You’ve set your mind on buying a luxury vehicle, but you’re not ready to fork over too much money for it? There is a solution to your problem and a great one at that!
Buy a USED luxury vehicle!
Now wait, don’t dismiss the idea just yet. A luxury car is a top of the line vehicle in all areas – performance, safety, technology, and comfort – which is why such a piece of drivable art comes with a 5-figure (at least!) price tag. Moreover, a used luxury car doesn’t lose its value over time as quickly as you might expect from your everyday drive. Have in mind that the buyers of high-end automobiles are not people who wait for something to be wrong before replacing them. Therefore, more often than not a mechanical failure is not the reason for such a vehicle to find itself on a sales lot again.
When you consider all you will be getting in a vehicle like that, the price shouldn’t seem like too much if you are a bonafide car lover. However, buying a cat in the bag is never a pleasant feeling, so Ali Ghaddar, President CRS Automotive Stoney Creek took the time to give you a few tips for buying a used luxury vehicle.
1) Research the dealer
The first thing to do when embarking on the adventure of buying a used car, especially the luxury kind, is to do research on the dealer you are inclined to go to. Excellent customer reviews are a must! Look at what Google and Facebook can offer you in that respect and take it from there. The dealership you are considering to do business with must have an immaculate reputation, not only online, but also among the people you know and trust personally. This is highly important because you want to know that your dealer will have your back in case there is ever a problem with the vehicle you purchased from them.
2) Be comfortable with your choice of vehicle
Whether or not you’ve already had an idea of what you want before entering the dealership in search of your new drive, it is essential that the vehicle you actually buy is the right fit for you. Make sure it is the right color, the right package, the right option. The salesperson is there to guide you in the right direction, but it is up to you to make sure you are comfortable with the car you will be spending hard-earned money on and driving in the foreseeable future.
3) Check the state of the vehicle
Once you start looking at the actual vehicles the dealer has to offer, inspect their physical condition. Check the doors, trunk, navigation system, stereo, radio and anything else you can think of for scratches, rattling, glitching, etc. Little things like that are what might not work properly on a used vehicle, but are not disclosed by the dealer because it doesn’t fall under the safety and industry standard requirements. So, don’t be lazy and make sure you know every little thing about the used luxury vehicle you are interested in buying.
4) Let a 3rd party inspect the vehicle
When it comes to performance and the operational condition of a car, be sure to request the vehicle you want to buy undergo a 3rd party inspection. If the dealer is reluctant to grant you the opportunity to see if the car really is in the condition they claim, it is probably safe to assume they have something to hide. In that case, whatever it is that is not working properly will become your problem after purchasing the car and make you regret ever buying it. Therefore, declare your condition of purchase – either the car is inspected by a 3rd party and proven to be in the state the dealer claims, or you are walking out.
5) Ask about car history
Seeing as a used luxury car has its own history with the previous owner, it is well within your rights to ask about it extensively. Request to see its service records so that you can form your own opinion on the way the vehicle has been used and maintained. Granted, most dealerships don’t keep maintenance records for all used cars, but if they do have them, you will want to see them. Also, ask for Carproof and Collision Records, but even if they are clean, check the car yourself for visual confirmation of the car not having been damaged in an accident.
6) Check inside the car and under the hood
If you find yourself on the verge of buying a used luxury car, sit in it for a while – get a feel of it. Make sure the seat is comfortable and you have enough legroom, look at the dashboard and see if it is comprehensive to you, familiarize yourself with all the blinkers and levers. The cleanliness of the car will also be indicative of the way the previous owner treated the vehicle – not only inside the car but under the hood, too. If you see clean and well-maintained car components, you will know it was well treated and loved by its previous owner – providing you with a reliable vehicle without concealed mechanical issues.
7) Avoid pushy salesmen
Salespeople are there to provide assistance in your quest to find the right vehicle for you, not convince you to buy one you don’t really want. Stay away from pushy dealers – those who feel the need to persuade you why a certain vehicle is exactly for you even though it’s the furthest thing from your mind. Their only goal is to get rid of a vehicle, instead of finding you one you will be happy to pay for and drive and since it is ultimately your decision, don’t let them make it for you.
The right salesperson will take care of YOUR needs and desires when you come to them to buy a car. That is the ONLY way we work here at CRS Automotive.
So visit our shop in Stoney Creek today and let us help you find a used luxury vehicle you will love!
