New or used cars?

DesperateSeller.co.uk has over 180,000 cars for sale but with so much choice should you opt for a new model or a second hand buy? There are advantages and disadvantages to both so we’ve compiled a list of things to consider.

Ok, let’s start with the advantages. One of the great things about buying a brand new car is that you can usually choose the specification of your liking. So, if you want a Ford Focus ST with driver assistance pack then providing you have the cash then you can have it. You can also specify things such as the engine size, number of doors, interior upholstery and the colour you want. One of the biggest advantages however, is that a new car will usually come with a full manufacturer’s warranty. Therefore, should anything go wrong with your car then you can simply return it to the dealership you purchased it from, giving you great peace of mind.

Once you’ve parted with your hard earned money then the first thing you’ll notice when you sit in the car is that lovely new car smell. There are no traces that any other human has previously owned your prize possession. Once you start driving you’ll soon realise other benefits of owning a new car. You’ll discover that the car will have features and gadgets that older versions do not have which provides you with a much better driving experience. Depending on the type of car, generally the fuel economy will be better saving you money at the pumps.

For the majority of car buyers the biggest advantage of buying a new car is that it’s simply an unadulterated treat. It’s that magical feeling when you step inside, turn the ignition and hit the road. It’s the feeling that the car was built and spec’d especially for you.

However, before you are seduced by the multimillion pound advertising campaign and the salesman in the tailored suit, you need to be aware that there are also disadvantages to buying a new car.

There are two overwhelming disadvantages to buying a new car. Firstly is the purchase cost which needs no explanation and secondly depreciation. Depreciation is by far the biggest disadvantage to buying a new car. Car buyers need to be aware that as soon as they drive their car out of the dealership forecourt their car will have depreciated considerably. Research by the RAC states that a new car will take its biggest hit of depreciation within the first two years. This means you are basically throwing away thousands of pounds that you’ll never see again. Therefore, as a general rule you shouldn’t really consider buying a new car unless you have money that you don’t mind losing.

If you’re in the market to buy a car and you’re on a tight budget then searching the used car market will certainly get you more for your cash. By searching for used cars on DesperateSeller.co.uk you’ll find that there are bargains to be had on almost every different model. Not only can you find cheaper cars but there’s also the option to haggle. This significantly increases the chances of you finding a fantastic bargain.

It’s not just the possibility of finding a bargain that makes buying a used car attractive. Along with lower prices your used car will also depreciate considerably slower than a new car. Effectively, what you’ve done is let someone else take the two-plus year depreciation hit on the car. In fact, it’s not uncommon to actually make a profit when the time comes to selling it.

Dependant on the type of car, generally the cost of insurance should be much cheaper. If you take the time to compare the costs of insuring a new model against that of a used model then it should give you food for thought.

So, what are the drawbacks of buying a used car? It’s more than likely that your car will require more maintenance and repairs during your ownership. There maybe some things wrong with the car that you would never know about. As there’s usually no warranty you may be left with unexpected repair bills. AT the end of the day you are driving a car that someone else has driven and as such there’s no real way of knowing how they treated it. However, reliability is constantly improving and buying a used car is much less of a gamble than it once was.

In conclusion there are pros and cons to opting for a new or used car. When buying a new car there certainly a touch of glamour attached to it and you don’t have to worry about maintenance and repair bills. However, the outright costs to purchase a new car is high. The used car market is thriving and with technology constantly improving they drive just as well after 5 or 6 years than they did coming off the production line. For this reason they hold their price well.

What’s important is that you conduct thorough research and make sure you’re looking for a car that suits your requirements and your budget. Then visit a car dealership and take a car for a spin. DesperateSeller.co.uk has thousands of cars listed every day. No matter what type of car you’re looking for we’re sure to have it.