Comparing New, Used, and Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles

Aside from purchasing your home, buying a vehicle is likely one of the largest purchases you will make. Whether you are fairly sure of the exact make and model you want, or you’re just beginning the process of looking online, you might be having a difficult time deciding between a new, used, or certified pre-owned vehicle.

The Advantage of Choosing a Vehicle from a Used Ford Dealer In Geneva

According to NerdWallet, the average American purchases 13 vehicles over the course of their life and each one costs, on average, $30,000. Yet if you purchased each of the 13 cars when they were 3 years old rather than new, you’d save almost $130,000. To put that in perspective, that’s more than enough money to put a sizable down payment on a house near your Ford dealer near Geneva.

As this so wisely points out – a used car is going to save you money. However, there are some drawbacks to purchasing a used car, especially if you decide to buy it from an individual who you don’t know. When it comes to making a used vehicle purchase, the best option is to check out the selection at a reputable used car dealership, otherwise you will not receive a warranty of any kind.

Additionally, no matter who you purchase the vehicle from, make sure to request a vehicle history report. This will tell you if there have been any major problems with the car you are thinking about purchasing and allow you to compare the accuracy of the information you are being told.

Why You Might Choose a Certified Pre-Owned Ford Vehicle

You may be wondering what the difference is between a “used” vehicle and a certified “pre-owned” vehicle. Each one has been owned by someone else prior to you buying it. However, that is where the similarity ends.

If you are looking at a certified pre-owned Ford Explorer near Geneva, for instance, it has been driven, but it has also been inspected and certified. Either the manufacturer or another certifying body has inspected the vehicle, and it has met the rigorous standards of the certification process. When you purchase a certified pre-owned car, you can rest assured it has received an official seal of approval from the experts.

Nevertheless, it is a good idea to carefully inspect the vehicle for yourself. Focus on the aesthetics, as two identical cars that cost the exact same amount of money may have significant differences when it comes to minor wear and tear. If these minor scuffs and nicks are of little importance to you, it is still worth taking a look – you may be able to negotiate a slightly better price for the less desirable vehicle.

A certified pre-owned vehicle will likely cost a little more than a used vehicle that has not stood inspection, but it will still cost much less than a new vehicle. In many cases, a certified pre-owned car will come with a warranty, special financing, or other offers that will make your decision to choose pre-owned even easier.

The Perks of Purchasing One of the New Ford Vehicles from Hawk Ford St. Charles

Just as there are advantages to selecting a used or certified pre-owned vehicle, there are plenty of reasons to choose a car or truck from the current selection of new 2021 Ford vehicles in St. Charles.

While you will save money when you purchase a pre-owned car, you may not be able to choose all the features that are important to you. For instance, if you spend a lot of time in your car, interior comfort features including heated seats, multiple seating positions, and Wi-fi connectivity might be extremely important to you. If you can’t find all these features in a pre-owned vehicle, you may be willing to pay a little more so you can be comfortable and enjoy the time you spend on the road.

Another reason you might choose a new vehicle is because you are focused on safety. While most cars produced in the last ten years or so are designed with safety in mind, the newest models will always have the most recent technologically advanced, state-of-the-art safety features. From automated traction control to lane-keeping assist, new vehicles are loaded with technology designed to keep you and your passengers safe at all times.

The last perk of opting for a new car is almost too obvious to mention – IT’S A NEW CAR. Whether you’ve never had a new car in your lifetime and just feel like the time is right, or you would rather purchase new, so you know that any little thing that goes wrong will be taken care of without delay, a new vehicle might be the perfect choice for you.

Final Thoughts

There are definite advantages to choosing each of the options, and much of your decision will be based on how much car you can afford. Remember, if you are planning on making payments, those payments should not exceed 20% of your income, and it’s even better if they remain closer to 10%. If you have a set budget, you might find a used or certified pre-owned vehicle is a better choice because you can afford a more luxurious model than you would if you buy a new car.

