The Good Life – July-August 2017

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BY: MATT LACHOWITZER PURCHASING A USED VEHICLE Probably the #1 question I get asked no matter in the shop or out speaking is “what kind of car should I purchase?” The second most common question I receive is “are there certain vehicles that last longer than others or are more dependable than others?” The simple answers are yes and no. I know that doesn’t answer any of your questions, but I am going to try to answer these questions throughout this article to help you with your next vehicle purchase. Getting started, auto technicians are the best and worst people to ask these questions to. I know what you are thinking, why, you are the ones who work on them and see them every day? The problem is exactly that, we only see the broken ones, not the many that are driving around not broken down. Do we see pattern problems or issues on certain makes and models of vehicles? We sure do, but the truth is, every car has the potential to break down and leave you stranded, so doing your homework before purchasing and being a “good” vehicle owner after purchase is the best advice that I can give to you. By doing your homework on a potential “new” vehicle, you can save yourself costly repair bills and maintenance costs right off the bat. The first thing when looking for a used vehicle is to make sure you ask the potential seller as many questions as possible. Questions to make sure to ask would be: 1. Has the vehicle been in an accident? 2. Has the vehicle had any recalls performed on it? 3. Is there anything wrong with the vehicle that you know of? 4. Does the vehicle have a clear title? 5. Do you have the service records? 6. Do you have a Car Fax? 7. Can I speak with the previous owner (if at a dealership), or why are you selling it? 8. Can I take it to my mechanic for an inspection? 24 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
While all of these questions are important, none is more important that taking your potential “new” vehicle into the service center you normally go to and have a thorough inspection performed. Some shops offer basic used vehicle inspections, while others may have different options of inspections, some more thorough than others. I would recommend the most thorough inspection you can have performed. It will not only give you a clear and concise picture of the “health” of the vehicle, but can also save you thousands of dollars in repairs and maintenance that may be needed right away, a cost most new vehicle owners are not prepared for right away. Your mechanics inspection can also be used as a bargaining chip when it comes to purchasing the vehicle. You can either usually negotiate a discount on the purchase price and have your mechanic take care of the necessary repairs and maintenance, or, some places will do the necessary repairs in good faith of your commitment to purchase the vehicle, both wind up being a win for you! On average, a very comprehensive used vehicle inspection uncovers roughly $2,250 worth of needed repairs and/or maintenance and a basic used vehicle inspection uncovers roughly $1,400 worth of needs repairs and/or maintenance, not bad for something that only costs somewhere between $40 and $200. After you purchase that “new” vehicle, performing proper maintenance is the key to maintaining your investment and keeping your cost of vehicle ownership as low as possible. By performing proper maintenance at the times they are recommended, either by your owner’s manual or your mechanic, you can keep your vehicle in better health and protect your investment. Also, by performing necessary repairs recommended by your mechanic right away can save you problems down the road, and typically more costly repairs, thus protecting your investment. The biggest problem is someone buys a new vehicle, they don’t perform necessary repairs and/or maintenance, and wind up having a vehicle with several issues. They wind up trading that vehicle in for something new, and that could be the vehicle you are looking at purchasing now. So, ask yourself, would you purchase your own vehicle if it were on the lot? If you wouldn’t, you probably are not taking the proper care of your vehicle, thus lowering the trade in value, and thus hurting your bank account. As you can see, I didn’t share the magic “this year, make, and model is the one to purchase.” The truth is, purchase what you like, but do your homework and educate yourself on the vehicle you are interested in before you buy, it will save you down the road. Also, when looking for a “new” vehicle, make sure you know the “true” cost of vehicle ownership, not just what you pay at the dealer for the vehicle, but also the cost of maintenance, repairs, insurance, and fuel. That will give you what your vehicles “true” cost will be on a monthly basis. • urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 25
Page 2 and 3: CELEBRATING FOUR YEARS OF THE GOOD
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Page 6 and 7: BY: BRITTNEY GOODMAN “Dead Overdo
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Page 10 and 11: MR. FULL-TIME DAD The Toddler Diet
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Page 14 and 15: are thriving. Thirty days later, th
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Page 20 and 21: PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY: KEVIN WALLEVAN
Page 22 and 23: to a refugee camp in Angola, Africa
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Page 34 and 35: His Navy friendships are valued:

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