Why to Buy Used: The Secret Value in Used Car Parts
No matter what kind of vehicle you drive one thing is certain- at some point you’re going to need to replace one of its parts. It’s just the way things are; parts rub, grind and wear against one another and eventually need to be replaced to keep your car running. It’s no secret that owning a car is an expense, not an investment, so why spend more than you have to on maintaining it?
Keeping Old Cars Running
The average American owns their car for at least 6-7 years minimum before replacing it, according to an Edmunds article. Further, according to an Auto News article, the average age of vehicles on the road in 2016 was 11.6 years! It makes sense- if you paid thousands of dollars on your vehicle you probably want to get your money’s worth and you’ll be willing to drive it until the wheels fall off. And even then, you might try to put them back on and get another 1,000 miles out of it. Either way, when it’s time to replace some parts to keep your car on the road you’ll have to decide between getting new and used parts.
Lost Value and Secret Savings
As soon as a new car drives off the lot, the car instantly loses around 10% or more of the its value and every part on the car is considered used- even if that car was only driven 10 miles before being sold again. As time goes on, the car and its parts only lose more value. In fact, according to Black Book, which is a tool used for tracking used car pricing, cars lose on average 20-30% of their value in the first year of ownership. The secret dealers and manufacturers don’t want you to know is that oftentimes these used parts that have lost so much value over time are still in great working condition, and the only difference between those parts and new parts is the number on the price tag.
As stated above, as soon as a new car leaves the lot it, along with all of its parts, are considered used. This is true no matter how far that car goes and what happens to it. For example, if someone purchased a new car only to drive it for three months and decide they want something else, that car’s like-new parts would still be considered used and could be marked down hundreds of dollars.
Not only can buying used parts save you money, but it could actually be safer for your car in the long run. Besides the lower price tag, another benefit of buying used car parts is that they were produced by the original vehicle manufacturer and met the manufacturer’s quality and safety standards. Aftermarket parts might not always meet these standards or measure the exact same as original parts, and what you save in up-front cost of the part you may pay for in new problems caused by using the wrong parts.
Conclusion
Once you consider the fact that drivers are trying to hold on to their cars for as long as possible and the options available to replace parts as they wear and tear, the benefits of buying used parts become apparent. Used doesn’t mean broken, rusty and old. In fact, a used part might be just as new as some of the parts that are sitting on shelves somewhere waiting to be shipped to a dealer. Unlike third-party and aftermarket parts, used parts were made by the original vehicle manufacturer and were specifically designed for the exact make and model they go to. Paired with a significantly lower price tag compared to its new counterpart, it’s hard to find a reason to spend more on new parts.
Holbrook Auto Parts wants to help you save money and keep your car on the road for as long as possible, that’s why we test all of our used parts to ensure you get the quality parts you need for less. Need a part? Visit our website or come in to one of our multiple locations around Detroit, we’d love to help you get back on the road!
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