Buying A Used Car: Assessing Your Needs
Published Tuesday, November 6, 2007 by aigrette5831 | E-mail this post
If you are buying a used car, you probably want to save some money. This means that you need to prioritize what is most important to you in a car. This article will help you assess your needs and your wants, so that you can find a car that suits you perfectly.
Cost
Look at the cost of a car. There is no point in window shopping at fully-loaded $40,000 trucks if you will only be able to afford a $4,000 truck in the first place. When you are establishing your budget for your car, be sure to account for how much the insurance will likely be, how much gas you will be spending (although this figure does change, it is best to go in having at least an idea), and regular maintenance. To budget for maintenance, you will need estimate the costs of 4 oil changes a year, plus some extra money just in case. Used cars are, well, used: they arent new are generally not under warranty. If you want a warranty, consider buying a used car from the dealership, who can often offer warranties even on used vehicles.
Suitability
What kind of driving do you do? You probably dont need a four-wheel drive behemoth of an SUV if you do mostly city driving. Conversely, if you live on a gravel road, you might feel more comfortable driving in winter if you have something larger than a neon. For most drivers, the way that you drive a car will mean that you are open to many options. However, if this is a limiting factor, it is important to take into consideration.
If you are a commuter, then you will have to take other factors into consideration. You might not want to buy a car with a very high mileage, because you will be adding the miles to that odometer. You might want to find a car that has very comfortable seats to make your ride go better. Things that could be less important, like the stereo, become much more important when you spend a lot of time in your car each day.
Look
Some people would rather have a car that looks good or prestigious. Its okay to admit that you are one of those people. For instance, for $3,500 you might be able to buy a 6 year old Honda civic; this same money could also buy you a much older BMW. If you value appearances, dont lie to yourself when you are shopping. You want to get a car that you will love, and theres no point looking at Ford Focuses if the only thing that will spark your delight is a Ford Mustang.
Load
How many people do you normally travel with? What is the most number of people that you have taken in your current car at once? If you dont already have a car, estimate the number of people you will have with you on a regular basis. If you only drive around 7 people during the hockey tournament once a year, you can probably skip buying a minivan. However, if you normally drive three people around, it might be a pain to get a two door vehicle. For truck drivers, you will want to consider the amount of load that you generally put in the back of your truck to help you judge your purchase.
Your Loan
Not only do you want to get the right car, you want to get the right car loan. It is wiser to have your financing lined up before you go to a dealership. You can set up used car loans at any bank: but one often overlooked type of used car loan is to go to a credit union, where you can generally get lower interest than at a major bank. For more information on loans, (and we wont even try to sell you a loan!) visit www.theguideto-carloans.com.
In the End
You will be the one driving. Make the decisions based on your needs and what you feel is right. Though it is great to get lots of advice (and sometimes it helps to take someone savvy about mechanics along with you to check out the car), considering these facts will help make you capable of choosing the right car.
Andrew Dillan is the editor of http://www.theguideto-carloans.com/used_car_loans. He is an automotive enthusiast, who currently drives a used car of his own. Find out about how to finance your car, boat, motorcycle, or RV from his information-only site.For Steve Waiting
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Cost
Look at the cost of a car. There is no point in window shopping at fully-loaded $40,000 trucks if you will only be able to afford a $4,000 truck in the first place. When you are establishing your budget for your car, be sure to account for how much the insurance will likely be, how much gas you will be spending (although this figure does change, it is best to go in having at least an idea), and regular maintenance. To budget for maintenance, you will need estimate the costs of 4 oil changes a year, plus some extra money just in case. Used cars are, well, used: they arent new are generally not under warranty. If you want a warranty, consider buying a used car from the dealership, who can often offer warranties even on used vehicles.
Suitability
What kind of driving do you do? You probably dont need a four-wheel drive behemoth of an SUV if you do mostly city driving. Conversely, if you live on a gravel road, you might feel more comfortable driving in winter if you have something larger than a neon. For most drivers, the way that you drive a car will mean that you are open to many options. However, if this is a limiting factor, it is important to take into consideration.
If you are a commuter, then you will have to take other factors into consideration. You might not want to buy a car with a very high mileage, because you will be adding the miles to that odometer. You might want to find a car that has very comfortable seats to make your ride go better. Things that could be less important, like the stereo, become much more important when you spend a lot of time in your car each day.
Look
Some people would rather have a car that looks good or prestigious. Its okay to admit that you are one of those people. For instance, for $3,500 you might be able to buy a 6 year old Honda civic; this same money could also buy you a much older BMW. If you value appearances, dont lie to yourself when you are shopping. You want to get a car that you will love, and theres no point looking at Ford Focuses if the only thing that will spark your delight is a Ford Mustang.
