If you’re thinking about buying a vehicle, you’ve most likely come across a common dilemma. Should you go for shiny new vehicle, or buy one that has had some experience on the road? With everything you will need to consider, it can be a daunting task trying to decide between the two. To give you a helping hand with this decision, we’ve created this two part comparative guide. In this first post, we’ll take a look at buying a used car, while in the next post we’ll follow up with new cars.
A huge benefit of buying used ones is the lower purchase price. Typically the older the model that you’re considering is, the lower its price becomes. Higher odometer readings, wear and tear on the vehicle, and damage will each reduce its price. So, if you’re looking to save some money right away, then buying a used vehicle is more likely the better decision. But ambiguity and older models come hand in hand. It’s hard to tell from face value whether the previous owner has taken good care of the vehicle. One thing that you can do is checking the service booklet for its service history. If it has been serviced on a regular basis then it’s highly probable that the vehicle sits in a well-maintained position. Whether or not the owner has performed any recommended repairs, however, is another matter. That is why it’s important to have the vehicle inspected by a reputable service centre before you make the purchase even if it appears mechanically sound. Take the car somewhere that you feel comfortable and where you trust that they will do an honest job. It’s also important to consider the costs in the long run. Sometimes older models will be more expensive to maintain on an ongoing basis. Parts can increasingly become scarce, breakdowns more frequent, and visits to the service centre a regular occurrence, so it’s important to do your research before purchasing an older car.
But before you give up on used cars forever, there are mechanisms in place to help make the experience an easier one. The used car department at City Subaru is well trained in the nuances of the used car world. When looking for vehicles, they do all of the research necessary to ensure each vehicle will be a reliable and sound investment for our clients. When hunting for cars, they look for vehicles with exciting features, technologies, and great extras that make the vehicles more fun to drive. And to make sure the vehicles are ready to hit to the road, each is serviced by our factory authorised Service Department by one of our Subaru technicians prior to its resale. The technicians carefully inspect each vehicle for any existing and potential faults, ensuring that each is safe to drive and ready to head out on an amazing adventure. And if those long run servicing costs are still hanging over your head, Subaru Australia has introduced its Capped Price Servicing Program. For all Subaru models from 2006 onward, the maximum price for each standard factory service has been set. This means that the cost of that service will never exceed what has been set by Subaru Australia. This translates into money that can be spent elsewhere, like petrol for your next road trip!
We hope that this post has given you some clarity on what you should consider when purchasing a used vehicle. If you’ve been in the market for one, take a look at our used car stock to see what we have available. And don’t forget to check in for next week’s post where we’ll dive into some common things to consider when buying a new car.
We hope that this article has been an informative one, and invite you to post your comments or questions in the comments section below. We’re on social media and would love to hear from you, too. Look us up on Facebook, Google Plus and YouTube.