Each year, out of all the vehicles bought in the U.S., 41 million are used cars compared to only 16 million new car purchases.
Since purchasing a car is the next financial investment made by US citizen other than housing, it is important to determine if buying a used car is worth your money.
1) CONS – Here is a list of the disadvantages of used-car buying:
* The options of cars are limited, so the search for the right vehicle could be lengthy.
* The buyers have no idea if the car was treated. Used cars usually have worn consumables such as hoses, tires, shocks, filters, fans and clutch.
* Although used car dealers provide a warranty, it is only limited to a couple of months unlike purchasing a new car with full warranty. Certain maintenance on your purchased second-hand car could be more expensive.
* Purchasing a second-hand vehicle would offer you a lower trade-in value.
* The main disadvantage of purchasing old cars is that it has an unknown quantity. Whether the dealer has worked the vehicle to make it attractive for the test drive, the buyers are still unaware of the repair bills, economical issues, and its reliable transportation.
* It is difficult to negotiate fair financing terms on an older vehicle.
2) PROS – On the other side, buying a used car could benefit the buyer in several ways:
* The original owner of the car received the depreciation hit. The market value of the new car decreases from year to year. An average 30% of its value within three years from the time it was bought, so buying their car would save you a lot of money.
* Unlike purchasing a new vehicle with high insurance fees, you will receive a lower cost of insurance if you choose to buy second-hand cars.
* Although buying new and used cars both provide loans, lease, or money-saving the majority of dealers who sell used cars often have shorter loan terms.
* If your investment is decided based on appearance and gas mileage, choosing a used car would guarantee the value and reliability it has provided over the years.
* A used car would provide your dollar more flexibility. Compared from buying a new car that would eat all your finances, buying a second-hand car would allow you to purchase other accessories such as air conditioning that would cost approximately US$200 to $900 extra.
Buying your used car could waste your money if you fail to do your research, compare dealerships, and be aware of the cars market value. Be a wise used-car buyer.
Tags: Buying A Used Car, Buying Used Cars, Car Purchases, Depreciation, Economical Issues, Financial Investment, Gas Mileage, Hoses, Insurance Fees, Loan Terms, Old Cars, Pros And Cons, Purchasing A Car, Purchasing A New Car, Repair Bills, Second Hand Car, Second Hand Cars, Several Ways, Unknown Quantity, Worth Your MoneyRelated posts
Should I Buy From A Used Car Dealer Or Privately?
Buying a used car from a dealer or buying it privately, which is the best?
Both have their pros and cons and these should be weighed up against the other before any decision is made.
Firstly, going with a dealer you will have a wider choice over the cars on offer, certainly more than you would by going privately.
When buying from a dealer the car will have been cleaned and any faults will have been corrected and it will come with some sort of warranty. When purchasing privately you will be liable to fix any corrections and have to valet the vehicle yourself, plus you will have no comeback if something serious goes wrong within the first year.
Going with a dealer gives you plenty of time to check the car over in perfect lighting conditions; however you might feel rushed or pressured when looking a car over privately.
A dealer usually wont mind at all if you wish to bring in your own expert to look over the car as they will have nothing to hide. However when going privately it could be harder for you to get an expert to look over the car with you.
Dealers also can offer finance often with high interest charges but this still gives you the option of finance which may be beneficial to you. With a private seller, you will need to pay the money in full.
The downside to buying from a car dealer is that the car could cost you more than by buying privately. Also, you wont be able to interrogate the owner of the car through a dealer however when buying privately you have the opportunity to do so.
It really is all a matter of which you prefer as there are good and bad points either way, but the above tips will hopefully give you a better idea of which way to go when looking for your used car.
Tags: Buy Car, Buying A Used Car, Buying Car, Car Buy, Car Buying, Car Dealer, Car Dealers, Cars, Downside, Faults, Finance, High Interest, Interest Charges, Lighting Conditions, Money, Private Seller, Pros And Cons, Purchasing, Valet, WarrantyRelated posts
The Pros And Cons Of Buying A Used Car From An Auto Auction
Are you in the market for a new used car? If you are, have you ever thought about attending an auto auction? Each year, a relatively large number of individuals walk away with a quality used car from an auto auction and now you may want to think about doing the same.
Although it is nice to know that many have had success with auto auctions in the past, you may be wondering whether attending an auto auction is worth your time. To determine whether or not one is, you may want to think about examining the pros and cons of buying a used car from an auto auction. A few auto auction pros and cons are briefly touched on below.
Perhaps, the biggest pro or plus side to buying a used car from an auto auction is the price. Auto auctions are well-known for their more than affordable prices. Depending on the auto auction that you attend, as well as the car that you choose to buy, you could walk away with a quality used car for as little as a thousands dollars! In all honesty, you never know what treasures or quality used cars you will find until you attend an auto auction. That is why it is advised that you at least attend a local auto auction, even if it is just to see what one is like.
Another one of the many pros or plus sides to buying a used car from an auto auction is the choices that you have. In terms of the used cars that you have to choose from, it is not uncommon for an auto auction to include as many as fifty used cars or more. Many of these used cars include different years, as well as different car makes and models. In keeping with the choices that you have, you also have a choice when it comes to choosing a used car auction to attend. If you live in or around a large city, such as Chicago, you may have more auto auctions to choose from. You could choose to attend an auto auction that gives you the opportunity to inspect each vehicle or you can choose one that does not have any admission fees.
