealership you're buying it from.
Take a tour of the premises after your test drive; check out the service department (start with our tour of service video), and talk to the staff. You'll discover that each dealer is an independent operator and has its own balance of strengths.
Consider, too, what other benefits a dealer can bring to the ownership experience. A dealer that invests in modern facilities, with a top-flight service department and qualified staff, will provide you with better value, and a better experience, every time you deal with them. Ford/Lincoln dealers have to meet stringent customer satisfaction standards.
Now that you've test-driven the cars you're considering, and have sampled the dealer experience, it's time to decide on the vehicle of your choice, and how to pay for it. Learn about your Financing Options.
To get just a bit more insight on how to be sure about what you are looking for, click here to view our "Think Again" video.