Essential Used Car Buying Tips and Advice.

Essential Used Car Buying Tips and Advice.

Buy your next car like a professional car buyer using tips the experts use.

Buying a used car in Perth or anywhere in Western Australia, you can use the secrets the experts use.

They aren’t really secrets, they may seem that way because you don’t buy a car on a regular basis.

 Here are some tips that people inside the used car business in western Australia have learnt from experience and shared with www.wacars.com.au

Once you have read these new and used car tips you will be able to apply them and lessen your odds of being ripped off or being able to increase the odds of getting a great new or used car deal.

The number one tip:

Don’t let your heart rule your head and make an emotional purchase.

Each used car is unique.

In Western Australia cars often travel huge distances due to the size of our state.

From Esperance to Exmouth, Albany to Kununurra, Mandurah To Meekatharra, Perth to Port Hedland, Broome to Bunbury and every- where in between.

One of the biggest downsides with used car buying over new car buying is that you’re often forced or tempted to make a snap decision on a car you’ve found.

This is because the used car you have just looked at may meet your criteria, and you may have looked at so many cars either online or in car yards.

The kilometres are right, you like the colour and it has a service history.

The dealer tells you that other people are interested in the car you are looking at. This can be a sales tactic to rush you or could be genuine, especially if the cars are a popular model and well-priced. Other people may well be interested in the same reasons you are. Popular model used cars in dealerships sell and often sell quickly.

So be sure that when you are buying your next used car don’t rush into the decision. Conversely if the used car meets your criteria don’t procrastinate or there is a good chance of missing out.

When buying a new car, you able to choose your colour and the extras you want at your leisure.

There is a plentiful supply of new cars (usually), they all have zero kilometres on them and a full new car warranty.

When purchasing a used car, even two cars the same age and make can be different colours, one may be in worse condition than the other, the service histories may be different, and kilometres travelled can be different.

What this highlights is that you need to concentrate when buying a used car and pay attention to the condition of the car as well as the pricing.

A used car that has a lot of extras or options is desirable and will usually increase its value/sale price.

 You can be sure that the used car dealer wants to sell the car and unlike a new car, where the salesperson can show you a car in the colour you want and with the extras you want the used car salesperson has to work with the car that they have on the lot.

What this does is give you an advantage when negotiating.

Tip Number Two: Finance and budgeting.

Financing and setting a budget to buy your next used car,

Your budget has two parts. The used car purchase price and your regular payment.

Decide the maximum amount you are prepared to spend before you see or talk to any salesperson or car dealer.

That is the total dollar value you are prepared to spend to purchase a new or used car and a weekly, fortnightly or monthly payment limit that is affordable to you.

Motor vehicle dealers in Perth and other parts of Western Australia offer a wide range of 4WD vehicles like Toyota Land Cruisers and Nissan Patrols and these often sell for higher prices in Western Australia than in other States due to their popularity here in Western Australia.

Modified and V8 Utes are very popular in Western Australia particularly in country areas outside of Perth.

A favourite sales tactic that motor vehicle dealers often use is to break down any monthly payment to weekly payments. Most people do the math in their heads and times the weekly payment by 4 times. An example is that $100.00 per week equates to $400.00 a month to most people. $100.00 per week is $430.00 per month. This is because there are 52 weeks in a year. On average there are 4.3 weeks to each month. $100.00 x 4.3 = $430.00 not $400.00.

A finance manager or salesperson may quote low weekly payments so that you don’t consider total purchase or sticker price.

We suggest getting a finance pre- approval, this is a pre-approved so that you know exactly what you can spend and what the payments are likely to be.

www.loans123.com.au can help in this regard.

 Keep to a strict budget and know exactly what your limit is before you begin negotiating the price of the car and it is helpful to gain a preapproval for finance before you even begin shopping for the new or used car you wish to purchase.

Some interest rates on used car loans can be higher than interest rates on new car loans.

Consider how old the used car you are interested in buying is. This is because the age of the vehicle will affect the interest rate that you may qualify for.

As the car ages, it becomes harder and more expensive to get finance. Financiers view older cars as a higher risk. A motor vehicle up to 5 years will ensure you get a better rate than a car over 5 years old.

When buying a used car don’t wait until you have chosen the car and are signing papers at a dealership to think about how you’ll finance your car purchase.

Tip Number Three: Knowing what you want to buy.

Know what you are buying. Doing your homework.

It is important to do your research and to learn as much as you can about the cars, you’re interested in buying before you start car shopping, whether it is online, in the newspapers or going from dealership to dealership.

You need to ask yourself if the car or cars that you want to purchase suit your purpose?

Going north from Perth are even if you are contemplating a trip in the Western Australian Out Back, In the Kimberley or The Great Sandy desert your needs will be different to driving in suburban Perth.  

New cars and used cars suit different applications and uses.

