Used cars are better

Despite what hundreds of car commercials tell you, buying a factory-new car isn’t always the best choice. No matter how many bells and whistles that brand new car has, you could save yourself a lot of money by buying a used car – and still end up with a vehicle that’s just as good. Here’s why:

1. Cars depreciate… fast

Unless the last owner of a used car was a compulsive road-tripper, a year-old car is practically the same as a new one. It looks the same, drives the same and has most of the same features as the newest model from the same manufacturer, but it could cost less than half as much. That’s because a new car begins to lose value the second you drive it off the lot, and there’s no way to get that value back. After about a year the sharp depreciation levels off, so by buying used you’re not just saving money, you’re losing less of the car’s value as you drive it.

2. Cars develop personality

Just like any other piece of technology, a car develops quirks as it’s driven. If you buy a car fresh off the factory floor you have no way of knowing whether the brakes will become a little soft as they settle, or similar eccentricities that aren’t quite flaws but that take some getting used to. A used car has had time to develop its personality; even better, a good dealership that handles used car sales will know about the quirks of the cars on its lot, so you can make an informed decision when you choose your new ride. A car’s last owner might have loved that the air conditioning always smells inexplicably of walnuts, but if that’s a deal-breaker for you, you should be able to find out up-front.

3. A used car dealer wants a relationship with you

Once you’ve bought a brand new car, your relationship with the dealer is over. A dealer who specializes in used car sales, like Wheel City Auto, wants to build a relationship with you, because when it’s time for you to change vehicles again, they want you to return to their dealership to trade in or trade up. That means that a used car dealer is much more likely to work with you to find financing options that work with your credit, to find the car that really works for your lifestyle and to continue to support you even after you’ve signed the paperwork and driven away.