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                       NEW VS USED
 

            In today’s economy, is it better to buy a new or used vehicle?  A new vehicle offers reliability at a much higher cost, whereas a used vehicle has a great price but is not as reliable.  A number of classified websites, such as N.A.D.A and Blue Book, sell reliable low mileage vehicles.  If you are able to purchase a vehicle at or below the wholesale price, you’ve found a great deal.

 

            Before making the choice of purchasing a used vehicle, a few steps should be taken in order to assure that the price is appropriate.  Before you purchase the vehicle, you should have your trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection.  This inspection will also inform the seller of any problems that should be taken into account when pricing the vehicle.  After these steps, the used vehicle will be at an excellent price, but what about reliability?  A customer purchased a low mileage 1999 Isuzu Trooper that seemed to be in superb condition.  We had to replace the motor within 12 months of the purchase.  With a proper pre-purchase inspection, the buyer would have been informed of the weak bottom end of the engine.

 

            The other option when purchasing a vehicle is to buy new.  When purchasing a new vehicle, you are given a warranty and the confidence of a reliable car.  There’s nothing like the new car smell, the way the new car drives, and its state of the art gadgets.  The new vehicle is more reliable than a used one, but at what price?  New vehicles can be very costly and depreciate in value rapidly.  A new vehicle is very dependable but comes with a monthly payment, high insurance rates, and constant maintenance in order to keep the warranty.  Choosing to buy new will assure dependability, but at a price that is not comparable to that of a used vehicle.  Economic crisis, such as the one we face today, prohibits the purchase of new vehicles for many of us.

 

            The question of new versus used is one that crosses the mind of many people looking to buy a car.  If you choose to buy used, be sure to perform a pre-purchase inspection in order to assure the quality of the vehicle.  Sabaru offers a pre-purchase inspection for anyone facing this dilemma.  Hopefully the few pieces of advice we have offered will help lead you down the path that is best for you.