10 Insider Tips to Satisfying New Car Buying

10 Insider Tips to Satisfying New Car Buying

By KBB.com Editors

Whether you buy a new car regularly or haven't shopped for one since the invention of the minivan, the process goes more smoothly when you know what to expect. Let's start with some good news: There's a ton of information available to the savvy car buyer like you. And here's some better news: Most dealers prefer working with informed car buyers. Having the information up front makes for a quicker and more transparent deal.

So here are 10 car buying tips to help you get the car - and the deal - that fits you best.

1.  Assess what you like and dislike about your current vehicle.
This is a great jumping-off point for what you'll look at next. Are you looking for the same kind of vehicle or have your needs changed? Is fuel economy a priority? The latest technology? 


2. Learn the value of your current vehicle.
The value of your current vehicle is a critical piece of the car-buying puzzle because it directly affects how much cash you will need to complete a car-buying transaction. If you own your car “free and clear,” meaning you purchased it with cash or you have paid off the auto loan, it undoubtedly has value. If you have not completed paying your car loan, you need to subtract that amount from its current value.  You might owe more on the car than it is currently worth. You must figure that amount into the cost for obtaining your next vehicle.

How do you obtain the value of your car? It’s as simple as visiting the Kelley Blue Book website at KBB.com.  We suggest you look up both the Kelley Blue Book Trade-in Value and the Kelley Blue Book Private Party Value. These are excellent benchmarks as you prepare to make a deal.

3. Expert opinions count.
Determine the vehicle that you'd like to buy by doing research at KBB.com.  Access expert vehicle reviews, consumer vehicle reviews, car review videos, comparison tests and Buyers' Guides.  Choosing the wrong car is a bigger mistake than paying too much for the right car.



4.  Determine a monthly payment that works for you
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Determine the amount you can afford to pay as a down payment on your next car and how much you can pay per month based on your monthly income. This is where understanding the trade-in value of your current vehicle can really help.

5. Investigate financing and pre-qualify for a loan
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Many car buyers prefer to have financing in place from a bank or credit union before arriving at the dealership. Then, if the dealer can match or beat your rate...great! This can save you thousands over the life of your loan and gives you additional leverage in negotiating a deal.


6. Know the fair price range ahead of time.
Before you walk into the showroom it is helpful to have a good understanding of the price consumers like you are paying for the vehicle you’d like to buy. Happily, we have done the research and analysis for you in the form of the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price. After choosing the year/make model of the vehicle you'd like to buy (or after choosing two of three year/make/model trim combinations for comparison’s sake) use our on-site tools to look up the associated Fair Purchase Prices, which are presented as both a single number and a range.   Using this information will help you come to a quick, mutually beneficial agreement with the dealer you choose to do business with.


7. Ready to transition from shopper to buyer.
Equipped with information on the value of your current car, the equity you have in that car, your monthly budget, your cash and/or equity for a down payment and the fact that you have pre-qualified for a car loan, you are ready to approach a dealer or dealers to buy your car. You are coming from a position of strength because you have all the information you need to know what a good deal looks like.



8. Deal in person or online.
There are two ways to initiate contact with a dealer. One is to walk into the dealer showroom, tell the salesperson what you want and then spell out the price you expect for your trade-in and the price you expect to be charged for the new vehicle. Often they will appreciate your seriousness, your knowledge of the market and the process, and you'll be able to complete a deal quickly.

Another way to initiate contact with a dealer is by contacting the dealer through KBB.com.  In fact you might choose to contact three to five dealers if they are convenient to you.  By email you can spell out the parameters of the deal you expect, and you can ask them to bid for your business. Much of the negotiations can take place by phone or email.


9. Closing the deal.
As an informed buyer, you should be able to come to an agreement with the dealer quickly on the cash price for the new vehicle and the cash value of your trade-in. This is the opportunity to ask about potential financing. The dealer financing might offer a better rate than the financing you have pre-qualified for. If so, you are absolutely free to accept that financing deal.



10. Make sure the deal is the deal.
As you close the deal with the Finance & Insurance Manager make certain that the deal you are signing is the deal you and the salesperson agreed upon. Do not accept extra charges for things like "advertising allowance," "ADM" or any other items you do not understand, but you should also be aware there are legitimate add-ons for sales tax (state and local) and license fees.

