Advice on buying new or used cars

by Kyle Busch. Adapted from "Drive the Best" and used with permission.

Why does it make sense to consider buying used vehicles?

Cars lose value, especially during the first three years of ownership. Buying a 2- to 3- year-old used vehicle will provide about a one-third reduction in the cost.

What is a common error than many people make when buying transportation?

Not thoroughly identifying their transportation needs and then purchasing a vehicle that does not entirely meet those needs.

Is it best to buy a vehicle from a specific source?

A number of vehicle sources should be considered (i.e., private owners, rental car companies, company vehicles, off lease vehicles, new car dealerships, bank repossessions, the Internet). When buyers inform a vehicle source that they are also considering the other sources, better deals are usually obtained.

What questions should buyers ask by telephone to better determine if a vehicle is worth their time to investigate?

How many miles has the vehicle been driven (the average is about 11,000 to 12,000 miles per year)?
Is the transmission an automatic, a semi-automatic, or a manual? If the transmission is not what the buyer wants, there is no need to ask further questions.
Has the vehicle been repainted and if so, why? It is best to avoid repainted vehicles.
When are the next state inspection and emissions standard test due? The vehicle should have a minimum of at least eight months remaining until the next required state inspection and emissions test.
How often were the engine oil and the oil filter changed, and who performed the service? An acceptable answer would be every 3,000 to 3,500 miles or about every three to four months.
Are you the original owner of the vehicle? Original owners tend to take better care of vehicles.
What is the reason that the vehicle is being sold? It is encouraging if the individual is the original owner and if he or she is planning to again buy the same make of vehicle.

How long should the vehicle test-drive take?

A minimum of 20 minutes on two separate occasions. The test-drive should include a variety of roads that buyers will drive day-in and day-out. A mechanic should confirm what buyers have concluded after they have inspected and test-driven a vehicle. Buyers should request that the vehicle be raised on a lift for the mechanic's inspection and that the mechanic test-drives the vehicle.

What protection do buyers have when purchasing a 2- to 3- year-old vehicle?

Most vehicles have manufacturers' bumper-to-bumper warranties of three years-36,000 miles or four years-50,000 miles in addition to five years-60,000 miles on the drive train (i.e., engine and transmission). The warranties are transferable to buyers who purchase the vehicles used. The warranties begin on the date that vehicles are first purchased from new car dealers. Thus, it is important to determine the date when a vehicle was initially purchased.

What is a long term benefit of saving one-third when buying vehicles?

The average new vehicle costs about $15,000 to $18,000. Most 2- to 3- year-old vehicles will easily provide five or more years of trouble free driving. If buyers invest the savings (i.e., $5,000 to $6,000) and they are able to add $800 per year toward transportation, after a five-year period, they will have the money needed to purchase another 2- to 3- year-old vehicle without straining their budget.