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Buying Tips
How to Buy a Used Car
Step 1: Choosing the Right Car
By Philip Reed, Senior Consumer Advice Editor
Email
At the beginning of the car buying process, many people already have in mind the
car they want. But it's a good idea to stop right now and test this choice. Ask
yourself:
Can I afford this car? Will it fit into my monthly budget? We'll explain
how to determine what car you can afford in the next step. For now, make sure
your choice isn't obviously exceeding your budget.
Does it meet my current driving needs? Think of the type of driving you
do. Make sure you are shopping for a car that meets these driving patterns. Otherwise,
you may be car-shopping again soon.
Will it meet my future needs? Consider how you will feel about this car a
year from now, two years from now. Will your family be growing? Shrinking? Will
this car suit you as well in the future as it does now?
With these questions in mind, let's look at several factors that will affect the
kind of car you buy and the kind of deal you get.
What are your preferences? Listed below are just a few questions you should
ask yourself to narrow the choices.
- Automatic or manual shift? Automatic is best in traffic — a stick is
more fun.
- Two-door, four-door, SUV or station wagon?
- Two-wheel, four-wheel or all-wheel drive?
- Safety considerations: Do you want a car with ABS, side airbags, traction
control or stability control?
- Size: How much passenger/cargo space do you need?
- Gas mileage: the larger the engine, the higher the fuel costs.
If the answers to these questions raise doubts about your choice, it's time to
expand your horizons. Consider other vehicles in the same class. For example,
if you are considering a Toyota Camry, but want to consider alternatives, look
at the Honda Accord, Ford Taurus, Nissan Altima or Mitsubishi Galant. All these
cars are built for the same market, but they often have different features at
lower prices.
Bargain-Hunting. The cost of a vehicle is based on its reliability, performance
and popularity. Of course, you want a car that is reliable and performs well.
But do you want the same used car everyone else wants? If so, you will pay a premium
for it. In some cases, the only difference is the nameplate.
How much difference in price separates good-but-popular cars from the good-but-overlooked
counterparts? Two Edmunds.com editors recently shopped in the family sedan class.
They found that two-year-old Camrys and Accords were about $3,000 more than comparable
Altimas, 626s and Galants. For more on this subject read "How
to Get a Used Car Bargain."
Edmunds.com Used Car Pages
You will find all the information you need to make an informed decision about
what to buy on our used car pages. The major topics are accessed by clicking the
tabs at the top of the screen labeled: Prices & Incentives, Reviews & Info,
Buy or Sell Online, Std. Features & Warranties, Options & Colors, Specs & Safety,
Photos & Videos and Help. One especially helpful feature, found on the Reviews
& Info page, is a bar graph that represent the major aspects of each vehicle:
Safety, Reliability, Performance, Comfort and Value. These factors are then combined,
and the vehicle is given an Overall rating.
Another essential part of the used car pages is under the tab labeled Prices &
Incentives. Edmunds.com has developed a True Market Value pricing system to act
as a guideline when car shopping. By clicking a bar labeled "Customized Appraisal"
you can get a price for a used car. This figure is based upon thousands of similar
sales across the country. We will go into more detail about how to use Edmunds.com
True Market Value® pricing system in a later
step.
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