More and more people are realizing
that the cost of new
transportation can really throw a
budget into reverse. In many
instances, today's new vehicle prices
compare to the cost
of a new home just a generation ago.
Since dependable transportation is a
necessity--do not despair;
a two to four-year old used vehicle
can be purchased at a savings
of 25 to 50 percent as compared to its
cost when new. Additionally,
the number of well-built, dependable
vehicles has increased during
the past decade.
When well maintained these vehicles
can be driven for many miles,
and they are now available at
substantial savings.
The purchase of a dependable,
reasonably priced used vehicle
is not a matter of chance or luck, but
rather, it is a matter of
knowledge and understanding. Becoming
informed is one of the
most important factors in successfully
purchasing a dependable
used vehicle at the best price.
Gathering Information
Variety is the spice of life.
Certainly, the number of vehicles that
are available today can add spice to
one's daily travels. Literally
hundreds of different vehicles are
available, but which one is the
best for you? To better determine the
vehicle that satisfies your
transportation needs, first take the
time to carefully identify your
current and future driving needs, then
become aware of the many
available vehicles, and finally, zero
in on the vehicles that best
meet your needs.
A very dangerous frame of mind to be
in is to "fall head over
heals" for a particular make or model
of vehicle based purely
on emotion. Although some emotion is
always part of life, it
is wise to put excessive emotions
aside and focus on day-in
and day-out transportation needs.
Some questions to consider about
transportation needs include:
- How many people will be
transported in the vehicle?
- What type of objects and cargo will
be transported
in the vehicle (space
considerations)?
- Will driving be conducted in poor
whether conditions
or off-road (rear-wheel drive,
front-wheel drive, all-
wheel drive)?
- Will stop-and-go or interstate
driving be performed?
Thus, is an automatic, a
semi-automatic, or a standard
transmission preferred?
- Is there a preference for a
domestic or a foreign vehicle?
- In a sport-utility vehicle, is a
more rugged full box type
frame needed for off-road driving,
or will a unit-body
type frame be suitable for intended
general highway
driving? Additionally, what towing
capacity should the
sport-utility vehicle have?
- In a minivan, are sliding doors
needed on both sides,
the left-side or the right-side of
the vehicle for easier
entry and exit?
- How much will insurance cost to
protect the driver and
the vehicle (consider obtaining an
insurance quote before
buying a vehicle)?
- What is the approximate amount of
money to be spent on
a vehicle?
If you are not familiar with which
vehicles meet your transportation
needs, consider visiting a local
public library to consult the yearly
publication or the April magazine
issue of Consumer Reports. This
objective information source provides
technical specifications for
vehicles including the size, weight,
engine horsepower, optional
equipment, and miles per gallon of
fuel. If technical information is
desired for a specific used vehicle,
review the Consumer Reports
issue that matches the vehicle's year
(1998 Toyota Avalon--consult
the 1998 April issue of Consumer
Reports).
After determining the type of
automobile, sport-utility vehicle,
or minivan that satisfies your needs,
it is worthwhile to consult
Consumer Reports'
frequency-of-repair information to identify
specific vehicles that will likely
have fewer future repairs.
Regarding the frequency-of-repair
information, if a vehicle of
interest is six years old or less,
consult the most recent April
edition of Consumer Reports.
If the vehicle is more than six
years old, add five years to the
vehicle's year and then consult
that year's April issue of
Consumer Reports.
Web discussion groups are also a good source of "from the
street"
information for identifying the strengths and weaknesses of
specific
vehicles.
It is a good idea to identify at least
two or three used vehicles
that meet your transportation needs.
Then, instead of being in
a position to only consider vehicle A,
you will have the flexibility
to consider vehicle A, B, or C. This
increases your ability to
purchase a used vehicle that is in
excellent condition at the
best price.
In addition to becoming informed about
particular vehicles, it
is worthwhile to learn the approximate
prices for vehicles of
interest.
To obtain a general idea of vehicle
prices, consult the current
monthly edition of the N.A.D.A.
Official Used Car Guide at a
public library, bank, or automobile
dealership.
Vehicle price information can also be
obtained by consulting
the vehicle classified sections of
major newspapers at a public
library. This is a convenient way to
get a read on future prices,
because vehicle price trends usually
begin in major cities and
then progress to other areas of the
country. The bottom line on
becoming informed about vehicles and
prices is to obtain a used
vehicle that is in excellent
condition, with a low repair history,
and at a substantial savings.
Identifying Used Vehicle Sources
There are a number of possible used
vehicle sources from
which to choose. Rather than becoming
overwhelmed with all
the possible sources, keep in mind
that each source is actually
competing with the others. Therefore,
when shopping for a vehicle,
be certain to let each source know
that you are also considering
the other sources.
Some of the sources to consider when
buying a used vehicle
include:
- The Internet (Investigate if the
source is reputable)
- Used automobile lots (buyer beware)
- Rental car companies
- Company vehicles
- New automobile dealerships
(investigate if the
dealer is reputable)
- Private owners
Contacting a used vehicle source by
telephone and obtaining
specific information can help to
reduce unnecessary legwork.
The telephone inquiry will enable you
to determine if a vehicle
is worth your time to investigate.
Some questions to ask a private owner
or other used vehicle
source about a vehicle include:
- How many miles has the vehicle been
driven
(the average is about 10,000 to
12,000 miles
per year)?
- Is the transmission an automatic, a
semi-automatic,
or a manual? If the transmission is
not what you
want, there is no need to ask
further questions.
- What is the condition of the
vehicle's body? Is
there any rust?
- Has the vehicle been repainted and
if so, why?
Avoid repainted vehicles. It is
better to see the
original paint even if a few small
stone chips
need to be touched-up.
- Has the vehicle been involved in
any accidents?
Avoid vehicles that have been
involved in any
accidents.
- When are the next state inspection
and emissions
standard test due? The vehicle
should have a
minimum of at least six months
remaining until
the next required state inspection
and
emissions test.
- How often were the engine oil and
the oil filter
changed, and who performed the
service?
An acceptable answer would be every
3,000 to 3,500 miles or about every
three to four months.
- Are you the original owner of the
vehicle?
Original owners tend to take better
care of
vehicles.
- What is the reason that the vehicle
is being
sold? It is encouraging if the
individual is
the original owner and if he or she
is
planning to again buy the same make
of
vehicle.
- Are parts and service readily
available for
the vehicle? Where can parts and
services be
obtained? Avoid buying a vehicle if
parts and
service are not readily available.
- Has the vehicle had any recent
repairs (new
brakes, tires, exhaust, battery) or
service
and if so, what garage performed
the repairs or
service?
- What price are you asking for the
vehicle?
The interior and exterior inspections
and the vehicle
test-drive are used to verify the
information obtained during
the telephone inquiry.
