Questions to Ask When Buying Used & Why

How Old Is The Car? Of course, you want to ask how old a car is. Cars can lose about 60% of their value in just five years. This piece of information could be a good negotiating tool.

What Is The Car Mileage? It is important to know how many miles are on the car so you can do the math on the average miles the car has been driven a year. Pushing over 13,000 miles per year is a bit much, for reference!

Is The Car "As Is" Or Under Warranty? This is an important question because it tells you immediately whether you will have assistance with future issues or not. "As is" means once Marlboro drivers cruise off the lot, all future repairs and maintenance are their responsibility. Warranties provide drivers with a certain amount of coverage for a certain amount of time after purchase.

Is There/Has There Been Exterior Damage? Ask for the CARFAX report on any vehicle you wish to purchase. In addition, the fewer previous owners, the better, so you can get a more thorough history of the vehicle.

How Would This Vehicle Impact My Insurance? This is important to know because while you may love the upfront price, your insurance rates could go up month to month. Decide where you have wiggle room in your budget and where that wiggle room is when buying a used vehicle!

Build a List of Features and Cars

Next, make a list of what you want. Are there specific makes and models you like? If you're not settled on a specific brand, make a list of features you want out of a car. Then, start researching the vehicles that most closely match that list of features. Mark down the cars that most closely match what you need.

Research Vehicle Availability

Next, search the area for cars that most closely fit your list. You may not be able to track down an exact match; such is the nature of buying used. As you search, look for special offers and things like certified pre-owned vehicles which will afford you a degree of confidence and possibly warranty coverage.

Sort your preferred vehicles by price and proximity, like the used Subaru Outback, Crosstrek, Impreza, Ascent, Impreza, or Forester, so you know which ones are available close to you and which will cost you the least.

Shop Around

Don't be afraid to visit multiple sellers and dealers, and test drive every car you're considering. Also, don't be afraid to have a mechanic look over the vehicle. Make sure there are no pre-existing problems. Check vehicle history reports to be sure there's no damage or accident history that might have been covered up.

Negotiation

Know ahead of time just how much you can spend. Know your top dollar, but start with a low offer. Negotiation is a dance, and you must be willing to walk away if the price goes too high. Remember, the seller wants you to buy. It also never hurts to have your financing in place before you go in. This can give you an advantage in negotiation.

When you have completed your negotiations, all you have left to do is sign the paperwork and drive! Congratulations; you've found a great new-to-you car. If you live in the Freehold, Manalapan, Marlboro and Englishtown regions, stop into Freehold Subaru for a great selection of pre-owned vehicles. Have more questions? Contact us today!