Buying Used vs Buying New (Car)

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by Sliver

In my experience if somebody is beating on a car it shows in other areas as well (cigarrette burns, stains, dents/dings/scratches, scarred wheels, etc.) let alone it usually won't feel as tight as a non-bagged-on version. I think I'm like the car whisperer, though. I always can hear weird sounds or find weird marks on a car that most people wouldn't notice.

Sorry I don't buy it.

My last car I traded in when I got my new one last year was beaten to hell! However the interior and exterior looked perfect and they even gave me max dollars for it because it was in such good condition. However what they didn't know was there was a point where I went 2 years without an oil change, rad slowly leaked but you wouldn't know unless you had it for more than 3 months. You can't tell everything from one inspection no matter how good the mechanic is, problems can be hidden and then jump out at you a few years down the road.

I had a friend ask if she could buy my car for the same price the dealership was going to give me and I wouldn't sell it to her because I knew.

[GreatWhiteEbola]

Originally Posted by Dion

If the vehicle is missing some if it's maintennce records I'll move on to another vehicle.

A simple test drive will tell you if the tranny has been abused also.

Good luck with that philosophy. Smell the fluids man! Hahaha.

[Ashartus]

Originally Posted by Teh_Bandwagoner

I figure the only way to get top value for your car is just to never sell it and drive it to the ground, new or not.

That's pretty much my philosophy too. I tend to sell a car when it reaches the point where the cost of repairs is more than the value of the car though (at that point I can sell it to someone with the mechanical ability to do the repairs themselves for a few hundred dollars).

I think the point made about new technologies is a valid one too, especially with things like stability control (if safety features are important to you) starting to become standard. If you buy a 3 or 4 year old car you probably aren't getting stability control unless you buy something fairly high-end, while this year a lot of relatively cheap cars are including it on their base model and in a couple of years it will be mandatory on all new cars.

[return to the red]

I've never leased so I don't know but when you lease do you have to have oil changes, etc. performed at the dealership?

Cause if not, like Hoot said, how does someone know that the oil has been changed every 5000km's or just the general maintenance has been kept up?

[Dion]

Originally Posted by HOOT

Sorry I don't buy it.

My last car I traded in when I got my new one last year was beaten to hell! However the interior and exterior looked perfect and they even gave me max dollars for it because it was in such good condition. However what they didn't know was there was a point where I went 2 years without an oil change, rad slowly leaked but you wouldn't know unless you had it for more than 3 months. You can't tell everything from one inspection no matter how good the mechanic is, problems can be hidden and then jump out at you a few years down the road.

I had a friend ask if she could buy my car for the same price the dealership was going to give me and I wouldn't sell it to her because I knew.

If you buy a used vehicle without knowing how often the oil was changed, you deserve what you get.

If the vehicle i'm buying doesn't have a complete record of it's oil changes i'm not interested.

[return to the red]

Originally Posted by Dion

If you buy a used vehicle without knowing how often the oil was changed, you deserve what you get.

If the vehicle i'm buying doesn't have a complete record of it's oil changes i'm not interested.

What if you bought it from a dealership and they performed all their inspections?

[GreatWhiteEbola]

Originally Posted by Dion

If you buy a used vehicle without knowing how often the oil was changed, you deserve what you get.

If the vehicle i'm buying doesn't have a complete record of it's oil changes i'm not interested.

And those records are 100% accurate? Bah, a sucker is born every day.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by GreatWhiteEbola

Good luck with that philosophy. Smell the fluids man! Hahaha.

Really??? The vehicle I tested before I bought my 05 Escape wouldn't shift properly.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by Dion

If you buy a used vehicle without knowing how often the oil was changed, you deserve what you get.

If the vehicle i'm buying doesn't have a complete record of it's oil changes i'm not interested.

Even taking that fact out there are other problems that can happen with constant beating on a car that won't show up even with your 3 month oil change.

Just because you get oil changes done and the car looks good from the outside doesn't mean that it hasn't been driven hard. I can fully understand why someone would buy used, my first car was used, but personally if I have the money and the choice I would buy new 10 times out of 10. Just my personal opinion.

