Dear Car talk community,
I am looking for a gently used car, mechanically reliable, good safety features, no need for fancy, will be mainly used for 10 mile/day local driving.
My concern is that unless there is something wrong with the car, why would someone sell a 2008, or 2009 car? I know to ask for carfax report, and bring the car to a mechanic prior to purchasing. But how would i know the reason that the previous owner sold the car is not because the car has a problem?
thanks!!!
You will never know 100% Even a new car, you don’t know. The original owner may have had a new child or got a big dog and needed more space. Maybe their big car would no fit into the garage at the new home. You just don’t know.
I agree with Mr. Meehan that there is really no way to know absolutely about someone’s real motivation for getting rid of a car. A mechanical inspection by your mechanic will help, but you should also ask for the car’s maintenance records in order to verify how it has been maintained (or IF it has been maintained!).
Do not be lulled into a false sense of security by Carfax reports. Despite the company’s multimillion $$ advertising budget, the reality is that Carfax reports frequently omit vital information, or have incorrect information. Reliance on those reports can be, at best…disappointing.
I only sell my cars when I cannot exorcise the ghosts and evil spirits.
Twotone
You never know why someone previously got rid of a car. One of the main reasons I have seen for people getting rid of a car, in my area at least, is because they bought something they couldn’t afford when they were already living beyond their means. If I were in your situation, I would also look at slightly older cars. The most rapid time for depreciation is in the first three years of a car’s life, so I would look at three to four year old cars. Most any vehicle this age will be a good bet.
Your prepurchase inspection by a good independent mechanic will be your best source of information when determining whether to buy a car or not. Do not put much, if any, faith into a carfax report. Carfax can only show you what they know, and they only know about work done to a vehicle by shops that report to carfax, nothing more. This isn’t particularly comprehensive, in my opinion. Also, don’t fall for the sales gimmick called “certified preowned.” The only difference between a certified preowned car and any other used car is a couple or few thousand dollars. Even if the car has supposedly passed their “947 point inspection,” it still needs to be checked by your mechanic prior to purchase.
I love my car, but I’ve thought of selling it to raise money for something else. Some people, like my grandparents, just like to drive new cars and they would be the ideal people to buy a used car from.
Have a competent mechanic inspect the car you are considering buying, and you can be pretty sure the car doesn’t have a problem.
Some people just want a new one. I know someone that buys his wife a new Lexus every 2 years. She doesn’t want the hassle of repairing a car after the warranty is over. On a Lexus. Go figure.
Here’s an article on when a new car may be less expensive than a slight used one.
Back in February I bought a 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt for 12.1k after 5.5k in rebates. At the time 2 or 3 year old used Cobalts were selling for 11 to 13k in the area. I was actually going to the dealer to test drive an HHR (too claustrophobic) and a 2008 Pontiac G6 (~13.5k).
Ed B.
The link didn’t work. But I’m sure I read the same one in the Baltimore Sun. While there are special circumstances where a new car can be less expensive than a used on based no cost alone, it’s usually due to the spread in interest rates. I did the same thing with a 2009 Cobalt LT1. Adding in the $3000 from my soon-to-expire GM bucks, I got it for less than $9000 - 48% of MSRP!. I’m still insufferably pleased with myself. And you should be, too, Ed.