Used Car Dealership
Pre-Listening
Have you ever bought a car? Did you buy used or new?
Listen and Read
Listen to the recording on car sales, answer the questions, and then read along with the audio recording.
Listening Quiz
Select the best answer for each question, then press Check Answers.
Use arrow keys to choose between options within each question.
1. Friends can often help you find ________.
2. You sometimes can lower the price of a car if you ________.
3. You might want to take your car to a ________ to check the car for problems.
If you’re looking for a car to drive, you can either buy a used vehicle (previously-owned car) or a new one. I suggest you buy a used car, but there are a few things you should keep in mind to get the best deal.
First of all, be sure to shop around for the best used car, and you should visit a used car dealership that you can trust. Your friends might be able to tell you which places have good reputations. Next, be sure you know beforehand the prices of the types of cars you want to buy, so you don’t end up spending more than a car is worth. Next, don’t immediately accept the sticker price on the car. Of course, keep in mind that the car salesman is out to make a profit, so you can haggle over the price to make sure you are satisfied.
Next, you might be able to trade in your old vehicle for some money to reduce the price on the car you want to buy. Finally, you might want to take the car to an independent mechanic to have a complete inspection to see if there are any problems with the vehicle. Better safe than sorry.
Vocabulary and Expressions From the Audio
- vehicle (noun): a machine used to transport people or goods, such as a car, truck, or van
- They needed a larger vehicle now that they had three children.
- deal (noun): an agreement or purchase made at a favorable price
- She felt she got a great deal on the used car after negotiating with the salesperson.
- shop around (phrasal verb): to visit or compare multiple sellers before making a purchase decision
- He decided to shop around at several dealerships before committing to a car.
- dealership (noun): a business that is authorized to sell a particular brand of vehicles
- She visited three different dealerships before finding the model she wanted at the right price.
- trust (noun): a firm belief in the honesty and reliability of someone or something
- He chose that dealership because his family had always had trust in their service and reputation.
- reputation (noun): the general opinion that people have about a person or business based on past behavior or performance
- The dealership had a strong reputation for treating customers fairly and honestly.
- beforehand (adverb): in advance; before something happens or before a particular time
- She researched the car’s market value beforehand so she would know if the price was fair.
- worth (noun): the value of something, often in terms of money
- He looked up the car’s worth online before going to the dealership to negotiate.
- sticker price (noun): the original listed price of a vehicle as shown on the label, before any negotiation or discounts
- The sticker price was higher than she expected, but the salesperson was willing to negotiate.
- profit (noun): the money a business makes after covering its costs
- The salesperson explained that the dealership needed to make some profit on each sale to stay in business.
- haggle (verb): to negotiate the price of something, especially by going back and forth between buyer and seller
- He wasn’t afraid to haggle and managed to get the price down by several hundred dollars.
- trade in (phrasal verb): to give your current vehicle to a dealership as partial payment toward a new one
- She decided to trade in her old car to lower the overall cost of the new one.
- reduce (verb): to make something smaller or lower, such as a price
- The dealership agreed to reduce the price after she pointed out a few minor issues with the car.
- mechanic (noun): a person trained to repair and maintain vehicles and machinery
- Before buying the used car, she had her mechanic inspect it for any hidden problems.
- inspection (noun): a careful examination of something to check its condition or identify any problems
- A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic can help avoid expensive surprises after buying a used car.
Discussion
What things do you consider when purchasing a new or used car? What are the advantages and disadvantages of buying a new car versus an old one?
Online Investigation
Buying cars through the internet is becoming more popular, perhaps because people can preview cars without having to deal with salespeople. Think of a car you would be interested in buying. Search the internet using several websites to find the best deal on your dream car. Be sure to include any fees you would have to pay to buy the car.