Shopping for a Ford When You’re on a Tight Budget in Pittsburgh, PA
These days, getting as much bang for your buck as possible is as important as ever. If you’re coming to Shults Ford Harmarville in need of a vehicle, you’re already on the right track because of our Fair and Consistent Pricing. But we work even harder to make sure you’re getting everything you deserve for your hard-earned dollar. If you’ve got a tighter budget but want a great vehicle, here’s what you can do — and what we can do to help.
What You Can Do: Set a Budget
If you want to make sure that you’re staying within your budget, the best thing you can do is figure out precisely what your budget is. When it comes to purchasing or leasing a vehicle — be it the new Ford Maverick, Escape, or Bronco Sport — you should try to keep your monthly payment at about 10% of your take-home pay. Car-related expenses as a whole shouldn’t exceed 20% of your income, and that includes fuel, insurance, maintenance, and other associated costs. If you need help, Shults Ford Harmarville offers a tool that can help you estimate your monthly payments.
What We Can Do: Offer Great Pre-Owned Options
Working on a tighter budget may make some newer vehicles cost prohibitive, but that doesn’t mean you have to settle for less. A great way to shave off hundreds or thousands of dollars on your next vehicle is to consider used and Ford Blue Advantage certified pre-owned vehicles — and because we’re a leader used car dealer in Pittsburgh, you can find tons of quality options here at Shults Ford Harmarville. Buying a used Ford F-150 or Ford Mustang that’s even just a model year or two older can net you significant savings without resulting in a significant drop in quality or reliability.
What You Can Do: Build Up Your Credit Score
The fact of the matter is that if you have little, no, or poor credit, you’re going to have a more difficult time getting behind the wheel of a vehicle. Before you start your shopping experience, check your credit score to see how you’re sitting. If you don’t like the number you see, you can start taking steps like making on-time payments, reporting payments on things like utility and phone bills, paying off outstanding debt, and getting credit limit increases on your credit card.
What We Can Do: Deliver Additional Discounts
Want to take full advantage of your improved credit score? Shults Ford Harmarville can help you save with a wide range of Ford specials, which can net you lower APR, cash back, or both. And you’ll qualify to save even more if you’re eligible for one of the Ford Recognition Programs, including military, first responders, and college students. Or you could pay a price under market value if you qualify under the Ford Partner Recognition Program, or X-PLAN.
What You Can Do: Pre-Qualify for a Loan
Once you have your credit score in order and have an idea of what you can afford, you can get pre-approved for financing before you even visit a dealership. By pre-qualifying for a loan, you can embark on your experience with the full confidence that you’ll have the money you need to get the Ford Ranger, Ford Edge, or Ford Super Duty you’ve got your eye on.
What We Can Do: Give You Top Dollar for Your Trade-In
Did you know that you can do almost the entire shopping experience online with Ready.Shop.Go.? Part of the process includes getting an instant cash offer for your trade-in vehicle from the experts at Kelley Blue Book. By putting the trade-in value toward your next vehicle purchase, you’ll have less to pay now and over time. Plus, we’ll take care of the paperwork so you have one less thing to worry about.
Shults Ford is the No. 1 Ford dealer in all of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania because we want to satisfy the needs of every driver. If you’re on a budget and want the most value for your money, trust Shults Ford Harmarville — your trusted new truck dealer, used car dealer, and one-stop shop for service.
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