New or used car?
There are lots of reasons why it makes sense to buy a used car instead of a new one. New cars depreciate fast - usually 60-70% in the first three years depending on the make. Just walking out of the dealership your new car will depreciate by several thousand dollars. The good thing about a new car is that you can take advantage of the full warranty and there is less likely to be problems that need fixing. Nevertheless by buying a used car that is only a couple of years old you may still be able to use the warranty.
The used car market has soared in recent years as the economy tightens belts and this has led to a shortage of used cars in many segments of the market.
Buying a used car will always be a bit of a gamble because you can't be sure that has been properly maintained, is accident-free and is showing genuine mileage. The team at carbuyingtips.com quotes that "2.5 million cars are wrecked each year and 1 million of them end up back on the road. However for many people used cars are the best option because it means they can buy a much better car for the same money.
But don't fear! There are some ways to minimize the risk in buying a used car, and here the team at Autotropolis will give you some tips to help you to avoid the pitfalls
The used car market has soared in recent years as the economy tightens belts and this has led to a shortage of used cars in many segments of the market.
Buying a used car will always be a bit of a gamble because you can't be sure that has been properly maintained, is accident-free and is showing genuine mileage. The team at carbuyingtips.com quotes that "2.5 million cars are wrecked each year and 1 million of them end up back on the road. However for many people used cars are the best option because it means they can buy a much better car for the same money.
But don't fear! There are some ways to minimize the risk in buying a used car, and here the team at Autotropolis will give you some tips to help you to avoid the pitfalls
Autotropolis Top 3 Used SUVs
This is based on the Autotropolis team's assessment of a range of factors that buyers look for in a used SUV including size, handling, power, towing, reliability and off-road ability.
Land Cruiser (1998 - 2007)
Toyota's Land Cruiser is one of the most capable SUVs on the planet because of its ability to balance serious 4WD credentials with comfortable on-road performance. It has been used all over the world and in all sorts of environments for decades and remains as popular as ever. It transports up to 8 people in various degrees of comfort depending on the trim and is powered by a V8 engine that is almost unstoppable.
For more information see the Autotropolis review on Land Cruiser
Chevrolet Tahoe (2000 - 2006)
General Motors is renowned for making good SUVs and the Chevrolet Tahoe is a great combination of truck-based SUV with great styling and seating for up to 9 passengers. It can tow a class-leading 8,000lb with specially-equipped tow hitch, and comes with a full range of off-road features as well as great on-road comfort and handling.
For more information see the Autotropolis review on Chevrolet Tahoe
Porsche Cayenne (2003 - 2006)
As unlikely as it is, the Porsche Cayenne is one of the most fun and powerful SUVs ever built. Although it is not cheap, it is well worth the investment for the superb driving experience that combines incredible power with great comfort and brilliant off-road performance. It can tow as much as the Tahoe, carry plenty of cargo and is luxurious beyond expectations. Plus it is great for your image!
For more information see the Autotropolis review on Porsche Cayenne
For more info see Autotropolis Best Used Car: Full-Sized SUV
Land Cruiser (1998 - 2007)
Toyota's Land Cruiser is one of the most capable SUVs on the planet because of its ability to balance serious 4WD credentials with comfortable on-road performance. It has been used all over the world and in all sorts of environments for decades and remains as popular as ever. It transports up to 8 people in various degrees of comfort depending on the trim and is powered by a V8 engine that is almost unstoppable.For more information see the Autotropolis review on Land Cruiser
Chevrolet Tahoe (2000 - 2006)
General Motors is renowned for making good SUVs and the Chevrolet Tahoe is a great combination of truck-based SUV with great styling and seating for up to 9 passengers. It can tow a class-leading 8,000lb with specially-equipped tow hitch, and comes with a full range of off-road features as well as great on-road comfort and handling.For more information see the Autotropolis review on Chevrolet Tahoe
Porsche Cayenne (2003 - 2006)
As unlikely as it is, the Porsche Cayenne is one of the most fun and powerful SUVs ever built. Although it is not cheap, it is well worth the investment for the superb driving experience that combines incredible power with great comfort and brilliant off-road performance. It can tow as much as the Tahoe, carry plenty of cargo and is luxurious beyond expectations. Plus it is great for your image!For more information see the Autotropolis review on Porsche Cayenne
For more info see Autotropolis Best Used Car: Full-Sized SUV
Do your homework
The first thing to make sure of when you are buying a used car is that you have done your homework BEFORE you start looking at cars.
