If you’re thinking about purchasing a pre-owned Toyota here at Heritage Toyota Harrisburg, you’ll have a lot of different years to pick from. These cars will also come with various mileages, so it’s important to choose wisely. But, should you be focused more on age or the miles on the odometer?
Why Age Matters…Until It Doesn’t
Everybody wants a late model car when looking for a pre-owned vehicle. And, while it’s true that newer cars are typically in better condition and come with more features and amenities, you shouldn’t be too enamored with them. First of all, they’re going to be more expensive. Secondly, age can be deceiving. This is because a three-year-old car, for example, may have been driven hard – very hard in fact. If you see that it has around 60,000 miles, that average of 20,000 per year is very high, which is why it could be buyer beware.
What Is a Good Mileage Number?
Keep 14,000 in mind. That’s about the average number of miles people drive every year. If that three-year-old car had closer to 40,000 miles on it, then it could be worth buying. Conversely, however, if that vehicle only had 20,000 miles, that may sound great, but you should also be wary.
Cars with low mileage mean they’re not driven very much. Because parts and components need to be used in order to stay in good condition, very low mileage may be just as concerning as very high mileage.
The solution to this age vs. mileage conundrum could be as simple as checking the vehicle history report. Seeing how the car was cared for, if it was involved in any accidents, and its repair records could give you all of the information you need to make a well-informed decision.
If you have any questions or concerns about buying a pre-owned vehicle, just contact Heritage Toyota Harrisburg.