[Kybosh]

I don't think that anyone can argue the fact that the buyer is screwed by the dealership in the purchase of any vehicle.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by HOOT

However what they didn't know was there was a point where I went 2 years without an oil change, rad slowly leaked but you wouldn't know unless you had it for more than 3 months.

Perhaps you have bad experiences with used cars because you don't take care of them. That or you expect everyone else to treat them with equal indifference.

There are a lot of lemons out there, but there also some fantastic deals out there from people who really take care of their cars to the max. With a little due diligence, it's possible to find those cars.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by HOOT

Even taking that fact out there are other problems that can happen with constant beating on a car that won't show up even with your 3 month oil change.

I usually buy vehicles that are 2 years old. Ones that still have the balance of the factory warrany. Add to the fact it's had a full vehicle inspection. Buying used has never failed me yet.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by Dion

I usually buy vehicles that are 2 years old. Ones that still have the balance of the factory warrany. Add to the fact it's had a full vehicle inspection. Buying used has never failed me yet.

Neither has been buying new so I guess it works for us.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by GreatWhiteEbola

And those records are 100% accurate? Bah, a sucker is born every day.

Dealerships falsify service records? You have proof of this?

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by HOOT

Sorry I don't buy it.

My last car I traded in when I got my new one last year was beaten to hell! However the interior and exterior looked perfect and they even gave me max dollars for it because it was in such good condition. However what they didn't know was there was a point where I went 2 years without an oil change, rad slowly leaked but you wouldn't know unless you had it for more than 3 months. You can't tell everything from one inspection no matter how good the mechanic is, problems can be hidden and then jump out at you a few years down the road.

I had a friend ask if she could buy my car for the same price the dealership was going to give me and I wouldn't sell it to her because I knew.

Well I guess I'd be concerned if I was relying on the mechanic's word alone and not my own abilities. I think between a mechanical inspection and my own check over I have nothing whatsoever to worry about when buying used.

For example, I wouldn't buy a car that had the engine shampooed or the interior detailed. I want to see the car as it looked while in the owner's possession. Also, I always bring a magnet with me and place it all over the car to look for bondo. The way it drives says a lot about the car as well. I have a few other tricks, but after all that I'll bring it to a mechanic for an inspection. Haven't gone wrong yet.

Like I said earlier, there are exceptions to the always-buy-used rule. I've posted this before, but I'll post it again because it's relevant and more importantly because it's one of my biggest triumphs in life (sadly). This shows what I saved on buying a new vehicle in the states:

[Berger_4_]

Originally Posted by Dion

I usually buy vehicles that are 2 years old. Ones that still have the balance of the factory warrany. Add to the fact it's had a full vehicle inspection. Buying used has never failed me yet.

So you don't think mechanics lie about that from time to time? How hard is it for them to check everything off and get the vehicle out on the lot right away?

[Dion]

Originally Posted by HOOT

Neither has been buying new so I guess it works for us.

You obviously have more disposable income than me. A vehicle is a depreciating asset and buying news doesn't make finacial sense to me when you could get slighly used one for a lot less money. I'd rather put that extra money into my RRSP's

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Buying new then modding seems most ridiculous of all. I assume you're talking substantial mods that would void your warranty, in which case I can't imagine why you - moreso than a typical car owner - wouldn't have gone used.

Its only void if they find the mods. Which I remove when I'm forced to take it to the stealership. I'm not gambling on buying a used truck and modding it when the motor is worth 15K. My buddy did that and he's had nothing but trouble. Considering you drive appliances I dont think you have a ton of knowledge on this topic.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

I don't think that anyone can argue the fact that the buyer is screwed by the dealership in the purchase of any vehicle.

Thats why anyone with sense buys a used car from a private owner and does some homework.

[GreatWhiteEbola]

Originally Posted by Dion

Really??? The vehicle I tested before I bought my 05 Escape wouldn't shift properly.

My point was... it may not always be evident with a "SIMPLE" test drive...

I feel confident enough to buy a used Honda from a granny, as I can do any work on them, timing belt, transmissions, engine rebuild. I just don't like the fact that I would be a slave to the previous owners driving habits, more so then if I purchased new. If a car can leave me stranded once, it once to much. New purchase, drive for 10 years, rinse and repeat. New lease, drive the bag off it for 4 years, turn the keys over to the dealership, rinse and repeat.