When it comes to high-quality automobiles, few do it better than the Germans. Precision engineering and a fine eye for detail come together to make cars to die for. Unfortunately, however, marques such as Mercedes-Benz do not come cheap, and their price can often prove to be prohibitive for many car enthusiasts.
Thankfully, there is the used car market. There’s always plenty of used Mercedes being offered in classified ads and online marketplaces that are now available over the Internet. The trouble is finding a good one. One that will serve you well, and not end up costing you a small fortune in costly repairs and maintenance.
That’s why we’ve put together a few tips to ensure that you get the bang for your buck when buying your next Benz. Let’s get started:
1) Know Your Needs
Buying a sports car when you really need an estate will obviously prove to be a bad idea in the long run. Work out what you truly need and put your dreams on hold for a while. Figuring out your budget is a good idea too before you begin your search, as buying a car can easily lead to some rash decisions being made. While this all seems rather sensible, it will stand you in good stead and stop your bank manager from filling your voicemail with irate messages.
2) Delve Deeper
Once you have selected a few likely candidates for your next auto purchase it’s time to do a little detective work. This may sound like hard graft, but it really isn’t and any effort you put in now will be well rewarded in the future. Run DVLA checks on any cars with potential and also get a vehicle registration check done too. This will let you know if there are any unforeseen problems such as outstanding finance, previous accident history, and if the car has been reported as stolen. Better to pay a little up front now rather than find out a later date.
3) Perform a Physical Check
If all is well with the history of the Mercedes, it’s time to move on to the current state of the car itself. Get a trusted independent third party to inspect the car for any underlying problems. Many companies perform multi-point checks that will show up any issues right away that could save you a tidy sum further down the line. Again, it’s always better to pay a small fee now rather than get lumbered with a car that turns into a money pit later.
4) Barter!
Now that you have a car that has passed the above inspection and checks, you are ready to proceed to buying stage. However, don’t simply hand over the cash without trying to get the price down a little first. Haggling is part and parcel of used car buying and selling so be quick to point out those worn tyres and the car’s short MOT before you pay. Get a price in your head and go for it!
There you have it, a few easy steps and you are on your way to swerving a lemon. Once you have a car that is in good nick, you’ll naturally want to keep it that way. Find a garage online that will perform regularly services for you and you should have many years of happy motoring behind the wheel of your new Mercedes-Benz.