Filed under: Saving
By Holly Johnson
The decision to purchase a car shouldn't be just about finding your favorite shade of blue and driving it home. There are a variety of factors to consider: How much do you want to spend? Do you need a warranty? Can you pay cash or need financing to seal the deal? But first, you need to decide on one of the most important issues related to your car purchase -- should you buy new or used?
Everyone loves that new car smell. Then there's the way the interior has been carefully covered with plastic. The stickers still on the windows. The odometer that reads zero. And a smooth-talking sales person can convince you that you can afford the car of your dreams without a shadow of a doubt.
But with all the talk of low monthly payments and cash back, there are a few things your crafty salesman or woman won't tell you. And unfortunately, those tiny gems of information are perhaps the most important things you should know. You know the saying, "The devil is in the details?"
1. New Cars Face Instant Depreciation
A growing body of research shows that a new car may not be the best way to spend your hard-earned cash. According to Edmunds.com, your new car could lose as much as 9 percent of its value the minute you drive off the lot. That means your new $30,000 ride might be worth as little as $27,300 by the time you get it home to show your spouse. And one year later? Your car might now be worth as little as 81 percent of what you paid for it or $24,300.
The news only gets worse from there: Your car is worth as little as 40 percent of its retail price five years after you buy it.
2. New Cars Bring Higher Costs
Your monthly payment isn't the only way a new car will assault your wallet. People forget that new cars (especially those with a loan) sometimes require higher levels of collision and liability coverage. The manufacturer suggested retail price also weighs heavily on the overall costs to insure it. What this means is that a new, expensive car might cost significantly more to insure than an older, used model.
But that's not all. Depending on where you live, the cost of license plates and vehicle registration are often commensurate with the retail value of your vehicle. In other words, your expensive new car will cause you to pay more for the privilege of parking on the street - sometimes a necessity if you live in a large city.
3. Buying a Used Car Offers Psychological Benefits
So now you know you'll likely save some cash by buying used instead of new, but what about the emotional aspect of your purchase?
Sure, you might feel slightly deflated when you drive off the lot with a used car instead of new. However, you might also feel a psychological boost from not having to worry too much about the upkeep of a brand new car.
Think about it. As we all know, life happens. That sweet little old lady at the grocery store is bound to slam her cart into whatever you're driving at a certain point. And we all know what birds do. In our complicated world, not having to stress over the elements or a little ding here or there is worth something.
The bottom line: It's your car and your decision, but it's important to understand what having a new car really means. Of course, it feels good to buy something new and show your friends and neighbors that you're doing well, but that new-car smell might cost far more than you ever realized.
