Custom Search
|
|
What To Look For When Buying A Used Car
What’s the Car’s Background? Many buyers fall in love with a car and then find themselves justifying reasons to buy it. Car buyers need to be objective, especially in today’s market where used cars aren’t always what they seem. For example, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the market was inundated with cars that should have been classified as “totaled” due to flooding. It is vital to get a vehicle history report from Carfax or a similar reporting agency to determine whether a car has a history of damage, accidents and more. All you need to obtain a report is the VIN. What About “Certified” Used Cars? Many automakers, such as BMW and Ford, have “certified used” programs. These promotions typically apply to late-model vehicles with less than 50,000 miles on them. Certified used cars and trucks are given rigorous inspections and are often bundled with extended warranties. Buying a certified used car takes some of the risk out of buying a pre-owned vehicle. Can You See the Service Records? This might not apply to cars purchased from dealers, but private sellers should be able to furnish buyers with a vehicle’s service records. These include receipts for regular maintenance as well as documentation describing repair work. By examining a used vehicle’s repair records, buyers can determine if a vehicle has been properly maintained, which adds to its value. Another benefit of viewing the service records is that buyers can look for repeated issues that may indicate an inherent flaw in the vehicle. What are the Top-Ranked Used Cars? Rather than shopping for one specific model, smart car buyers should keep an open mind. It goes without saying that some cars are just better than others, so buyers need to explore their options and find out what used cars are the best. Sources like Consumer Reports and Edmunds frequently publish rankings that take a number of factors into account, such as reliability, performance and even resale value. Your fantasy car might not even rank, so don’t rule out any cars until you’ve done the legwork. What Financing and Deals are Available? This applies to buying a used car dealership. Unless they’re paying up front, it’s important to car buyers to do as much research into auto loans as they do looking into the vehicle itself. Private banks might have better loan terms than the dealership’s financing department, which would save buyers a lot of money over the course of a five, six or even seven year loan. On the other hand, the dealership’s finance department may offer incentives like price breaks and vehicle upgrades for using them to finance the vehicle. Either way, savvy buyers must do their research in order to get the best financing deals. Go Beyond the Test Drive How many buyers really know what to look for in a test drive? Does a quick 20 minute spin really tell you all you need to know anyway? Rather than rely on this old method of evaluating a car, ask if your usual mechanic can inspect it. For a small fee, a technician you know and trust can truly evaluate a used car from the inside out. This will insure you’ll go into the sale with your eyes open. If the seller won’t allow this, walk away. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Buying a used car is preferable to buying brand new for a many reasons. From new car depreciation to the value of certified used cars, there is no reason not to buy used. It’s a great market for used car buyers. Be sure to pay close attention and remember these things to look for when shopping used. The Charlotte used car dealership of J.D. Byrider offers quality cars with fast financing. |
|