Car Buying Tips: Pros and Cons of New Cars and Used Cars

The real question is, "Which car is best for you?"

Some very wealthy people have never bought a new car in their lives. With so many super-low mile used cars out there, what's the point of paying thousands more for a few less miles?

Then there are those who refuse to buy used, regardless of their financial situation. They would rather buy a brand new beater than get into a high quality vehicle that has had someone else behind the wheel.

After all is said and done, it really comes down to personality and goals when deciding between new and used cars. The 20/20 rule applies - 20 percent of people will never buy new, while 20% of people will never buy used. For the other 60%, this article is for you.

Selection

Between huge dealer inventories, the option of dealers trading and bringing in a vehicle from another dealership, and custom ordering becoming more popular, the selection factor goes hands down to new cars.

For popular vehicles, it is definitely possible to find a used car. The internet makes it simple for someone to search around the corner or across the country for that perfect used car. Still, it's nothing compared the options available with new.

Price Matters

Even in today's ultra-competitive new vehicle market where MSRP has been replaced by Invoice as the starting mark for price negotiations, a car still loses 10%-20% or more of its value the moment it hits the street.

Low mile used cars a year or two old can be dramatically less expensive than its brand new counterpart. There are exceptions - Honda, for example, tends to lose less off the top because they rarely have rebates and their reputation is very strong.

Other than the few exceptions, a used car is normally dramatically cheaper than a new one.

Interest Rate

For the 95% of us who borrow money and make car payments, interest rate becomes an issue. New cars are less of a risk for the lender, so their bank rates are lower than on a used car. The manufacturer loan divisions make it even more appealing to buy new with 0% financing available on most vehicles at some point after their release.