Decisions, Decisions: New or Used Subaru?

Buying a new vs used Subaru may be a decision you’re trying to make if you already know Subaru is the brand you want to buy. Subaru vehicles are known for their reliability, and it’s expected that you’ll get years out of any Subaru you buy. We have plenty of options for you to choose from at Richard Lucas Subaru, your Staten Island Subaru dealer, but the first question you need to answer is should you buy new or used? There are a number of considerations to keep in mind while you shop, so we made a list of things to help you decide.

#1. Budget

If you have the budget for a new car, buying new will give you the safest, most up-to-date features for confidence and convenience. That’s a good reason to buy new if you can afford monthly payments, and you will get a better interest rate for borrowing to buy a new vehicle, too. On the other hand, if new vehicles are out of your price range, Certified Pre-Owned Subarus are the next best option. You can find a vehicle for a lower price than new, but you still get to enjoy the benefit of a Subaru that is less than five years old. Buying CPO can take a significant amount of money off the original price, and you get a carefully inspected, like-new vehicle with guarantees it has a clean history.

If you need to purchase a vehicle for a bargain price, choosing a used Subaru is still an excellent option. Because Subaru is a brand with a reputation for holding value and lasting for years and years, you can find even older Subarus that will drive safely and reliably, especially if you purchase one from a dealership that has to disclose vehicle history and maintenance. Basically, your decision will boil down to what you can afford, so your budget needs to be the guidepost for whether you buy new or used.

#2. Technology

Modern tech like smartphone connectivity, built-in navigation, and an infotainment system are becoming the norm for all vehicles on the market today. If you’re a driver who loves listening to the playlist you saved on your device, or you want to be able to safely make phone calls while you drive, such amenities can only be found in more recent models. This alone may be enough reason to purchase a new vehicle for some buyers, especially when each model year tends to offer more features as standard, so you can expect technology like charging ports and Bluetooth to make using your smartphone easier.

If technology isn’t that important to you, then a used model may be a better fit. However, newer used models and higher trim levels will still have a lot of the features you want, so don’t count them out. Used vehicles, especially in less expensive trim levels, will often have less technology, and they will be priced lower than those featuring more modern connectivity options. Even though most buyers own smartphones today, not all people value having their smartphone connected to their vehicle’s audio system. In this case, a used Subaru with less tech is likely to make you feel more comfortable with driving.

#3. Driver-Assist Safety

Each year driver-assist safety features become more and more prevalent. With time, they also get more finely tuned for accuracy and improve the quality of your driving experience. Subaru is a brand that has created a suite of driver-assist safety features that have been rated as one of the best-performing in the industry, tied with Volvo and Hyundai in IIHS safety tests. Driving with safety features found in the Subaru EyeSight and STAR systems can prevent and mitigate accidents, and rates of injury and need for repairs are down as a result of more vehicles with these features on the road today.

While the driver-assist safety features can reduce accidents, they do cost more to insure. Purchasing a new vehicle with a suite of safety features can raise your insurance rates due to the cost of repairs to these systems if they are damaged. It can be expensive to replace cameras and sensors, which the systems utilize to deploy life-saving measures to keep passengers safe. However, older Subarus still have good safety features, though they may lack in the fun driver assist ones like Adaptive Cruise Control. So, you’ll be safe with either a new or used model; however, a new model will have more sophisticated features.

#4. Vehicle History

When you buy a new vehicle, you know the history. No other owners have driven your vehicle, and you can trust that it comes from the factory clean. Knowing your vehicle is new means you don’t have to worry about whether or not it had proper maintenance to ensure it keeps running the way it should. This is not always the case when you buy used. A used vehicle should come with a CARFAX report at the very least, so you can see whether or not the vehicle has been in any accidents, how many owners it had, and what the maintenance history looks like. You can also see if the vehicle has ever been part of a fleet, such as a rental car company, and whether or not it has been junked.

Buying from a car dealership like Richard Lucas Subaru can be much safer when purchasing used since private sellers don’t need to adhere to the same laws that govern sales the way a dealership does. We typically detail our vehicles and service them prior to sale, and you can get additional warranties when you purchase a Certified Pre-Owned model over a regular used model. When you want the most confidence in your used purchase, buy from Richard Lucas Subaru.

#5. Warranty

New vehicles always have the best warranty. To make the most out of your vehicle, buying new will offer you the most protection and assistance to keep your Subaru running its best. A new Subaru comes with an outstanding warranty to cover your vehicle from bumper-to-bumper for 3 years or 36,000 miles, and the powertrain is covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Rust perforation and roadside assistance are also included, among other parts and functions. Buying new gives you the best protection for your vehicle in case anything goes wrong.

If you choose to buy used, the next best option is buying a Certified Pre-Owned Subaru, which offers a more comprehensive warranty than used vehicles. Subaru vehicles last a long time, and Subaru states on their website that 97 percent of Subaru sold ten years ago are still on the road. Buying a CPO can offer you an extensive warranty to cover the powertrain and have roadside assistance, but even a used Subaru is likely to last a long time if you want to purchase a less expensive option without the warranties.

New or Used? It’s Up to You

Considerations like your budget should always be your first condition for choosing the right vehicle, new or used. Calculate your monthly budget, find out how much you can borrow, and then decide what Subaru will fit into your price range. After that, other monetary decisions like insurance rates may affect your choice, but the importance of safety and coverage must also be part of your process to decide. Finally, technology can be a tipping point to help you choose whether a new or used Subaru is right for you. No matter which way you go, a Subaru will last you a long time, especially if you maintain it well.