Buying a Used Hybrid Car - Guide to buying a Hybrid Car
January 17th, 2008
Using a hybrid car is one of the best ways of doing your share for the earth. Apart from saving gas prices for their owners, hybrid cars also save mother earth from the ravages of pollutants and greenhouse gases. However, many people who want to buy hybrid cars are held back by the high cost of these cars and their low availability. A solution to these problems lies in going for a used hybrid car instead of a new one. Gone are the days when only a couple of companies were making hybrids and these cars were tough to come across. Almost fifteen makers have put their hybrid cars on the market as a result of which, old hybrid users are going in for new ones, putting their used hybrids on the market for sale. Therefore, it has become much easier to find and buy used hybrid vehicles. Keep in mind however, that just like conventional gas and diesel cars; one has to be more cautious when buying a used hybrid car. Some of the things that you should pay attention to when buying a used hybrid car are:
The Vehicle’s History: Getting a used car history through the vehicle’s identification number is advised whenever you are planning to buy a used car. Services like CarFax etcetera can provide ownership and accident details about used vehicles which might prove to be deciding factors when making the final decision to buy or not to buy.
Personal Inspection: Like in the case of all used cars, it is important that you get your hybrid vehicle inspected by a specialist, a mechanic or a used car dealer who deals with such vehicles. Even if you are paying for the service, consider it money well spent since such an inspection is the best way to gauge the actual value of any vehicle.
Mileage: Once again, just like regular cars a hybrid car that has clocked up lesser miles on the odometer is a better buy than one that has done larger distances. This is mainly because the lesser a car has run, the lesser is the wear and tear on components and the lesser will be the money that you spend on it post purchase. At the same time, a car that has run less will also get you better prices if you want to sell it off again. However, keep in mind that mileage is never as important as maintenance, and even a car that has a high mileage but has been maintained well can give you great performance and service. Another kind of mileage that you need to consider in the case of used hybrids is the gas mileage of the car, considering that the major reason for buying a hybrid is the amount of money that you are planning to save on gas.
Battery Life: One of the most important things that you should consider when buying a used hybrid car is the battery life left. While Honda warranties a battery life of 8 years/80,000 miles per year, Toyota car batteries are guaranteed for a period of 8 years/ 100,000 miles per year. While replacing the battery after the warranty has expired can prove to be a costly affair, in most cases, a well maintained car will not need it or can do with replaced modules instead of a whole new battery pack.