Which Is Smarter - Buying A New Car Or A Used Car?
Where Do You Live?
sweeter than. There are no dings, no spots where the paint was scratched by the garage door, no smell of something that was spilled months ago - it’s perfect inside and out. Should you indulge yourself and get a car brand new from the dealership showroom, or is a pre-owned car a better deal? Let’s look at the benefits and drawbacks of each plan.
The apparent advantage to buying a used car is that the price is much easier to afford. In fact, a brand new car loses a large portion of its value the minute it’s driven off the car dealer’s lot. A week after you’ve bought a new car, it’s still new. It still has a lot of use left, no scratches and it still smells new. But if you were to try to sell it, it isn’t a brand new car anymore, and that difference translates into dollars. It would be reasonable to think that the value of a car would decline little by little over its useful life, but that’s not how it works. A car’s few months and years see a larger drop in value than later years. Finally, the value stabilizes and its value depends entirely on its condition – but it still has some value.
One of the biggest drawbacks to getting a second-hand car is the unknown. Why did its last owner get rid of it? Is it a lemon? How well was it cared for? Was the recommended maintenance performed when it was needed? Has it experienced flood damage or been involved in an accident? The good news is that it’s much easier to find out the answer to these questions that it ever has been. A Carfax report tells you the car’s history, and many dealers offer them at their expense. Has it been involved in any accidents? How many owners has it had? Cars can be traced by their vehicle id numbers and now that computer records have evolved, it’s much easier to compile this information.
A used car probably won’t last as long as new car would, and that’s a second drawback. It will need repair and maintenance sooner. The age of a pre-owned car plays a big role in this factor. If a car is still fairly new, it may still be under the manufacturer’s warranty. In fact, most car dealers sell ‘certified vehicles’. Certified vehicles have been inspected, had any necessary repairs and maintenance done and have been deemed to meet certain quality guidelines. You won’t have to worry about major repairs for a while if you buy a car that comes with a warranty. Whether or not there’s a warranty, you should have your own mechanic evaluate a car before you buy it. Compare the price tag to the condition. If you accept a car with some defects, you should get it for a lower price. There’s a limit, of course. A car that’s about to expire isn’t worth any money at all – except to the junkyard.
You already know the bad news about new cars – they cost a lot. There’s a lot of good news too. First, engineering is improving, so a car made today will run longer than a car built even a few years ago. And you may not be able to find a used car in the model you like if it has just been released. Infiniti’s G37 Convertible is a good example. The few used cars that might be out there will certainly sell at a premium price for a used car. You might be better off just to buy it new.
In the end, buying used or new is an individual decision. The type of car you’re looking for and your purpose in buying it will probably determine which way you go. Whichever route you choose, do your homework and consider both options before you make your choice.
Written by Hannah Valez Used Cars Palm Springs, Atlanta Honda Dealership or Used Infiniti Dealer
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