#Accelerate

2E | FLORIDA TODAY | SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2017 #ACCELERATE
It says you’vearrived.
Ahead of schedule.
FROM
“ NO FOOD
ALLOWED.”
2017 VOLKSWAGEN
Jetta S
$
259 *
36 Month $
99Lease
all-new2018 Tiguan S
TO
“ HOW OLD ARE
THESE FRIES?”
per month
36 month lease
You know us for shopping, and now Cars.com
is the site for the entire life of your car.
So for every turn, turn to Cars.com.
MY2018 ATLAS LAUNCH EDITION 6years/72,000 miles (whichever occurs first) New Vehicle Limited Warranty. Based
on manufacturers’ published data on transferable bumper-to-bumper/basic warranty only. Not based on other separate
warranties. See owner’s literature or dealer for warranty limitations.
$
339 *
per month
36 month lease
2018 Atlas Launch Edition
Seats 7
Passengers
MY2018 TIGUAN S6years/72,000 miles (whichever occurs first) New Vehicle Limited Warranty. Based on manufacturers’
published data on transferable bumper-to-bumper/basic warranty only. Not based on other separate warranties. See
owner’s literature or dealer for warranty limitations.
PRESTIGE VOLKSWAGEN
MELBOURNE
1416 S. Harbor City Blvd •Melbourne, FL 32901
321.574.8276 •www.melbournevw.com
17 Jetta S: $99 for 36 mo w/$3000 down or equitable trade. 18 Tiguan S: $259
for 36 mo w/ $2699 due at signing. No security deposit required. For highly
qualified customers through Volkswagen Credit. 18 Atlas Launch Edition: $339 for
36 mo w/$3299 duet at signing. No security deposit required. For highly qualified
cusomters through Volkswagen Credit.Excludes tax, title, license, registration,
options and dealer fees. State Offer.Offer ends Nov 13, 2017.
Is a Used Car a
Good Idea?
By Joe Wiesenfelder
CARS.COM — As the price of new cars
has climbed, used vehicles have become more
popular than ever. They’re also more expensive
than ever, inflation aside. But thanks to
engineering strides, vehicles have never been
more durable and maintenance-free, and
previously owned vehicles are no less a value.
Because new vehicles lose such a high
percentage of their value as soon as they’re
driven off a dealer’s lot, used cars have always
appealed to practical buyers. But there’s
always a concern about buying someone else’s
problems. With the introduction of certified
pre-owned vehicle programs, the advantages
of buying a new car seem to be dwindling. If
it’s important to you to drive a brand-new car,
dive into our Buying Guides, sharpen your
negotiating skills in Negotiating With Car
Dealers and get ready to inhale that inimitable
new-car smell.
However, if value is your goal, explore this
used-car resource, learn how not to get burned
and then turn the key on our Used Cars for
Sale listings.
As a first step, you might consider test-driving
some sellers. Are we serious? You bet. Car
shopping taxes your energy and time. If you
hire a mechanic to inspect a prospective
purchase — as Cars.com strongly recommends
— it can also tax your savings. With the number
of used cars on the market, you’d best narrow
your search and concentrate only on the ones
with the most promise. Two great methods are
questioning the seller and inspecting the car
before the test drive — ruling out sellers that
aren’t worth a visit as well as cars that aren’t
worth a professional inspection.
Another way to describe this process would be
“test-driving the seller.” By that we mean two
things:
• Find out as much as possible about an
advertised vehicle before you go to see it.
• Get an early read on the seller, whether it’s
an individual or a dealership, to try and
reduce your chances of buying someone
else’s problems.
To test-drive a seller, you’ll need to answer
the questions below. If you’re working off a
classified advertisement, call the phone number
listed and — rather than ask if you can see the
vehicle — ask these questions.
The interview accomplishes a few things.
It helps you rule out some vehicles without
leaving your home, and it gives you perspective
on the vehicle before you see it and perhaps get
distracted by some overwhelmingly positive or
negative aspect of it (or of the seller!). It also
gives you a record of the seller’s responses. If
you go to see and test-drive the vehicle, and
something conflicts with what the seller told
you on the phone, it’s a good sign that you
don’t want to do business with that person.
Note that most of these questions are
legitimate for used-car dealers as well. The
more documentation they have on the car, the
better. You can ask for a phone number of the
previous owner if the dealer doesn’t have many
details. How the dealer reacts to this request
may be of interest to you.
Why are you selling the vehicle?
If the seller answers, “Because it’s a piece of
junk!” then the interview may be over (unless
junk is your thing). But the seller may say
something else so odd, or say it so nervously,
that you can tell he or she thinks it’s a piece
of junk and are trying not to say so — or
they don’t have the good sense to make up an
alternate reason ahead of time. If the person
doesn’t have the sense to do that, they probably
don’t have the sense to keep oil in the engine or
to roll up the windows when it rains.
How many miles are on the odometer?
A used vehicle’s mileage helps determine
its value, which will be important during
negotiations. You can research values in our
used car-pricing tool before meeting the seller.
Also, if you eventually see the vehicle and the
odometer reads significantly higher (or appears
to be stuck on a number when you drive it), it’s
time to leave.
What’s the condition of the vehicle?
Note that the wording of the question is
neutral. See how the seller responds. You know
what kind of problems you can live with and
how they affect your offer. Be sure to follow up
by specifically asking about both its structural
and mechanical condition in case the seller
didn’t address either one. Again, if you see the
vehicle and find that the seller could have been
more honest about its condition, take it as a
sign.
Does it have any special features?
How a vehicle is equipped also affects its
value. Are the seats upholstered in leather? Are
there any fancy gadgets or driving aids? Is it
equipped with Bluetooth technology?
Are you the original owner?
In general, single-owner vehicles are preferable.
This also helps with the next few questions.
If the seller isn’t the original owner, he or
she might not have the answers. The more
you know about the vehicle, the higher your
comfort level will be.
Was the vehicle ever involved in an accident?
This is a crucial question. Vehicles that have
been in collisions are prone to more problems
and are worth less. If the seller says “no”to this
question on the phone and then you determine
that it’s been damaged and repaired, you’ll
know that the seller is untrustworthy or, at
best, not as familiar with the vehicle as you
would hope. Whatever their reason for getting
it wrong, it may be time to walk away.
Do you have service records for it?
An owner who was meticulous enough to
keep service records was probably meticulous
enough to take good care of the vehicle — and
fortunately, you can find out.
How much are you asking for it?
Again, the wording is important. It suggests
that the price the seller quotes should be
negotiable.
Take along the Used-Car-Buyer’s Checklist
This handy list includes things you want to
know but might forget to ask.
• Decide which make and model you want.
• Research the asking price.
• Find out how much it would cost to finance
the vehicle.
• Find out how much it would cost to insure
the vehicle.
• Research the prospective vehicle history
using online and printed resources.
• Interview prospective sellers before meeting
them in person.
• Set a daytime appointment.
• Before starting the test drive, check the
undercarriage, engine and body for rust or
damage.
• Check the interior for cleanliness, comfort
and size.
• Inspect the tires for wear.
• Check the oil for the proper level and color.
• Check the coolant and radiator for leaks or
corrosion.
• Drive on the highway to gauge acceleration
and handling.
• Test the brakes.
• Test the steering and alignment.
• Practice parking for maneuverability and
sight lines.
• After the test drive, inspect the engine for
leaks, odors or smoke.
• Request and review the service records,
receipts and title.
• Have a mechanic inspect the car you’re
thinking of buying.