Willowbrook Vehicle Buying/Selling Services

04/05/2023

Always a great place to stop for some great ice cream treats. Also very family and pet friendly

04/16/2021

08/30/2017

New or used?
There's nothing better than the smell and feel of a new car or truck. What many don't realize is that your new car or truck loses about 20% in value after the first year. That means, your $30k vehicle just lost $6k in one year and the depreciation is steep for the first 5 years. Some vehicles depreciate 35-40% after the first 5 years (depending on the make and model).
So, do you buy new or used?

While buying new cars or trucks is exciting, you should take a hard look at how much you could save over time by buying a good used car or truck instead.

The average person owns 13 cars/trucks in a lifetime, each costing an average of $30,000, according to a report by the National Automobile Dealers Association. If each of those cars was 3 years old, instead of new, you could save nearly $130,000 during your lifetime. That's a lot of money in your retirement plan!

The key to saving money in buying a good used car or truck, is buying one that has already depreciated, but hasn't been abused with low mileage.

Once you understand how car depreciation sucks money out of your wallet, you’ll learn how to save a lot of money over your lifetime.

Take a look at two similar cars, one new and one used.

New-car depreciation: You buy the car for $30,000 and sell it three years later for $15,000. The car has cost you $15,000 in depreciation.

Used-car depreciation: Now let’s say you buy the same car, but it’s 3 years old when you buy it. You could buy the car for $15,000. Three years later you could sell it for $10,000. So the used car depreciation cost you only $5000
Some of you may say , “But driving a brand new car is much better!” You’re absolutely right. So, if driving a new car is worth an extra $10,000 to you, go for it.

There is also a lot of risk in buying a used car or truck. This is true! I prefer one owner, private sales. You will be able to speak directly to the original owner and often get all of the original maintenance records and receipts. One owner used cars or trucks often change hands a few times between brokers and dealers. I have rarely seen receipts available from dealers. This always makes me uneasy because I don't know the history of the vehicle. Some dealers tag on a "Certified" tag when the vehicle has been thoroughly inspected and comes with a limited warranty. Not sure I would say this is worth the extra money.

Also, used cars have never been more dependable than they are today. It’s not uncommon for some cars and trucks to last more than 100,000 miles before needing major repairs.

Both new and used cars and trucks require regular maintenance such as oil changes, tire rotation, brake jobs. But you can drive today’s cars much farther in between these scheduled maintenance visits. Even tires and brake pads last much longer than before

You will also get lower car insurance rates because your vehicle is worth less and it will be cheaper to register.

Here are some new car and truck advantages:

All new vehicles are assumed to be perfect, so evaluating the condition isn’t a factor. No need to take it to a mechanic. Also, it’s easier to figure out what you should pay for a new car, even if the negotiation process is still a pain.

There are more financing options. Automakers offer plenty of incentives to lure buyers, such as cash rebates. New car loans have better interest rates.

New vehicles offer newer features for comfort, performance and safety are introduced in new cars every year.

A new car will likely be more reliable than a used one, even though pre-owned cars are much more dependable than in the past. If a new car breaks down, you can have it fixed for free under the included factory warranty, at least for the first 36,000 miles or three years.

Your decision to buy new or used isn't easy and can de difficult to navigate. If you buy new, do your homework, research the vehicle, the dealerships, negotiate the best deal and avoid the hard sell add ons at the end of the deal. If you buy used, try to find a one or two owner vehicle, always run a carfax and do a pre-inspection and test drive.
Remember, depreciation is a key factor and you'll feel it's full effect after a few years.

Let me know if I can help you.

Chuck

08/28/2017

The 5 most common mistakes when buying a new car:

1. Not taking the time to research all of the dealerships and internet opportunities before you head out. Sometimes driving an extra 20 miles will save you a lot of money. If you plan far enough ahead of time, its sometimes advatangeous to research dealerships 50-100 miles away or even outside of your State. I helped a colleague buy a car 300 miles away and he saved $2000. Well worth the effort and $500 to have the car delivered. I have several contacts with affordable shippers across the US.

