Car shopping doesn’t have to be as difficult as you think. I’ll show you why with an analogy.
Dating (verb): “an arrangement between two people where a relationship exists or may develop.”
Dating sounds easy, but finding that special someone is hard work. First, you go out and meet someone. Then, you spend time together and decide if you’re compatible. Sounds complicated! That’s why online dating is so popular.
You take a personality test. The website compiles a list of singles who may be a good match. Efficient! Online dating streamlines the process of meeting a partner. If we can digitize dating, why can’t we apply the same principles to car shopping? That was a trick question. We can!
Shopping for a car can be stressful.
The amount of cars available is overwhelming. There are thousands of options online and in dealerships. It’s hard to know where to start. Most drivers don’t have a specific make or model on mind. You could ask a car salesman for help, but you won’t know whether they’re selling the best car for you (or the one that makes the most cash for them).
First, you must understand your desires. This is key to figuring out which car will serve you most. Let’s say you’re a fan of outdoor activities, care about saving the environment, and love to have the latest technology and gadgets. Sound like you? If so, your car should have four-wheel drive, hybrid capabilities, and wi-fi connectivity.
When you look for a partner, you consider questions like:
- Do we share any hobbies or interests?
- Are we passionate about a common cause or mission?
- Can I appreciate (or tolerate) their quirks and personal preferences?
Most drivers don’t consider these questions before they select a car. This is a huge mistake! If you don’t understand your needs and wants, you might make a regrettable decision. You need an unbiased source to guide you… a car guru to sort through the good and the not-so-good in order to find the perfect vehicle for you.
Good News: There are car shopping tools exactly like that.
CarHub.com is a new car shopping website. We’re proud to provide CarTron, an Advanced Algorithm Personality Test (AAPT) used by thousands of drivers. CarTron was developed by a team of brilliant behavioral scientists and auto industry experts to help drivers find the best car for them. Sounds pretty cool, huh? 🙂
CarTron is like the compatibility tests you see on dating websites. Drivers answer a series of scientifically validated questions. This helps us understand their unique personality. We also request practical information like price range and how much space they need. As a result, drivers find a car that fits into their lifestyle.
Drivers have an abundance of resources available. Use them!
Test drives are a shopper’s best friend. You wouldn’t jump into a committed relationship without getting to know the person first, so why would you buy a car without driving it? If possible, take a test drive without the dealer in the car. It will be much easier to relax when there isn’t a salesman breathing down your neck.
Don’t get attached to a car before you drive it. Love at first sight sounds nice, but some problems might not present themselves until you’re behind the wheel. Like dating, car shopping shouldn’t be rushed. Figure out what you want. Read reviews and safety ratings. Test out a few good candidates. Choose wisely!
About the Author
Jesse Toprak is the CEO and Founder of CarHub.com, which makes car shopping fun and easy. Jesse has long been a part of the automotive industry. For more than 20 years Jesse has been helping brands like Edmunds.com, TrueCar and Cars.com become industry leaders. Jesse shares his wealth of knowledge through extensive media outreach and is currently the most frequently quoted automotive analyst of the decade with more than 5,000 media interviews.