Buying a Used Car: Assessing Your Needs

By: Andrew Dillan

If you are buying a used car, you probably want to save some
money. This means that you need to prioritize what is most
important to you in a car. This article will help you assess
your needs and your wants, so that you can find a car that suits
you perfectly.

Cost

Look at the cost of a car. There is no point in window shopping
at fully-loaded $40,000 trucks if you will only be able to
afford a $4,000 truck in the first place. When you are
establishing your budget for your car, be sure to account for
how much the insurance will likely be, how much gas you will be
spending (although this figure does change, it is best to go in
having at least an idea), and regular maintenance. To budget for
maintenance, you will need estimate the costs of 4 oil changes a
year, plus some extra money just in case. Used cars are, well,
used: they aren't new are generally not under warranty. If you
want a warranty, consider buying a used car from the dealership,
who can often offer warranties even on used vehicles.

Suitability

What kind of driving do you do? You probably don't need a
four-wheel drive behemoth of an SUV if you do mostly city
driving. Conversely, if you live on a gravel road, you might
feel more comfortable driving in winter if you have something
larger than a neon. For most drivers, the way that you drive a
car will mean that you are open to many options. However, if
this is a limiting factor, it is important to take into
consideration.

If you are a commuter, then you will have to take other factors
into consideration. You might not want to buy a car with a very
high mileage, because you will be adding the miles to that
odometer. You might want to find a car that has very comfortable
seats to make your ride go better. Things that could be less
important, like the stereo, become much more important when you
spend a lot of time in your car each day.

Look

Some people would rather have a car that looks good or
prestigious. It's okay to admit that you are one of those
people. For instance, for $3,500 you might be able to buy a 6
year old Honda civic; this same money could also buy you a much
older BMW. If you value appearances, don't lie to yourself when
you are shopping. You want to get a car that you will love, and
there's no point looking at Ford Focuses if the only thing that
will spark your delight is a Ford Mustang.

Load

How many people do you normally travel with? What is the most
number of people that you have taken in your current car at
once? If you don't already have a car, estimate the number of
people you will have with you on a regular basis. If you only
drive around 7 people during the hockey tournament once a year,
you can probably skip buying a minivan. However, if you normally
drive three people around, it might be a pain to get a two door
vehicle. For truck drivers, you will want to consider the amount
of load that you generally put in the back of your truck to help
you judge your purchase.

Your Loan

Not only do you want to get the right car, you want to get the
right car loan. It is wiser to have your financing lined up
before you go to a dealership. You can set up used car loans at
any bank: but one often overlooked type of used car loan is to
go to a credit union, where you can generally get lower interest
than at a major bank. For more information on loans, (and we
won't even try to sell you a loan!) visit
www.theguideto-carloans.com.

In the End

You will be the one driving. Make the decisions based on your
needs and what you feel is right. Though it is great to get lots
of advice (and sometimes it helps to take someone savvy about
mechanics along with you to check out the car), considering
these facts will help make you capable of choosing the right car.

Andrew Dillan is the editor of The Guide
to Car Loans. He is an automotive enthusiast, who currently
drives a used car of his own. Find out about how to finance your
car, boat, motorcycle, or RV from his information-only site;
we're not going to sell you loans, just help you ask the right
questions when you go to get a loan.

About the author:
Andrew Dillan is the editor of The Guide
to Car Loans. He is an automotive enthusiast, who currently
drives a used car of his own. Find out about how to finance your
car, boat, motorcycle, or RV from his information-only site;
we're not going to sell you loans, just help you ask the right
questions when you go to get a loan.