Home / Car News / 5 Buyer Mistakes to Avoid When Shopping For a Used Car

 

A used car, according to many auto experts, is a more feasible purchase than a new one. It’s easy to see the logic a new car will, after all, lose over half its value in three years or less. If you are willing to subordinate that new car smell for lower repayments, you’ll realize that the benefits of buying used are far greater.

Shopping for a used car calls for some wisdom, considering just how easy it is to buy a car that has many flaws. The pitfalls are many, but with some caution, you can snatch up a very good deal. Here are such 5 mistakes to avoid if you want to be satisfied with your purchase.

Shopping Without Understanding Your Needs

It’s important that you figure out what kind of car that you need. Is it a family car that you want? Will you be driving off-road a lot? Do you need a lot of cargo space for your equipment? These are some of the details you need to work out before shopping. Doing so will enable you fight off the temptation of buying a car that overwhelmingly appeals to you, but is incapable of serving your needs. Understand the body type, the powertrain, safety features and reliability ratings in advance before anything else. Work out how much you can afford in running costs as well.

Failing To Sort Out Your Financing First

Used cars are inexpensive to buy. A quick review of the used cars Scunthorpe industry will reveal just how affordable the purchase can be. This however, does not imply that you need to rush with the decision financially. Unless you plan on paying cash, you need to sort out your financing first. Verify your credit standing and ascertain that you stand a good chance of getting a loan. Your bank or credit union will finance your purchase for a lot less than a dealer would.

Limiting Your Search to One Area

It’s understandable if you search for used cars Scunthorpe if you live in the area. But this will not paint you an elaborate picture of what the used car industry is like. Your search radius should be much bigger. This will enable you find more models and more pricing options. There’s an abundance of free online resources to help you compare different deals take advantage of them.

Not Having the Car Inspected

This is a critical step in buying a used car. A thorough inspection will bring to light any faults the car may have. Bringing a mechanic is recommended, as they will more easily uncover any wrongs with the car. This will save you a significant amount in unforeseen repair costs that might haunt you later. An inspection alone will not suffice. If the car does pass the test, take it out on the road and see how it runs. A test-drive will help you get acquainted with the car in a more intimate way. Any intermittent issues that may have been missed will become apparent when you hit the road. You should test-drive at least five different cars before reaching any final decisions.

Shopping When You Are Really Desperate For a Car

Desperation is a dislikable characteristic to have when shopping for anything. It is fashioned into a weapon that can be used against you. It erodes your negotiating confidence and places you at the mercy of the dealer. Don’t shop for a used car when you absolutely need it. Allow yourself a reasonable frame of time. This will give you an advantage that you can use against the dealer and that is the willingness to walk away.

These are the most critical mistakes to avoid when you are looking for a used car. Don’t allow yourself to fall in love with any car if it is ill-suited to your needs, over your budget or beyond what you can afford in ownership cost. While a few mechanical ills with a car might allow you to negotiate for a lower price, steer clear of any car that is not in a good condition. Ideally it should be able to run without you doing any extensive or expensive work on it first.

This article is contributed by www.motordepot.co.uk, the top Car Supermarket for used cars in the U.K.

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About the author: Matthew Sadler

 

Matthew is a Senior Editor at Cars Edition Network and eBest Cars UK - Car Reviews.

 

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