Load
How many people do you normally travel with? What is the most number of people that you have taken in your current car at once? If you dont already have a car, estimate the number of people you will have with you on a regular basis. If you only drive around 7 people during the hockey tournament once a year, you can probably skip buying a minivan. However, if you normally drive three people around, it might be a pain to get a two door vehicle. For truck drivers, you will want to consider the amount of load that you generally put in the back of your truck to help you judge your purchase.
Your Loan
Not only do you want to get the right car, you want to get the right car loan. It is wiser to have your financing lined up before you go to a dealership. You can set up used car loans at any bank: but one often overlooked type of used car loan is to go to a credit union, where you can generally get lower interest than at a major bank. For more information on loans, (and we wont even try to sell you a loan!) visit www.theguideto-carloans.com.
In the End
You will be the one driving. Make the decisions based on your needs and what you feel is right. Though it is great to get lots of advice (and sometimes it helps to take someone savvy about mechanics along with you to check out the car), considering these facts will help make you capable of choosing the right car.
Andrew Dillan is the editor of http://www.theguideto-carloans.com/used_car_loans. He is an automotive enthusiast, who currently drives a used car of his own. Find out about how to finance your car, boat, motorcycle, or RV from his information-only site.For Steve Waiting
1 Book Career Guide Planning
Finder Fragrance
Vegan Vegetarian Diet
10 Bar Chocolate Pound
Hotel Holiday Villa Malaysia
School Defensive Driving
Office Of Personnel Management Washington Dc
How Gasoline Is Made
Holiday Inn Chicago Skokie
Salmon Creek Indoor Soccer Arena
Thermal Spa Bath Mat
Oil Substitute Vegetable
Music Myspace Page Picture
Woman Shoes
Seven Against Thebes
1000 Vegetarian Recipe From Around The World
Man Shirt Spider
Financial Intermediate Management One Thomson
Washington Payday Cash Advance Loan
Quote About The Boston Tea Party
Florida Saltwater Fishing Guide
2008 Lose President Sanford
Mtv Music Award Performance
20 Tv Vcr Dvd Combo
02 Genie Sim Cards
Basketball Korean League
Venice Beach Real Estate
0800 Dial Free Internet Up
Mtv Eminem Music Video
Earring Finding Silver Sterling
California California Dish Free Network Offer Templeton Templeton
18 Age Driving Raised Requirement Should
Lodging Julian
Entertainment Lawyer Nyc
Gift Box Wholesales
Home Health Care Seattle
Coastal Vacation
Springs Real
Beanie Baby Collector Card
Lip Gloss Containers
Cafe Forest Rain Restaurant
Dining Pub Set Style
Childrens Earrings
Quiksilver Wallets
Texas Golf Property
Tantric Massage Toronto
Miami Office Passport
1950s Lamp
Vioxx Attorneys Texas
04 Air Canada Vacation
Jasmine Guitars
Car Hampshire Hinsdale New Used
Carnation Breakfast Bar Recipe
Actor Of Singing In The Rain
108 Generation T Shirt Transform Ways
How To Clean Mattress Stain
1 Cartoon Political War World
Station 4
Career
Barcelona Tourists
Diet Hoodia It Sell Supplement Who
Web Services Philadelphia
Travel Lodge Windsor Canada
Dvd Hard
Christmas Party Photo
Achilles Inflatable Boat
01 Porsche
1099 Contractor Form Independent
0 Accept Business Card Credit
Baseball Fury Uniform
Santa Barbara Police Department
0 60 Scion Tc
1000 Hotel In Seattle
Online Forex Tradings
Ics Inc
Lamp Replacement Parts
Car Engine Gas Rc
Restaurants Balboa
Air Jordan Nike Real Shoes
Credit From Home Make Money Ways
Entertainment Unit With Fireplace
Gift
Mesothelioma
North Pointe
Real4
A Inside Basketball Hoop
Lemon Law In Virginia
0ld Classic Truck
Singing In The Rain Imdb
Discounted Perfume And Cologne
Microsoft Publisher 2003
Homeopathic Medication Pet
2 Care Cosmetic Sk Skin
Wedding Ring Jewelry Watch
Beauty Care Product Skin Wholesale
Farming
Man Dance Costume
1 Fish Gallon Tank
Mcintosh Ht
0 Fitness Life T3
Spa
Wrought Iron Garden Gates
Charts Solutions To Global Warming
Spongebob And Patrick Confront The Psychic Wall Video
Forex Tradings
144 Kriya Yoga Technique
Michigan Calculator Interest Loan Mortgage Only
The Wall
Careers Coach
Weather El Paso Texas
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