Think about the following:
- Are you trading in a car to buy a new one? If so, factor that into your thinking and be realistic about how much is it worth. Kelley Blue Book is a brilliant place to check out the value of used cars. But beware - Kelley Blue Book is known in the industry to give lower estimates of trade-in prices. Remember that if you trade your old car in and buy from the same dealer, he may be willing to give you a little more as an incentive. Selling it privately will usually mean more money as long as you are prepared to put the work into advertising, making a time to show buyers and going through the process of selling.
- How much can you afford? Once again be realistic! Take into consideration your trade-in, insurance costs, registration and sales tax.
- Organise your finances! If you need finance for your new car, it is often a good idea to organise it from a bank or credit union rather than a car dealer because it can give them even more leverage to take advantage of you.
- Then, and only then, you can start to look at which cars fit your price range.
- Do lots of research - these days on the internet are an enormous range of resources for researching cars. Read about the models and makes you like, how many passengers they seat, what kind of engines they have, how reliable they are etc. Most important of all find out how much they cost for the year models you are interested in. Take note of which years the models changed in appearance and engine type (usually around every 5-6 years). The more you know about the cars you are looking for, the better equipped you will be to find a bargain.
Some of the places you can find plenty of info are:
Autotropolis
Edmunds
Kelley Blue Book
Consumer Guide Autos
Autotropolis Top 3 Used Pickup Trucks
The team at Autotropolis have put together this list based on the power, reliability, fuel economy and versatility of the pickup trucks on the market.
Toyota Tacoma (2005 - 2007)
As a compact pickup the Tacoma is hard to beat with muscular good looks, 6ft bed even in the double-cab, and plenty of power especially in the 4.0 liter V6. There are sports editions as well that make this more of a street machine, and the TRD edition for off-road adventures which features jacked up suspension, rear diff locks, hill start assist and all-terrain tires.
For more information see the Autotropolis review on Toyota Tacoma
Dodge Dakota (2005 - 2007)
With a new design in 2005, the Dakota is well known for its powerful engines and impressive 7,000lb towing ability. On the inside it is comfortable and spacious, and on the road it handles with control and refinement. A shorter bed makes city handling easier.
For more information see the Autotropolis review on Dodge Dakota
Nissan Frontier (2005 - 2007)
No longer the also-ran of the truck world, Nissan introduced a new Frontier in 2005 based on the Titan pickup chassis. It offers plenty of power and class-leading acceleration in the 4.0-liter V6, and has much better than average handling. Available in single cab, King Cab, and Crew Cab, it offers great versatility.
For more information see the Autotropolis review on Nissan Frontier
For more information see Autotropolis Best Used Car: Truck
Toyota Tacoma (2005 - 2007)
As a compact pickup the Tacoma is hard to beat with muscular good looks, 6ft bed even in the double-cab, and plenty of power especially in the 4.0 liter V6. There are sports editions as well that make this more of a street machine, and the TRD edition for off-road adventures which features jacked up suspension, rear diff locks, hill start assist and all-terrain tires.For more information see the Autotropolis review on Toyota Tacoma
Dodge Dakota (2005 - 2007)
With a new design in 2005, the Dakota is well known for its powerful engines and impressive 7,000lb towing ability. On the inside it is comfortable and spacious, and on the road it handles with control and refinement. A shorter bed makes city handling easier.For more information see the Autotropolis review on Dodge Dakota
Nissan Frontier (2005 - 2007)
No longer the also-ran of the truck world, Nissan introduced a new Frontier in 2005 based on the Titan pickup chassis. It offers plenty of power and class-leading acceleration in the 4.0-liter V6, and has much better than average handling. Available in single cab, King Cab, and Crew Cab, it offers great versatility.For more information see the Autotropolis review on Nissan Frontier
For more information see Autotropolis Best Used Car: Truck
Places to Look for Used Cars
Online
There are lots of sites that bring together thousands of used cars for sale and these are very handy because you don't have to do the running around. They will have a searchable function where you can input your specifications and the cars in your area will appear, including dealers and private sales.
