Buying a used car doesn’t have to be a difficult thing to do. It can be incredibly fun and productive if you know how to do it right. If you are going to be buying a used car follow these tips to have a stress free and enjoyable experience.
Look For Affordability
When people hear the word affordability they most often just think of the price that it costs to purchase something and whether or not they can afford to pay that price. But when you are talking about a buying a used car affordability means much more than just the sticker price. And just because one car is a lower price than another car doesn’t necessarily mean that it is a better deal. Here are a few things to consider when looking at affordability
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Gas Mileage – a car that gets better gas mileage is going to cost less money in the long run versus one that is more of a gas guzzler
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Maintenance Costs – some cars require more maintenance than others or may have parts that are expensive or hard to find. You need to consider maintenance costs when determining which used car to buy.
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Safety Ratings – while this will not have a direct effect on your out of pocket expenses getting a car with a higher safety rating is just an overall good idea. It could effectively save you hundreds of thousands of dollars if you ever get into an accident, not to mention the cost of pain and suffering.
It Doesn’t Have to be Pretty
When you are looking at used cars it may be easy to get caught up in how the car looks. And while it is important that you have a car that is not embarrassing to be seen in it is better if you don’t get too caught up in insignificant flaws that a used car might have, such as dings or minor dents. The most important thing to look at is how well the car runs. Getting a mechanically sound car that is going to be reliable long term is much more important than getting a flashy pretty car that breaks down and sits in your driveway waiting to get repaired.
When you get your used car make sure that you enjoy the moment. Take a picture of yourself in your car and show all your family and friends.
