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Friday, 29 March 2013

Buying Used Cars For Less Cost

By Paula Park


A friend of mine , who coincidentally was in the an automotive industry service trade continually decries the fact that when someone "buys a used car" that why on earth are they denying themselves the pleasure of driving a "brand new vehicle". This is in spite of the fact that some of the targets he points to are very wealthy people indeed, in the auto sales industry themselves. It can be said that with their perspective in the automotive trades over the time that they know the score - and let someone else take the large first year depreciation hit or write-down. Its all about relative value and comparisons. It can be said that the judgment of these seasoned experts is that the cost that they would have to pay to drive a new model off a showroom lot is not worth the mental benefit to themselves and their egos.

It is interesting to note that more than one wealthy auto dealership owner drive for their personal vehicles used off lease vehicles that they have purchased off their respective factory auctions of off lease or company driven vehicles. If it's good enough for them it should be for you as well. On top of that, in the case of newer pre-owned or driven vehicles many still sport and carry factory warranties - even for the second or even fifth owner. What the auto maker and warranty authorization claims people look at to assess coverage is miles / and or time limitations. That is assuming that the vehicle has been reasonably maintained under your care. More than one young person was shocked to learn that the sludge in their crankcase - which indicated oil driven for 2 years ( average driver 25,000 miles ) without an oil change invalidated their warranty when it came time to a catastrophic engine failure and a very hefty bill for replacement and installation of a new motor. As a car owner you can scream all you want and threaten the dealer / owner with legalities and threats of internet postings. In these cases you not they are liable. Yet the summary is if you choose a good car and maintain it according to the norms in the owner's manual in your glove box "you will be fine". One more important consideration where you purchase your vehicle is if the dealership can provide high quality after sales service quick lane service and even collision repairs. Yet more than one austere auto buyer in Winnipeg has thought they have ground a dealer down on price , only to find its no bargain driving all the way from Transcona to the W to have their new purchase serviced at their selling dealer. True a new car or truck dealership of the same brand is bound to due factory service. Yet these bargain hunters hunters find its no bargain as they are at the back of the line when it comes to service. There is no law against any business having preference for their own customers first. You can complain all you want to the customer service techs or even head office of the auto maker to no avail. Its a private business - any auto dealership - which has to pay bills and if they want to remain solvent in business their own customers come first and foremost.

Each and every vehicle sold in the world is stamped with a serial number for that particular vehicle. In the English language it's called the "Vehicle Identification Number" or VIN. In foreign areas of the world the label goes by any of a number of different descriptive automotive terms. The VIN is unique to each vehicle. It's like a social insurance number in that it is unique. The VIN number on a vehicle is a sequence of numbers. Each specific row identifies a separate record. For example the country of manufacture, year, model type engine type etc.

In addition if you look at used vehicles from another vantage point - they are broken in and tested. The vehicle has a track record and most bugs that often occur in new products have been worked out. The key is to do your homework and narrow down the search to rule out obvious problems and lemons , while as a consumer getting good value overall for your cash outlay. First of all before you start looking figure out your real needs for transportation. Everyone wants a two door sports car or convertible it seems. Yet few find these vehicles practical. Next in line consider your finances. Sit down and figure out your budget. If you have savings to cover cash deal great. In that case don't forget license, taxes and auto insurance. Don't leave yourself "car poor". If you are going the auto car payment financing route figure out again with the help of budgeting techniques and strategies what your maximum monthly payment should be. You might go on the low side and give yourself leeway just in case. If you are unfamiliar with such workups or are squeamish about it, ask a relative or close friend. With these figures in hand its best to be approved before you go shopping. This will give you the best negotiating position by far to drive down to the best deal. You can visit your banker or other financial institution before your shopping spree. If you are pre- approved great. If not you will be made aware of credit issues beforehand and what costs and remedies are, so as you are not left in the lurch. True a dealer may offer you a better deal on the spot as a sweetener to the deal or an inducement. If this is your luck - then great and is to your and your family's obvious benefit. Then it's a case of being ahead of the curve and well prepared ahead of the call.

In that vein even if the car or truck appears as the best choice in the world, don't become emotionally involved. The attitude should be that "there are plenty of other fish / vehicles in the ocean / dealer lots and online classified sites. Always insist that a reliable third party competent mechanic does a thorough once over on your "new "vehicle purchase.




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