4WD Systems Can be Costly To Maintain

Top 10 Ways to Save Money on 4WD Vehicles

With a soft economy and an uncertain stock market, more people are keeping an eye on spending and interested in getting more for their money. Kyle Busch has over a quarter-century of experience saving money on transportation and his book was recently showcased on Motor-Week Maryland Public Television. Kyle took time to answers ten questions about purchasing four wheel drives and saving money.

1. (Q) Why does it make sense to buy a used four wheel drive?
   
   (A) Transportation is a depreciating asset that loses value, especially during the first three years. Buying a 2 to 3 year-old used four wheel drive will provide about a one-third reduction in the cost. Additionally, the initial owner will have "test driven" the vehicle.
2. (Q) What is a common error than people make when buying a four wheel drive?
   
   (A) Buyers do not thoroughly identify their transportation needs and then purchase a four wheel drive that does not meet their needs. For example, a buyer might choose a mid-size four wheel drive that satisfies many of his needs. However, after the purchase, the buyer realizes that another vehicle provides better off road capabilities, better towing capacity etc.
3. (Q) After identifying transportation needs, what should buyers do next?
   
   (A) It is worthwhile to visit a public library to research which four wheel drives will indeed satisfy specific transportation needs and then identify those that have good reliability ratings.
4. (Q) Is it best to buy a vehicle from a specific source?
   
   (A) Each source has certain advantages and disadvantages. However, the important thing to keep in mind is that a number of vehicle sources should be considered (i.e., private owners, rental car companies, off lease vehicles, new truck dealerships, bank repossessions, the Internet). When buyers inform a vehicle source that they are also considering the other sources, better deals are usually obtained.
5. (Q) What questions should buyers ask by telephone to better determine if a four wheel drive is worth their time to investigate?
   
   (A)
   - How many miles has the vehicle been driven (the average is about 12,000 to 14,000 miles per year)?
   - Is the transmission an automatic, a semi-automatic, or a manual? Does it have a low range?
   - If the transmission is not what the buyer wants, there is no need to ask further questions.
   -What is the four wheel drive's towing capacity? Has the four wheel drive been repainted and if so, why? It is best to avoid repainted vehicles.
   - When are the next state inspection and emissions standard test due? The four wheel drive should have a minimum of at least eight months remaining until the next required state inspection and emissions test.
   - How often were the oil and the oil filter changed, and who performed the service? An acceptable answer would be every 3,000 to 3,500 miles or about every three to four months.
   - Are you the original owner? Original owners tend to take better care of their vehicles.
   - What is the reason that the four wheel drive is being sold? It is encouraging if the individual is the original owner and if he is planning to again buy the same make of vehicle.
6. (Q) What if the owner is lying when answering questions about a vehicle?
   
   (A) It is worthwhile to obtain as much information about a four wheel drive as possible, therefore, buyers should ask questions. The interior and exterior inspections, and the four wheel drive test-drive help to verify the information.
7. (Q) How long should the vehicle test-drive take?
   
   (A) It is worthwhile to test-drive a four wheel drive for a minimum of 20 minutes on two separate occasions. The test-drive should include a variety of roads that buyers will drive day-in and day-out.
8. (Q)Should buyers take a four wheel drive to a mechanic before making a purchase?
   
   (A) A mechanic should confirm what buyers have concluded after they have inspected and test-driven a four wheel drive. Buyers should request that the vehicle be raised on a lift for the mechanic's inspection and that the mechanic test-drives the vehicle.
9. (Q) Of course buyers what to save money, but what protection do they have when purchasing a 2 to 3 year-old four wheel drive?
   
   (A) Most four wheel drives have manufacturers' bumper-to-bumper warranties of at least three years-36,000 miles or four years-50,000 miles in addition to five years-60,000 miles on the drive train. The warranties are transferable to buyers who purchase used four wheel drives. The warranties begin on the date that vehicles are first purchased from dealers.
10. (Q) What is a long term benefit of saving one-third when buying four wheel drives?
    
    (A) The average new four wheel drive costs about $21,000 to $24,000 or more. Most 2 to 3 year-old four wheel drives will easily provide five or more years of trouble free service. If buyers invest the savings ($7,000 to $8,000) and they are able to add $1,000 per year toward their next four wheel drive, after a five-year period, they will have the money needed to purchase another 2 to 3 year-old four wheel drive without stalling their budget.