How Many Miles are on that??

Insight on used autos to our perspective buyers

 

So, you are obviously in the market for a car.  There are so many choices.  It is so tough.  Octane Auto Sales & Service is a locally owned and family operated small independent dealership committed to putting affordable cars in the hands of buyers.  For over 15 years I have been buying and selling cars...since I was 17!  I now have sources for vehicles from EBay, Local Auctions, Local Dealer  trade ins, our own trade ins, and the general public sometimes sells me cars.  Since my very first car, this business has been in my  blood.  In 17 years buying cars wholesale, I have learned a lot of lessons about used cars.  My first auction purchase in 1997 had me on the side of the road with a blown motor.  Since then, I have paid very close attention to what kinds of makes and models to steer clear of, and which ones are the most resilient, longest lasting cars.  www.iddrivethat.com This sites name is because if I WOULD NOT PERSONALLY drive one of my cars offered for sale, then I won't buy it for the dealership.  If I wouldn't drive that, then you wouldn't drive that, and that's why the site is called, I'd drive that. Its that simple.

 I want you to be able to afford a car that you actually LIKE!

Look at the odometer LAST! I know it goes against the things you've heard, but to serve this budget range, we stock late model, with average & higher mileage cars.  We want to be different than the other dealerships out there.  We want to be the BEST source for vehicles around $6000, and sometimes the trade off is the miles on the odometer.  We want you to be able to afford the car and LOVE the car you're about to buy, and since the makes an models we carry are all the types of cars that should go over 170k with proper maintenance, we ask that you judge the car by how it will fit your needs and budget before walking away saying it has too many miles.  On the better makes and models (like we carry) miles is more of a depreciation factor than an indication of when its ready for the junkyard!

Some advice to the perspective buyers out there

Make no mistake about it, shopping for a car is a big deal.  You have minor purchases in life, and you have major purchases in life, a car is one of those major purchases.  If you are like me, then hopefully the next car you buy will represent your taste and personality.  Look at makes and models that fit you and your needs.  Sometimes you might really want the low mileage Grand Prix, but can only afford the low mileage Sunfire.  Or you’re checking the paper and only find a low mileage Escort for $4000.  Don’t let the MILES MAKE YOUR MIND UP!

Why do you carry high mileage cars?

In 11 years buying and selling cars, the LEAST AMOUNT of problems I’ve had with cars are the ones with OVER 90,000 MILES ON THEM.  This is a fact.  Think about it in these terms: it is no secret that most cars start breaking between 70k-85k miles.  It’s true! Ball joints, tie rod ends, seals, gaskets, bushings, etc. all start breaking.  I buy the cars that have already had all those things done!

In my experience buying LOW MILEAGE cars, I have dumped MORE MONEY into getting those cars sellable than I have with 90k+ cars because all those problems are already fixed.

Rest assured, if I have got it here, it will last

I am trying to offer makes and models that I KNOW last.. cars that will make 200,000 if you take good care of them.  Also, there are TWO ways to buy a high mileage car Thrashed to heck and beaten up, or very well maintained.  I buy only the cars that have been driven a lot, but were very well maintained!  And we have the cars mechanically checked out before we offer them for sale.

LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING!!

A lot of the cars out there are great cars, until they hit a certain mileage.  Some of them become TIMEBOMBS that will nickel and dime you to death.  For example, some of the 4 cylinder Grand Ams and Aleros with the quad four engine.  Its just safe to completely stay away from those cars.  You wont have to worry about that shopping at this dealership because, quite frankly, I wont buy them.  Not saying the quad four is a bad engine, i just have had too many high mileage horror stories about them that i do not want to offer them here.  I don’t care how pretty the car is, if its a quad four under the hood, I walk away.  Instead of taking my chances at putting a customer in a good one, I stick with makes an models that are known to make it to 200k with proper maintenance.

DEPRECIATION IS A FACTOR

Food for thought: As big of an investment as a new used car can be, its a depreciating asset!  No matter what, when you’re done with it, it will be worth MUCH less than you paid for it.  Why should YOU be the one losing the most amount of money on a car?  Let someone else pay the depreciation!

A GLANCE AT VEHICLE DEPRECIATION:

If you buy a nice little Escort (for example) with 60k on it for $4000, and use it for 3 years, and go to sell it what’s it going to be worth when it has 100k on it?  Those cars depreciate faster than some others, so when you bought it with 60k on it, its at its highest resale value its ever going to be at.  Who wants a 100k mile Escort?  The car is almost worthless when you’re done.

If you buy a loaded up Grand Prix, or Jeep Grand Cherokee with 100k on it for $5000, you’re buying a car that is KNOWN to make 200k with proper care.  You’ve just spent $5000 on a car you actually Love driving, didn’t think you could afford, and people are complimenting your car.  After three years, you’ll have 140k on it, right?  A shiny, loaded up Grand Prix that is well maintained will obviously be an easy sell to some kid who just graduated high school and needs a $2500 car.  The Grand Prix is a SMARTER BUY in the end because the BIGGEST AMOUNT OF DEPRECIATION has ALREADY occurred before you bought it, and it's not worthless when you’re ready to upgrade.

WHICH WOULD YOU RATHER BE SEEN DRIVING?

Both are Reliable cars, both priced similarly.

 

	OR
2001 Ford Escort, 58,000 miles, old lady owned, hardly driven no rust, $4,700		2004 Pontiac Grand Prix GT 120k, power windows, locks, cruise, tilt wheel, Am/Fm/CD with steering wheel controls, factory Chrome alloy wheels, keyless entry, perfect in/out, $5495

 

After Driving one of these 3 years...

Which of these two cars will be easier to sell when youre done with it?

Which do you think will be worth more in the year 2015?

A clean 2001 Escort with 100k

OR

2004 Grand Prix GT with 140k on it?

 

In closing,

Look at the odometer LAST!

BUY WHAT YOU WANT, BUY WHAT YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH.  Because, when you’re done with it, someone else will be happy to love it too.  Don’t be closed minded to the MILES being over what you think they should be.  We cant roll back the odometers, as you know, so when were looking for cars for this dealership to offer for sale, I RARELY look at the odometer first.  I LOOK AT IT LAST.  I look for a well maintained, accident free, solid vehicle that I will be proud to put on my lot, and someone will be proud to have in their driveway.