2. Online research is more important & more advanced than ever
Even car-buyers who eventually want to shop at a dealership can narrow down the number of showrooms they visit and vehicles they need to look at in-person.
For new cars, automaker websites offer high-res video and images of each model. Some dealers even have online tours of their showrooms where shoppers can browse the models for sale and even virtually step into the cars they’re interested in. Those looking for a particular trim or color will find that dealer websites are also a good place to check inventory.
For used cars, online listings remain hit-and-miss, with some (but not all) dealers increasingly including exterior and interior photos from different angles.