The next step in the car-buying process is determining what to buy. Which car is right for you and where do you find out about different kinds of used cars? This is tricky because the numerous choices of used cars are more than triple what new-car buyers have to sift through, and information is often more difficult to find. To start, you should first figure out what traits you need in a vehicle. For instance, someone who's shopping for an image car has different needs than someone who wants to get decent gas mileage for his or her two-hour commute to work. Think about your lifestyle rather than concentrating on looks alone; a Corvette may make you smile when you glance out at your driveway, but do you have alternate transportation for when that blizzard hits in early November?
Cars to Fit Your Lifestyle
The first thing to do is to decide on a class of vehicle that best fits your lifestyle. For instance, if you need to tote children, a two-seat roadster is obviously not a wise decision. With the plethora of used cars and trucks on dealership lots, choosing a car can be a confusing and time-consuming process. Below are some questions that may help you make some important decisions early in the game.
- Do you prefer a manual or automatic transmission? Cars with manual transmissions usually cost less than those with automatics.
- Do you want a two-door coupe or a four-door sedan, an SUV or a station wagon? Which of these cars best fits your needs?
- Do you require two-, four- or all-wheel drive? Location is a prime factor in this decision. Unless she is into hunting or off-road camping, a Southern California resident probably won't see enough inclement weather to justify the extra money and reduction in gas mileage that comes with four-wheel-drive vehicles. Someone who lives in Vermont, however, may need four-wheel drive for several months out of the year.
- How important is safety? Check any prospective vehicle's government-tested safety rating, as well as the availability of driver and passenger airbags. (NHTSA)
- How many passengers do you tote around on a regular basis?
- Do you require a lot of cargo room?
- Will you be taking many road trips?
- How long is your daily commute?
- Do you need antilock brakes or traction control?
- How big of an engine do you want? If you are used to driving around in a vehicle with a powerful V8, will a four-cylinder engine be too slow for you? Alternately, if you have been driving a four-banger, will switching to a V8 break your pocketbook at the gas pump?
- Do you tow a boat or camper on a regular basis?
- Are there certain features that you must have? For example, if you have a bad back, adjustable lumbar support may be a non-negotiable item for you, and you'll have to shop cars that are only a few years old. Or perhaps you are very short and need a seat adjuster that will allow you to raise the driver's seat. If there are features you know you simply must have, make a list of them so that you can immediately discount any vehicle that doesn't meet your requirements.
While it is important to purchase a car that fits your immediate and future needs, we can't forget that people are passionate about their cars. A vehicle reflects an image the owner wants to project. But while a sports car may be the ideal of a person who happens to work in the sales field, it might not be the best vehicle to drive clients or lug samples. Similarly, a stay-at-home parent may see the practicality of buying a minivan, but loathe the stigma attached to such mommy-mobiles. A compromise is usually possible. For the businessperson: a sedan with a manual transmission and a mammoth engine. And for the parent: a full-size sport-utility vehicle or sporty wagon. But be sure to plan ahead. You may end up keeping the same vehicle for the next six or seven years, so try to anticipate future needs and lifestyle changes.
There are several different classes of automobiles on the market. By class, we mean sport-utility vehicle, van, roadster, sedan, coupe, pickup, station wagon, etc. If you're still wondering what sort of vehicle falls into each class, visit Edmund's Town Hall and see what some owners and shoppers have to say about how they use their cars. Deciding on a class of vehicle also revolves around the "m" word--money. Think about how much you want to spend, how much you want to put down, and how much you can afford per month ahead of time. Don't wait until you've fallen in love with a car to try and come up with these estimates.
Once you've decided on a class, look at individual models. Midsize sedan shoppers, for example, should read up on several different sedans before narrowing down the list (there is a smorgasbord of midsize sedans on the market) and sport-utility vehicle shoppers should gather as much information on the different trucks available from Web sites, books, magazines and used-car research aids.
Narrowing down your dream list is a bit more difficult for used cars than new cars because there are so many more used vehicles. Talk to friends or acquaintances who drive cars that appeal to you; word of mouth is often one of the best ways to gather information about reliability or quirks of certain cars. Edmund's Town Hall hosts topics for owners of many different makes and models; this is a good place to start your initial research.
How Old is Too Old?
An ideal used car is less than five years old and has less than 50,000 miles on the odometer. These criteria are important because parts wear out due to age as well as excessive use. Acceptable mileage can be slightly modified for certain vehicles that are known to have excellent reliability. For instance, some cars with 60,000 or 70,000 miles still have a long life ahead of them, if the car has been properly serviced.
When looking for low-mileage vehicles, the general rule of thumb is that an average of 10,000 miles per year indicates a prime vehicle. Some people consider 12,000 miles a year to still be quite low, and 15,000 annual miles is considered average. Any vehicle that has been driven more than 15,000 miles per year should be avoided. Consider 10,000 miles per year your target mileage, but be flexible if the car has been well cared for. Also keep in mind that this figure means nothing if a car has been abused. A car can be ruined in just a few hundred miles if someone tries hard enough, so don't assume that just because a vehicle has low miles that it's in good shape.
Odometer readings can be rolled back, or "clocked." This fraud is practiced by thousands of fly-by-night, independent used-car sellers nationwide. The effect is obvious: a high-mileage car is turned into a low-mileage car to increase the car's value. To avoid falling victim to odometer fraud, have the title checked for mileage by performing a VIN check at Carfax. If the car has been sold used before, its mileage was previously recorded. If the title's recorded mileage is higher than what the odometer shows today, call the police to report the seller for odometer fraud.
Another easy way to ensure that you are getting a decent buy is to check out reliability ratings of various used cars. But keep in mind that reliability doesn't necessarily indicate high resale value. BMWs, for instance, don't have stellar reliability ratings, but they do hold their value well. There are many sources of information on used-car reliability and value retention, both on the Internet and in print; taking the time up front to look into this can save you a hunk of cash in the long run.
