Our sales teams at Southern California Ford Dealerships encourage our customers to think through all their options when it comes to purchasing a vehicle. Although you might not have thought about it before, it may be that a pre-owned vehicle is the exact right choice for you and your unique circumstances.
Certainly, for many savvy and budget-conscious consumers, buying a pre-owned vehicle is the best way to go! Our Southern California Ford Dealerships have a wide variety of pre-owned vehicles from which you can choose.
Pre-owned vehicles should always be a consideration because of the savings, variety, and certified pre-owned programs dealers can provide.
Savings
Used cars cost less than new cars. Period. It is true that in general, you can get more bang for your buck when you purchase used. You can also make informed choices on more problematic makes/models because they’ve already been road-tested. That also holds true with which makes and models are proven to be safe and reliable.
Depreciation
It’s generally accepted that a new car depreciates in value 20% when you drive it off the lot and an additional 10% in the first year. A 30% value loss in only one year is a hard financial hit to take - especially when you factor in the interest paid over the first year. No matter how you try and do the math, it’s hard to make that come out to any kind of advantage.
Insurance
Think about insurance this way: the more value a car has, the more the insurance company has to pay to replace it. If the vehicle you’re purchasing is not the latest model, it has less value; therefore, it will cost less to replace it. So your overall vehicle insurance should be less expensive.
Maintenance
Most warranties are for 3 years or 36,000 miles, so it may be that the used car you are purchasing is within its warranty. If not, ask your knowledgeable salesperson about expected maintenance costs for your used vehicle and whether there are any warranties available.
While savings is likely the number-one reason consumers buy a pre-owned vehicle, sometimes the lower monthly payment is offset by more frequent maintenance needs.
At the same time, consumers should feel more confident than ever about purchasing a pre-owned vehicle because of the amount of specific information available to them online. Using the vehicle’s VIN, consumers can find out all about the life and history of the vehicle they’re interested in, including whether the vehicle was privately owned or leased, the number of owners the vehicle has had, if it was ever used as an Uber, and if the vehicle has been in any accidents.
Variety
If your budget will only allow for the base model of a brand-new vehicle, it may very well be that if you buy the same make/model used, you can afford much more than is offered with the base model.
Every year vehicle models change, which puts more and more variety into the used car inventory. You can afford to be picky and look for exactly what you want because odds are, you’ll find it.
They say variety is the spice of life. They also say patience is a virtue.
While variety is definitely available, if you are super specific about the vehicle you’re interested in, it may take a while to find it. Buying pre-owned will be less frustrating if you are amenable to all possibilities available.
Certified Pre-Owned
Certified pre-owned programs vary; however, they’re worth asking about. All manufacturer-certified vehicles include a warranty of some kind and often have added benefits, like roadside assistance or a loaner if your car is in the shop.
Think of certified pre-owned programs as being a step above when it comes to purchasing a used car. Almost always, pre-owned vehicles have low mileage and are still covered by a factory warranty.
Ask your salesperson about the differences between certified pre-owned and used, and make sure you understand which you’re buying before you sign on the dotted line.
At the end of the day, we know that buying a car is a big deal. It doesn’t matter if you’re buying certified pre-owned or used; either way, we understand the importance of this purchase and want you to feel confident.
Let the trained professionals at Southern California Ford Dealerships show you the savings, variety, and all the options available to you for a fraction of a new car’s cost.
