Prestige Cars Vendargues's interview

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF USED VEHICLES?

Prestige Cars: Of course, when you want to buy a car, the first question you ask yourself is: should you buy used or new? As a second-hand professional, I can guarantee that this type of vehicle has strong arguments to put forward over new.
The most obvious is the price, of course. A used car will always be cheaper than a new one, and that’s normal, because no car in the world increases in value when it leaves the factory. At best, it will increase in value over time, but we’re talking about classic cars here, not utility cars. In 3 years, a car can lose up to 50% of its value, which is very advantageous for the buyer, because, with technological advances, 3 year old cars are still as comfortable as ever.

Buying second-hand also means taking advantage of various options that would be impossible to finance when buying a new car. In fact, the price of used cars includes all the options. For example, when you buy a new car, you have to pay full price for each option. But a used car is already equipped with these options. It is therefore possible to buy the same model, although not new, but recent (between 1 and 3 years old) and above all better equipped than what you could have bought new. Many of our cars have top-of-the-range options such as bigger engines, automatic gearboxes, higher finishes or option packs. Just like the price of the vehicle, the price of options decreases quickly and sharply over time.

Buying second-hand also means you can buy the car of your dreams. Of course, I’m not talking about Ferraris or Porsches, which are still very expensive even when used. Although… it is quite possible to buy a Porsche Boxster from the 2000s for less than €20,000. But let’s talk about simpler cars. For example, you can find old Mercedes A-Class cars on the second-hand market at reasonable prices that are still in good taste. You can also treat yourself to minivans that are no longer available as new, luxury saloons or convertibles. All these models lose their value quickly.

The fourth advantage of used cars is their almost immediate availability. Buying a new car at a dealership sometimes requires a lot of patience. Indeed, the average delay is between 2 months for basic models and 1 year for very popular models. This is simply due to the fact that manufacturers produce cars to order. Very few vehicles come off the production line in advance. If you see a model you like in our agency, you can drive it away in a few days while we prepare the car for you.

Finally, the “second-hand” nature of a car means that you are less likely to worry about scratching it. Indeed, when you buy a new car, you want it to stay that way for as long as possible. However, it is very difficult to preserve it if you don’t have your own garage. Moreover, if you get hit by a car door in a supermarket car park, for example, this can lead to unforeseen additional costs. A second-hand car, on the other hand, has already had a life of its own. Even if it is in excellent condition, it will still have traces, however small. The stress of keeping it in good condition is therefore reduced. Of course, this does not mean that you have to martyr your used car…