When you are at work discussing your plans for the weekend, and you hear someone mention that they are in the market for a used car, you may want to interject with advice against doing so. After all, you have heard an array of horror stories about
used car dealerships. But truth be told, your coworker is making a good decision purchasing used. There are so many stigmas surrounding buying used vehicles, but buying used is actually beneficial to drivers in today's world.
Today’s used car dealerships look nothing like the overstuffed and haphazard, balloon-and-colored-flag laden lots depicted in the movies. Gone is the cartoon-like, garishly-dressed shyster waiting at his metal desk to prey on an unsuspecting buyer, as if he ever really existed. In this digital age, no business can survive for long, using questionable sales tactics. In fact, a business that doesn’t put the customer first in word and deed will find itself with a one-star rating faster than a Corvette Stingray can go from 0-60 on the straight track. That said, if a business is bad, you will know.
Beyond the dealers, though, many people have stipulations about the cars themselves. But those can dissipate too. As aforementioned, there are so many stigmas about buying used vehicles. And often, they are not true. So today, we at Dan Cummins Chevrolet Buick are going to take a look at five of the most common myths surrounding used cars and prove them wrong. Let's get into it.
#5 The Vehicles Are Subpar Quality
Many people believe that used vehicles are of poor or subpar quality, and that misconception can cost money in the long run. How so? Well, many automotive dealerships offer a type of used car called certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles. These cars have been put through a rigorous bumper-to-bumper inspection and reconditioning, making it the next best thing to a new vehicle. In fact, CPO vehicles are governed by automobile manufacturers, which means the actual carmaker determines the parameters by which a vehicle can be classified as CPO.
For example, General Motors requires all CPO vehicles to have no more than 75,000 miles, and the car cannot be more than six model years old. In addition, cars must have a clean title and pass a 172-point vehicle inspection. So how does taking this route save money? Because CPO vehicles are simply cheaper than new vehicles, even though they come with all of the modern conveniences and are subject to thorough inspection. With all of that said, used vehicles are anything but subpar.
#4 It Takes Forever To Buy a Used Car
A big used car-shopping deterrent is the time suck involved with driving to the dealership, test driving multiple cars, and arranging to finance. It’s exhausting, which is why dealers are looking at alternative ways to make the process faster and more convenient: online sales.
If you’re in the market for a used car but not so excited about schlepping across town to shop, you’re in luck! Most used car dealerships put their inventory online and continuously update it so only the most current and available vehicles are displayed. You’ll find price, mileage, multiple photos of the interior and exterior of each vehicle, along with information about CPO (or not) and a handy calculator to determine your rough monthly payment.
If you’re lucky enough to find the perfect vehicle at your local dealership, you can often even arrange the purchase online. Most dealerships are equipped to coordinate the financing and the pickup date and time, leaving just the paperwork to handle in person. This option is such a relief for busy professionals who simply can’t make time for an in-person purchase. Additionally, this is the same process buyers take to get a new vehicle. And it certainly does not take forever to buy used.
#3 Used Cars Are All Bought At Auction
It’s true that some used car inventory comes from auctions, but used car inventory comes largely from dealership trade-ins. Remember, many people choose to lease their vehicles. Lease terms are usually one to four years and limit the mileage customers can accrue, which means these vehicles are in pretty excellent condition when they’re returned at the end of the lease term.
These previously leased vehicles often become CPO vehicles and have the added benefit of limited wear-and-tear due to restrictive lease terms that prohibit excess damage without severe financial penalties. This all adds up to great pre-owned vehicle opportunities for you. The same holds true for financed vehicles that are traded in. Many customers change cars every year, and some every few years. The influx of quality pre-owned vehicle inventory is constant, which means excellent opportunities exist for buyers that are in the market for a used car. And not all of these opportunities come from auctions.
#2 Used Cars Don’t Come with a Warranty
We’ve got some pretty great news for you: All GM CPO vehicles come with a 6 year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty, a 12 month/12,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, roadside assistance, and a 3 day/150 mile exchange policy, eliminating any potential for buyer’s remorse after your purchase. GM also throws in limited OnStar and SiriusXM trial subscriptions, and that aforementioned comprehensive 172-point inspection.
It’s good to remember that a dealer won’t provide a warranty on a vehicle they’re not confident is 100% mechanically sound. It’s not good business, and a good rule of thumb is, their confidence means you can be confident too. It’s a win-win situation because when you drive that vehicle off the lot, you’ll know the dealer and the automaker have put their names and reputations behind it. Used vehicles can, in fact, come with a warranty.
#1 Used Car Dealers Only Care About Profit
In short, auto dealerships exist to support customers throughout the ownership experience, not just to get the sale. In fact, dealers rely heavily on revenue generated by service and parts sales, so they’ll work harder to earn your business on the front-end in order to guarantee you’ll return over and over again as a loyal service customer.
With that in mind, it’s pretty confidence-inspiring to recognize that if a customer feels like they got a bad deal, they won’t be returning to that dealership for anything, let alone long term service and vehicle maintenance. A reputable used car dealer wants to earn your business for many years and encourage you to refer your friends.
What does a positive purchase experience look like? It starts with respect and consideration for your time, budget, and preferences. A good used car salesperson will listen to your needs and guide you through the vehicles on the lot to help you narrow down your choices. They’ll coordinate test drives and demonstrate each vehicle’s features, and give you an honest overview of the pros and cons of every option you’re considering.
We admit, there are still some unethical used car dealers out there. It pays to know how to spot them so you can walk away fast. What doesn’t a positive purchase experience look like? Pressure. Mind-numbing waits. Flip-flopping on price. Pushing extras after you decline. Not offering test drives. Exorbitant, one-size-fits-all finance rates. High mileage, dirty cars with no vehicle history report. But in general, not all used car dealers are hyper-focused on profit; they want to build relationships.
Have We Convinced You?
We want to know what you think! Have we convinced you? In fact, today’s used car dealership is customer-focused, friendly, knowledgeable, and - most importantly - reputable. We speak from experience, as our team is highly trained to put you, our customer, first beyond everything else. That’s what you should expect, whether you’re going out to dinner or visiting the corner store for a gallon of milk. Good service is no longer something consumers request; it’s something they demand.
