When shopping for their next vehicle, consumers are faced with near infinite choices. You’re deciding on a make, model, color, trim pack, lease or financing terms- the list goes on, and it’s overwhelming. But here’s one choice to take off your plate: sometimes, it’s better to buy pre-owned.
Of course, we love the glow that customers get when they drive home in a brand new car. You get the benefit of a factory warranty, the peace of mind that you’re the first person to put miles on this vehicle, and that awesome new car smell. And we know that not all used cars are created equal. Plenty of people, myself included, have had a borderline traumatic experience with a used vehicle. Mine was a 2013 Nissan Altima named Whitney- I had to replace the transmission less than a year after buying, and she came with a broken cabin light, passenger door, and windshield. Friends refused to take rides from me.
But buying brand new isn’t always the most practical choice, and there’s plenty of preowned vehicles that have the reliability and quality of a new model. With some smart strategy, you can save thousands of dollars without sacrificing features that you want. Here’s some cases where buying used may make more sense for you, and how to find the best deal.
Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles
The absolute best way to find a pre-owned vehicle in good shape is with certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles. CPO vehicles will be from the same brand name of whatever dealership you’re buying from (so South San Antonio Buick GMC, all GM vehicles: GMC, Buick, Chevy, and Cadillac). They’re often cars that have been returned after a lease period, so they’re usually under 5 years old and have low mileage.
Reliability is often consumers’ main concern when buying used, and buying CPO is the best way to assuage that fear. In order to be certified, vehicles undergo rigorous testing to ensure that they’re mechanically sound and in good cosmetic shape. In fact, consumers report 15% less mechanical problems on average when purchasing CPO versus a standard used car.
We love this 2024 GMC Terrain Denali- when else are you going to get a same model year Denali for under $40,000? It’s the next best thing to a brand new model, and you can rest assured knowing the vehicle is completely up to date on maintenance when you take it home.
Low-Mileage Luxury
European luxury brands like BMW, Mercedes, and Audi are renowned for a reason, but have the steepest depreciation value of any new car. This can hurt you with challenging negative equity when you go to trade in your vehicle- especially if you have a short trade cycle. Buying a low mileage luxury car that’s between one and four years old allows you to skirt that initial heavy depreciation, while still enjoying up-to-date features and sleek designs. Our preowned luxury vehicles page is a great place to start. For instance, this 2024 BMW 2 Series is the latest model, with only 13k miles on the odometer, but it offers 5-figure savings below what MSRP would be when buying the same model new.
Of course, this isn’t just for European brands. Generally, your high-sticker vehicles depreciate fastest as a matter of principle. This 2022 Jeep Wagoneer is another great example: it’s still in fantastic shape, but would have come with significant negative equity if you had bought it brand new (especially during the COVID years, at the height of chip shortages).
On a similar note, this also rings true for sports cars, like this 2023 Corvette Stingray. Muscle cars like these are rarely daily drivers, so when you find them preowned they’re frequently in pristine condition, with less than 5k miles on the odometer. This leaves you with more cash in your pocket for customization, maintenance, or much-wanted savings.
Work Trucks and Beyond
On the other hand, there might be some cases where you just don’t need a brand new vehicle, just something reliable. A used work truck can be perfect for a business owner that needs to tow or haul on a regular basis and doesn’t want to break the bank. Take this 2024 Ram 2500, which is a CarFax Great Value with one previous owner. Sometimes, you just can’t beat the cost effectiveness of a preowned vehicle. This rings especially true if you’re looking to drive a vehicle for over 150k miles, and you’re not concerned about future trade equity.
When you’re shopping for your next vehicle, keep an open mind! Even if you start with your mind set on a new car, it’s a smart strategy to at least appraise your options first. Advocate for your must-have features with your salesperson- they may have the color, technology package, or model you’re looking for on a used vehicle, even if it’s out of stock in new inventory.
An extra pro-tip: if there’s a used vehicle under our brand umbrella that you love, ask if it can be certified. Even if it doesn’t already have the CPO badge, our service department will inspect the vehicle to see if it qualifies. We’re here to help you find a vehicle that makes you feel secure and completely satisfied. Just remember, buying a car should be fun. We wish you well in your hunt!
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Pre-Owned Inventory