Secrets Of
Shopping Used Hybrids

Shopping Used Hybrids

Hybrids are relatively new, having been on the market for about a decade and a half, but a greater number of drivers are going green on the roadways.

The used market for hybrids is experiencing rapid growth; now is the time to jump on the bandwagon.

For those looking to buy a used hybrid but held back by bad credit, you may consider a company, like DriveTime, for bad credit auto loans for financing assistance.

Familiarize yourself with these nuggets of knowledge about using secrets of shopping used hybrids

Key Differences

For those accustomed to investigating under the hood to determine a car's condition, hybrids present a challenge. A hybrid's engine bay is pulsing with upwards of 300 volts which should effectively deter anyone thinking about taking a peak under the hood.

Even if one were to check out the engine, many modern cars cover the engines with plastic shields for superior airflow and visual appeal. Except through the ears of an experienced hybrid auto technician, test driving the vehicle will fail to provide potential buyers with any useful information.

Auditory indicators of car problems will be completely foreign to the layman. To determine the hybrid's true condition, it's imperative to search out a technician who specializes in hybrid vehicles. if shopping for used hybrids

The price for inspection is well worth it. There is one last addendum to mention: the federal tax credit for hybrids you've been hearing about only applies to new hybrids.

Battery Life

Hybrid batteries don't keep going and going like the Energizer Bunny. A majority of hybrid batteries come with an eight year or 100,000 mile warranty in case it suffers a premature death — but if you're shopping used hybrids, that warranty will be severely less, if there's even a warranty at all.

However, if you choose to buy a certified used vehicle, ensure the original warranty is transferred to you.

A hybrid battery's energy cells lose its capacity to hold a charge over time. Once they give out, drivers will drop anywhere from a whopping $2,000 to $4,000 for a new one. The good news is most modern hybrid models have batteries that last for a car's lifespan, surpassing the 100,000 mile mark.

Unbeknownst to most consumers, hybrids are built with software to inaccurately display the battery's charge. A "100 percent" charge is closer to 80 percent and a "depleted" battery really means it is holding about 20 percent total charge, according to CSMonitor.com. It's a clever deception used by manufacturers to artificially expand the battery's life by sacrificing the power of a single charge.

Now you have the secrets of shopping for used hybrids