2. Arriving at the dealership uninformed and unaware of the car you're buying. Also, arriving at the dealer an hour before they close and they try to rush the deal. Before I buy a new car, I spend hours researching that car, to include the reviews, options, peformance and comfort packages, as well as the dealerships and thier inventory within a 100 mile radius. When it's time to buy that new car, I typically know much more than the salesperson and thier manager. The process still takes a couple of hours, but the negotiations and final price are all worth the extra time and effort.

3. Not taking a thorough test drive. Many people are so anxious that they just want to take the car home. This is a big investment and you'll likely have this car for several years. I will have an intial consult with you to help guide your car buying options. There may be other makes and models that suit you better.

4. Trading in your existing car. Dealers typically ask you up front if you have a trade-in. They use this as leverage in the deal. They will offer you bottom line Black Book value (this is different than Blue Book value). I firmly beleive you can get much more from your existing car through a private sale with the proper preparation and posting. If you don't have the time to sell your existing car through a private sale, do not disclose that you have a trade in until a final price has been negotiated with the dealer. Getting top dollar on a trade-in is tough and takes a lot of negotiating. Again, my preferance is private sale. I typically sell a used car within two weeks from the time of preparation and posting.

5. By the time you spend a couple of hours test driving and negotiating your new car deal, its now time to visit the dreaded Finance Department of the dealership. By now you will be completely worn down and ready to just pick up your new car and drive off the lot. The Finance person will try to sell you several add ons and an extended warranty. I would recommend against both. Add ons such as special undercoating, seat protection, isn't worth the value. Extended warranties have also proven to be overpriced and rarely used.

08/28/2017

This is a classic, buyer beware used car purchase. A quick walk around revealed a pretty clean Mercedes 190D. The ad from a reputable used car dealer (not to be named) said "very little surface rust" and everything works great. After closer inspection this car had major rust that was cleaverly disguised with paint over and lots of rubber undercoating, the AC was briefly charged for the test drive, and it had been in an accident (not listed on Carfax). This was a very bad buy resulting in the loss of thousands of dollars.

08/28/2017

Are you stressed or nervous about buying or selling your vehicle?

Do you feel like you could have sold it for more or bought it for less?

Do you take the time to prepare your vehicles for sale to get the maximum resale value?

Do you take the time to do the research to find the best deals in the area for new and used vehicles?

Do you do a background check to see if the vehicle your are buying has issues?

Most people don't have the time or take the time to get the best deal on selling their vehicles or buying used or new vehicles. You can loose thousands of dollars trading in your vehicle instead of taking the time to prepare your vehicle for private sale. You can loose thousands of dollars by not researching the best deals in the area or buying a vehicle with unnecessary add ons.

I have over 30 years of experience in buying, selling, inspecting and repairing cars, trucks, motorcycles, trailers, RV's, ATV's and boats, saving customers up to thousands of dollars on every transaction

My services include:

* Preparing and listing your used vehicle for sale

- Conducting a 20 point inspection to ensure full disclosure to your buyers
- Preparing your listing and taking pictures to list on local websites with the proper verbiage to attract buyers
- Ensuring your vehicle is clean and presentable. First impressions are important and can make or break a deal
- Offering a Carfax on your vehicle
- Being available to show your vehicle to potential buyers

* Used vehicle purchase

- Research the vehicle you're looking for to find the right vehicle for you at best deal
- Conduct a 20 point pre-purchase inspection
- Test drive the vehicle (I also have a motorcycle license)
- Run a Carfax on the used vehicle
- Negotiate with the seller

* New Vehicle purchase

- If you are unsure of the new vehicle you're interested in, I can discuss options of makes, models, etc
- Research area dealers to find to best deal for you
- Test drive the vehicle with you
- Negotiate the best deal for you with the dealership salesperson. This can be a long and tedious process and sometimes takes hours. I can help you get the best bottom line price and save you money.

Take the stress, anxiety and worry out of vehicle buying and selling and call me to schedule your appointment to discuss options

Chuck
618-578-6705

08/28/2017

08/28/2017