Tips on how to buy a car
THERE are a number of advantages in buying second hand-cars, and there are also disadvantages.
When making the decision to buy a second-hand car it is important to do your research and carefully consider both the pluses and minuses.
Here are some tips by website www.carfax.com you need to remember when buying a second hand car Advantages 1. Depreciation
— a new car starts to lose value as soon as you drive it off the lot. Unless you are dealing in very high end collector cars, every car you ever purchase will lose value pretty quickly. When you buy a second-hand car, quite a bit of that depreciation has already taken place so you are buying an asset. While it will still depreciate, it will lose value at a slower rate
2. Upfront costs — a new car is generally more expensive than a used one. You will be spending less of your money upfront and may also be able to pay cash to avoid financing the vehicle
3. Cheaper insurance — used cars are usually cheaper to insure. You will also often save money on registration and tags. However, if you live in a state that requires an emissions test you will probably have to get one for a used car. This expense would be avoided with a new car.
Disadvantages
1. Buying a problem — whenever you buy a used car you are taking a risk that you may be buying someone else's problem. While it is not unheard of for new cars to have a large number of breakdowns or problems, you can be assured that the dealer or manufacturer will make every effort to make you happy. If you encounter problems with a used car you are often on your own.
2. No warranty — a brand new car will come with a pretty extensive warranty. A used car will not offer the same protection. Depending on how old the car is there may be an original factory warranty remaining. If possible, shop for a certified preowned car.
3. Choice — while their selection of used cars is huge you may not get the exact car you are looking for. When buying new, you can choose all the options and colours.
Tips for buying second hand cars
1. When buying a second hand car, you have to be careful and vigilant.
2. You don't have to be a mechanic to find damage done to the car. Make sure that you check the car inside, outside and below
3. Start with the exterior and check it for possible problems like ripped lines, gaps in the car panels, rusty spots, corrosion, accidents and trailer hitches
4. Check the engine for oil or coolant leaks. Check the engine for dirt. Is the oil level low and is the dipstick too dark?
5. Make sure that the engine shows that proper maintenance work has been done regularly. There should be no smoke, warning lights, steam or sounds when you run the engine