Should I purchase a new or a used car?
You are very wise for factoring-in the cost of maintenance into your buying decision. It’s one of the most important factors, and far too many people focus on haggling over $100 without thinking twice about matters that could cost them thousands. Whether it’s better to buy new versus used is entirely dependent upon the situation. The recent economic crisis has had the unusual effect of creating unprecedented demand for quality used vehicles as people have turned to them to (presumably) save money. At the same time, makers and dealers have been desperate to stimulate sales and clear inventories, and new vehicle incentives and dealer willingness to negotiate have never been greater. The result is that MANY new vehicles are commonly LESS EXPENSIVE to purchase than low-mileage used equivalents. In fact, Edmunds.com has written a summary report citing many examples: http://www.edmunds.com/industry-
