Mount Pleasant Magazine March/April 2021

71 www. ReadMPM. com | www. VOICE forRea l Es tate. com | www.MountPl easantBu i l der s . com Starling Chevrolet Mount Pleasant General Manager Joe Sarro said the first thing that he would recommend doing as a potential new car buyer is assessing your needs. “Space, comfort, gas mileage, monthly payments — those are all factors most car buyers consider when purchasing a new vehicle,” said Sarro. “As a father of teen drivers, safety is my number-one priority. I’ve been so impressed with Chevrolet’s commitment to providing safe vehicles for their drivers with 360-degree, high-definition views, automatic braking, safe lane-changing features and their teen driver technology, which provides parents a daily driving report card. Having this type of technology at my fingertips gives both my wife and me peace of mind and makes laying our head down on the pillow each night much easier.” Randy Albright, a general sales manager with Mercedes-Benz Mount Pleasant, similarly suggested asking questions at the beginning of the car buying process to determine what car best suits your unique situation: What will you be using the vehicle for? Who will be driving it? What do you like about your current vehicle? The type of research you conduct before buying a new car depends on your particular needs, but Sarro advised focusing on the specific vehicles and brands that pique your interest. Albright pointed out that most customers have already done extensive research before coming in, and most have narrowed down their selection to two or three different vehicles they can test drive to determine their preferences. While online sites such as Carvana, Autotrader and Vroom take human interaction out of the new car buying equation, Sarro personally believes that test drives are an essential part of the process. “Sure, you can buy a vehicle, a house or furniture sight unseen, however, I wouldn’t always recommend it, particularly if you are someone who drives more than 50 miles per day,” he cautioned. “You want to know how the seats feel and does it truly have enough space for you and your family—plus, with today’s technology, having an instructional overview of how to let the technology work for you is instrumental when it comes to the driving experience.” Albright noted that the major difference between buying a car online and visiting a dealership is the point of sale. “With all the technology in the vehicles, it is not uncommon for customers to come back several times after the sale because they need help pairing their phones, finances