The Used Car Market - Can You Trust It?

Has the economic downturn destroyed your planshave only been driven by the dealer and a few
for purchasing a new set of wheels? If theprospective buyers. These cars will have
answer is yes, you are far from alone. Over theconsiderable discounts on them, even though they
past 12 months, the new car market has all buthave hardly been touched. You have to be quick
dried up, leading to job cuts, factory closures andthough, as these deals are often snapped up as
hordes of new cars remaining unsold and cloggingsoon as they are announced.
up plant car parks. Bosses are even forcingOn the topic of mileage, I always remember
workers to take paid leave to allow time for thesome advice given to me in regards of buying a
backlog of cars to shift. The problem for theused car. Typically a car engine lifespan (depending
consumer is simply one of money; barely anyoneon quality and other factors) probably only has a
who wasn't a millionaire before the recession hasrunning life of around 100,000 miles. When
any cash to spare. So what do you do if your carchoosing your used car it is worth considering
conks out and you desperately need a new one?how close the mileage is to the magic 100,000
Buy a used one, of course.mark. Ideally speaking, many great bargains can
The used car market has often been tarnishedbe found for 35,000 miles or less. These cars
by cynics as a hive of ne'er-do-wells looking togenerally ensure a longer lifespan and better
con everyone who passes by out of all theircustomer satisfaction. The only exceptions to this
money. This may have been partly true in therule would generally be classic cars, which can be
spiv 70's and greed-orientated 80's, but timesexpected to have totted up a few more miles
have changed. These days there are manythan a 2006 Vauxhall Corsa.
reputable dealers who want your business and areMany motorists harbour concerns that the used
willing to offer you incredible offers to get it.car they are buying has previously been written
Because of the current economic climate theoff or is stolen. These fears can easily be put to
market is extremely competitive and the dealersrest with a variety of new services offered in
know this. The only way they can stay afloat isconjunction with the police and the DVLA. By
by offering the best possible price and the bestchecking a website or inputting the cars
possible quality. This places the consumer in aregistration into a text message service you can
very agreeable position, being in a better positioneasily find out the cars history and be sure the
to bargain and haggle to get the best deal.car you are buying is exactly what the dealer
Everybody with even a cursory interest in thesays it is. Should you discover that the car is not
automotive industry will be aware of how drasticwhat it seems, then you should notify the police
the depreciation of cars is. As soon as a new caras soon as possible. This is a rare eventuality for
is driven off the forecourt, a car can have itsa licensed trade dealer, as they have a lot more
value slashed by anything up to 50%. So why notto lose in the current climate by gaining a bad
take advantage of this knowledge and look for areputation. It is worth checking though, for peace
car a year or so old that has barely been driven,of mind if nothing else.
but has had a huge percentage knocked off itsIn summary, the used car market can generally
value. A great idea is to look forbe trusted, especially if using a reputable dealer.
ex-demonstration models, which may have only aYou may get a much better bargain if you do a
couple of thousand miles on the clock. Technicallylittle bit of research and at the moment I think
these cars are second hand even though theyeveryone is looking for a bargain or two.