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You need a new car. You scrounge up your courage to approach the dealership. You peruse your selection, take some test drives and maybe decide on one. But then something you weren’t counting on happens: the dealer asks, "Have you considered leasing?" The idea of leasing could expand your options, but buying may have some long-term benefits. What do you do?

Buying a Car

The option to buy a car, whether you buy it outright (which is more likely if you’re looking at a pre-owned vehicle) or finance it, is always available. If you choose this option, here’s what to expect:

Pros

·         You get to keep your car; it becomes a permanent asset once you pay off your auto loan (if any)

·         You will eventually pay off your auto loan, and then you have no more monthly obligation

·         Having a paid-for vehicle is a distinct advantage with an expanding family and/or a family expecting to have an increase in the number of drivers

Cons

·         Once the factory warranty expires, you are responsible for all vehicle maintenance and repairs

·         Vehicle value depreciates quickly, so what you can get for your car as a trade-in or private sale may limit what you can afford the next time you need or want a new car

All things considered, if you are certain you want to keep the car for a long time and like the idea of ownership, buying is for you.

Leasing a Car

Leasing may be a more attractive option for many people in pursuit of a new car. If you choose to lease, here’s what to expect:

Pros

·         Lower monthly payment

·         No money down (may depend on credit or other eligibility criteria)

·         Expands your selection of vehicles that may fit in your budget, including a number of newer, higher-end models (this may be important for some lines of work, like real estate)

·         Most repairs are covered under the manufacturer’s warranty

Cons

·         Lease terms may have restrictive mileage limits, over which you may owe a fee or penalty

·         You do not gain an asset at the end of the lease term

·         You always have a car payment

If you like having a new car every few years and don't mind a car payment, leasing is likely the best for you.

For those interested in buying a car without the markup on brand new models, Unique Enterprises has the quality vehicle you need. We have a lot full of quality pre-owned cars and trucks and the financing options to make them affordable. Visit us in Moriarty, NM today.

It doesn’t matter what your budget is. When you’re looking for a vehicle to replace your existing one or increase your personal “fleet,” a pre-owned vehicle often gives you the best value for your money.

Why should you consider a used car from Unique Enterprises?

Less Expensive

The term “sticker shock” came from new car price tags. Brand new models are a major investment, one that you could be paying off for more than five years. Unfortunately, their MSRP value significantly depreciates the moment you drive off the lot.

Pre-owned vehicles, on the other hand, offer considerable savings. You start with a lower price point, and trade-ins and negotiations can help you bring down the price even further.

Wide Selection

You can find the makes, models, colors and options you want in our pre-owned inventory. If you don’t find exactly what you want and have some time to wait before finalizing your purchase, we may be able to locate the car or truck with the specifications you want.

Reliability

Unique Enterprises ensures that our used cars are reliable. We have Carfax reports for each vehicle in our inventory, and all vehicles are inspected by our ASE-certified mechanics. Plus, used vehicles have often been through a complete recall cycle, so any issues that had been identified with a particular make/model have likely already been repaired.

Convenient Shopping Experience

Our entire inventory is available at your fingertips. You can view images and specifications about any car on our lot. You can even make an appointment to test drive the vehicle and get pre-approved for financing without ever leaving home.

After-Purchase Customer Care

Unique Enterprises offers extended warranty options to give you peace of mind about your pre-owned car purchase.

So, you think you've found the perfect car. It looks clean and well-maintained. It runs smoothly, and there appears to be no mechanical issues. However, looks can be deceiving.

When you are considering buying a pre-owned vehicle, there’s more to determining the value and estimated life of the car or truck than appearance and handling. For instance:

·         Has the car been in a wreck? Auto body collision may make the car look good, but was the frame alignment checked and restored?

·         How many owners has the car had? The more owners, the more likely there’s been some gaps in routine maintenance.

You don’t want problems like these to become apparent after you’ve purchased the vehicle. So how do you avoid situations like this?

Find a reliable pre-owned car dealer, like Unique Enterprises. We provide CARFAX reports for every vehicle in our inventory. In fact, we are a 5-Star CARFAX rated dealer, which means you can be confident that we are going to sell you a vehicle that is safe and reliable. We offer extended warranty plans for purchase – up to 3 years / 36,000 miles.

Shopping for a car doesn’t have to be stressful. Unique Enterprises gives you the information you need to find the best value in a new-to-you car or truck. Visit us in Moriarty, NM, today.

When buying a car, you need to find a dealership that is reliable and that you can trust. With so many dealerships from which to choose, it can be difficult to know which one can best meets your needs. Follow the tips below to find the right car dealership for you.

