Pros, cons of buying a used car

what you should do when venturing onto the market to look for a used car to buy.
Also I look at why at times, it is to your advantage to buy new cars as opposed to used or second-hand cars.
Whether you are looking for a certified pre-owned (these are vehicles that are sold by dealers, they are usually better to buy because they have the service histories in check and they are usually not from 15 years ago) or a private sale, or buying from a dealer or neighbour, this article will help lead you through the used car buying experience.
This guide provides the essential information you need to choose a used car with a good reliability history, sell your old car, and get the best price.
Used vehicles are often the best values you will find in the automotive market.
This is especially so for late-model ones. Not only is the price lower than a comparable new car, but ownership expenses such as insurance are lower, and a used vehicle has already taken its biggest hit in depreciation.
In addition, buying used is often a way to get a better-equipped vehicle than you would be able to afford new.
But buying a used vehicle is an exercise in finding the right balance of value and risk.
One thing that has made used cars more appealing is their improved reliability.
In my experience, I found that vehicles manufactured in 2007/2008 onwards have fewer problems than the ones manufactured in the prior year. Parts for your 1990 vehicle are literally a daylight nightmare to find.
Not so many original new parts can be found for vehicles manufactured about the time when I was born, early 80s that is . . . ha ha ha.
If you own these cars all you deal with are copy parts from China and other parts of Asia.
Years ago, rust and exhaust system problems were common, but that is  no longer the case.
As a result, buying a late-model used vehicle is not as much of a risk as it used to be.
When properly maintained, today’s vehicles should easily go well past 200 000km, and many could reach 300 000km without a major breakdown.
Although used cars are more reliable than ever, maintenance and repair costs are important considerations. In the first two or three years of a car’s life, it has fewer problems and is typically covered by a comprehensive warranty.
A used car, on the other hand, is either close to coming off warranty or already off it.
You can expect not only more problems as time goes on, but more costly ones as the years pile up. Food for thought for those buying 1992 models coming from Singapore and Japan.
This means that owners will have to pay for repairs out of pocket, but most costs will probably go to replace parts like tyres, brakes, or a battery—high-wear items that often are not covered by a warranty anyway.
The expense of replacing all of them, if necessary, would still be relatively modest considering the overall savings from buying a used vehicle.
There is always the risk that you will buy a lemon. Even a car with a great reliability history can be a risky proposition if it was abused by a previous owner or if previous damage has been hidden.
By giving the car a careful inspection yourself and having the vehicle thoroughly inspected by a qualified mechanic, you can usually get a good idea of the car’s value.
A major disadvantage to buying a new car is the rapid depreciation it undergoes in the first few years. Models typically lose about 47 percent of their value in the first three years, compared with 18 percent over the next three.
But this varies greatly among models.
The 2007 BMW 3 Series, for example, has held its value relatively well (about 30 percent depreciation over the first three years).
Several factors determine depreciation, including the model’s popularity, perceived quality, supply, and whether or not the vehicle is of the current design. The average depreciation on a US$27 500 vehicle leaves less than US$15 000 after three years, a huge hit in residual value.
When it comes to insurance, you’ll typically pay less to insure a used vehicle than a new version of the same vehicle. That’s the upside and the downside. Buying a used car means you will not have the latest safety features. Newer features such as electronic stability control (ESC), head-protecting curtain airbags, and advanced frontal air-bag systems are harder to find on older vehicles.
But safety features such as antilock brakes, traction control and side airbags have been commonplace for quite a few years now.
LATCH child-seat anchors have been mandated since 2002 and top-tethers since the 1999 model year.
If you can accept a reliable vehicle that is in less-than-mint condition and you are willing to pay for maintenance and repair costs, your dollars will go further when buying a used car rather than a new one.
The images of the old VW Beetle and the current model year will have you realise that going with the new one has so many advantages.
Till next week, stay blessed. Ciao . . .

Fact D. Jeke is a motoring enthusiast who has attended auto shows, rallies and has written for various publications in the region for the last decade. She can be contacted via email on [email protected] or on Facebook; torque with Fact Jeke.