Tips When Buying Used Mercedes-Benz Cars
Giancarlo Perlas July 3, 2015
There are many advantages that you can get when buying used Mercedes-Benz cars. Of course, the best thing that you will enjoy from it is its cheaper price, unless you are buying a refurbished or rare variant with historical significance like Clark Gable’s 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL or similar units. There’s also the lower insurance rates and other factors. Bill Tsouvalas from Car Click explains top tips when buying used Mercedes-Benz Cars.
Use a comparison portal
To more accurately determine the prevailing market rate of the used car you are searching for, it is wise to visit car comparison portals such as Used Cars for Sale Adelaide. These are easy to use and will quickly give you an estimated cost of the model you are planning to purchase without giving you the trouble of computing everything manually as suggested in the prior item.
Ask Questions
Second, inspect thoroughly the condition of the car you are looking to buy. Inquire from the seller about when it was purchased, check its mileage, dents, scratches, and condition of its components.
Estimate the Repairs
If you found some defects or flaws with the car that you are purchasing, take note of them. Check how much it will cost to have them repaired. It is advisable to bring with you a trusted mechanic when searching for a car to help you estimate the repair costs and other expenses you may incur with the maintenance of the vehicle.
Don’t Forget the Test Drive
A test drive will tell you a lot of stuff about the car that is far more than the eyes can see. So do not skip this.
Compute the Car’s Depreciation
After taking note of the repair and maintenance costs, you should have an idea of the depreciation rate of the model you are planning on buying. According to Edmunds, a new car loses 9% of its True Market Value (TMV) as soon as it is driven away from the dealership or it gets a reading of 1 in its odometer. In a year or 15,000 in its odometer, its TMV is reduced to 81%. By two years or 30,000 in the odometer, its TMV will only be 69%. In three years or 45,000 in the odometer, its TMV is just 58%. As it reaches four years or 60,000 reading, its TMV is at 49%. If you still have the car in five years with 75,000 in the odometer, its TMV is merely 40%.
The source illustrated as an example a car with a TMV of $29,873 when brand new.
- In a year or with 15000 in the odometer, it will cost $24,186.
- In two years with 30000, its price will be $20,579.
- In three with 45000, it is just $17,406.
- In four years with 60000, it becomes $14,593.
- By five years with 75000 in the odometer, its cost is $12,069.
It should be noted that there are sites now that offer depreciation calculator for cars. Try them out as well.
Use a Comparison Portal
To more accurately determine the prevailing market rate of the used car you are searching for, it is wise to visit car comparison portals such as CarClick. These are easy to use and will quickly give you an estimated cost of the model you are planning to purchase without giving you the trouble of computing everything manually as suggested in the prior item.
Haggle
Once you have an idea about the cost of the car based on your research, computation, or comparison, start haggling for its price with the seller until you both arrive at a reasonable deal.
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