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Why is it so dumb to buy a used car off the lot? I bought an Audi off lease last year. It's still under warranty, free maintenance (until 80k km), low mileage

by aianus 9y ago

Why is it so dumb to buy a used car off the lot? I bought an Audi off lease last year. It's still under warranty, free maintenance (until 80k km), low mileage (37k km), fully loaded with options, and I saved $20k vs a new one.

adventured 9y ago
> Why is it so dumb to buy a used car off the lot? It's not. The parent doesn't appear to understand the used car market in the US. Most people are not buying their used cars for $6,000 off of craigslist, that's a good way to end up with a pile of junk. It's a bad idea to buy a mid-value or higher used car outside the CPO or remaining original warranty programs if you can help it, ideally from a dealer.
- ams6110 9y ago
  Not my experience at all. Do a little research on which brands and models are reliable. Find a nicely maintained example of one of those offered by a private seller. It's going to be way cheaper than a dealer in my experience.
  - aianus 9y ago
    Nobody buys a new car and sells it two years later with low mileage. That would be a very unusual thing to do (and tax-disadvantageous where I live). They lease it and then ownership ends up with some dealer at the end of the lease.
sbierwagen 9y ago
Most used car dealers don't give you a warranty: https://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/ctd/d/2015-bmw-x5-35i-awd-suv-clean/6275678930.html https://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/ctd/d/2015-bmw-x5-35i-awd... Note the conspicious absence of the word "warranty" on this listing. If the car falls apart as you drive off the lot, you're out $35K. CPO cars have a warranty, which sharply limits your downside risk. Buying a used car from a manufacturer is a much better deal than buying it from a third party.
- majormajor 9y ago
  Usually the factory warranty transfers on sale if the car is new enough. https://www.autotrader.com/car-tips/buying-a-car-is-the-factory-warranty-transferable-228454 https://www.autotrader.com/car-tips/buying-a-car-is-the-fact... Generally not as nice as CPO, but it's something.
- dionidium 9y ago
  "If the car falls apart as you drive off the lot, you're out $35K." Obviously, cars rarely fall apart as you drive them off the lot. Yes, there could be unexpected expensive repairs. But there's basically no realistic scenario in which you're going to be out the entire $35k. I understand that you're exaggerating for effect, but it's this kind of thinking that convinces people to purchase expensive warranties that aren't (statistically) worth the price.
- aianus 9y ago
  The manufacturer warranty has a mileage limit which at least in my case was 80k km (less than 60k miles); that's probably why it's missing from the listing you linked to.

by aianus 9y ago

adventured 9y ago

> Why is it so dumb to buy a used car off the lot? It's not. The parent doesn't appear to understand the used car market in the US. Most people are not buying their used cars for $6,000 off of craigslist, that's a good way to end up with a pile of junk. It's a bad idea to buy a mid-value or higher used car outside the CPO or remaining original warranty programs if you can help it, ideally from a dealer.

ams6110 9y ago
Not my experience at all. Do a little research on which brands and models are reliable. Find a nicely maintained example of one of those offered by a private seller. It's going to be way cheaper than a dealer in my experience.
- aianus 9y ago
  Nobody buys a new car and sells it two years later with low mileage. That would be a very unusual thing to do (and tax-disadvantageous where I live). They lease it and then ownership ends up with some dealer at the end of the lease.

sbierwagen 9y ago

Most used car dealers don't give you a warranty: https://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/ctd/d/2015-bmw-x5-35i-awd-suv-clean/6275678930.html https://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/ctd/d/2015-bmw-x5-35i-awd... Note the conspicious absence of the word "warranty" on this listing. If the car falls apart as you drive off the lot, you're out $35K. CPO cars have a warranty, which sharply limits your downside risk. Buying a used car from a manufacturer is a much better deal than buying it from a third party.

majormajor 9y ago
Usually the factory warranty transfers on sale if the car is new enough. https://www.autotrader.com/car-tips/buying-a-car-is-the-factory-warranty-transferable-228454 https://www.autotrader.com/car-tips/buying-a-car-is-the-fact... Generally not as nice as CPO, but it's something.
dionidium 9y ago
"If the car falls apart as you drive off the lot, you're out $35K." Obviously, cars rarely fall apart as you drive them off the lot. Yes, there could be unexpected expensive repairs. But there's basically no realistic scenario in which you're going to be out the entire $35k. I understand that you're exaggerating for effect, but it's this kind of thinking that convinces people to purchase expensive warranties that aren't (statistically) worth the price.
aianus 9y ago
The manufacturer warranty has a mileage limit which at least in my case was 80k km (less than 60k miles); that's probably why it's missing from the listing you linked to.