Do You Need to Pre-order a Car When Buying One?

[MacBeau]

Whether you need to pre-order a car when buying one depends on your personal requirements. Brake pad classifications: Asbestos brake pads (mostly obsolete), semi-metallic brake pads, low-metallic brake pads, NAO formula brake pads, ceramic brake pads, NAO ceramic brake pads. Ceramic brake pads vs. traditional brake pads: In traditional brake pads, metal is the primary material that generates friction, providing strong braking force but with higher wear and a tendency to produce noise. After installing ceramic brake pads, no abnormal squealing (i.e., scraping sounds) will occur during normal driving. Since ceramic brake pads do not contain metal components, they avoid the metal-on-metal squealing that occurs between traditional metallic brake pads and their counterparts (i.e., brake pads and brake discs).

[Perry]

Whether to pre-order a car depends on the situation. If you're aiming for a popular model, like a newly released electric SUV or a limited-edition sports car, I strongly recommend placing a pre-order. Last time I bought a Tesla, I forgot to pre-order and ended up waiting over two months because the store inventory was sold out. Pre-ordering has many benefits: it locks in the price to prevent increases, and sometimes you can snag launch discounts or free additional features. On the other hand, if you're just buying a regular family car like a Honda Accord, which is usually in stock, it's better to go straight to the dealership and pick from available inventory—it's quicker, more convenient, and saves you the deposit. Overall, pre-ordering is safer to avoid shortages, but if stock is plentiful, skipping the pre-order can be more flexible and faster. It all comes down to your needs and how impatient you are.

[OmarLee]

Regarding car reservation issues, based on my frequent experience advising friends, it mainly depends on budget changes. If you have a limited budget, making an early reservation can often prevent sudden price increases, especially now with unstable supply chains causing significant price fluctuations for many vehicles. However, don't forget that reservations usually require a deposit, which you'll lose if you change your mind; not reserving allows for on-the-spot price negotiation, and waiting for promotional seasons to grab discounted stock cars can be more cost-effective. From my actual car purchasing experience, if the car is a popular model like Toyota's hybrid, reserving ensures supply security and saves unnecessary trips; but for less popular models, buying directly at the dealership allows room for negotiating service fees. The key is to visit multiple dealerships to inquire about inventory situations—avoid blindly following reservation trends. Saving both time and money is what truly matters.

[StKate]

Of course, you can buy a car without making a reservation. I've walked into dealerships and driven away with a car several times. Many dealers now have ample inventory, especially for popular models like Volkswagen—it's more convenient and hassle-free to pick from available stock. Making a reservation involves a process and waiting for production schedules, and there's always the risk of delays from the manufacturer. When I bought my car, I prioritized speed—I chose the color and configuration and drove it home the same day. The advantage of not reserving is greater flexibility, with no contract tying you down. Of course, for special editions or imported cars, a reservation might be necessary to avoid shortages. In short, visit the dealership first to experience the car in person before deciding—don’t let salespeople pressure you into making a reservation unnecessarily.