Buying a used car: main pros and cons

The popularity of domestic motor vehicles is increasing day by day. If you decide to buy your first car, most experts recommend buying a used car. Lack of driving experience can lead to frequent car breakdowns. And diagnostics and repair of used cars today is cheaper than repair of new ones. Therefore, the advantages of a second-hand car for novice drivers cannot be overestimated. We also asked experts to give their opinion on this issue.

«Everything depends on the person, not the car

According to Georgiy Chkonia, a columnist of Servicems.ru, the choice between a new and a used car mainly depends not on the specific model of the car, but on the person. If the buyer has «baggage» of special technical knowledge and he can independently detect and identify the existing breakdown (or he has a friend who is ready to help him in this case), he can buy a used car without hesitation. However, in the absence of such knowledge, you should not even try to consider such a purchase. There is a very high risk of being cheated and buying a car that has already been killed.

Alexander Mikhailov, head of sales department of Suzuki «Laura Kupchino» car dealership, is of the opinion that one should not put a new car and a used one on the same level. «Even if you imagine that the car was used in very gentle conditions, and the owner carefully monitored its condition, a used car will still not have the margin of safety that a new one can offer… Besides, there is always a possibility that the best diagnostics will not reveal all the problems of a car with mileage» – Alexander expressed his opinion.

The main advantages of buying a used car

One of the main «positive sides» of buying a used car should be highlighted:

• Affordable cost. As a rule, the cost of a used car is about half the cost of the same new vehicle. You can also buy a moderately priced business class car. Such cars lose their value rather quickly, as they are bought and quickly changed in pursuit of fashionable novelties.
• Cheap repair and maintenance. It is often very difficult to find spare parts for new cars. For used cars, spare parts can almost always be bought in any car shop.

Specificity of buying a used car

Despite all the above-mentioned advantages, it is necessary to remember that in the process of choosing and buying a car there may be some negative aspects:

• reading reviews and adverts on the internet when choosing a used car can be time-consuming;
• Buying a car for next to nothing, you should morally prepare for the fact that major repairs will be necessary;
• before choosing a used car is desirable to hire a qualified specialist who will help to inspect it and calculate the approximate cost of its restoration. Assessment of the real condition of the car is necessary to make sure that there is no need to carry out major repairs.

Buying a used car from an official dealer

Buying a car from an authorised dealer has a number of advantages:

• no legal problems;
• confidence that the car is fully serviceable, all defects that occurred earlier, eliminated;
• dealer will definitely give a guarantee on the mechanics of the car.

Buying a used car – a viable option for those who want to practice driving and save money. Buying such a car in good condition, you can be sure that its maintenance will be several times cheaper than the warranty service of a new car.

Buying a used car in good condition, you can be sure that its maintenance will be several times cheaper than the warranty service of a new car.

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