It can be tough to find a new vehicle if you are open to suggestions. You have thousands of makes and models available to you, and you have to decide which fits your current lifestyle and driving needs. Most importantly, though, you need to figure out how much you are willing to spend and what you are willing to repair if necessary. If you are venturing down the path of buying a new or used Chevy, the following may offer valuable advice in locating the best GM Dealer near you.
The Fundamentals of Finding Great Deals
While searching for the best Chevy deals around, three factors are paramount to finding the best location to visit; customer service, size of inventory, and prices. If there’s a dealership near you that nails these categories, it would be a good spot to visit and shop. A dealership that provides great customer service is important because it shows that the dealership values the customer and its reputation. Google reviews will give you a good indicator of this category typically.
A dealership that cares about its reputation will go above and beyond to fix any issues you encounter because its name is on the line. These establishments are aware that you will be coming back for maintenance and possible future purchases, and business owners that understand this element of business are likely to be responsible in other categories as well.
The second category to consider is budget. If you don’t know what you are willing to spend, you will find yourself in analysis paralysis. Are you seeking a sports car or an SUV? Are you shopping for new or used? These things have to be answered before you can seek a good deal.
You can peruse a variety of websites to equip yourself with knowledge if you are buying used. You should get a sense of what your budget is and what vehicles fall within it. Once you have established a budget, you can scope out used vehicles with a reasonable amount of miles to scoop up. By being armed with knowledge when you go to make an offer, you will be able to negotiate the price based on other vehicles’ prices.
The size of a dealer’s inventory is important too. This is especially true if you are looking for one particular model. The vast majority of Chevy dealers will have their current inventory on their website. If a dealership is looking sparse compared to one down the road, you may want to head to the one with the more robust inventory first, as it is more likely they will have what you want.
How to Sweeten the Pot
Do you know what’s better than a good price on a reliable vehicle? Well, a discount, of course. We all can agree, perks are good when it comes to buying cars. They make the dealership have more repeat customers and business, and they make your bank account happier at the end of the day. But don’t be put off if you don’t see perks at every dealership; there is no guarantee that each dealership has them.
Some dealerships may offer vehicle servicing perks such as free oil changes or tire rotations, while others may offer free transportation to and from the dealership when your vehicle needs servicing. One incentive to keep an eye out for would be a dealership that offers free loaner cars to customers when their vehicle requires repair. Oftentimes this only applies to customers who purchase new cars at dealerships, as it is less likely that you will need to use the perk often. Nevertheless, it is quite a nice feature to have if you can find it.
One downside of perks is that they can be very enticing. Sometimes you will have a sales representative try to upsell you based on the perks they provide. Make sure to keep your eye on the prize and keep the deal on your terms, and you won’t be persuaded to buy a different model throughout the deal.
The Importance of Brand Respect
If you are conducting home renovations, you don’t simply call up the nearest contractor and fork over your cash. You would do a quick search online to see who is reputable in the area and get a quote before diving in. You consider the other work that has been done by the company, their reputation in regards to customer service, and its overall review score. The same way you would conduct business for a home renovation applies when it comes to buying a vehicle.
You should be searching for a reliable vehicle, regardless if it’s new or used, that will get you from point a to point b consistently and safely. While you won’t be able to troll through your local dealership’s sales data, you will be able to get a good idea of their reputation by reading online reviews of the company and possibly through word of mouth. It would be a good idea to see how long they’ve operated in your area and what sort of perks they’ve offered to other customers in the past. Doing a bit of research beyond the typical buyer will only help you in the long run.
Take Reviews Seriously
Reading through reviews is the best way to get a good idea of how a dealership operates, and the best way to do this is online, of course. Reviews are everywhere nowadays. The dealership website may be a good place to start, but you have to understand that the reviews published on such sites are typically only favorable ones – you will have to dig a bit deeper to get to the rest of them if they exist.
While no one likes reading negative feedback about an establishment they want to go to, it’s important to uncover the facts. This is to ensure you are able to make the most informed decision possible. The most common places to see reviews for dealerships would be Google business pages and Facebook. DealerRated, Angie’s List, Edmunds.com, the Better Business Bureau, Yelp, and Cars.com are also websites you can check out. Virtually all of the reviews found on these sites will be from true customers.
Be Open to Possibilities
You’d be best to keep an open mind when frequenting dealerships in general. Of course, this only goes to a certain extent. You should have certain expectations of cleanliness and presentability. If you are not entirely certain you will be able to determine if a dealership fits the bill, you could also take a friend or family member to give the place a once-over.
You should feel open to asking questions about the vehicles and information that was unclear online. If you’ve followed this guide so far, you should know that the customer service at the dealership should be top-notch. The establishment you will be at should be happy to answer your questions and provide great customer service. This only goes so far, though – you should not expect to tear a car apart while inspecting it at a dealership.
Hot New GM Models
All of this information may seem great in theory, but leave you confused in practice. That is why some of the newest and most popular GM models are listed in this section to give you a head start. You could go with the Chevy Camaro or Chevy Corvette if you are looking for a sports car. This would leave you the envy of all your neighbors for sure.
If you are hoping to pick up an SUV to tour the countryside or transport the family, you could check out the new Chevy Trailblazer. If you find yourself hauling large loads or in need of a truck bed, the 2020 Chevy Silverado is right up your alley. Finally, if you need something with the size of a truck and space of an SUV, check out the redesigned 2021 Chevy Suburban and 2021 Chevy Tahoe. This should get you on the right foot to start checking out some of the local deals.
You’re Off to the Races
Sometimes finding the best deal is going a bit beyond the simple google search of a “GM dealer near me.” You should also be looking for the right deal with the right company. Make sure to understand the general market for the vehicle you are interested in and how much you are willing to spend. Research customer reviews, inspect the vehicle that you want to buy, and clarify any uncertainties before going through with the purchase, and you will do just fine.
