End of the Year Car Savings
by Nikki Willhite
www.allthingsfrugal.com
The end of the year is often one of the best times of the
year to buy a car from a dealership. During the holidays business drops at
dealerships, and they are often willing to sell cars at substantial savings.
Add to this their desire to clear their inventory to make room
for next year's models (and the resulting price drop on the "old models") and
you find yourself in a great bargaining position.
Rental cars are also turned for dealerships to sell. They are
usually well serviced, and typically have 10-14 thousand miles on them.
I hope you don't have to buy another car, but if you do, this is
a good time time. Start doing your homework. Read about prices, features and
reliability. Some makes of cars are just poor. Others are known to clock 200,000
miles with regularity. Whether you buy your car from a dealer or a person, you
should have the make, mileage and price point figured out before you begin.
If you buy from an individual, be sure that you meet them at
their home, and that they actually live there. If the car is parked on gravel or
dirt, suspect leaking fluids. Ask to see copies of the work that has been done.
If they don't have it, walk. Either they are not telling the truth, of their car
maintenance is on track with their record keeping.
Depending on the age of the car, you can count on certain
repairs that should have been done. If they haven't, then you will be paying for
them. After 10 years, (or about 100,000 miles) a car will need new brakes, a new
clutch, radiator, rubber hoses, and possibly even an engine replacement.
The wheels should have been replaced at least twice. Check to
date on the last battery. Check the windows, doors and locks to see if they are
operating smoothly. When was the last tune up? Most older cars need a major tune
up (which is expensive) every 40,000 miles.
If you look at an older car, and it has a stack of receipts for
repairs, don't let that deter you. It may just mean fewer things for you to do.
For those of you who remember the story at the beginning of the year I told you
about my son who decided to put a new engine in his truck rather than buy a
another vehicle- it has worked out well and was a big money saver.
Here is a URL to do
research on the internet:
Kelly Blue Book Online