Need your input! New vs Used Cars?!?!
- Thread starter Gr8KarmaSF
- Start date
With new you know who the owner is and can keep up maintenance records which will improve your sales or trade in value. Being a 2nd or 3rd owner makes it harder to sell and will get a little less as a trade.
With used, you don't know what the person did to the car. It may only have 20k but it could have been a very rough 20k. If I knew I was going to trade in a car every one or two years, I would drive it like a race car.
With used, you don't know what the person did to the car. It may only have 20k but it could have been a very rough 20k. If I knew I was going to trade in a car every one or two years, I would drive it like a race car.
Gr8KarmaSF;1434538; said:
Go 06/07 Toyota Camry. Nice cars, plenty of room, good mpg and creature features. CPO is just what it sounds like you need.
As a wrench turner, avoid hybrids for a few more years. They aren't all they are cracked up to be.... yet.
They claim 200k miles out of the batteries........... I find it hard to believe.evilxyardxgnome;1433881; said:
I don't think so.
If you actually know what you are looking for and get it road assessed, check the service history etc. You can pick up some very very nice used cars.
Just because a car is used does not mean its a piece of crap. I know that every car that I will ever have sell will be a great buy for the next person. The reason being is that I look after everything that I own.
So if you can find a seller with that same mentality you will more than likely find a quality car for a very good price.
This all depends on how much you have to spend though. Usually the cheap and nasty stuff is good to keep away from.
I would like to encourage everyone to buy brand new cars, this way I'll have a better selection to choose from when you decide to sell in a few years.
Can't go wrong with a Certified pre owned, especially and Honda or Toyota. Also see if you can find a lease return. A 3 year old car with 36,000 miles the CPO will warrant the car until it's seven years old or hits a 100K. The car will end up costing 60% of when it was new.
I've had my 98 accord for 7 years and only had to replace the catalitic converter(covered under CPO warranty) other then battery and regular maintainence.
Can't go wrong with a Certified pre owned, especially and Honda or Toyota. Also see if you can find a lease return. A 3 year old car with 36,000 miles the CPO will warrant the car until it's seven years old or hits a 100K. The car will end up costing 60% of when it was new.
I've had my 98 accord for 7 years and only had to replace the catalitic converter(covered under CPO warranty) other then battery and regular maintainence.
If money is no object, then buy a new car, get the full warranty, the new car smell and be happy 
If you are like the rest of us and dont have unlimited money, then look for a good 2nd hand car. If you can think about buying a new car, then you can afford a decent used car.
The depreciation on a new car is murder... you buy it, drive off the lot and it drops about 20% in value
Like the guys above have said, look for a late model Toyota or Honda. They should run for 10 years / 200,000 miles with only routine repairs. (servicing, tyres, brake pads, etc.) Now if you find one with 50,000 miles and 3 years old it will only be 1/2 the new price, so you get 75% of the cars good life for 50% of the cash
Yes you may take a risk that the engine or gearbox drops it's cookies for some reason.(unlikely) But even if you have to get another engine (2nd hand) fitted, you are still ahead on the deal. Remember it cost $10,000 less to start with.
Cheers
Ian
If you are like the rest of us and dont have unlimited money, then look for a good 2nd hand car. If you can think about buying a new car, then you can afford a decent used car.
The depreciation on a new car is murder... you buy it, drive off the lot and it drops about 20% in value
Like the guys above have said, look for a late model Toyota or Honda. They should run for 10 years / 200,000 miles with only routine repairs. (servicing, tyres, brake pads, etc.) Now if you find one with 50,000 miles and 3 years old it will only be 1/2 the new price, so you get 75% of the cars good life for 50% of the cash
Yes you may take a risk that the engine or gearbox drops it's cookies for some reason.(unlikely) But even if you have to get another engine (2nd hand) fitted, you are still ahead on the deal. Remember it cost $10,000 less to start with.
Cheers
Ian
if you go cpo lease over loaner or demo make sure you get the full history of the car b/c some lease owners dont take good care of their cars, they are not bad buys if you research them and find out the history. I would agree on Honda/Acura and Toyota only becuase I ve owned all three and I LOVE them and they run forever (I know a civic running strong - with original motor and has 400k) =] My Acura that I have now runs good and I love it. I know a few people who have over 200k on their Acuras and they still run (seeing as how honda/acura are the same thing). Anywho good luck =]
If you decide to buy new, check out Costco's car plan. They hook you up to a dealership. Bought my truck at $500 over dealer invoice through them. There's nothing to haggle over because their pricing is lower than anybody elses. Two closer dealers were actually trying to buy my truck from the dealership I dealt with, to sell back to me....
Whatever you decide to do, you've got to do your homework first-- http://www.edmunds.com/ is a great resource. With new cars, there is a local advertising fee (Edmunds does mention that) which differs from region to region and is not included in the edmund's pricing.
Whatever you decide to do, you've got to do your homework first-- http://www.edmunds.com/ is a great resource. With new cars, there is a local advertising fee (Edmunds does mention that) which differs from region to region and is not included in the edmund's pricing.
