In the car market, one major decision is whether to buy used or buy new. Instinct will always be to grab anything that's shiny; but in order to make a responsible and informed decision you, as the customer, will need to know a bit more than how outwardly vibrant a car may be. One of the most important factors involved in buying a car is price. Logically, a lower price is preferable, and in that respect, used cars easily take the cake.

Beyond the obvious lower prices for pre-owned cars, one must also the depreciation of cars following the purchase. Depreciation with used cars is thus: The car is already cheap or very cheap, and unless you wait a rather long time it's unlikely to become significantly cheaper. This means that if you turn around and sell your used car a year or two later you can get a good portion of that money back. New cars follow a slightly different path; between the invisible "newness" factor, and the car dealer overcharging you, the car you buy in the lot is overpriced to begin with. This means that once you drive your brand new car home you'll instantly lose 15% of your investment. Compound this with the rapid depreciation of value that takes place in the first few years of ownership and you're looking at a huge financial loss.

Along with price, upkeep is a major concern when buying cars. Sites like www.carfax.com have made buying used cars safer, but all too often you end up with a car that breaks down after just fifty miles. Even if the car doesn't immediately break down, older cars generally require a higher level of maintenance. In contrast, new cars protect you with "lemon" laws, lengthy warranties, and usually some form of roadside assistance for that extra money.

Admittedly, there is no clear choice between used and new when buying a car, but one technique does present itself. Due to differing economic circumstances, consumers must decide whether that additional cost is worth the added benefits that come with buying a brand new automobile.

Due to the request of the publisher, this article is below the recommended length for Helium articles. The above is exactly 350 words.

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