“I need to find a good cheap car but I don’t know anything about cars!”The frustration many car buyers feel when they begin searching for a good cheap car can be daunting. The majority of drivers on the road today know very little about cars, even the ones they drive everyday. They know when their car works, but have no idea how it works. You don’t need to know how cars work to drive them of course, but you should know what you really need from a car in order to find a car that meets your needs.
Finding the right cheap car will be an emotional experience if you shop for trendy cars with flashy features. That common mistake often leads to paying more than necessary for something that doesn’t fit your needs. You probably don’t need a 4WD truck in mid-town Manhattan and a Corvette is useless on a ranch. Examine your actual needs, not your wants, to find cars that are right for you.
Think about how you use your car right now. How many people normally ride with you? What types of terrain do drive on most often? How far is your daily commute to work? What you do with your car will determine the type of car you really need. Your habits will dictate whether or not you need features like four-wheel drive, an automatic transmission or extra cargo capacity.
When looking at a specific car remember that normal mileage should be between 12,000 and 15,000 miles for each year of use. Vehicles exhibiting more mileage lose value, vehicles with less than average mileage are candidates for good cheap car status.
You can find good cheap cars at reasonable prices by shopping for used cars instead of new ones, but how do you know you aren’t buying a lemon? A vehicle inspection by a certified mechanic can buy peace of mind when you find a car you’re interested in. Or you might want to consider a certified used car with a warranty from a new car dealership. A certified used car is guaranteed to be in good mechanical order and you are covered if something fails later. You will have to pay a bit extra for a certified used car though. Dealerships add about $1000 extra compared to the prices you can find on similar cars offered by private sellers.
If you are realistic about what your daily driving needs really are, and you search diligently, you will find a great cheap car at a great price.