Although there are a number of pros or plus sides to buying a used car from an auto auction, there are also a number of downsides as well. The good news, however, is that those downsides may not even apply to you. One of the downsides or cons to buying a used car from an auto auction is that not all auto auctions have an inspection session. An inspection session is when you are able closely examine or inspect all of the cars that will be auctioned off. You should never buy a used car without thoroughly examining it first. This downside to buying a used car from an auto auction may not even be an issue, as long as you choose to attend a used car auction that allows you to inspect all of their vehicles first and they are out there.
Another con or downside to buying a used car from an auto auction is the fact that you arent really given any guarantees. Perhaps, that is why it is so important that you are able to inspect a used car before bidding on it at an auto auction. When you pay for and receive your used car, it is then yours and you are responsible for it, including all updates and repairs that may need to be made. It is difficult, if not virtually impossible, to find an auto auction house or company that offers warranties on their used vehicles. Of course, buying a used car is a risk anyways, as most used car dealerships, as well as owners outright selling their vehicles do not offer warranties either.
If you live in or around the Chicago area, you may want to examine North Shore Auto Auction. Their online website can be found at www.publicautoauctionnst.com. With regularly scheduled auto auctions, as well as information on those auctions, including the used cars that will be auctioned, North Shore Auto Auctions is known for being one of the best auto auctions in the Chicago area.
Tags: Admission, Auction Auto, Auto Auction, Auto Auctions, Auto Price, Buying A Used Car, Car Auction, Car Makes And Models, Car Models, Choices, Choose One, Honesty, Local Auto, Makes And Models, New Car, Opportunity, Price Auto, Pros And Cons, Quality Cars, Quality Used CarsRelated posts
Whether to buy a new car or buy a used car is often times the first decision that needs to be arrived at before you can actively begin perusing purchasing your next vehicle.
Lets take a look at some tips, pros, and cons when it comes to making this decision.
First of all, having been in the automotive business for many years, I almost always lean toward finding a good used car that fits what I am looking for. For me, I believe that used cars offer the best value for your dollar. In most cases, youll find used car departments are much more used to and willing to negotiate the price that they have posted on the car. From a negotiating standpoint, most used cars wont have all of those superfluous dealer add-ons stuck on the window either that will just never do.
In the automotive market, used cars will most certainly come with a lower initial price tag than a comparably equipped new car. And not only will the price be lower, you may also find that so is your cost to insure the used car as well as the tags, and taxes. Depreciation being what it is; means that with a car a couple of years old, the biggest depreciation hit has already occurred. And from a tangible perspective, you may have a better chance of getting those upgrades youd like to have on the used car that you couldnt otherwise afford going with the new.
Yet, with all of this, buying a used car isnt for everyone. Finding a used vehicle that fits ones entire car buying criteria can be a tough exercise in balancing what you want with the value versus risk inherent when it comes to used cars.
Not so many years ago, reliability was a major concern when purchasing a used car and rightfully so. Today however, reliability problems are a fraction of what they used to be. Todays vehicles, when properly maintained will easily go for 100,000 miles and its not uncommon for vehicles to be motoring along as they approach 200,000 miles or more. And with all of the information now available online, the risk factor is again reduced even a bit more.
Even though more reliable today, buying a used car for people means buying a car that is probably out of its original bumper to bumper warranty. This alone, is enough to repel many potential car buyers back to the new car side of the dealership.
As you know, if you are looking at buying a used car, you are probably looking at a car that is outside the factory warranty or at least would have very little remaining. With no warranty youll be on the hook to pay for any needed repairs out of your own pocket. However, the biggest expense for most all cars today are the things that arent covered by any manufacturers warranty anyway; items such as brakes, tires, alignment, batteries, etc.
Of course nobody can guarantee that you wont encounter a lemon. No matter what the make and model, no manufacturer can produce a vehicle that can withstand years of neglect and/or abuse. Always, always, always give the used car a thorough inspection both by yourself and a qualified mechanic; doing this will catch most problems that may be looming on the horizon.
When it comes to financing the purchase of a used car, you find that the going interest rates will typically be higher than new car rates. This is definitely a piece of the puzzle youll want to check out. There is no rule of thumb as to what the difference in the interest rate will be between the two because there are just too many determining variables involved such as; the economy, rebates and incentives involved on the new car side, your credit, length of financing, and even the type of used car youre looking at. Be sure to crunch the numbers for both sides.
With used cars, insurance can save you some money as well because youll typically pay less for your insurance on a like model from a few years past. The reason is simple; less cost of replacement for the insurance company and used cars are generally not high on the stolen lists.
And finally, (the latest) safety features could be a concern if youre looking at used car (particularly if youre going back a few model years).
All in all, if the touch, feel, and smell of a new car, isnt a top priority for you, I think youll find that a well thought out used car purchase you can get more car and features and still be within your budget.
Tags: Automotive Market, Better Chance, Buying A Second Hand Car, Buying A Used Car, Car Buying, Cars, Depreciation, Exercise, Fraction, Initial Price, New Car, Perspective, Price Tag, Pros And Cons, Purchasing A Used Car, Reliability Problems, Risk Factor, Second Hand Car, Standpoint, Todays Vehicles