Used cars, used autos, used trucks - CarInfo.com

<BODY bgcolor="FFFFFF"> <CENTER><IMG src="images/title.GIF" alt="used cars, used autos, used trucks" align="TOP" width="535" height="50"></CENTER> <P>Money saving information on used cars, used autos, and used trucks. Free quotes/searches, plus information on auto loans, extended warranties, auto insurance and more!</P> <H1 align="center">Used Cars - Buying Tips</H1> <CENTER></CENTER> <HR size="4" width="100%" align="LEFT"> <P>Buying a good late-model, low-mileage, used car instead of a new one can go a long way toward keeping your driving costs down. For owners of new cars, the biggest expense is depreciation, with a car suffering its biggest drop in value during the first 2-3 years. So, let the first owner pay for that, then step in and buy the car at a big discount from its original price.</P> <P>Previous lease vehicles can offer great value for a low price. The market value of a low-mileage, 2- or 3-year-old off-lease vehicle will be about 35-50% below original retail even though it's still in excellent condition. It will cost a lot less over time to drive one of these compared to a brand-new model, especially if the car is kept at least 3-4 years.</P> <P>To avoid paying too much for a used auto or truck, be sure to check several local newspapers to compare prices on similar vehicles. Most bookstores and libraries carry inexpensive price guides, but those are merely estimates. The actual market value of a particular vehicle is determined by what people are willing to pay for similar cars in your area.</P> <P>When buying from a private party, you'll be buying the vehicle "as is" (unless it's still under the original warranty). This means no warranty at all. So, if you're not an experienced auto mechanic, don't ever buy a used vehicle without having your mechanic give it a thorough inspection before you sign any contracts or pay any money. You'll have to pay for the inspection, but it's money well-spent, and any problems that are discovered can often be used to negotiate a lower price.</P> <P>Be wary of verbal promises. Non-written statements concerning a car's condition (or warranty) are almost always worthless. If someone won't put it in writing, it's probably not true.</P> <P>If you are considering the purchase of a used vehicle from a dealer, keep in mind that dealers usually make more money on used vehicles than new ones, simply because it's much easier for consumers to find out what the dealer's cost is on a new car. The higher the price, the bigger the profit margin, so don't be afraid to offer a lot less than the asking price. It's not unusual for a dealer to make $2,000 to $3,000 profit on a used vehicle that sells for $10,000 so there's plenty of room to negotiate lower prices.</P> <P>Most dealers sell their used vehicles "as is" (without any warranty), and they're not usually very cooperative when it comes to letting people take their vehicles to other shops for pre-purchase inspections. Of course, they'll have lots of excuses for those policies. Here are several examples (which are often untrue): "That's not necessary, our mechanics have already done a thorough inspection." "All of our cars are completely safety-checked. They wouldn't be on our lot if they needed any repairs."</P> <P>While it may be true that a dealer's cars have been "safety-checked" so you won't have a steering or brake failure on the way home from the dealer, their inspections are not always thorough, nor are they done with full disclosure. Always have your own vehicle inspection done, by your own mechanic, before signing any contracts or putting any money down on a used vehicle.</P> <H3 align="left">RESOURCES:</H3> <P align="left"><B><A href="http://www.commission-junction.com/track/track.dll?AID=1110013&PID=563870&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Evehiclesonline%2Ecom%2FPurchase%2Easp%3FHome%5FID%3D2" target="_">Used Cars - free quotes.</A></B></P> <P align="left"><B><A href="http://www.stoneage.com/auto/pr/pr1.cfm?src=431&menu=0" target="_">Used Autos - multiple quotes.</A></B></P> <P align="left"><B><A href="http://www.carinfo.com/auction.html">Used Trucks - free quotes.</A></B></P> <P align="left"><B><A href="http://www.checkbook.org/auto/carbarg.htm" target="_">Cars for Sale, Buying Services.</A></B></P> <P align="left"><B><A href="http://www.commission-junction.com/track/track.dll?AID=310662&PID=563870&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Epeoplefirst%2Ecom%2Fdefault%2Ecfm%3FPFFSRCID%3DALCJ01GENERIC%2A%2A%2ATL0005%2A%2A%2A" target="_">Auto Loans - Rates, Apply Online.</A></B></P> <P align="left"><B><A href="https://secure1.insweb.com/cgi-bin/auto.exe?id=LdDSgHv76MNbuqKlkbwtsVzyKpe" target="_">Auto Insurance - Rates, Information.</A></B></P> <P align="left"><B><A href="http://www.warrantygold.com/carinfo" target="_">Extended Warranties, Service Contracts.</A></B></P> <HR align="LEFT" size="4"> <P><A href="file:///C:/My%20Documents/My%20Webs/CarInfo%20site/index.html" target="_top">[Home/Top Stories]</A> <A href="file:///C:/My%20Documents/My%20Webs/CarInfo%20site/sales.html" target="_top">[Car Buying Secrets]</A> <A href="file:///C:/My%20Documents/My%20Webs/CarInfo%20site/lease.html" target="_top">[Leasing Secrets 1]</A> <A href="file:///C:/My%20Documents/My%20Webs/CarInfo%20site/residuals.html" target="_top">[Leasing Secrets 2]<BR> </A><A href="file:///C:/My%20Documents/My%20Webs/CarInfo%20site/links.html" target="_top">[Money Saving Tips]</A> <A href="file:///C:/My%20Documents/My%20Webs/CarInfo%20site/fordlease.html" target="_top">[Ford Lease Info]</A> <A href="file:///C:/My%20Documents/My%20Webs/CarInfo%20site/repair.html" target="_top">[Auto Repair Secrets]</A></P> <P> </P> <P><FONT size="-1">Copyright © 1998-2001 by Technews Corp.</FONT></P> </BODY>