What to know when buying a car - Part I — Syracuse Personal Injury Law Blog

Labor Day weekend is known for different things depending on who you are. If you are thinking about the last summer holiday, Labor Day represents the last opportunity to get out to a vacation hotspot before fall begins. If you are a student, classes have likely started and after this holiday the only break you will get is during Thanksgiving.

If you are a car salesman, you have an incentive to sell as many 2015 models so that the 2016 models will have a place on the lot. If you are in the market for a new car, you want to take advantage of these Labor Day weekend sales. But when shopping for a new car, it is important that you know exactly what you are getting into (literally and figuratively). With that, we offer the following tips for prospective new car buyers.

Do more than just one test drive – The first 30 seconds of the test drive probably drew you into the car, and you probably loved it. This is understandable, and the salesman wants you to be impressed. But when you are making a decision that will affect you for years to come, it is important to know what you like, beyond the initial selling points.

Understand the upgrades – In a prior post we highlighted how newer cars connect us in ways that we never imagined. Most have interactive media centers that help us use or cell phones for more than just talking on the phone. While these upgrades may make the car must buy, make sure they are appropriate for you.