Research is important whenever you're preparing to start shopping for a vehicle, but it may arguably be even more valuable when you're shopping the used market. When you're looking at used vehicles, there are a number of factors that you can look at. While there's lots of available information about new vehicles, their newness means that it can be difficult to assess a specific vehicle through research because it hasn't been around long enough. By checking on automotive forums and even social media, you can learn a lot about the used vehicle that you're thinking about buying. Here are some factors that you should consider.

Upkeep Costs

Some vehicles simply cost more to own and operate than others. Whereas some vehicles require very little in the way of repairs, others might find themselves in the repair shop more than you might like. This information is difficult to assess with brand-new vehicles, but you can easily find it with older, used vehicles. Join some automotive forums and see what people are saying about their vehicles. For example, you might find someone who is happy to say that other than performing the regularly scheduled maintenance tasks, he or she hasn't had to put any money into the upkeep of the vehicle. If this sentiment seems to be common about one make and model, you might have an ideal choice to buy.

Recalls

With used vehicles, you can easily find how many recalls have been announced. New vehicles may not yet have had any recalls announced, but this information is easy to find online with older vehicles. Although manufacturer recalls won't cost you money, given that the manufacturer will perform the necessary repair work free of charge to you, they can be a hassle. For example, you might be without your vehicle for a day or two while recall work is done. Ideally, you can find a vehicle that has had little to no recalls announced on it.

Fuel Economy

When you buy a new car, the manufacturer will provide an estimated fuel economy for the vehicle. However, some vehicles can keep this fuel economy over time, while for others, the fuel economy may worsen due to a variety of factors. When a vehicle's fuel economy is good, it saves you money — and the savings can add up over time. Check out some automotive forums to see what owners of older vehicles are saying about their cars' fuel economy, and you can ideally use this data to find a used vehicle that is cost effective to run.

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