Why a used car is the upgrade we all need

Maybe you need more space, more power, or just feel like a change. When it comes to upgrading to your next vehicle, have you considered that the most baller move might actually be… buying a second-hand car?

Hear us out. Buying second-hand doesn’t just give you better pricing. It also gives you the chance to buck the trend in our late-stage capitalist hellscape and so much more…

Buying a used car makes you a rebel

In a world obsessed with online shopping hauls and chasing the next big thing, there’s something delightfully subversive about choosing the near-new route instead. We scour second-hand shops for vinyl, vintage clothing and cool art finds – why not for a high-quality used car purchase too?

While marketing teams are busily making anything less than brand-new feel inadequate, buying a car that isn’t is a satisfying form of resistance. It’s more thoughtful purchasing in a world that all too often pushes the new (and extracts more resources to do it). Turns out you can rage against the machine and have nice things too.

A used car gives you tried and tested tech

A brand new model doesn’t feel like an upgrade if its touted new technology turns out to be garbage, there are defect recalls, or the sound system is too complex to navigate. By buying second-hand, you can check the track record of your chosen make and model and know exactly what you’re in for. One or two years provides plenty of time for any known issues to crop up for its first owner, by which time you can make your move with confidence. It’s the upgrade without the unwanted new-model surprises!

It just makes financial sense

Brand new cars start to depreciate the second they drive out of the dealer’s yard. By buying that car with low kilometres just one or two years later, you’re getting a way better price for the same barely-used product. That means a lower upfront cost and smaller repayments, which is something we can all use these days.

Really – what’s more swish than having more cash up your sleeve in this economy? Disposable income in the 'Cozzie livs' era is the ultimate upgrade.

It gives you transparency

Now, it’s true not all second-hand car purchases are transparent. But when they’re hand selected and checked through Carma’s quality assurance process, you get all the details for a highly informed car upgrade.

Each car is forensically looked over by more than 10 different inspection experts. The car goes up on the mechanical hoist so it can be checked from every angle, serviced and lovingly reconditioned as needed, then given a thorough detail. The team checks that every car has a strong service history with no accidents in the past. Carma’s process is actually so thorough that it’s verified by the NRMA as its exclusive preferred used car dealership.

Now, what makes a better car upgrade than one that just had an entire team of qualified car specialists tend to it?

Buying a pre-owned car is actually…fun now?

The standard process to find used cars has admittedly been somewhat painful. Marketplace negotiating, incomplete info and unclear photos – no thank you. But the process for buying second-hand has had an upgrade of its own, and online car buying has become actually enjoyable with (yep, that’s right) Carma.

You get:

• Brightly-lit photos from all angles
• Details of each car’s service history and any slight imperfections
• A professional clean and polish inside and out
• The option of free delivery to your door within Greater Sydney
• A 3 month warranty
• Either a complimentary 12 months NRMA Roadside Assistance membership or an option to purchase 1, 3 or 5 years roadside assistance with extended coverage
• Plus, 7 days to drive and decide whether it’s the ride for you.

With all the prickliest parts about buying a second-hand car now smoothed out, the used car or new car decision has kind of been turned on its head. You don’t need to buy brand new to get the new car experience.

So why not go the second-hand route and get a car upgrade you love with a price that’s even better?