Brandon Honda Chosen One of Honda's Top 50 Dealerships Nationwide

John Marazzi is pleased to announce that Brandon Honda, a Morgan Auto Group dealership, has been named as one of the nation's top 50 Honda dealerships in its elite, new Masters Circle program. The prestigious Honda Masters Circle program was first launched in 2014 among a selection of Honda's highest volume dealerships across the nation to lead the way in raising customer satisfaction and growing sales volume.  

"I applaud Morgan Auto Group, John Marazzi and the entire team at Brandon Honda for their extraordinary performance in 2014 and am honored to recognize Brandon Honda as a member of our first ever Honda Masters Circle," said Jeff Conrad, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Honda Division, American Honda Motor Company. "We appreciate your commitment to building volume and to meeting the needs of each customer."

"This is a huge accomplishment for Brandon Honda to have been named to Honda's short-list of best dealerships in the nation," said Larry Morgan, President of Morgan Auto Group. "We bought Brandon Honda only three years ago, and John Marazzi and his team have boldly raised the standards of the industry and lead other dealerships in performance measures month after month. We couldn't be prouder of Brandon Honda's consistent growth and extraordinary accomplishments." 

“It’s an incredible honor to be chosen among Honda's top 50 dealerships, and we will work even harder to continue to build volume and deliver exceptional customer experiences," said Brandon Honda co-owner John Marazzi. "We have the best customers anywhere—and we're extremely appreciative of their generous, positive feedback and loyalty year after year."  

Brandon Honda strives to improve every aspect of its customers’ approval and satisfaction with its sales and service operations throughout the year. Its internal program of “Continuous and Never-ending Improvement” empowers employees to continually seek dealership and process improvements to maximize customer satisfaction.   

Brandon Honda is a division of Morgan Auto Group. It is located at 9209 E. Adamo Drive in Tampa, FL 33619, one mile west of I-75 on Route 60. For more information, call 813.664.1234 or visit http://www.BrandonHonda.com.

Brandon Honda again earns DealerRater's “2015 Dealer of the Year!”

We couldn't be happier or more proud to again be recognized as the “2015 Dealer of the Year” among all Florida Honda dealerships for the third consecutive year by DealerRater.com, the largest central collection point for third-party information about automobile dealerships nationwide.  We continue to maintain a huge 99% customer satisfaction rating (4.9 out of a possible score of 5.0) from 1,688 lifetime customer reviews that have been collected by DealerRater since we first opened our doors in the fall of 2011.  

“It’s an incredible honor to again earn this recognition as the #1 Honda dealership in Florida, and we give you our word that we will work even harder to exceed your highest expectations," said owner John Marazzi. "We happen to think we have the best customers anywhere—and we're very appreciative of your generous, positive reviews year after year of your buying and service experiences. Our hats are off to every one of you who has ever taken the time to write a positive review—thank you! It means a lot to each and every one of us!"  

We also recognize our Brandon Honda sales, service and finance teams for this honor. You are second to none. You are passionate about satisfying your customers, and this honor is a tribute to your determination to be great. You come to Brandon Honda every day with an infectious enthusiasm that engages our customers and makes us a great team. Thank you! 

Who is DealerRater®—and why is this such a big deal?

Dealerships can’t buy or influence ratings—except to go above and beyond in consistently providing the best products and services and operating with the highest integrity. 

Since its launch in 2002, www.DealerRater.com rates car dealers nationwide on customer service, quality of work, friendliness, price and the overall customer experience. DealerRater then carefully screens all submitted reviews through a four-step process to ensure the integrity and completeness of each review before it is released online. 

Our continued commitment

We at Brandon Honda strive to be what you want in an auto dealership. We try to improve every aspect of our services and internal operations throughout the year to benefit our customers. We empower every employee to continually seek dealership and process improvements to ensure you get extraordinary services.

Sam Raabe, GSM at Brandon Honda achieves Automotive News "40 Under 40" Designation

We want to congratulate our own Sam Raabe who has been designated in 2014 by Automotive News as one of just 40 Automotive Professionals to watch under the age of 40.