We recommend the Autotropolis Used Car Locator
Dealers
The other option is to go directly to the dealers, in which case you may not have as much choice and will probably end up walking a lot more miles. It can also be good to check out what is in the car lots, but it is also easier to be swayed by impulse. Beware! Dealers are renowned for trying to squeeze every last drop out of customers and do so in many underhanded ways. If you turn up prepared and with a good idea of what you want and how much you are willing to pay, there will be a lot less scope for them to manipulate you.
Newspapers
Perhaps the most time consuming and risky method of buying a car is through the private used car listings in the newspapers. It is also the method by which you can probably get the best deal on the car of your dreams, but in doing so you open yourself up to a huge amount of fraud through tampered odometer readings, covered-up accidents and mechanically unsound cars. It is ESSENTIAL that you get the private cars you are interested in checked out fully by a mechanic BEFORE buying, as well as vehicle history reports and VIN checks to ensure the car has a clean history. Vehicle history reports will identify any accidents or natural disasters the car has been in (Hurricane Katrina alone damaged tens of thousands of cars and many of these have ended up back on the road).
Autocheck is a great service for full auto checking.
There are lots of sites that bring together thousands of used cars for sale and these are very handy because you don't have to do the running around. They will have a searchable function where you can input your specifications and the cars in your area will appear, including dealers and private sales.
We recommend the Autotropolis Used Car Locator
Dealers
The other option is to go directly to the dealers, in which case you may not have as much choice and will probably end up walking a lot more miles. It can also be good to check out what is in the car lots, but it is also easier to be swayed by impulse. Beware! Dealers are renowned for trying to squeeze every last drop out of customers and do so in many underhanded ways. If you turn up prepared and with a good idea of what you want and how much you are willing to pay, there will be a lot less scope for them to manipulate you.
Newspapers
Perhaps the most time consuming and risky method of buying a car is through the private used car listings in the newspapers. It is also the method by which you can probably get the best deal on the car of your dreams, but in doing so you open yourself up to a huge amount of fraud through tampered odometer readings, covered-up accidents and mechanically unsound cars. It is ESSENTIAL that you get the private cars you are interested in checked out fully by a mechanic BEFORE buying, as well as vehicle history reports and VIN checks to ensure the car has a clean history. Vehicle history reports will identify any accidents or natural disasters the car has been in (Hurricane Katrina alone damaged tens of thousands of cars and many of these have ended up back on the road).
Autocheck is a great service for full auto checking.
Autotropolis Top 3 Used Minivans
Under plenty of pressure of late from the SUV and Crossover classes, Minivans have modernised significantly and taken full advantage of their fuel efficiency to regain some of their footing in the passenger market. There are not a lot of different types to choose from, but what is there is high quality. Autotropolis used the criteria of safe, comfortable and spacious in choosing the best three.
Toyota Sienna (2004 - 2005)
The Sienna is a nicely styled and extremely comfortable minivan that holds a full 148 cubic feet with the seats down, and 8 passengers plus cargo space with the seats up. The quality of the materials is outstanding and handling is superb, with great fuel economy and all-wheel drive optional.
For more information see the Autotropolis review on Toyota Sienna
Honda Odyssey (2005 - 2007)
Powerful and with Honda's reliability, the Odyssey carries 8 passengers with an unusual seating design. A removable seat fits between the two captains chairs in the second row and a third row folds into the floor. A rotating floor mounted bin between the front and second row of seats is incredibly handy and features like rear DVD entertainment system set it apart from the competition. It drives like a car with plenty of attention to detail and makes a brilliant family vehicle.
