There are plenty of money savvy car buyers who will tell you that the right used car may be your best purchase. This seems a little strange, but there is a solid argument behind this premise. Certainly, a used car will cost less, but the fear is that the maintenance and repairs will offset that cheap car payment. Many longtime car consumers say that simply isn’t true.
When you define the right used car, you’re talking about a car with about 30,000 miles on it. It’s usually been owned by a driver who either leased it, or always likes to be in a new ride. 30,000 is the break-in point on most cars. If stuff is going to go wrong, it’s going to happen in this time frame. Provided the maintenance has been done up to this point, this is good used car buy. If you’re not sure what to look for in a used car, here are a few clues.
Is the interior in good shape? People who trash the interior of a car probably care even less about what’s under the hood. There’s a good chance the maintenance is lax or the car has been driven incorrectly. What about scratches and dings on the paint job? Once again, poor cosmetics are an indicator that a used car has had even worse maintenance. Take the car to a lemon expert. That would be an independent mechanic who will give it a good look over. Based on his comments, you’ll know whether you’re getting a good buy or not.
Avoid fleet cars. Vehicles that have been used as rentals are definitely abused. Even though the maintenance is done regularly, it’s a big mystery as to where the car was actually driven. Renters really don’t car about the car. Buy from a legitimate dealership. Their reputation is on the line; even with their used car sales.