Finding Transportation Pathways to Success (lesson #12) By Sissy Osteen, PhD., CFP PowerPoint by Cindy Clampet

Today you will learn: How to buy a car Finding transportation is not simple What kind of transportation do you need? What can you afford? What options are available? Today you will learn how to buy a car, and if you can afford a car How many car manufacturers can you name? (let students name them) With so many kinds of cars to choose from, how do you decide which one to buy? Some people have an idea of their “DREAM CAR” which is unrealistic when considering what they can actually afford or what they actually need.

People need a car for transportation to: Work School Shopping and fun trips Things to think about— What kind of car do you need? What kind of car do you want How much can you pay? You need to be realistic about what kind of car you look for. How many children do you have? Will carseats fit? Do you need to take disabled people anyplace (like a mom or dad who is disabled) like the doctor or store? Can they get in and out of the car you are considering? Do you need to haul anything? Perhaps for work? Perhaps for upkeep around your house?

What kind of car do you need? Are you driving on city streets or country roads? Are you driving long distances or short distances How many people need to be able to ride in your car? Do you have lots of “things” that need to be able to ride in your car for your job? Look on and read page 4 of your booklet and fill it out. Discuss with the class Where will you be driving? City or country? Long distances or short distances? All these factors will limit the type/kind of car you can realistically get. Read and fill out page 4 of the booklet

What kind of car would you like? Do you want a certain make or color? Look at and research cars in consumer magazines, from friends and relatives, repair shops, ads, and car dealers. Look at and fill out the booklet page 6. Discuss with the class. Look at and fill out page 6 of the booklet. Discuss the features that you think are important, but that add expense to the car’s cost

What car can you afford? You should have a budget. Is there room in your budget for a car payment, repairs and upkeep, insurance, gasoline and oil. Look at the sample budget on page 7 of the booklet. How much can this person spend on a car? In your opinion, can this person afford a car? Use the form on page 8 to find out how much you can spend on a car. Look at the sample budget on page 7 of a person who wants to buy a car. Can this person afford a car? Why or why not? What should this person do about getting to work and the other places he wants to go? Do the sample budget on page 8 for yourself to find out how much you can spend on a car.

Used car? You can get a better deal if you buy a used car. You should have a mechanic look at the car to see if there are any major problems. But you also need to ask lots of questions about the car. Why is the owner selling the car? Is there a service record available? Was the car driven in town or out of town? Who owned the car? Use the checklist on page 10 and 11 to evaluate a used car. Use the checklist on page 10 and 11 to read about the items that should be looked at in a used car to see if it is a good buy. If you have many yes answers, you need to forget about that car!

Buying a car is a major expense If you can answer “yes” to most of the questions about the car you are considering, forget about that car! Find a car that you can answer “no” to most of the questions. Take the car to a mechanic to check it out. Also, look at the Kelly “Blue Book” (KBB.com) or the NADA book to find out some fair prices for a car like the one you are considering. Do not pay the first price you are quoted. Ask for a lower price, and you may get it. Show the class the KBB.com site on the internet. Show them how to look up the value of a used car.

You might or might not be able to get a car. You may or may not be able to afford a new car If you can’t afford a new car, you may be able to afford a use car. If you can’t afford a car right now, you might do the following: Ride a bus Get a bicycle or small motor scooter Pay someone to give you a ride to work Car pool (you will be using the car less times, less gas, etc) Discuss the different alternative transportation choices other than buying a car. Explain that even though that is not what we want to do right now, it might be a necessity while you save more money for a car or until you have a better paying job.