Have you ever had buyer’s remorse? Most of us have bought something and regretted it, whether a pair of pants, a couch that didn’t match our decor, or a pair of shoes that didn’t fit. Buyer’s remorse is often easy to mitigate in these instances with a simple return online or at the store. But what happens when it involves your car-buying experience?
My Jeep Wrangler Experience: Go Anywhere, Do Anything (Mostly)
I’ve driven many cars, from a well-loved Buick sedan that smelled like Bengay (thanks, Grandpa) to a Honda Civic Hybrid that zipped around winding backroads with a purr until it didn’t. At the time, hybrid batteries were priced mile-high, leading me to a local used car dealership where I fell in love with a golden yellow Jeep Wrangler. I spent my childhood riding around in my grandmother’s soft-top Wrangler and let emotion fuel my purchase.
As luck would have it, an inexperienced salesperson quoted me a much lower price for the Wrangler, later regretting it when he had to honor the deal. I drove off the lot in the Wrangler with an empty fuel tank as my payback for standing firm on the showroom floor. After a quick stop at the gas station, I filled the tank and officially joined the Jeep Wave family.
However, after a few years, many adventures, and several new batteries, my Wrangler took matters into its own hands. Issues with the fuel pump relay and oil pressure sensor meant extensive and expensive repairs. So, after months of driving around with a 10mm wrench to disconnect the battery, pull power off the relay, and reset it, it was time for something more reliable.
My Ford Experience: Sticking With the Blue Oval
Learning I was pregnant in early 2020 was the proverbial icing on the cake that led me to my local Ford dealer. The Wrangler’s declining reliability was a significant factor, but the two-door adventurer wasn’t practical for our growing family. I fell in love with the Ford Edge, seeing its spacious cabin as far more family-friendly and accommodating. It felt like an excellent fit for our family, especially since it meant bidding a fond farewell to my Wrangler and its onslaught of problems. However, buyer’s remorse soon settled in.
Shopping With Perspective
The Edge is a spacious midsize SUV that offers far more practicality than a Wrangler. However, it wasn’t big enough for my family, and I didn’t realize that until my husband brought home a Ford Explorer as a courtesy vehicle when his Ford F-150 was in for repair. The three-row Explorer offered far more room for our family, which I never considered when I made the jump from the cramped Wrangler to what felt like a big enough SUV.
Sure, my two-row Edge offered plenty of seating for my family of four; however, family vacations meant playing a game of Tetris with our luggage and the baby’s necessities. Even an afternoon out shopping meant navigating the rear cargo area to accommodate the stroller, diaper bag, and any finds from the store. It felt like I was constantly balancing passenger comfort and cargo space, and I mistakenly thought that was simply part of life.
The choice was obvious after driving the three-row Explorer for a few days. It was a perfect fit for the family, so we took the next steps to make it ours. This time, buyer’s remorse was replaced with a mild case of sticker shock.
The Harsh Reality of Sticker Shock
With a friend working at our local Ford dealership, navigating my Edge as a trade-in was straightforward. We negotiated a fair price for the Explorer, and things went smoothly—until we added the extended warranty coverage. As a lifetime mechanic, my husband is adamant about this coverage and what it means for mitigating expenses long after the new vehicle warranty coverage expires. While he’s certainly not wrong, this extended protection can significantly increase your purchase price.
As we finalized the details, the Explorer’s price tag continuously increased to reflect the additional warranty coverage. For potential buyers, this coverage isn’t a must for everyone; however, it was a non-negotiable for my family. We ended up saving in other areas, which kept the Explorer’s price tag within our budget. Even so, knowing what the Explorer cost on the lot with its leather seats, sunroof, and premium sound system compared to the final purchase price led to sticker shock as we finetuned the details.
Tips, Tricks, and Recommendations
What has my experience taught me about the car-buying process? What will I do differently next time? Here are a few tips, tricks, and recommendations to help you navigate your next dealership and car-buying experience.
Negotiate Without Emotion
The difference in my experience buying the Jeep Wrangler and the Ford Explorer was that I knew the salesperson at my Ford dealer. However, I did not let that familiarity bring my guard down or hinder my efforts to negotiate a better deal. Dealerships expect customers to negotiate, from the value of your trade to the window sticker of a new or used model. Never let your relationship with the salesperson, be it a stranger, acquaintance, or friend, hinder that process and what you feel and know is fair.
Do Your Homework
Money is incredibly personal because we want to make a sound investment, especially with a big purchase like a vehicle. Because of this, it’s crucial to do your homework ahead of time so that you can negotiate without emotion. What do I mean? When it was time to trade my Wrangler, I walked into the dealership, knowing its high resale value in my local market. I also knew the dealership would make a lower offer, leaving me room to push for more money.
Without researching the value of my Wrangler, I would’ve negotiated blindly. Additionally, it would’ve made it incredibly easy to take the low-ball offer personally. By researching and doing my homework, I walked into the dealership armed with knowledge, knowing that the Wrangler was an asset I could use to my advantage to negotiate the best deal possible for my situation.
Know the Details
One of the most common causes of buyer’s remorse and sticker shock is not asking for transparency. For example, I knew that adding an extended warranty to my Explorer would increase the price; however, there’s a difference between what you expect it to cost and what it actually costs. In my case, the coverage added several thousand dollars to the purchase, but as a non-negotiable, I asked for the details ahead of time and knew it was within my budget. This transparency goes for anything involving the sale, from add-ons like window tint and Nitrogen-filled tires to transfer fees. When you know the details, you know there’s a potential to negotiate and can proceed confidently with your purchase.
Enjoying the Ride
Today, I’m still happily driving my Explorer. This past summer, we were rear-ended on the first day of vacation, which meant spending an entire month in a rented Toyota RAV4. Fortunately, the repairs are complete, and my Explorer is back where it belongs in the garage. Yet, that doesn’t mean I’m not dreaming of my next purchase.
Hopefully, I’ll swap the Explorer for a Bronco in the next few years. When Ford announced the Bronco’s return, I was smitten and immediately added it to the top of my list. Like many others, I’m waiting for a Bronco that fits my budget and delivers the off-road capability expected of the name. In the meantime, I’m happy to shop the Broncos at my local Ford dealer, looking for the perfect Badlands Sasquatch that will introduce my family to life beyond the pavement.
