Used Cars When Gas Prices Rise: What To Look For
Are you looking at used cars because gas prices have gone up or do you fear they will go up and your current vehicle is a gas guzzler? Are you looking at used cars because you're on a budget and want more value for your investment? A great thing about used cars is that you can get a great used car that is both cost-effective and gets good gas mileage at the same time. This allows you to be more earth-friendly while being budget-friendly as well.
Here are things to look for when buying used cars based on gas mileage. Your auto dealer can help you choose the best vehicle for your needs as well.
Actual gas mileage for its year
When looking at used cars and researching them online, make sure to explore the gas mileage the actual vehicle's make and year gets, rather than the most recent version of the vehicle. Modern technological advancements and changes to autos as trends change affect the overall gas mileage of cars and you want to know what the car's actual mileage is for its year.
Gas mileage compared to your current car
Does your current car get really horrible gas mileage? Make sure the used cars you look at get a lot better gas mileage than the car you currently have because it can take a while for the investment to pay off. Also, consider the expense of gas and the expectation of gas prices to rise to help you make the most sense of what type of car you want to get to make your gas prices cheaper.
Sometimes it's as simple as switching from a truck to a sedan when it comes to buying used cars for gas savings. Other times it comes down to choosing between a hybrid and a traditional vehicle when it comes to selecting used cars that get much better mileage than you get now.
Gas mileage in town versus freeway
What is the primary type of road you drive on? Are you a town driver or do you mainly use the freeway or highway to get where you need to go? Use whichever is your primary vehicle use to look at used cars, with some of the newer pre-owned models having both a greater freeway and in-town mileage number. While this doesn't have to be your main reason for buying any used cars when gas prices are a concern, it's certainly helpful in narrowing down your options.