As the economy continues to drag out through the year, rules, advice, tips and tricks that were normally applied to buying and selling are no longer as effective as they once were. Now people are coming up with entirely new pieces of advice to take heed of before you go forth and buy your car or van.
Prices and demand for used vans and cars have only increased since the recession, people are just not willing or able to purchase high end cars and vans, the slump has also made it more challenging to get loans or credit necessary for big purchases. Many turn to the used markets for their automotive needs, however higher demands mean higher prices. An example: a 2005 Ford Edge with an average selling price of $5,000 two years ago would not retail for around $7,000.
What many don’t understand though is that pre owned vehicles aren’t always cheaper than brand new ones. Before the recession it was assured that a brand new vehicle’s value would depreciate 20% or 30% after the first year, making relatively new used cars/vans the best value for money purchase. Even then it seems to make more sense just to pick up respective car or van hire as the rental companies see a similar downturn. More people are shifting to public transport and only driving at all when going through car rental or van rental companies for special occasions.
Hidden gems are still around if you look hard enough. The Cash for Clunkers scheme did not eliminate every cheap vehicle on the road. This and economic downturn has left many unable to meet the maintenance demands necessary to upkeep their cars and vans, and even automotive dealers may trim away costs by forgoing optional maintenance. This would also mean that you should make sure you get an accurate vehicle history report and possibly look into having the vehicle inspected from a mechanic.
