Is It Better to Buy a New or Used Car?

Are you struggling to decide whether to buy a new Volkswagen or used car? There are many good reasons on both sides to consider. Moreover, your ultimate choice will depend on your priorities. Here at Volkswagen of Marion, we have extensive experience selling new Volkswagens. We also offer pre-owned cars from various brands to our loyal local customers. Feel free to explore our selection of new inventory or our used car showroom. We’ve examined both options’ benefits to help you decide whether to shop new or used.

Buying Price

Is your main priority when shopping for your next car the price you’ll pay? If so, opting for a used vehicle can save you a considerable amount. It’s common for three- or four-year-old pre-owned models to cost thousands of dollars less than their latest editions. One of the reasons for this is that the value of all cars drops steeply during the first year or two of their lives. As a result, you may be able to afford a larger car or a vehicle with more features if you buy it used instead of shopping for a model straight off the assembly line.

On the other hand, if you’re taking out a loan to buy a car, you’re more likely to get a good deal if you shop for a new model. Interest rates are often lower for new car loans than for used ones. You may even find special deals from the manufacturer.

Maintenance Costs

Are you a driver who doesn’t mind spending more money up-front by purchasing a new car? If so, you’ll enjoy lower maintenance costs during the first few years of ownership than you’d pay for a used car. Volkswagen equips its new sedans and crossovers with a three-year limited warranty and a five-year powertrain warranty. These protections cover the costs of repairs or replacement parts from defective parts or labor. Also, new cars are less likely to develop severe problems in their first few years than pre-owned vehicles.

Having said that, there are ways to manage your maintenance costs if you decide to buy a used car. All the pre-owned vehicles in our Marion showroom go through a thorough inspection before we put them up for sale. If we detect any issues, we do the necessary repairs before selling the vehicle. As a result, you can be confident that when you buy a used car from Volkswagen of Marion, it’s ready to hit the road. You can also buy a vehicle protection plan to cover maintenance costs. It protects you during the first year or two of your ownership.

Tech Options

Are you looking for the latest infotainment features and safety tech in your car? If you are, you’ll want to focus your search on new vehicles. The latest editions of Volkswagen’s crossovers, like the Tiguan or Atlas, and sedans, such as the Passat or Golf, have the most up-to-date entertainment options. These include connectivity features. Technological developments have taken place quite rapidly over recent years. This can even make a vehicle built four or five years ago appear somewhat dated alongside the latest trims and configurations.

Despite this, many key infotainment features remain available in a used car. For example, smartphone compatibility, touch screens, and safety features. These include automatic emergency braking, which has been available in the Volkswagen lineup for several years. So, even if you decide to shop from our used inventory, you can still expect a good selection of tech features in the cabin.

Resale Value

As we noted above, the value of a new car drops quickly after you buy it. Some estimates even suggest that a new vehicle loses 20% of its value when it leaves the dealership’s lot. Due to this, you should expect to sell your car in a few years for a much lower price than what you paid for it.

By contrast, if you buy a 2- or 3-year-old car, its value will depreciate slower over later years. There are, of course, limits to this rule. If you drive a used car for an extended period, its value can decline as its parts wear out. As a general rule, you’d be better off purchasing a pre-owned vehicle if you plan on reselling it after two or three years.

Car Insurance

Your monthly car insurance premiums are lower for used vehicles than for new ones. The main reason is that insurers consider the cost of replacing your vehicle when calculating your premiums. They do this to determine what they’d have to pay if you suffer a total loss in an accident. Since replacing a used car will cost less than a new one, you won’t need to spend as much.

It’s worth keeping in mind. Remember that car insurance isn’t the only cost you’ll have as a vehicle owner. As noted above, maintenance costs for a new vehicle will be lower. Moreover, you may find that a newer model gives you better fuel economy than a model from a few years ago. This is especially true if you opt for one of Volkswagen’s latest electric vehicle options, like the ID4. Ultimately, you’ll have to weigh the extra cost savings you could make. You can then decide which option makes the most sense for you.

We hope our guide to the advantages of new and used car shopping has helped you decide on the right choice for you. Do you need further help with your vehicle search? Here at Volkswagen of Marion, we can arrange for you to test-drive one of our new Volkswagens. Or, we’d be happy to help you search through our used trucks and SUVs. Feel free to contact our professional team today to find out more.

Do you need help completing your purchase? If you do, we can help you with an application for a competitive auto loan. We could also introduce you to our extended warranties to help you manage your future vehicle servicing costs.