Yes, you've got your eye on that pristine beauty on the dealer's showroom floor. But before you take that final fateful step, consider buying a slightly used vehicle instead of a brand-new one. That may be odd advice coming from a new-vehicle guide, but it could be worth the price of this book a hundred times over.
A new car may be very costly to own -- most of all, because of depreciation. If you buy a used vehicle, you can help beat the high cost 0of depreciation and get more car for your buck at the same time.
Of course, many motorists fear that buying a used vehicle means buying somebody else's troubles. But, several automakers are addressing this concern with innovative factory-certified used-car programs. Thanks to the spurt in new car leasing during the 1990s, dealers are now finding their lots crowded with late-model used cars coming off leases written two or three years ago.
To move all these used vehicles off their lots, dealers are transforming the cars and trucks into cream puffs and then wrapping them in the security blanket of a factory warranty. The upshot: You can have the important benefits of a new car at a used-car price.
Consider Jaguar's certified pre-owned program, Jaguar Select Edition. Jaguar models that are five years old or newer, with fewer than 60,000 miles are eligible for the program. Each car undergoes a 140-point inspection; the dealer repairs anything found amiss. The buyer receives a six-year or 100,000 mile (whichever comes first) comprehensive warranty from the original in-service date, with no deductible per visit. Jaguar even throws in free roadside assistance for the duration of the warranty.