Desert Messenger

16 www.DesertMessenger.com September 21, 2016 Buying a car? by Jane Finley writer * artist * teacher (stretching, exercise, relaxation, meditation) A Road Called "Wisdom" I passed a road called "Wisdom" today somewhere in Louisiana. Like so many people I chose not to drive that road seeing what it had to teach along the way. I gave it a sideways glance, hesitating for just a moment before choosing to pass by. No time, I thought, for "Wisdom" today, eager to get on to the next town called "Open Roads" which is more my style. Written somewhere in Louisiana Jane's book is WANDERINGS: Living the Ordinary Extraor- dinarily (Stories from the Road). This column consists of poems from the book (email: janefinley@yahoo.com, website: janefinley.com). Poems from the road Fruit Dehydration Workshops University of Arizona Cooperative Extension is offering free work- shops on dehydration of foods. This month's workshop is focused on fruit with demonstration provided. The workshop is being offered on: September 20, 2016 in Quartzsite at Arizona Western College (AWC) from 1:30-2:30pm September 21, 2016 in Parker at AWC from 3:30-4:30pm September 27, 2016 in Salome at Centennial Community Center from 12:30-1:30pm Registration is required. Please register with the Cooperative Ex- tension Office by calling (928)669- 9843 or stop by 2524 Mutahar St. Parker, AZ UA workshop Bouse Genealogical Society The fall season is here and meet- ings begin again in October. Wel- come back winter visitors. Bouse Genies Meeting Schedule Bouse Genies regular meetings are held every first and third Fri- day from 9:30 AM to 2 PM. Bring a sack lunch. All meetings, semi- nars, and workshops are open to the public. Visitors are always welcome. Join us to learn how you can research your own family. The location of our meetings is yet to be determined. Please check our website: www.bousegeniesaz.org for updated meeting locations. Meeting dates: 7th October: 21st October. 4th November: 18th November. Users Groups Meeting Schedule The Legacy Users Group meets following lunch on the first meet- ing of the month. The DNA Users Group meets following lunch on the second meeting of the month. For further information check out our website at www.bouseg- eniesaz.org or www.facebook. com/bousegeniesaz, or contact Bousegenies@gmail.com. Genealogy group Five Not-So-Common Questions to Ask By Ellain Cullen BBB Shopping for a car can be exciting. The possibility of buying a newer model that includes upgraded fea- tures, great gas mileage, and the perfect color - all at the right price - is ideal, but not always the result of a car buying experience. Because fi- nancing, warranties, and contracts can be intimidating, Better Busi- ness Bureau (BBB) shares five not- so-common questions to ask when buying a car. According to Edmunds' Used Ve- hicle Market Report, 2015 brought in record car sales with over 38 million in used vehicles. Similarly, the Wall Street Journal reported new car sales broke the record set in 2000, with 17.5 million new ve- hicles sold last year. New and used auto dealers in greater Arizona generated 64,261 inquiries, 1,473 complaints and 1,909 customer reviews last year. This year, consumers have filed 916 complaints and over 200 negative reviews against dealers with most issues relating to product/service, advertising/sales, and guarantee/ warranty. BBB shares five not-so-common questions to ask - yourself and the dealer - to avoid unexpected issues when purchasing a car: 1. Should I finance through a bank or dealer? Both options have pros and cons, and it comes down to who can pro- vide the best terms and interest rate. The bank's advantage is it doesn't mark up its interest rates since it doesn't go through a dealer. Dealer financing is beneficial when auto- makers offer very low rates, such as zero percent, as part of a promotion. If not sure where to start, visit your local bank first and see if the dealer can match or better the offer. 2. Should I mention my trade-in? Knowing the value of your trade-in is important and should be researched before visiting the dealer. Some ad- vise leaving the trade-in value out of negotiations until you've locked down the price of the new car. Those who do not wish to trade-in a car, may consider selling it privately. 3. Should I focus on the monthly pay- ment or purchase price? Avoid talking about monthly pay- ments and focus solely on the pur- chase price. Low monthly payments mean longer terms that result in more money in interest payments. Negoti- ate the total purchase price before talking about monthly payments, in- terest rates and length of the loan. 4. What is the difference between a warranty and a service contract? A full warranty is offered on new ve- hicles, and some used vehicles may come with a limited warranty. War- ranties are included in the price of the product. A service contract or an extended warranty provides repair or maintenance for a certain period of time, but costs extra and is sold sepa- rately. Understand what is covered under a service contract or extended warranty before purchasing to avoid misunderstandings. 5. What are all those fees? As you review the contract, you'll no- tice fees: registration fees, documen- tation fees, dealer fees, paint protec- tion fees, VIN etching fees, sales tax, etc. Ask the salesperson to explain each of the fees and decline or nego- tiate the price of optional fees. For example, VIN etching will likely cost $200 or more at the dealer, but less using a local service. For a full list of fees by state, visit edmunds.com. A dealer's reputation is very impor- tant when buying a new or used car. Make sure you are dealing with a rep- utable dealer right from the start by visiting search bbb.org first to find a list of local, accredited dealers. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ DesertMessengerNews Follow on Twitter @DesertMessenger @QuartzsiteRain

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