Purchasing a Used Car Can Be Smart; Here’s How to Make Them Last!

How do I get the more reliable used car at a dealership, like a buy here pay here near me? It’s a great question.

Buy here pay here dealerships offer an excellent range of used cars in Kansas City, with the used car lots near you brimming with outstanding deals on vehicles you can get even if you don’t have stellar credit. 

All buyers want a car that’s durable, economical, and will last for years or even decades without requiring significant mechanical work.

In this guide, we’ll look at some of the ways to choose a vehicle from buy here pay here dealerships that will serve you well over your years of ownership.

Is Mileage an Important Factor When Choosing a Used Car in Kansas City?

Mileage is certainly a useful gauge of how much wear and tear a vehicle has sustained on average. Modern vehicles are expected to run more than 100,000 miles with minimum maintenance, and many brands are known for having cars that exceed 200,000 miles with hardly an issue. 

More important than the number of miles is where and how the vehicle was driven for those miles. Highway driving is less taxing on a vehicle than city driving, for instance. In the city the driver is required to stop and start more often, putting more stress on all mechanical parts. And if previous owners “floored it” or slammed on their brakes often, you can expect the parts to have sustained even more stress. 

Does Age Determine How Long a Vehicle Will Last?

Again, on average, an older vehicle will have already had more wear and tear than a newer one. But this depends on how often the vehicle was used and how well it was cared for. 

It’s quite reasonable to find an older vehicle with less than 50,000 miles on the odometer, whereas a newer vehicle that’s been driven heavily can have 150,000 miles. 

We could generally say the older vehicle, in this case, may be a better purchase overall, especially if it comes at a comparable price. As the old saying goes, “Age ain’t nothing but a number.” And for cars, that rings true, within reason. 

Which Makes and Models Should I Look For at a Buy Here Pay Here Car Lot in Kansas City?

Car experts analyzed over 11.8 million cars sold in 2020 to see which vehicles consistently last 200,000 miles or more. The standout winner of the race is Toyota, which has eight of the top 16 models that have surpassed the benchmark. 

On average, only 1% of vehicles reached 200,000 miles, but all of these vehicles have significantly higher percentages of 200,000+-mile records. 

Other manufacturers to make the list are Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, Honda, and Lincoln. Based on this metric alone, we can strongly recommend the Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota Sequoia, Chevrolet Suburban, Ford Expedition, and Toyota 4Runner, as these have been the most durable vehicles over the past decade, according to research. 

However, other models will serve you just as well, especially if you choose one with a known history.  

Every Vehicle on the Used Car Lot Has a Story

As you browse the used car lots in Kansas City, you must realize that even if many used vehicles look very similar, they haven’t all been treated the same way. To get a picture of how a used vehicle has been looked after by previous owners, you can check the vehicle’s history and ask the dealership for further information. 

Check to see whether regular maintenance of the vehicle was performed. Did the previous owner(s) always get maintenance performed on time? Did they use authorized repair shops or third parties? 

Reports like CARFAX can give you more detailed information on a vehicle’s background. Importantly, vehicles that have been in an accident in the past require extra care. If you’re considering a vehicle that has had extensive repairs, you should get it checked out by a third-party mechanic who you trust. Similarly, check if the vehicle has had any major aftermarket changes performed on it. 

Shop for a Used Car at Auto Bank, the Top Buy Here Pay Here Car Lots in Kansas City

Where’s the perfect place to find all these features in one car for sale in Kansas City? Auto Bank, one of Kansas City’s longest-running buy here pay here dealerships. 

At our two used car lots, we offer a wide range of excellent vehicles from all top brands, all with relatively low mileage and transparent history records. We’re happy to give you every detail we have on the vehicles we sell, and you can check our reviews to see how pleased our customers have been in the past. We check all vehicles mechanically from top to bottom, so you can rest assured your new car will run fabulously for many years to come.

Come visit us on East Front Street or East Truman Road to buy a reliable used car, regardless of your credit score.