New vs Used Vehicles: Which Is Right for You?
The honest tradeoffs between buying new, certified pre-owned, or used in today's market.
This is the question Josh answers every week. The right answer depends on your budget, how long you plan to keep the vehicle, and your tolerance for a car payment.
New: warranty, latest tech, lowest interest rates from the manufacturer, and no unknowns. You take the depreciation hit in year one.
Certified Pre-Owned: factory-backed warranty, inspected to a manufacturer checklist, and someone else already ate the depreciation. Often the sweet spot.
Used: lowest sticker price, biggest selection across price ranges. Requires a careful inspection and a fair dealer.
Josh's rule of thumb: if you keep vehicles 8+ years, new usually wins. 3-5 years, CPO. Under 3 years or on a tight budget, quality used.