Check Online Reviews

The Internet is a great source for reviews from past dealership customers. You may find reviews on the dealership’s website (having a functional website is itself a good sign for a car dealership) and on review sites. A search using your favorite search engine (like Google or Yahoo!) using the dealership’s name and location (city, state) should be enough to find a number of places customers may be talking about the dealership.

So, what are you looking for? You’re not likely to find any car dealership with only glowing reviews. But to find a reliable dealership, positive reviews should far outnumber negative reviews. Plus, the quality of reviews can tell you a lot. Look at what the customer had to say about the experience. Negative reviews may only apply to a specific salesperson (who may not even be working at the dealership anymore) rather than the dealership as a whole.

Talk to Others

Word of mouth goes a long way. Ask friends and family which dealership they use. If you get positive responses, maybe you should check the dealer out for yourself.

Dealership Facilities

Take a look at how the dealership looks:

• Are the cars clean?
• Is the lot organized?
• Is the building clean?
• Is the landscaping taken care of?

A dealership that cares about its own appearance does so because it cares about the customer experience.

Observe How Staff Treats Customers

When you walk into the dealership, take note of how other customers are being treated.

• Are their questions being answered?
• Is the salesperson excited for the customer?
• Is the salesperson pushy?

You want to deal with a salesperson who is genuinely interested in your needs.

Car-buying can be stressful. Some people rank it right up there with dental work. But finding the right new-to-you car doesn’t have to be nerve-wracking. When you know what to look for, you can feel more confident about your used car choices.

At Unique Enterprises, we only select quality used vehicles to offer on our lot. To find the one that fits your needs, style and budget, consider:

Resale Value

Price is a very important factor when purchasing a vehicle, but you need to make sure that you are getting what you pay for. To determine if the price aligns with the value of a used vehicle, consider:

• Manufacturer—is the automaker known for lower upfront price points but higher lifetime maintenance costs or vice versa?
• Year and mileage—how old is the vehicle? How many miles does it have? How many useful years can you expect to get from it?
• Condition—does the paint, body and/or interior look good or worn?

Consumer tools like Kelley Blue Book can generate an estimated value so you know if the sticker price is in line with the vehicle’s condition.

Maintenance and Ownership Records

The appearance of a vehicle does not always tell you what the car’s been through. To make sure the frame and mechanical components can promise reliable performance, ask for vehicle ownership and maintenance records. Red flags to be aware of include:

• Vehicle from an area subject to major flooding
• Vehicles involved in one or more accidents
• Salvage title

Unique Enterprises provides Carfax reports for every vehicle on our lot.

Financing Options

When you find a used car that fits your needs and has the features and options you want, you need to make sure it’s going to be affordable. Inquire about financing options and interest rates. While a rock-bottom monthly payment may allow more spending money, you may end up paying thousands more in interest over the lifetime of the loan. If possible, maximize your down payment and try to secure lower interest rates to keep the total cost of the vehicle as close as possible to the sticker or negotiated price.

Warranty

Most used vehicles are no longer covered under manufacturer warranties, but you want to have some coverage to protect you. Unique Enterprises offers a standard warranty (15-day, 500-mile coverage on drivetrain) plus a number of extended warranty options (additional charges apply).

For those who live in the East Mountain community, which often experiences much more extreme weather conditions compared to the city on the western slopes of the Sandias, many people wonder: Should I buy a four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle? 

Well, that depends on the primary where and why of driving for you.

4WD vs AWD

Before looking for a 4WD vehicle, you should know whether it’s 4-wheel drive or all-wheel drive you really need. Here’s an overview of the differences:

Both 4WD and AWD add weight to the vehicle and mechanical complexity, which can increase the lifetime cost of vehicle maintenance. Still, these features also add safety and capability on the road.

When to Consider 4WD

Four-wheel drive vehicles are best suited for:

·         Rugged terrain and/or off-road excursions, so if you are an avid outdoor enthusiast, your destinations may require 4WD capability.

·         Dangerous road conditions, like ice and snow, or travel on unpaved roads that may be covered in mud, loose gravel and/or standing water.

If your primary driving purpose is commuting between home and work on highly trafficked and well-maintained roads, 4WD is typically not recommended because of the higher initial costs as well as costs the add up from lower fuel efficiency and more expensive maintenance and repairs.

No matter what your daily drive and driving conditions look like, Unique Enterprises can help you find the quality used car—with or without 4WD (or AWD)—to suit you. View our inventory online or visit our lot in Moriarty for a test drive.