If you’re thinking about purchasing a used car, then it’s important to realize that this isn’t going to be like a typical vehicle purchase. When you buy a brand-new vehicle, you’re guaranteed a car that’s going to work for at least a few years and it’s also going to be under warranty. With a used car, there’s no such guarantee. It’s entirely possible that the car develops a fault after the first few months. To avoid this scenario, you need to make sure that you purchase a vehicle from a reputable dealer. Ultimately, this means that you need to make sure that you find a great used car dealer in Saskatoon. The easiest way to do this is to know the signs of a shady company. Let’s run through some of the issues that you can encounter.
No Option to Drive Before You Buy
If you’re comfortable purchasing a car without driving it first, then that’s great. However, a dealer should always give you this option. Not doing so is a clear sign that they might be hiding something with the vehicle that is only going to be apparent when it is out on the road. There are lots of issues that you won’t be able to spot just by looking at or examining the car, regardless of how much expertise you might have. An example of this is the steering of the vehicle leaning to the left. While not detrimental, it will mean that driving the vehicle will require more focus. It can be an expensive repair and it should mean that a significant amount is knocked off the price of the vehicle.
A dealer should also not charge you for taking a car out for a test drive. Particularly, if you have already shown significant interest in purchasing it.
Afraid Of Independent Inspections
It’s always worth getting an independent inspection of a vehicle before you commit to a purchase. Why is this? Well, it provides additional peace of mind and ensures that you are getting a quality purchase. They’ll be able to check for the issues that you might miss and ensure that you won’t have any nasty surprises further down the road. Now, you might think that there’s no reason for a used car dealer in Saskatoon to deny you this option.
Well, some still will and there are plenty of reasons that they can provide. The classic is that they won’t let a vehicle leave their dealership until there is a signed commitment to purchase. This (obviously) negates the point of inspection. Other dealers know that refusing an inspection looks terrible. So instead, they’ll put limits that are impossible to match. For instance, they will give a ridiculous time limit for how long an inspection can last.
While it might be understandable that a dealer won’t allow a car to leave their property certain inspections can be completed on site. If this possibility is refused, you should at least make sure that you’re getting a nice long warranty.
Cheap, Cheap, Cheap
A great used car selling for a fantastic price is always a plus, right? Well, perhaps not. The problem with a low price is that you should always be asking why. If they are selling for a ridiculously low price, why is the dealer choosing to do this? Don’t forget, a dealer isn’t a charity. They are looking to make money and at the very least a solid level of profit.
So, if a car is being sold at a silly low price, it’s usually because they are looking for someone to buy first and ask questions later. This is a tactic that can pay off and you need to be wary of it. Don’t get blinded by deals that are too good to be true because that’s exactly what they often are.
Before You Look at This, Take A Look At That
Finally, sometimes when you head to a dealer, you already have an idea of a car that you want. You might have already found a great vehicle on their website that you are interested in. One of the things to watch out for here is a dealer suggesting another vehicle before you even get a chance to look at the first one.
Now some dealers are being helpful and pointing you in the direction of a car that could be more suitable for your needs. However, it’s also possible that they are trying to shift a car that they have struggled to sell. So, do make sure that you aren’t being pushed in a direction that you don’t want to go by a persistent dealer.
