Used Car Websites - Things to Consider When Buying a Used Car
The economy is motivating people from all income brackets to consider a used car from one of many used car websites for their next vehicle purchase.
Obviously used car websites have autos available at much lower prices than the brand new ones.
But what many people don't realize is that many used cars offer incredible value for money compared to new.
If a vehicle has been serviced regularly from the start, it is a good bet that it will last a long long time.
We all have our favourite makes and models and if you are patient and know where to look, there are almost always quality units to choose from at a fraction of the cost.
But that is the trick - where to look.
Not all sources or used car websites are created equal.
Parts One thing to keep in mind when buying a used car is the availability and cost of parts.
Certain older models can be problematic in that replacement parts are hard or impossible to come by or are cost prohibitive.
So it won't do you much good to get a steal of a deal on the used car of your dreams if you can't get it repaired if it does eventually break down.
But the good news is, this only applies to a very small percentage of used cars on the market.
But I thought I would mention it, just to give you something to think about before making the final purchase.
And many used car websites will give you this type of information.
So do your homework.
Mechanical soundness Even if you end up buying from one of the many used car websites, test-drive the car if possible to get a feel for its health.
Even if you are not the mechanical type, you would be surprised at how acute your own natural instincts can be when driving a car.
Does it have good pick-up, does the engine sound smooth and free of any strange noises, does it handle smoothly and is the steering wheel free of any pull in any direction? But it is also a good idea to have a mechanic look at it and get his opinion.
It is never possible to determine 100% if a car is free of defects, but between a qualified mechanic having a look and a record of a full service history, the odds can be greatly in your favour.
Even buying from used car websites, you can sometimes have the opportunity to carry out the due diligence mentioned here.
Traditional sources of used cars.
Traditionally people have bought used cars from used car dealers, private owners, online used car websites and auctions.
They all have their advantages and disadvantages.
The most common is probably the used car Dealership.
Although the industry has taken on a very bad reputation because of the unscrupulous practices of a few, there can be a time and place where a used car dealership may be the best option (sometimes even better than auction or used car websites).
But unfortunately I think those scenarios are rare.
If you live in a small town for example and the local dealer has a solid reputation and will stand by his sale, this may be the way to go for an elderly woman who knows nothing about cars and is on a fixed income.
But lets face it, you will rarely ever find an incredible deal at a used car dealership.
They have huge overheads to pay and no matter how cheaply they may have acquired a vehicle, they will try to get top dollar for it.
Private owners are another common place to buy used cars (see also below, as the cars here are often listed on used car websites).
On the one hand you can speak directly with the owner about any problems he may have had, get an idea of gas mileage and reliability in cold weather, learn the service history etc etc.
But also private sellers have been known to embellish the truth as well.
After all they also are trying to get top dollar for their vehicle.
So this can be a risky proposition as well.
Used car websites - although can provide a wealth of information, for research purposes, they can be risky.
Depending on the State you live in, the regulation of these used car websites can be quite lax.
So common sense goes a long way.
If they have only been around a few months, proceed with caution.
If on the other hand it has been selling or auctioning cars for a long time and has a solid reputation, has been featured in the national media for example, well obviously they probably have much more credibility.
Auctions - which because of the state of the present economy and also because of the Internet and ease with which information can be shared, auctions are fast becoming the last bastion of the true Bargain.
Because so many vehicles are being repossessed and seized for various reasons relating to a falling economy, there are more vehicles being offered at auction and sale than ever before.
And many times the minimum bid may be extremely low.
This has been a boon to used car dealerships, because as I mentioned earlier, no matter how cheaply they acquire stock at a sale, it will be jacked up to market price on the lot.
This difference can sometimes be huge! Buying a used car, whether from a private party, used car websites, or auction sites, doesn't have to be intimidating or nerve racking, if you do just a little preparation beforehand.
