Two Things To Research Before Buying A Used Lexus
Buying a used Lexus is an excellent way to get a high-quality car at an affordable price. To ensure you get the car of your dreams with minimal problems, here are two things you should check before signing the sales contract.
Ownership Costs
When people purchase cars, they are mostly concerned with the amount of the monthly car note payments. There are other costs associated with owning a vehicle, though, that must also be factored in, such as taxes and maintenance. Since the money for these things will come directly out of your pocket, it's essential you research the true cost of ownership for the type of Lexus you want to buy.
For example, you'll pay an estimated $557 in maintenance, $1,171 in insurance premiums, and $1,978 for fuel on a Lexus GS 350 during your first year of ownership. The exact costs will fluctuate depending on the age of your vehicle and where you live, but this will give you a general idea of what to plan for. Average out the cost for the entire year to get a monthly amount and make sure your income can cover that number.
Check the Title History
The other thing you want to do is get a vehicle report that includes a title check. First of all, obtaining a vehicle report is a good idea in general because it can tell you whether the used Lexus you want to purchase has been in any accidents or natural disasters. With the two recent hurricanes causing floods in various areas, for instance, there's a good chance the owners of the flooded vehicles will try to sell them so they can get new ones. While these vehicles can be refurbished to work properly, getting a vehicle report can help you avoid buying one if you don't want to take the chance of getting a lemon.
More importantly, though, you want a vehicle report so you can review the ownership records. Try to get a vehicle with a low owner turnover (maybe one or two people in its lifetime), because these vehicles tend to be well cared for. If the vehicle was bought and sold over and over again within a short period of time, that may indicate the vehicle has issues. At the very least, you should have the car inspected by a mechanic who has experience working on Lexus vehicles to ensure the car runs okay.
For more tips on buying a used Lexus or assistance finding the right car for you, contact a local dealer.