How to Determine Which Type of Used Car You Should Buy

With all the used cars in Cincinnati, it might be overwhelming trying to figure out what type of vehicle to buy. New vehicles are easier, because you can just go to a new-car dealership and buy one of your favorite brand cars. But with used cars, dealerships like King’s Automall are going to have a plethora of used cars to choose from. Therefore, it’s a bit different, and there are a lot of questions you need to ask yourself, like: how old do I want it to be? Do I need a truck, van, sedan, etc? Does this car need to last me through the winter, or for a couple of years? All of these questions need to be taken into consideration, and buying a used car still goes much deeper than that.

The way I see it, you should buy a used car based on your current situation and needs. The rest will fall into place.

Consider Your Daily Grind

The first thing you need to do is consider your day-to-day reality. There are three main things to focus on: geography, your financial situation, and what you need from this car. You should worry about your geographic location and what you need from the car first, and then consider your financial situation. That way, you don’t waste time trying to figure out a budget for a car you might not even buy. If you channel your energy into finding the type of car you need based on what is best for you, then you can plan financing around that specific model.

Where do you live?

Where you live plays a huge role in determining the type of used car you should buy. A good example of this is someone living on a dirt road 30 minutes away from the nearest grocery store. Someone who takes dirt roads for half their life isn’t going invest in a used 2013 Maserati. No, they are going to most likely get an SUV or a truck. Why? Because, trucks and SUVs are built to withstand the type of abuse dirt roads dish out.

Or, the opposite could be true. If you are living in the center of New York City, you most likely aren’t going to want a large vehicle. Something like a compact sedan or a smaller crossover would be the way to go. Also, something that get’s good fuel mileage would be ideal for when you’re up against bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Now you can narrow your search down even further.

What do you need the car for?

Okay, you’ve determined that a compact sedan or crossover SUV would work better for city driving. Or, you’ve honed in on a truck or SUV to help you negotiate the dirt roads in your town. Now, it’s time to look at why you’ll be driving this car.

If you have a family and need this used vehicle for transporting them, then a truck might not work. If it’s a family of four, great — get a four-person cab. However, if it’s five or more, you might want to consider something like a Durango or Suburban. These SUVs both still have four wheel drive available for when the dirt roads turn muddy or get covered in snow, and you will be able to fit the whole family comfortably.

You might need to commute over an hour to work everyday, in which case it’s important to grab something that gets good fuel economy; a hybrid or fuel-friendly sedan would be your best bet for this.

See how looking at what you need your car for narrowed your options even further? Not only have you picked out a type of car based on where you live, but also based on your daily driving needs. Now that you’ve decided, it’s time to move on to figuring out how much car you can afford.

What can you afford?

This determination involves more than the price tag and there are a few factors that need to be taken into consideration. The main two are the vehicle’s age and condition. While these two typically go hand in hand, that’s not always the case. You could, for example, get a new car that’s in horrendous condition; or an old car that’s in like-new condition. Therefore, it’s important to view them through separate lenses.

Consider the quality of the vehicle first. Yes, it might be nice that the 2012 Mercedes is set at the same price as that 2005 Toyota. But, why is that? If a car that new is set at the same price as a car that’s 11 years old, there is probably something wrong with it. That 2005 Toyota could have been pampered its entire life, and even with higher miles and more years under its belt, it will still last longer than the Mercedes, which wasn’t taken care of properly. Therefore, make sure the vehicle you are considering is thoroughly inspected first. Because, the condition of the car weighs heavily on the price of it.

The age will also impact the price of the car. Typically, an older car will cost less than a newer car. A used car from 2014 still hasn’t finished depreciating yet, and will likely be more expensive than the same make and model from an older year. If you can afford to grab a newer-used car and let it depreciate, great. But, if you are on a tighter budget, I’d go looking for an older model in good condition.

If you find an older model of a car you want in good condition, then you will avoid depreciation while simultaneously working it into your budget. But, it’s also important to understand that used cars don’t have the same guarantee that new cars do, which means they are more likely to break.

Therefore, when looking at age and condition, you need to consider if you will be working on it yourself or taking it into a garage — and how expensive maintaining it might be. The last thing you want to do is spend more on repairs than you spent on the car itself.

Do you Plan on Fixing it Yourself?

If you are mechanically inclined, then this is a great way to save some extra money. Maybe you are inspecting the car and notice the starter is going to fail soon, and it has a couple of other minor problems, which is why the price is so low. But, you know (based on your inspection) that the price of a starter and an hour or two of your time is worth the $1,500 price tag that’s slapped on the car because nothing major is actually wrong with it. If you know how to make the repair and aren’t worried about fixing it yourself, then older vehicles might not be an issue for you. Plus, the overall process of working on your car yourself is typically cheaper and faster than taking it into a garage.

If you don’t have any knowledge of working on cars however, then you might want to buy a certified-pre owned vehicle. It might be closer to the price of a new car but if you can afford it, you will save yourself future headaches from trying to figure out what to do with a used car that keeps breaking.

It All Boils Down to This…

When trying to find the type of used car you should buy, it all boils down to starting broad and then getting more specific. After you figure out the type of car you need based on your environment and what you need it for, then it’s time to consider how much car you can afford. After you set an affordable price limit, now you need to look at used cars with different ages and in varying conditions. When inspecting the cars you’ve chosen, consider if you plan on working on any of the vehicles yourself or not, it might be the deciding factor.

If you set a reasonable budget and keep the type of car you need in mind, it’s a lot easier to find a used car than you might think.