Frequently Answered Questions at Byers Imports in Columbus, OH
We’re dedicated to making your automobile browsing, buying, and owning experiences as hassle-free, relaxed, and fun as they can possibly be. From our experiences during more than a century of serving the Columbus area, we know that the best way to do that is to make sure you know all the information you need to know, and to answer every question and concern you have. To be proactive and serve you as well as we can, we’ve put some of the questions we get asked most often on this page, along with the answers. If you have a question that you don’t see answered below, please ask us via chat message on our website, a phone call, or come and visit us in person. The question we’re probably asked most often is “Where is your restroom?” But for that answer you’ll definitely need to come to our showroom in person, so we can point it out to you from wherever you’re standing at the time.
Frequently Asked Car Questions
Q: Why is test driving a car important?
A: Just about anything that you’re going to physically interact with often should be felt, touched, smelled, and heard before you spend money to buy it. The internet is full of stories of people regretting having purchased clothing online, because they couldn’t experience it for themselves when they made their choice. When your purchase is a high-dollar one like an automobile, it’s even more important to be sure you’ll enjoy the way it interacts with all your senses.
Q: What is the difference between used and Certified Pre-Owned?
A: A Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicle is a used vehicle that’s less than 5 years old, doesn’t have too many miles on the odometer, and has a clear CARFAX report. Then it undergoes a thorough examination by the expert automotive technicians in our Service Department, where they fix any problems they may have found. Having met all those criteria, a CPO vehicle comes with an extended warranty from the manufacturer. A used vehicle is one that doesn’t meet one or more of these criteria, but has undergone an examination and meets our standards to be offered for sale.
Maintenance and Services
Q: How important is car maintenance?
A: It’s difficult to overstate the importance of having regular maintenance performed on your vehicle. There are several parts and fluids in your car, truck, or SUV that are used so often that they can’t help but eventually wear down; or, in the case of fluids, become dirty or depleted. Those parts and fluids are relatively inexpensive to replace. But if the car keeps getting used after those parts and fluids should have been replaced, the vehicle’s performance suffers, and in some cases it becomes a safety hazard. In every case, other parts of the vehicle are damaged by the failure of the parts or fluids, which will cost a lot more to fix than the regular scheduled maintenance would have cost.
Q: How do I know when I need an oil change?
A: These days, there are significant differences between the distances at which different makes and models of vehicles should have their oil changed. If you still have your owner’s manual, it will tell you at what mileage or length of time your vehicle and its type of oil have been intended to be changed. If you don’t have your owner’s manual, our friendly associates can look up the correct numbers for you. If something unusual has happened, you might notice symptoms such as unfamiliar noises in the engine, decreased engine performance, or a burning or oily smell. If you see a light on your dashboard that looks like Aladdin’s magic lamp, it’s not time to make a wish; it’s time to get your oil system checked.
Finances and Trade-In Valuation
Q: Can I buy a car with no credit?
A: The short answer is yes. Although buying a car, truck, or SUV is more difficult if you don’t have a credit rating, it’s absolutely possible. In fact, buying a vehicle is usually a good way to begin building credit. If you don’t yet have a credit rating, the details of your financing options will be based on a few other factors that are different for each person. The friendly and knowledgeable experts in our finance department will be happy to get to know your unique financial situation, and help you explore the financing options that can put a great car in your garage.
Q: How do I find out what my trade-in is worth?
A: There are three methods you can use. The first is to use our online “Value Your Trade” tool, then enter your vehicle’s license plate number or VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), and you’ll get a cash offer within minutes. Or if you’d like to start looking over our inventory in person, you can drive in to see us in the vehicle you wish to trade, and we’ll inspect it while you browse. The third method is to ask a bunch of your friends how much they would pay you for it; but if they’re either being nice to you or trying to take advantage of you, their numbers will be very different from ours, so we don’t recommend that method.
Hours of Operation and General Questions
Q: Are you open on Sundays?
A: No. All the members of the Byers Imports team work hard, striving to bring our customers the best experience and value possible. If we were open every day, it would be extremely detrimental to their physical and psychological well-being. So in order to take good care of our friends, we’re closed one day each week. Because Sunday is both a day of the weekend and is sacred to people of some religions, we’ve decided that it’s the best day for us to be closed. We’re happy to see you in person or talk with you on the phone during our regular hours.
Q: Which General said “I shall return”?
A: That’s not what we mean by “General Questions”.
Q: Why should I choose your dealership?
A: The short answer is: honesty, fairness, and diversity of inventory. The Byers Auto Group, of which Byers Imports is a part, has been serving the Columbus area for over 120 years. A company can only last that long by always treating their customers with respect; which includes being honest in our dealings and fair in our prices. That’s why Car Gurus recently named us a Top Rated Dealer. If you want to see some specifics, check out what some of our customers have said about us in the Customer Testimonials. We can also save you time and effort by having a wide selection in our inventory. Our new and Certified Pre-Owned vehicles include Audi, Porsche, Subaru, and Volkswagen. Our used inventory is even more diverse, and in addition to those four brands has included Acura, Ram, Mercedes-Benz, Jeep, Tesla, BMW, Chevrolet, Hyundai, GMC, Lincoln, MINI, Nissan, Volvo, Lexus, Toyota, Ford, Bentley, and even Ferrari. And with an inventory space that’s over 13 acres, we’re likely to have whatever you’re looking for.
