Buying a New Car versus a Used Car

Among car buyers, the fastest production car in the world appeals to everyone whereas used cars tend to get a bad rap. The assumption is that used cars are always worse than new cars and that it’s always preferable to buy a new car, if possible. But, the fact is that buying a used car is a trade-off, with a mixture of benefits and drawbacks. For comparison, here are some of the relative advantages and disadvantages of buying a new car versus a used car.

Price versus Quality

• Perhaps the greatest advantage to buying a used car is that you can avoid paying the new car premium. It is well known that new cars are marked up substantially, and you can save 30 percent or more if you buy a car that’s been used for just 6-12 months.
• But new cars come at premium prices for a reason. When you buy a car direct from the dealership, you know that it hasn’t been mistreated by a previous owner. The chances of “stealth” issues arising during your time driving the car are much reduced. Overall, you can be much more confident that you are getting a good car with no big issues.

Size of Selection

• Cars are never more expensive than when they are new. For most buyers, the high prices of new cars limit which brands and models are available to them. If you have a more constrained budget, you can probably only purchase a new car from a lower-quality car manufacture, and you might encounter more issues over time.
• On the other hand, the lower asking prices of used Canberra cars for sale open up a range of options that would be unaffordable, if the cars were new. When you are looking at used cars, the savings make it possible to purchase cars from premium manufacturers. These cars could have better performance, better safety ratings, or simply be more durable over time. For that reason, buying a car that’s been used for several years might actually give you a better car than if you bought new.

Certainty versus Risk

• Finally, there’s no arguing that a used car is a risk. It’s impossible to know how it was driven before you got it. There may be problems lurking that only reveal themselves several months after your purchase. This makes used cars riskier than their new counterparts do.
• Accordingly, if you’re the type of person who needs an extremely reliable car—say, someone who often drives long distances—it makes sense to buy a new car. Doing so simply reduces the chances that you’ll run into an issue, and be without a car when you really need one.

On the other hand, if you have the time and budget to handle some unexpected issues, the risk of a used car may be no big deal. But it’s important to evaluate your needs and financial situation, and understand that used cars may cost you more money and trouble in the long run.