"Used Car For Sale" Can Mean Huge Savings For You

We are all familiar with the newspaper listings headed by the words “used car for sale.” Any newspaper or online auto site is filled with such listings and the common thought is that those listings are for people in the need of a new used car. But there is another option that most car owners don’t consider and that is buying a used car for replacement parts. Let’s look at some basic facts that will highlight why this might be an option worth considering in the future.

Car parts are not cheap. That is a basic truth for any car owner. Most major repairs will cost somewhere in the neighborhood of between $300-$1000, mainly because labor is so expensive. A qualified mechanic will charge from $50 per hour and up for any repair work and most major repairs require at least two hours to do. For most car owners in America this is a crippling expense and one that can’t be undertaken too many times.

Now consider this option. Buying a used car just for the purpose of having your own replacement parts is a viable option. Say you own a 2000 Subaru. It has been a reliable car but with 150,000 miles on it you know that sooner rather than later it will need extensive work. You can go the established route and take it to a repair shop when it needs repair, or you can consider going online or checking out the “used car for sale” listings in the newspaper, pay $500 for a used one, and you will have recouped that expense after one or two repairs that you do yourself.

Still not convinced? How about visiting your local salvage yard and saving even more money on a replacement car? Certainly you need space to store your used car but that is rarely a problem for the enterprising consumer. The only other drawback is that in order for you to save big bucks you will need to do the repair yourself, a daunting task for anyone with five thumbs. This really is the major hurdle for most car owners, the thought of attempting a car repair on their own with little or no knowledge. This might have been a valid concern twenty years ago, but today with the internet and instant tutorials on any repair, it should no longer be a concern.

In today’s economy, with times being as hard as they are for the average wage-earner, it only makes sense to at least consider this option. Even if you can’t muster up the courage to do the repair yourself, we all know a relative that is handy with cars. Buy him lunch and a six-pack and consider the savings you are reaping all because of this creative means of saving money.