Where To Find The Best Deals On A Used Car
I was asked the other day “Where can I find the best deals on a used car?” The answer really is Anywhere. There is no one place to find the best deals. Dealers of all types are just as likely to have a great deal on their lot as anyone else. Sometimes you can get a great deal from a private owner, but beware, not all “private owners” are what they proclaim themselves to be. There is really only one way to get a good deal on a used car, and that is to do your homework, know what you are looking at, and get an expert opinion on the vehicles value and condition.
Another important point to remember: Don’t get hung up on a cars mileage – high or low. Mileage is not always or even often a very good indicator of how good or bad a car is. The only thing that matters is condition. Condition, condition, condition. More times than I can count I have inspected cars with extremely low miles that were riddled with major issues. I have also seen many many high mileage cars that were maintained meticulously, and in the end were the “Best Deal” out there. So don’t be turned off by a car because it has more miles than you like. Pay attention to its actual condition, and how well maintained it was. This is where getting a Pre Purchase Inspection from a professional like Auto Analyst is key.
One more point to keep in mind: Don’t get hung up on the idea of a “Certified Used Car”. They may actually be one of the least likely “Best Deals” out there. The price is generally considerably higher, and certified cars are no more likely to not have issues than any other car. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that because it is “Certified” that someone has actually inspected it from top to bottom. Very often it simply means that the dealership has changed the oil and other fluids. I once inspected a “Certified” car that had been in a major accident sustaining bad frame damage, with many replaced body parts. The car was still crooked, but it was “Certified”.
So to sum up, with the exception of curbstoners, it doesn’t really matter where you find your car, just do your homework, find reviews on the cars you are interested in, shop hard, and get that pre purchase inspection and appraisal before you plunk down your hard earned money.
April 15th, 2009 at 7:55 am
I rarely comment on blogs but yours I had to stop and say Great Blog!!