No matter if you choose a used, pre-owned, or new vehicle, you will find the best deals at Hawk Ford St. Charles. Stop in today.

Get Your Truck Ready for Winter with the Right Accessories

Winter will be here before you know it, so now is the time to prepare your truck for the blustery winter weather. Here is a list of some accessories that will help you (and your truck) survive the next few months of snow, ice, and muck.

• Floor Mats – Snow, slush, and salt all combine to create a lot of messy gunk that you don’t want puddling on the floor of your truck. High-quality floor mats are worth every penny when it comes to protecting your truck’s floor from grimy winter boots.

• Tonneau Cover – This is an accessory you will appreciate all year long but it is especially useful during the snowy winter months. Not only will it protect your truck’s bed, but it will keep anything you are carrying clean and dry.

• Fog Lights – Fog lights are not just useful to enhance visibility when you’re driving through thick fog, they are extremely helpful during winter snow storms. If you often drive through all types of inclement weather, fog lights are an essential accessory.

• Tow Straps and a Winch – Getting stuck in the ditch or a deep snowbank is not something you expect to do, but it can happen, especially during a winter storm where there is little visibility. Tow straps and a winch will help you get out of these types of situations almost as easily as you can get into them.

• Emergency Gear – Whether you drive a car or a truck, it’s important to be fully prepared for unexpected situations. If you end up stranded, you’ll appreciate the time you took to put your emergency gear together. Water, snacks, first aid supplies, a flashlight, flares, a blanket, a cell-phone charging pack, extra clothes, and a battery powered radio are essentials you should include.

Consider a New Ford F-150 in St. Charles

No number of accessories can ensure your safety during the winter months, especially if your car is beginning to experience a lot of mechanical issues. However, a new Ford truck is the perfect vehicle to help you weather a tough Midwestern winter. If your car or truck has seen better days, now is the perfect time to trade up to a winter-worthy Ford F-150 in St. Charles. Stop into Hawk Ford of St. Charles and let us help you safely drive through the snow and ice in style.

My Car Still Runs Great, Why Should I Replace It?

So you’re still driving that 4-door sedan you bought back in 2003, and even though the odometer is reading 342,243, it isn’t leaking oil, and you only need to take it in for routine maintenance. Now, if you’re only using this aging vehicle for short trips, and always driving at low to modest speeds, you might want to drive it until the wheels fall off. However, most drivers aren’t just taking their cars out for short drives around town – and if you put all those miles on yourself, you’ve averaged around 20,000 miles per year.

It’s All About Safety

Now that we’ve determined you’re spending a good deal of time in your car, we would definitely recommend purchasing a new one from the most reputable car dealer in St. Charles, Hawk Ford. Vehicles today have extensive safety features that didn’t exist even a decade ago. The structural protection of the vehicles is much improved, and there are airbags everywhere – side impact bags, front impact bags, bags to protect your head – and with the automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance features, you will hopefully never need any of them.

Most cars come with blind spot monitoring, so you’ll know if someone is pulling up alongside you, and rear-view cameras that will keep you from backing over your neighbor’s dog. Adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and rain-sensing wipers are options to help make your driving experience even safer – and if you’re planning on keeping your new vehicle for a decade or more, we suggest opting for every available safety feature.

Fuel Economy and Pollution Controls

Even though your old car is economical (simply because you’ve gotten every penny of value out of it), you will appreciate the improvements in fuel economy and pollution controls across the industry. You are probably spending more on gas now than you will when driving a new vehicle, especially if you opt for a hybrid from your new car dealer in St. Charles.

And…It’s a New Car

All the practical benefits should be enough to convince anyone who is driving an old car to look into purchasing a new one. However, if safety features and fuel economy haven’t spurred you to visit Hawk Ford in St. Charles, think about the fun you’ll have driving around in a new vehicle with seat and steering wheel warmers, Wi-fi connectivity, and a stylish new design. There really is nothing quite like driving a brand-new car off the lot and back home to your garage – stop in and take a test drive – we think you’ll be convinced!