For more information see the Autotropolis review on Honda Odyssey
Dodge Caravan (2005 - 2007)
Plenty of interesting updates in 2005 make this timeless minivan great on many fronts. The second and third seats fold down extremely easily for added convenience, and there is tri-zone airconditioning for all seat rows. The 3.8-liter V6 has abundant power and great fuel economy.
For more information see the Autotropolis review on Dodge Caravan
For more information see Autotropolis Best Used Car: Minivans
Toyota Sienna (2004 - 2005)
The Sienna is a nicely styled and extremely comfortable minivan that holds a full 148 cubic feet with the seats down, and 8 passengers plus cargo space with the seats up. The quality of the materials is outstanding and handling is superb, with great fuel economy and all-wheel drive optional.For more information see the Autotropolis review on Toyota Sienna
Honda Odyssey (2005 - 2007)
Powerful and with Honda's reliability, the Odyssey carries 8 passengers with an unusual seating design. A removable seat fits between the two captains chairs in the second row and a third row folds into the floor. A rotating floor mounted bin between the front and second row of seats is incredibly handy and features like rear DVD entertainment system set it apart from the competition. It drives like a car with plenty of attention to detail and makes a brilliant family vehicle.For more information see the Autotropolis review on Honda Odyssey
Dodge Caravan (2005 - 2007)
Plenty of interesting updates in 2005 make this timeless minivan great on many fronts. The second and third seats fold down extremely easily for added convenience, and there is tri-zone airconditioning for all seat rows. The 3.8-liter V6 has abundant power and great fuel economy.For more information see the Autotropolis review on Dodge Caravan
For more information see Autotropolis Best Used Car: Minivans
Questions to ask when looking at cars
After you have searched around and found what appears to be a good-looking vehicle at a reasonable price, remember to ask lots of questions. Don't worry about sounding nosey - it is your right to know about the car. Here are some questions you can ask"
- Why are you selling your car? - Most people sell their vehicle because they are buying a new one. Why? Is this one no longer reliable?
- How long have you owned the vehicle? - If they haven't owned it for long, then why are they selling it so quickly? Do they know the history of the vehicle?
- Does the vehicle need any repairs? You want to know about any all work that might need to be done. Although, asking the question doesn't guarantee getting the right answer. What the seller does say will help you to determine if the price he is asking is in the ballpark. If you think it might be close then you can try to negotiate the cost of the repairs out from the asking price.
- How any miles are on the car? Again, just asking won't guarantee getting the truth if the seller has tampered with the odometer. However, what you are wanting is to find a vehicle with the lowest mileage. If a vehicle has more miles on its odometer than 12,000 - 18,000 for every year that it is old then you should keep looking. This means if the vehicle is 2 years old, then it shouldn't have any more than 30,000 miles on it. Look carefully at the odometer to make sure the numbers are properly aligned. If they aren't, it could be that the odometer has been tampered with.
- Ask if the vehicle has been in any accidents. If it has, be sure to get as many details as possible to ascertain the extent of possible damage.
- Ask to see the documentation, like the registration papers. Then check the model, make, vehicle identification number (VIN) and engine number against the papers. If the VIN number doesn't match the registration papers then the vehicle could be stolen. Make sure that the registration is current and not about to expire.
- Ask the seller for his address, phone number etc, and match the information against the registration papers.
- Ask for the service history on the car so that you can see what kind of care the seller has put into the vehicle.
- Ask the seller if there are any outstanding loans, liens, or any other finances still owing on the vehicle.
- Ask for all the keys and not just the master key. These can be expensive to replace and besides you don't want any spare copies out there for anyone to just come and drive away with your car using their keys.
Four things to do BEFORE signing the deal
Be safe and be careful. Before buying the car, make sure you:
- Get a history record check to make sure the vehicle has not been in any major accidents.
- Always have an honest mechanic look over the vehicle and give you an estimate of any probable repair work.
- Consider getting an Extended Warranty on the vehicle. It is like an insurance policy that covers repairs and maintenance for a specified time.
- Do not sign an "As Is" statement from the dealer if you can help it. It is not compulsory and will mean that no matter what is wrong with the car, once you leave the car yard it is your responsibility to fix.
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