This is a fantastic achievement for Sam and as you can see from the Automotive News article below, well deserved.  Click here for the full article. On behalf of our GM John Marazzi and the entire Morgan Auto Group we toast to you Sam!

Great picture Sam and a fantastic job! Success at 33!

Taken from the July 14, 2014 issue of Automotive News: 

Sam Raabe was sick of working nights as a bartender, with no direction to his career. So he started selling cars at Kendall Kia in Miami. It was a way for a guy without a college degree to get a good-paying job and advance quickly.

Within a few years, Raabe (pronounced "Robbie") had risen to finance manager at Honda of Ocala. Now, he's general sales manager at Brandon Honda, a President's Award-winning Tampa dealership.

Raabe's sales tactics require managers to get involved early, "roaming the floor, not sitting at their desks," greeting customers early in the process. After a test drive, that same manager will handle any price negotiations after the first exchange of numbers. That speeds the deal process greatly, Raabe said.

"When the boss comes out, you know you are near the end of the deal, plus it gives credibility to the deal," Raabe said. "It's always the same guy as before the test drive, not some scary new guy."

Raabe also likes hiring sales staff who have never sold cars before. At his store, 70 percent of the staff is new to car retailing.

"They don't have bad habits. They only know our process and don't take shortcuts," Raabe said. That process includes daily inspections of recent trade-ins and inventory older than 60 days, as well as a daily one-hour training session by a manager to teach employees all facets of the business.

The tactics are working. In the six months of 2012 before Raabe took the general sales manager job, Brandon Honda sold an average of 174 new and 110 used cars a month. In 2013, that soared to 242 new and 151 used sales a month. Profits rose 42 percent.

Brandon Honda also is the top-rated Honda dealer in Florida on DealerRater, scoring a 4.9 out of 5 from more than 1,200 customer reviews, in a cut-throat metro market. There are nine Honda dealers within a 45 minute drive of Brandon Honda and four within 30 minutes.

Raabe is not satisfied. His target is 350 new and 250 used sales a month in 2015, with profits up 25 percent this year and 15 percent next year.

Raabe thanks Brandon managing partner John Marazzi for his mentoring and "never give up" attitude. Marazzi's best lesson, says Raabe: "No matter how tough it's going, you can never be afraid of taking risks. You need to take as many risks as possible."

-- Mark Rechtin (taken from Automotive News) 

TAGS: Sam Raabe, Brandon Honda, Honda in Tampa, FL, Brandon Honda, John Marazzi, Honda of Brandon, Tampa Honda, 40 Under 40, Automotive News 

Brandon Honda again named DealerRater’s “Dealer of the Year”

Brandon Honda again named DealerRater’s “Dealer of the Year”  

#1 Honda dealer in customer satisfaction in Florida … for the second straight year!

Our customers are the BEST! Thanks to all of 884 of you who honored Brandon Honda with your business this year and then took the time to write a glowing customer satisfaction review at http://www.DealerRater.com to report your extraordinary experience. Overall, you awarded us an average of 4.9 points out of a maximum of 5 points possible!

I'm especially proud of this award, as it represents your highest praise of our Brandon Honda team. DealerRater is the auto industry's version of the annual “people’s choice awards,” because it comes from YOU. Dealerships can’t buy or influence ratings—except to go above and beyond in creating great relationships with their customers and standing behind their products and services every day.  

DealerRater.com provides a central collection point for informative consumer reviews of 40,000 U.S. and Canadian car dealerships based on customer service, quality of work, friendliness, price, and the overall customer experience. It carefully screens all submitted reviews to ensure the integrity and completeness of each before it is released online. DealerRater.com gets more than 3 million unique visitors monthly to its website and has validated nearly 950,000 consumer reviews, making it North America’s #1 online resource for unbiased third-party consumer ratings of automobile dealerships.

Everyone at Brandon Honda works hard every day to earn your approval and satisfaction with every aspect of our sales and services so you will eagerly tell all your friends about your experience and return to Brandon Honda year after year. Around here, we call it “Continuous and Never-ending Improvement,” or CANI for short. Every employee at Brandon Honda is charged with continually looking for ways to improve every aspect of our dealership to benefit our customers. They are empowered to go the extra mile every day to earn your business. 

