Buying a Quality Used Car VS a New Car

While there may seem to be many advantages to buying a new car, the pros involved with buying a used car are big enough that, in many cases, can be more to your advantage.

There’s no doubt that when it comes to buying a car, the process combined with the expense can leave some people feeling extremely overwhelmed. Many people wonder if they should go with a new car or a near new used car. To help make your decision easier, we’ve created a list of the advantages and disadvantages of both. While there may seem to be many advantages to buying a new car, the pros involved with buying a used car are big enough that, in many cases, can be more to your advantage. Most importantly, keep an open mind and don’t let your emotions take over when purchasing a new ride.

Advantages of Buying a New Car
When you purchase a new car you can get it “made to order.” Meaning, you can spec a new car exactly the way you like it. Or, at least, you can have the dealer search for the car with your ideal combination of options including interior and exterior colors, safety features and new technologies. Additionally, and this is quite obvious, when buying a new car you know it’s not used. It hasn’t been in any accidents, it is in perfect condition, and requires no repairs. You know it has no wear or tear, it doesn’t smell funny and has a clean history that includes only being driven off the lot for a few test drives.

Like the rest of the new car, the warranty is completely untouched. The best warranty you can get is one that comes with a new car straight from the manufacturer. Unlike used cars, these warranties come with the vehicle and do not require you to pay extra for them.

The new car has plenty of the latest gizmos and latest technology that isn’t found in most used cars. Since multimedia and navigation technologies are constantly being researched and improved almost every day, you’ll always get the latest updates on a brand new car. So if you have to have the latest technology, without adding them yourself, your best bet is to purchase a new car straight from the showroom floor. These technology features are often safety features. Just like technology, safety features are constantly improving. As vehicle safety laws become more and more stringent, car makers are continuously required to change the way their vehicles are built and to change the safety features with which they are equipped.

Since 2012, all vehicles are required to have some form of tire pressure monitoring as well as stability control. Technologies such as blind-spot monitoring, side curtain airbags, adaptive cruise control and brake assist are not yet required but are quickly becoming more prevalent on affordable vehicles – not just luxury ones – thanks to the cost of these technologies coming down. Any used car made before 2012 will not have these features and you would need to add them yourself.
Newer cars also generally have lower emissions and higher fuel efficiency. Thanks to government requirements, cars are getting more fuel efficient while concurrently getting more powerful. Diesel vehicles are now cleaner than ever while hybrid options are growing too. Depending on your budget, buying a new car means you will have more options for technology and safety features than when purchasing a used car.

When purchasing a new car, you are more likely to have more financing options. Banks offer lower financing rates on new vehicles because they believe these vehicles are naturally worth more since they have not been hit by depreciation yet. It’s important to understand, however, that although the lower APR still applies to a larger sum, your payments and overall costs may be higher. If you do plan to finance your new vehicle it’s important to check your deals before buying your new car. Keep in mind, the cheaper car does not always turn out to be the better deal in the long run.

The maintenance of a new car, especially a luxury model, may be free for a specific amount of time or mileage. This is definitely a built-in savings that is often overlooked but should be considered when you do your final price analysis. Free scheduled maintenance will not only save you money but also attempts in finding a good mechanic. When the dealership takes care of everything for you, you’ll have a lot less to worry about.

When you have an idea of the make, model or type of new car you are looking for, a lot of the new-car search can be handed off to the salesperson who is happy to find the car you are looking for. When it comes to searching for a used car, you are often the one stuck doing all the leg work, whether it’s hunting on the internet, making appointments and visiting with private sellers, or simply driving from one used lot to the next.

Advantages of Buying a Used Car
After reading through all the advantages of buying a new car, you may find yourself questioning what could possibly be some advantages of purchasing a used car. Well, believe us, there are plenty of great reasons to purchase a used car!

For starters, price is one of the best reasons to purchase a used car. After all, a car – whether new or used – is an expense, not an investment. The minute you drive a new car off the lot it has already lost 10% (or more!) of its value. For those who don’t like to watch their money fly out the window, a used car might just be the best option. A used car will always be less expensive than a used car and because of this, car buyers may find they are able to step up to a nicer model.

As mentioned, depreciation is one of the best reasons to consider buying a used car in San Diego or wherever city you live. Cars lose value with each passing month and mile, but the steepest decline happens immediately. In some cases, models lose up 40 percent of their value in the very first year. With a used car you don’t have to worry about the car depreciating the second you take it off the lot. Plus, perhaps even better for those with anxiety, there’s no mental angst or mental depreciation when you buy a used car. Meaning, you don’t have to worry about taking up two parking spots so nobody dings your door or fearing a fallen acorn or rock will chip the paint. The car’s previous owners had to worry about all of that, but not you!

Typically, insurance rates and financing are affected by the year of the car, however, in the case of those with used cars, they tend to pay less. A little bit of research before purchasing your used car can save you from that initial insurance stick shock regardless of whatever used car you decide to choose.

Sure, there are many more choices when you purchase a new car and you are more likely to customize the car you want when you purchase a vehicle new, but you may just surprise yourself with the used car options that are available today. Plus, not all used cars are old. Many are, in fact, near new, and their previous owners simply upgraded to a new car with better features or newer technologies. With all the options available for new car shoppers, it only widens the search, but perfection and satisfaction rarely come easy. With a used car, you already know that you may not be getting your top choice, so you are more likely to be open to a wider range of options. Used car buyers, though diligent about finding the best car for them, may not be as picky and may have a more open mind to the selection.

Additionally, when you buy a used car, the dealership is more likely to allow you to trade in your car at the used car location. This is not always the case at new car dealerships. New car dealerships do not always accept trade-ins. You are more likely to get more for your trade-in and more money towards your used car when you trade in your vehicle at a used car dealership. If you purchase a new car, you will still be left trying to sell your previous car by yourself or with a dealership, which is a headache that you may not want to deal with after purchasing a new car.

If you are shopping for a new ride and are ready to find a used car that not only meets, but exceeds your expectations, then come to Auto City. We have a wide selection of the highest quality used cars , prices and financing you will not find anywhere in San Diego!