 One of the quickest and easiest ways to research your next new or used car purchase is to explore the internet.

You can find reviews, road tests and descriptions online. You can expand your knowledge of the car you are looking for and get a better idea of pricing.

Online and offline reviews often give subjective and objective reports on the strengths, weaknesses and overall driveability of the cars you are reading about.

They are often written by industry experts and commentators who drive new and used cars for a living. Jeremy Clarkson is a writer whose car reviews are often entertaining as well as educational.

 A lot of reviews will compare, or contrast a given model with its competitors, this can help to highlight any short comings or weak points and can be very helpful in helping you to decide.

The reason that Toyota is the dominant brand when travelling in the outback regions of Western Australia or any outback region in Australia is that Toyota, Landcruiser and Hi Lux in particular, have a reputation for toughness and reliability. Toyota parts are readily available, and most outback mechanics are familiar with repairing them.

Tip Number Four:

This is all about reducing your risk.

How to reduce your risk of buying a lemon. (A dud car).

This may seem obvious, buy from a reputable car dealer. A dealership that sells new and used cars is a safer bet than a small used car dealership.

Western Australia, due to the large number of mining companies here, has a large fleet of ex mining company 4WD vehicles that are on sold to the public.

These can often be damaged or extremely worn and most reputable motor vehicle dealers don’t stock these vehicles for resale. 

New car dealers are often more particular about the vehicle stock that they sell is that the new car dealer needs to protect their reputation.

A new car dealer gets access a better range of quality used cars that are traded on new cars and from previous service customers.

A lot of smaller used car dealers must buy their cars from wholesalers or at auction often without knowing anything about the car’s service history and ownership.

Most new and used car dealers keep the good cars so that they can re-sell them, and they wholesale or auction the problem cars, that is, any cars that may have expensive mechanical issues.

Tip Number Five: You Emotions.

Don’t be swayed by your emotions when buying a new or used car.

Keep a level head and think rationally. This can be very important when buying a new or used car.

Don’t be pushed into doing anything quickly. Be able to see beyond that shiny paint job and be able to close your ears to that fast- talking salesperson.

Something to remember and help give you some perspective is that the nice salesperson that you really seem to get along with, sells cars every day and that you only buy a car once every few years at the most.

Use a logical approach without being distracted by emotion. Slow the process down so that you understand what is being said.  

This is how you should approach buying a used car. Using your brain, and not being swayed by your emotions or a fast-talking salesperson.

A friend or family member can be very helpful to have in a support role as you can ask their opinion and take timeout to talk to them away from the salesperson.

 Remember that the bottom line is, a car, used or new is just a car no matter what the colour is. Especially if the salesperson is pushing you to buy and telling you that the best deal is only available now.

Tip Number Six.  Your Trade in Value.

How you can obtain the best dollar value for your trade in.

Showing a regular service and maintenance schedule will always help to enhance the value of your trade in.

The logbook should be up to date and stamped to match the manufactures kilometre or time specifications.

Always present your car with 2 keys. Keys can cost from hundreds of dollars and even into thousands of dollars to replace so ensure that you have 2 keys. 

Presenting the dealer with a clean tidy well-presented car will get you better money than a dirty smelly car every time.

Red dust will devalue your car. This dust usually indicates the car has been used off road. In Western Australia these cars are called “Red Dusters. This is the dust from outback Western Australia and is very hard to remove from a motor vehicle.

A complete service history does add value, but lack of service history will devalue your trade far more significantly. 

The Condition of Your Trade.

Most customers rate their own cars in either good or excellent condition.

Very few trade-ins are in good or excellent condition.

What makes a car that is good condition?

Have a look at the cars displayed in a dealership these will be clean, shiny, with recently polished paint.

• No dents or major scratches.
• No interior odours, Carpets and seats are clean with no stains.
• No rips or tears in the cloth/leather.
• Tires are new or have significant tread life left (more than 50%).
• Service history is up to date and there are no mechanical issues.

Does your car measure up to the above criteria?

If it doesn’t, then your car is more than likely in fair or average condition.

Getting perspective. 

You should walk around your trade-in vehicle and pretend you are about to buy it for the first time.

You should ask yourself what flaws you see and what would you want a dealer to fix before they were to sell it to you.

If you can look at your trade-in this way, you’ll be better prepared at negotiation time.

Cracked Windscreens,

You may not need to trade your car with a cracked windscreen.

 You may be able to get your windscreen fixed for free without affecting your no claims bonus.

In Perth, and all over Western Australia, www.InstantWindscreens.com.au and www.obrienautoglass.com.au can help you.

 A new windscreen could cost around $800.00, yet most insurance companies will fix or replace your windscreen for free under your comprehensive cover.

If the dealer has to replace the windscreen, they will deduct the cost off your trade in value.

Check your insurance policy, you may be able to have your car windscreen fixed by your insurer without affecting your no claim bonus, at no cost to yourself.