Buying a used car is smarter than buying a new car.

I really think both sides will be insightful, and thought provoking for the voters. This topic is more important right now than it has ever been in this country. For the average Joe, only buying a house surpasses the importance of buying a car. So, which one is smarter? New or used? I say used. I will attempt to show how the positives of buying a used car far outlay those of a new car. Used cars cost less than new cars. Also, they cost less to insure, and taxes are lower as well. Therefore, whether you paid cash or financed the vehicle, the monthly expense is lower. The average driver travels 10K-15K a year, which is not an exceptionally large amount, so a low mileage used car is certainly adequate. The average time of ownership is four to six years, according to the National Automobile Dealer's Association. That is not very long in terms of a car, therefore, a low mileage used car is perfectly adequate. There is a common misconception that you can't get a good warranty on a used care. This is simply not true, and if you are curious, look up Guardian Warranty or Preferred Warranties. These are only two that offer full comprehensive warranties on cars with up to 150K miles. The fastest depreciation occurs in the car's first two years, when its value drops to 60 percent to 70 percent of its original sticker price. Heck, they lose 30-40% driving off the lot. Just that alone is enough information for me. Why pay through the nose when I can buy the car 2 years down the road for 30% of the cost, and have it for many years to come? A Consumer Reports study of owner costs shows that choosing a three-year-old car instead of a new one can save you thousands of dollars over the first five years. In many cases that's enough to pay for all of your gas during that time. According to the used car savings analysis, buying a 2005 Toyota Camry with a V6 engine, for example, could save you about $13,000(seriously) over five years compared with buying a new 2008 version. At $4 per gallon, you could pay for all of your gas during that period (based on driving 12,000 miles a year) and still be almost $2,500 ahead. The same study showed you could save $25,500 over five years—or the equivalent of seven-and-a-half years of free gas—by buying a three-year-old Chevrolet Tahoe instead of a new one. Another advantage of a used car is that you can get many more options, and in some cases can move to a whole different class of vehicle, due to the great price disparity. Who can argue with "get more for less? " So, they cost less to buy. Fact. They cost less to own. Fact. It seems there can be only one downside. The reliability of the vehicle always comes into question. The fact is, that any reputable pre-owned car dealer will let you have the vehicle checked out by your own mechanic before purchase, and with the advance of Carfax and Autocheck, you can trace the cars history back to the manufacturing plant. Do some get through the cracks? Of course, but When you factor all the money you are saving, it is definitely a very safe gamble. If some work needs to be done to the car, so be it. You will still be ahead on the bill. Even if you lose, you win. I very much look forward to hearing my opponent's rebuttal, as I am sure I will have my work cut out for me in the final round. Good luck, and may the best argument win. References: -consumerreports. org -bankrates. com -National Automotive Dealer's Association(NADA) price guide -. http://autos.yahoo.com...