Submitted By: Jeffrey Taylor
I recently read a newspaper article that car loans are stretching to 7 years and longer. Why is this? Because most car shoppers want to get into the car they want and have a monthly payment in their budget. The dealer knows you are a payment buyer and will do anything to sell you that car.When you walk onto the car dealers lot the salesperson after making small talk will ask, what type of monthly payment are you looking for. In view of the fact that most car shoppers are payment oriented the salesperson needs a number to work with. He will never discuss the actual selling price of the car because that does not allow him to work the payment numbers in his favor. When he comes back with the payment you agree on, check the length of the loan. If you need a 6+ year loan to get the payment you need, you are probably getting in over your head. A lot of things can happen in six years, marriage, children, divorce, job transfers, layoffs, promotions, injuries. Try to purchase something that allows 2-4 years on the loan. DO NOT TEST DRIVE VEHICLES YOU CAN’T AFFORD AND THEN STRETCH OUT THE LOAN TERM SO YOU CAN! Stretching out the years will lower the payment but it will cost you more over the long run. You are buying a car not a house, so 3-4 years later when you are ready for another vehicle you will still owe 2-3 more years on your 4 year old vehicle. Scary thought, isn’t it? Look at it this way. After the third or fourth year you may want to trade it in for another car and still owe more on it than it is worth.
Continue reading Car Loan Tips. Stretching Your Car Loan To 7 Years Is A Bad Idea
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