Choosing a sand car that fits your needs is no small task. There are so many things to consider that it can often be overwhelming! Price, quality, safety, customer service, and build time are just a few of the things that need consideration when you decide to build a sand car. You also need to figure out your budget and what you want which, again, is no easy task! We've found that when you set your budget, you're almost always going to be above what you planned on spending. This is mostly due to adding options during your build.

We found a few things to be very helpful. First is research! There are so many sand car builders out there that it's hard to pick the right one. We found customer feed back to be a great source of information. Questions like how did your builder treat you during and after the sale can open a conversation that will reveal things that one could have never guessed. We asked quite a few people while at the dunes about there experience during their build. Another great place to gather information is GlamisDunes.com. In their forums under Sand Rail Tech, the largest wealth of information on sand cars known to man can be found. With a simple search of that forum just about any question can be answered. 

Choosing a builder who has a good reputation in the industry is also important. How long have they been building cars? What do their customers have to say? Is there car safe to put your family in? What makes their car better than others?

Another good way to determine what you want is to go to various off-road shows to see and feel different cars. Look past the colors and bling to things like chassis welds, bracing in the chassis, and options built into the car. The biggest sand car show is coming up in September- www.sandsportssupershow.com

Once you've narrowed it down to a few builders, you need to ride in or drive one of there cars. Notice how the car handles, how it feels, etc etc. The biggest mistake people make is getting in a hurry to buy based on what a friend thinks you should do. If you have no knowledge of cars or aren't mechanically inclined, then you MUST go for a ride in any car before you buy. Just like riding in a Mercedes versus riding in a Bronco, you can tell a lot from a 15 minute ride. And better yet, driving the car makes a big impression, feeling the feedback from the steering wheel, how well the car turns, does it push, over steer, or under steer, etc. Last you need to visit the builder. Get a feel for what kind of person they are, how they answer all your questions, and how long they have been in business.

If you're looking to buy a used car most of the idea's mentioned on buying a new car still apply. One thing you need to do when buying used as opposed to buying new is to have a 3^rd party look over the car. Someone like Sand Car Services who knows what to look for and will not use any emotion during the inspection. He may find something that is very unsafe or that may need repair. It's worth paying for this service as it may save you a lot of money in the long run, not to mention it could save your life.   

These are just a few things that need to be done before investing in a sand car. Remember look past the paint and bling and do your research! Will you be happy with your purchase once it's sitting in your garage? It is a big investment and you are not just buying a car you're buying the whole package.