Buying a used car is one thing but buying a used hybrid vehicle is another because there are different points to look out for before you drive off the lot with one. If you’ve decided to buy a new car and investing in hybrid is what you want to do, great! You’ll be buying a car that will help the environment and yourself in the long run, but you’ll want to familiarize yourself in what makes a certain hybrid vehicle superior than others and how the ‘used’ factor can affect different aspects, like transmission, battery life, and more. Below are our tips to take with you to your local dealer so you can get the best deal for yourself!
1. Have Basic Battery Knowledge
As many already know, hybrid cars run on batteries. Remember: all hybrids carry a 12-volt car battery to make a car’s electronics run and they also have a much larger battery pack for the electric motor. The typical life for these batteries is an 8-year/100,000 mile warranty so make sure to check if your future car has any warranty life left. Having this knowledge early on can help you find out the true quality of your car and how costly any fixes may be!
2. Know the Cost of Your Battery Replacement
While a hybrid car may be fuel efficient and can help you save money, it’s vital to know that battery replacements can be costly. Hybrid cars used to have nickel-metal hydride battery packs but now, they run on lithium-ion batteries. This means drivers get a more compact battery within their car but that comes with a price depending on what type of car you have. Batteries for hybrid Toyotas were found to be around $2200 while ones for Honda were around $1700. This is considerably low because Nissan has been known to price theirs for about $5000! If you know this will be a pain point for you in the future, try looking at other options before investing in hybrid.
3. Check the Service Records
A great part about hybrids is that their computerized systems help to control any abusive driving. That means slamming on breaks or constant accelerations are things you don’t have to worry too much about, but that doesn’t mean hard driving still can’t happen. You’ll want to check your future car’s service records to see if the brakes were serviced at all and any other fixes. This can give you a good hint at how the car was driven previous to you, even if it seems to be in immaculate condition!
4. Test Drive the Car
You’ll have to get used to the new features of a hybrid car because they are different than vehicles that only run on a standard battery. Hybrids usually have electric power-assist steering and a silent engine, so your potential car will feel much smoother and quieter than what you’re. Knowing this before you test drive the car will allow you to look for any odd sounds or feelings if they pop up. Make sure to take note of all of them and don’t be afraid to ask why they’re happening!
Comments