Dispelling Five Myths About Buying a Used Car

At Mark Miller Subaru Midtown, we pride ourselves on having a variety of models from Subaru and other popular brands. It’s important you understand what makes used cars just as viable as new ones, so we want to clarify the truth about some myths that might come up when you’re shopping for a used car.

Used Cars Are Junk

The idea is that used cars are the refuse and detritus of their previous owner, or they have manufacturing defects that make them unfit for the road, and that’s why the previous owner got rid of it. This is one of the most common myths around West Valley, UT, and it’s simply untrue. Not only would that be a disgraceful practice, but in this age of information, you can easily find out if it’s true.

You can look up reviews of the dealership online to see what others’ experiences are. If we did sell junk cars, you can be sure our customers would complain, and rightfully so. You can also look at the CARFAX® vehicle history report for any of our used vehicles. This will show you how many owners it’s had, any accidents it’s been in and more.

Used Cars Are Just a Few Thousand Miles Away from Breaking Down

There are two parts to this. First is the idea that cars are only good for a few years before they become too unreliable to own around American Folk, UT. While this may have once been true, even cars going back 20 years can last well into their 100,000s of miles, and if the model was built within the last decade, it wouldn’t be surprising to see it hit well over the 150,000-mile mark.

The second part is the concern of maintenance costs offsetting any benefit from the affordability of a used model. Fortunately, like the rest of the car, the components in modern cars are built to last a long time. The main thing that will cause increased maintenance costs now is simply skipping those routine maintenance visits and paying for it later.

I Have to Pay Cash for Used Cars

Fortunately for any Murray, UT shoppers on a budget, you don’t have to pay the full value in cash. While you’ll need some cash for a down payment and to cover a few minor fees, the bulk of a used car can be covered by financing, just like a new car. Our expert finance team will be happy to help you find a loan with a period and rate that fits your budget.

Used Cars Have a Poor Resale Value

This is actually the opposite of the truth. Because new cars depreciate the most in the first three years of ownership, it’s new cars that have the poor resale value. Buying a used car allows you to skip that depreciation and hold that value for longer, especially with proper care and maintenance.

Used Cars Aren’t Safe

How true this is will vary greatly by how old the car is. For example, the Subaru EyeSight® suite of driver-assistance technology was first available all the way back in 2013 on the Legacy and Outback, and these models already had electronic stability control and excellent crashworthiness. While you are going to find fewer and fewer safety features the further back you go, you might be surprised just how far back you have to go to feel unsafe.

As you can see, picking up a used model in Salt Lake City, UT is nowhere near as bad an idea as you may have heard. Our used inventory is full of models that offer many of the same features as a new vehicle, but at a more affordable price. If you’re after the best of the best, make sure to check out our Certified Pre-Owned Subaru cars and SUVs for a like-new experience at competitive prices.