The New Realities Of Used-Car Shopping - Good Car Deals Possible With Internet Marketing

A flood of fresh vehicles and the explosion of Internet marketing greatly improve your odds of getting a goodness deal. When Olga Humblias slips behind the wheel of her silver BMW 740iL, she knows a couple of secrets that no one seeing her sleek driving machine would suspect. One: She bought it secondhand--it's a '97 that started its life with a two-year, 26,000-mile lease. Two: Her monthly payment for the $70,000-plus beauty is just $240.

Not at all surprising is that once she hits the roads around her home in Upper Saddle River, N.J., the 4.4-liter, 32-valve V-8 performs so wellspring that Humblias might as fountainhead be driving in the venerable Le Mans auto race. "The cable car rides and handles so swell you rich person to constantly watch the speedometer," says the real estate agent, smiling. She besides has to keep a close eye on her husband, Charles, himself a BMW enthusiast, who jumps at any chance to drive her auto.

The couple's satisfaction with the automobile--the first exploited they wealthy person ever purchased--symbolizes how the remainder of the millennium is ushering in the best of times for ill-used-machine buyers. One reason is the phenomenal growth of leasing. Nearly 33% of the 1999 vehicles rolling out of showrooms will be leased, not purchased. When leases remnant, relatively new to(p), good-cared-for models come back to the market, often with their prices showing more wear and tear than their tires.

To earn the manufacturer's stamp of approval--and the extensive guarantee that goes with it--these cars must pass a thorough inspection and undergo any necessary reconditioning. The dealer does the work which, according to Moody of Swope Honda, adds approximately $500 to the price of the --$370 for mechanical repairs and the rest for cosmetics. "These cars are in mint condition," he says. Approved vehicles carry a limited warrant for up to 6 days or 72,000 miles, the cost of which is too passed on to the buyer. Honda dealers, for example, earnings $329 for the company's certified imprimatur for cars.Luxury brands, including BMW and Lexus, routinely offer 24-hour roadside assistance for their approved put-upon cars. What if the victimized you're drawn to hasn't been so blessed. Should you spring for an wide warrantee.

It can make sense if the 's original has expired or is close to to. "The client needs the full benefit of a overhaul contract the is five or VI old age old or has 70,000 to 85,000 miles on it," says George Weber, marketing manager for elongated-inspection and repair plans for Ford's -serving division. A beneficial should cover major components such as the engine, transmission and axles, as easily as the brakes (not the pads), air conditioning, heater, blower motors, compressors, evaporator, suspension and steering components.

The electronic system--critically important to nowadays's technologically advanced cars--should likewise be covered, including emission controls. Expect to remuneration between $700 and $1,200 for coverage that extends the warrant), to 75,000 or 100,000 miles, but remember that prices are negotiable. Many plans now allow deductibles of up to just about $200. Answers: Nissan: A; Infiniti: A; Chevrolet: B; Honda: B.