Jan 29, 2019

Are you considering a new car? You might be trying to determine whether you should purchase a new or used vehicle.

Should you buy a new or used vehicle?

There are a lot of great reasons to consider a good used car. Here are five reasons why a used vehicle is worth considering:

  1. Less Depreciation: When you buy a new — or nearly new — vehicle, the value depreciates quickly over the first five years. (Carfax estimates a new car loses 20% of its value the first year and 10% annually for the next four years.) When you purchase a good used vehicle, the depreciation has already occurred, and in most cases your car will hold close to its current value over the next five years.
  2. Lower Payments: Instead of making a substantial down payment on a new car and still having a payment of $400 or $500 a month (or more), you could pay cash for a value used vehicle and not have a monthly car payment at all. Or, if you did need financing, Neil Huffman Honda can help you arrange financing for your pre-owned vehicle purchase for as little as $100 per month.* Value vehicles are also a great opportunity for those with less-than-perfect credit to get a very affordable vehicle at reasonable terms, while helping to rebuild your credit.
  3. Insurance is cheaper: Depending on the requirements of your financing company and your insurance company, insurance on value vehicles is substantially less than a new car. For one reason, the replacement value is less, so full coverage insurance costs significantly less. If you have the luxury of paying cash for the car, you could simply keep minimum state-mandated insurance on your vehicle, leading to even further savings.
  4. Perfect for younger drivers: New or inexperienced drivers are bound to make mistakes, leading to dings, dents and minor fender benders. A new vehicle is generally a bad choice for younger drivers, due to their inexperience driving and the cost of insurance on a new vehicle with a young driver. Neil Huffman’s value line of pre-owned vehicles is perfect for the new or inexperienced driver.
  5. Less Maintenance: Every car purchased from Neil Huffman includes their exclusive Two-Year Complimentary Maintenance package that covers oil changes, tire rotations and multiple-point vehicle inspections for the first two years you own your car, assuring your vehicle stays in top condition. All of our service visits also include complimentary shuttle service, as well as complimentary Wi-Fi, snacks and beverages in our customer lounge.

What Should You Look For When Buying A Used Car?

After you’ve decided what type of vehicle and price range you are looking for, you can begin looking at vehicles. You’ll want to do a thorough walk around of any vehicle you’re considering.  Look for obvious body damage, cracked glass, rust or any other damage to the vehicle. Check under the car and in the engine compartment for obvious leaks (fresh fluids on the pavement where it was parked are a dead giveaway.) Check the tires for funny wear patterns that may indicate the vehicle needs an alignment or other suspension repairs. Inspect the interior, making sure everything works, the windows seal properly and there is not significant wear and tear or damage.

Used cars are great for younger, inexperienced drivers

Take the car for a test drive and listen for major squeaks, squeals, rattles, clunks or other noises that may indicate the vehicle is in need of repair. Check the exhaust and make sure there is not significant white or blue smoke, which could indicate the engine needs overhauling. Be sure the transmission shifts smoothly and the car accelerates and stops as it should. Make sure the car is comfortable, the seats can be adjusted to where you can drive and you can see out all the windows.

For additional help, there are a lot of used care tips, advice and checklists online. Check out these links:

KBB Car Buying Advice: How Much You Can Afford

CarFax: Car Buying Checklist

If you think you found the car that’s right for you, arrange for a mechanical inspection by a private mechanic of your choice. Most sellers should agree to this, if they do not, they may be hiding something and it’s time to move on to a different vehicle. Having an inspection leads to the assurance that you are purchasing a safe and reliable vehicle. It can also highlight repairs that may need to be made which you can then use to negotiate the price or have the seller make the repairs before you buy the car.

Neil Huffman Honda Has A Large Selection Of Used Vehicles For $5,000 Or Less

Neil Huffman Honda generally has a wide selection of used vehicles for $5,000 or less in stock.  All of our vehicles have been safety inspected, and we will disclose any damage or deficiencies that you need to be aware of. All of our used vehicles are priced with our exclusive Huffman Value Pricing, guaranteeing you a NO HAGGLE/REAL-TIME market value price. In other words, we will NOT artificially inflate our prices by thousands of dollars in hopes of winning a negotiating contest with you. We give you our BEST price up front, with NO back-and-forth negotiating.

If you’re ready to purchase a pre-owned vehicle, let Neil Huffman Honda help you pick out the perfect used vehicle!

 

* Depending upon the qualifications of the buyer and other factors