A crucial rule of buying your car from a dealership is finding a reputable one. “Is my Suzuki dealer legit?” is a question you need to ask yourself.
Usually, the dealership is directly associated with the vehicle brand you’re looking to buy from. Dealerships will most likely have an accreditation from the vehicle brand.
Having said that, some people choose a different route. If that’s the case, here are a few tips to ensure you only deal with a reputable car dealer.
Do your research:
Google:
Google is our best friend. With the click of a button, you can have all the info you need on whatever you need. Take advantage of this by doing a quick search on your local dealerships.
You can find reviews online from various sites. Having a look at the dealership’s website is also a good idea. Look for any complaints, positive feedback or even the dealership’s online presence.
Check if the dealership has social media pages. You’ll find a good indication of their professionalism and authenticity on their Facebook page.
Shop around:
Even if you’ve found the car you want, test others out on the floor. The reason being, you can observe the dealer’s reaction. If they say no or ask you to come back another time, leave.
All cars on the floor are there to be inspected and tested out. How else will you know which one you want? If a dealer is making excuses it’s usually a red flag that something is up with the car.
Especially if it’s a second-hand car. Keep your eye out for dealerships like this.
Second-hand cars:
Too many excuses:
Beware of a dealer making excuses for any noises the car makes before you’ve even started it. That’s usually an indicator that something’s wrong with the vehicle. The dealer might just want to make a sale and you might end up with a shoddy car.
Bad patch jobs on second-hand cars:
A well-kept second-hand car doesn’t look damaged. There may be a few scrapes on the dashboard but these shouldn’t be obvious. A decent dealership makes sure the car is in mint condition before it’s put on display.
If the car is in bad condition on the outside, just imagine how bad the engine might be.
Too many patch jobs:
Have a good look at the exterior bodywork. If large sections of the car have been repainted, it may indicate it was in a serious accident.
This isn’t a deal-breaker, but your dealer needs to be honest with you. If he isn’t willing to tell you the full truth, it’s better to find another dealer.
Incomplete service history:
Any car you buy should have a service history. You can ask the dealer to see the service history before buying. If it’s lost your dealer can request it from the manufacturer for you.
It’s a big red flag if your dealer won’t show or request the service history for you. It might indicate they aren’t being completely honest about the vehicle’s condition.
Crazy bargains:
Everyone wants a great deal. A dealer that is offering a car way below its actual asking price isn’t doing it to be nice. Yes, all dealers can offer a discount, but they won’t make a loss to make you happy.
That suspiciously low price might be because they want to get rid of a car in poor condition fast. Don’t fall victim to a scam.
Blame game:
Beware of a dealer putting other dealerships down too much. It may seem ridiculous, but a decent dealership won’t mind you comparing prices. They know they are offering the best deal, so there’s no need to win you over with shop talk.
Finally:
At the end of the day, it’s up to your gut feeling. If you feel uneasy or like you are being forced into a sale, you have the power. A dealership wants to make a sale, but a good dealership will never force you.
You should feel at ease and welcome at the showroom and the team members should be helpful. There is a clear line between encouragement and harassment. If you feel as though the dealer is being too pushy it’s time to leave.
Are you looking for a Suzuki dealership in Botswana? Locate us on the map and let one of our awesome team members assist you.
The Vehicle Loan Finance Calculator calculates the type of repayment required, at the frequency requested, in respect of the loan parameters entered, namely amount, term and interest rate. The Product selected determines the default interest rate for personal loan product. The Vehicle Finance Calculator also calculates the time saved to pay off the loan and the amount of interest saved based on an additional input from the customer. This is if repayments are increased by the entered amount of extra contribution per repayment period. This feature is only enabled for the products that support an extra repayment. The calculations are done at the repayment frequency entered, in respect of the original loan parameters entered, namely amount, annual interest rate and term in years.
Calculator Assumptions
Length of Month
All months are assumed to be of equal length. In reality, many loans accrue on a daily basis leading to a varying number of days interest dependent on the number of days in the particular month.
Number of Weeks or Fortnights in a Year
One year is assumed to contain exactly 52 weeks or 26 fortnights. This implicitly assumes that a year has 364 days rather than the actual 365 or 366.
Rounding of Amount of Each Repayment
In practice, repayments are rounded to at least the nearer cent. However the calculator uses the unrounded repayment to derive the amount of interest payable at points along the graph and in total over the full term of the loan. This assumption allows for a smooth graph and equal repayment amounts. Note that the final repayment after the increase in repayment amount.
Rounding of Time Saved
The time saved is presented as a number of years and months, fortnights or weeks, based on the repayment frequency selected. It assumes the potential partial last repayment when calculating the savings.
Amount of Interest Saved
This amount can only be approximated from the amount of time saved and based on the original loan details.
Calculator Disclaimer
The results from this calculator should be used as an indication only. Results do not represent either quotes or pre-qualifications for the product. Individual institutions apply different formulas. Information such as interest rates quoted and default figures used in the assumptions are subject to change.
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**Note: For exceeding 120 no. of payments, a group of 12 payments will be combined into a single payment number for better chart visibility.
The repayment amount shown using this calculator is an estimate, based on information you have provided. It is provided for illustrative purposes only and actual repayment amounts may vary. To find out actual repayment amounts, contact us. This calculation does not constitute a quote, loan approval, agreement or advice by Suzuki Gaborone. It does not take into account your personal or financial circumstances.