Used car. What cars fall on sale in winter? What should be checked before buying?
There is a seasonality in the used car market, and many buyers decide to buy a car during the warm season. However, cars are bought slightly less in winter than in spring or summer. AAA AUTO analysis shows that more people buy SUVs and all-wheel drive cars in winter than in summer, but fewer people choose hatchbacks. Winter is also the best time of the year to check the condition of the car you are buying.
SUV sales are up 23 percent in winter, according to AAA AUTO. against 20 percent in summer. Also in winter, more customers are looking for cars with petrol engines (69% compared to 66% in summer), all-wheel drive (10% compared to 8% in summer) and automatic transmission (18% compared to 17%). % in summer). At the same time, interest in the most popular hatchbacks is falling (from 37% in summer to 36% in winter). On the other hand, sales of station wagons and minivans are the same throughout the year.
It may seem that buying a used car in winter is not a good idea, because the engine and other components work under increased stress. But it's good. In winter, any problems with a used car quickly become apparent, so this is the best time of the year to inspect a car before buying it.
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The first element that a potential buyer sees is, of course, the body. Low temperatures can affect the paintwork in the form of small cracks or corrosion, so it's important to carefully inspect your vehicle's paintwork.
However, the greatest attention should be paid to the engine, especially the older one, which over time heats up worse and in winter it is easier to detect a malfunction, especially when trying to start the car.
It is also good to check the starter and battery, which are necessary to start the car. Nowadays, cars are equipped with a wide range of electronic equipment, so it is worth checking the operation of windows, air conditioning, wipers, central locking, electric trunk opening and many other elements.
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