Then we stand behind every car we sell with our exclusive "Brandon Honda Promise" that includes eight exceptional guarantees and free services that no other dealer can match, such as an extended warranty and price protection. http://www.brandonhonda.com/brandon-honda-promise.cfm    

We invite you to stop by Brandon Honda to see what a difference a car dealership can make in your vehicle buying and service experience when it is focused so whole-heartedly on providing the best customer experience you can get in Florida.

We’re conveniently located at 9209 E. Adamo Drive in Tampa, FL 33619, one mile west of I-75 on Route 60. Visit our website for a complete list of our broad inventory of new and used cars. For more information, call 813-397-2360 or visit http://www.BrandonHonda.com/.

  

Why would you buy a car anywhere else in Florida? It's worth the drive!

Best Place to Buy a Honda - Tampa Bay Area - Best Honda Dealerships Tampa

When considering which dealership to buy from many people use online reviews to decide which is the best Honda dealership to buy from.

Take the case of Brandon Honda. Brandon Honda actually won the award for the highest Customer Satisfaction score for any Honda dealership in the State of Florida in 2012 by Dealership Review Site DealerRater.com. There current score of 4.9 out of 5.0 is outstanding for dealership sales and service. If a car dealership cares this much about your experience don't you think they are worth your business?

So where do you think the Top Five Places to Buy a Honda are in the Tampa Bay Area?

Brandon Honda - Click Here for BrandonHonda.com

9209 East Adamo Drive

Tampa, Florida 33619

(813) 664-1234 

Brandon Honda is BBB (Better Business Bureau) A+ Rated.

Behind the Scenes with Zeus of Brandon Honda

So it's late and you are having trouble sleeping. The last commercial you saw before tucking in just happened to be a Brandon Honda commercial and now for some strange reason you are thinking about Zeus. While we wish you were thinking about a brand new Accord, you're not. You're thinking about our adorable Brandon Honda Mascot.

"Who is Zeus? And why do I want to shake his paw?" you wonder to yourself. "Surely he's just a marketing ploy right? Has to be just an employee's dog that is brought in to just look cute during the commercials, right?" Think again. Zeus is man's best friend. Well in this case he's the owner of Brandon Honda, John Marazzi's, best friend. Zeus is a rescue dog that John adopted and also the subject of one of my favorite stories in the car business.

Click Here to Watch Zeus Videos, Check The Zeus Facebook Page and Read More! 

As John's business partner in Brandon Honda I get to deal with John on numerous levels. I will never forget the day when I received an e-mail with one of the most unusual (albeit difficult to deny) requests that I have ever received in business. John wrote how he had adopted a rescue dog and how he would like to start bringing him to work and if that would be ok. I had absolutely no problem with this but I did wonder out loud as to why John Marazzi, one of the busiest men I know, would want his dog coming with him to work.

Perhaps I was thinking more less of my own personal experience as a dog owner. I have a beagle named Dempsey and it was easy to imagine my dog yelping all day long running up to customers from service to sales filling the showroom with his howl. But the truth is it only took a few visits to realize why Zeus makes so much sense for John and for Brandon Honda.

Nice to Meet You! 

The car business is stressful; it's easily a 12 hour a day job not to mention time after work returning e-mails and working on future promotion and planning. Zeus has one of the nicest demeanors I have ever found in a dog. Now John deserves some credit for this --- but Zeus surely provides smiles during long and stressful days.

Zeus also reminds our customers and guests that we are after all human. For many of us dog lovers dogs are a conversation piece like children or sports. They are something that binds us together and special friends that we hold dear to our hearts. Buying a car is an activity that can be intimidating and can seem at first impersonal. I'd have to think Zeus is available to take away some of that stress too.

So there you have it folks. The behind the scenes story on Zeus. Surely I've spent many a 12 hour day inside of a car dealership. For many of us we joke that is our second home. But to me --- the business has always been a happy home and I can see it is for Zeus too. How do I know? Well every time I step into John Marazzi's office and have a seat my favorite Brandon Honda greeter comes over...hands me a paw...and then heads back to his bed to relax. Sounds like a good life to me.