How to Choose A Good Used Car
As a quality used car dealership in Harrisonburg, VA, every day we see customers from all walks of life looking for a good used car.
Their top concern is finding a preowned car that meets their lifestyle needs and is also a quality car. These serious car buyers have asked us some really excellent questions.
We’ve listed four of those questions here and our answers.
How Do I Find A Good Used Car?
There are really only two ways to buy a car, through a dealership or privately. If you know the private seller well, you may feel comfortable buying directly from the owner.
Even so, that doesn’t preclude that there could be a mechanical problem with the car, one not known by the seller.
If you’re going to buy privately, we recommend the following:
• Find the market value of the vehicle
• Get the car checked out by a qualified mechanic
• Thoroughly inspect the vehicle
• Get the repair history on the car
Taking these proactive steps will help protect you from possible unseen problems. If uncovered, they can be addressed by the current owner. Or, you can choose to walk away.
When you buy a Joe Bowman used car, you’ll find we’ve done the work for you. Our preowned vehicles are generally priced below the Kelley Blue Book fair purchase price.
Before any used vehicle is placed on our lot for sale, our Chevy certified technicians thoroughly inspect the car, looking for problems or potential concerns.
The car, truck, or SUV must pass a rigorous 75-point inspection before it is ever offered for sale. To the best of our ability, the vehicle is mechanically sound, and all of its features work beautifully.
We then back up our work with either a 30 or 90-day warranty, depending on age and mileage.
Our Harrisonburg dealership can also assist you with financing. We have an extensive network of lenders to work with which helps us to find the best interest for you.
Our loan rates are very competitive with local banks. Usually, we can meet or beat their interest rates. And, if you choose to finance with us, the whole lending process is quicker.
That means you get in your new vehicle quickly.
And after the sale? Joe Bowman Chevy wants customers for life! We continue to earn your loyalty by offering:
• Preferred service scheduling in our service department
• Lifetime FREE auto inspections for as long as you own the car
• Courtesy transportation when your vehicle is getting service from our dealership
When it comes down to buying a good used car, it all depends on what’s important to you before, during, and after the transaction.
What is the best age to buy a used car?
US News & World Report decided to find the answer to this tough question.
Their study found that 10-year old cars average less than one repair a year. What’s more, fewer than half of those decade old vehicles had problems with the powertrain system in a year.
The powertrain is where more expensive and critical problems pop up. The downside is older vehicles have less safety systems.
Newer used cars do have those safety systems as well as more convenience gadgets. So, again, it's what makes you happy with your vehicle.
There really is no hard and fast rule for buying a preowned vehicle. It all comes down to the condition of the vehicle, your preferences, and your budget. The next question addresses that concern.
Is mileage more important than age?
This is another interesting question because it all depends on how well a car, truck, or SUV has been cared for during its life.
For example, a 5-year old car with 50,000 could have more problems than a decade old vehicle with double the mileage.
It all comes down to how much care it was given.
How many miles is too many for a used car?
When purchasing a pre-owned vehicle, the first consideration is how the vehicle will be used. Is it for a teenager as a first car? Then a high mileage car that’s been well-cared for is fine.
Will the vehicle be used as a secondary mode of transportation, one that one won’t be driven as much? Then a higher mileage vehicle will work.
If the vehicle is going to be your primary car, then you want to consider finding a used vehicle with lower mileage. That just makes sense.
Use your own judgment. Think about your lifestyle and what makes sense for you to purchase.
Is an Old Car with Low Mileage Good?
Most of the time, purchasing a low mileage car on an older vehicle is a good decision. But what if a 10-year old car only has a few thousand miles on it?
This could signal reliability issues because the car wasn’t driven enough. Generally speaking, though, older cars with low mileage tend to be good buys.
You just want to check the history of the vehicle before making a purchase. If buying privately, you definitely want to get the vehicle checked out by a quality mechanic.
If you purchase the vehicle through our dealership here in Harrisonburg, VA, we’ll thoroughly inspect it and back up our inspection with a limited warranty.
When you’re ready to buy a new or newer vehicle, consider Joe Bowman Auto Plaza. Shop our inventory online, get pre-qualified, and arrange financing with us quickly and easily.
We’re easy to work with and work diligently to find the used truck, SUV, or car that you really want!