With a computer and Internet access you already have 95% of the tools necessary to find you a quality, reliable used trucks and cars at a faction of traditional outlets.
Obviously used car websites have autos available at much lower prices than the brand new ones.
But what many people don't realize is that many used cars offer incredible value for money compared to new.
If a vehicle has been serviced regularly from the start, it is a good bet that it will last a long long time.
We all have our favourite makes and models and if you are patient and know where to look, there are almost always quality units to choose from at a fraction of the cost.
But that is the trick - where to look.
Not all sources or used car websites are created equal.
Parts One thing to keep in mind when buying a used car is the availability and cost of parts.
Certain older models can be problematic in that replacement parts are hard or impossible to come by or are cost prohibitive.
So it won't do you much good to get a steal of a deal on the used car of your dreams if you can't get it repaired if it does eventually break down.
But the good news is, this only applies to a very small percentage of used cars on the market.
But I thought I would mention it, just to give you something to think about before making the final purchase.
And many used car websites will give you this type of information.
So do your homework.
Mechanical soundness Even if you end up buying from one of the many used car websites, test-drive the car if possible to get a feel for its health.
Even if you are not the mechanical type, you would be surprised at how acute your own natural instincts can be when driving a car.
Does it have good pick-up, does the engine sound smooth and free of any strange noises, does it handle smoothly and is the steering wheel free of any pull in any direction? But it is also a good idea to have a mechanic look at it and get his opinion.
It is never possible to determine 100% if a car is free of defects, but between a qualified mechanic having a look and a record of a full service history, the odds can be greatly in your favour.
Even buying from used car websites, you can sometimes have the opportunity to carry out the due diligence mentioned here.
Traditional sources of used cars.
Traditionally people have bought used cars from used car dealers, private owners, online used car websites and auctions.
They all have their advantages and disadvantages.
The most common is probably the used car Dealership.
Although the industry has taken on a very bad reputation because of the unscrupulous practices of a few, there can be a time and place where a used car dealership may be the best option (sometimes even better than auction or used car websites).
But unfortunately I think those scenarios are rare.
If you live in a small town for example and the local dealer has a solid reputation and will stand by his sale, this may be the way to go for an elderly woman who knows nothing about cars and is on a fixed income.
But lets face it, you will rarely ever find an incredible deal at a used car dealership.
They have huge overheads to pay and no matter how cheaply they may have acquired a vehicle, they will try to get top dollar for it.
Private owners are another common place to buy used cars (see also below, as the cars here are often listed on used car websites).
On the one hand you can speak directly with the owner about any problems he may have had, get an idea of gas mileage and reliability in cold weather, learn the service history etc etc.
But also private sellers have been known to embellish the truth as well.
After all they also are trying to get top dollar for their vehicle.
So this can be a risky proposition as well.
Used car websites - although can provide a wealth of information, for research purposes, they can be risky.
Depending on the State you live in, the regulation of these used car websites can be quite lax.
So common sense goes a long way.
If they have only been around a few months, proceed with caution.
If on the other hand it has been selling or auctioning cars for a long time and has a solid reputation, has been featured in the national media for example, well obviously they probably have much more credibility.
Auctions - which because of the state of the present economy and also because of the Internet and ease with which information can be shared, auctions are fast becoming the last bastion of the true Bargain.
Because so many vehicles are being repossessed and seized for various reasons relating to a falling economy, there are more vehicles being offered at auction and sale than ever before.
And many times the minimum bid may be extremely low.
This has been a boon to used car dealerships, because as I mentioned earlier, no matter how cheaply they acquire stock at a sale, it will be jacked up to market price on the lot.
This difference can sometimes be huge! Buying a used car, whether from a private party, used car websites, or auction sites, doesn't have to be intimidating or nerve racking, if you do just a little preparation beforehand.
With a computer and Internet access you already have 95% of the tools necessary to find you a quality, reliable used trucks and cars at a faction of traditional outlets.
