If your family's needs have made that old sedan obsolete and you think you may want to purchase a large rugged 4-wheel drive vehicle but can't afford one, think again. Because 4-wheel drives have been extremely popular cars for over 10 years now, there is a great selection of used ones out there! Here are some tips for buying a used 4WD.

Even though you are purchasing a used vehicle, the same principles of logic apply that you would use when buying a new one: do some research first. There are so many types to choose from nowadays that you need to first sit down and make a list of needs in order to narrow your search. Consider:

-- How many people will you be carrying in this vehicle on a regular basis?

-- Will you be pulling a boat or trailer and need extra power for this job?

-- Do you need to have an open back in order to be able to throw stuff in for quick transport?

-- How often will you be using the 4WD and in what contexts? Will the vehicle be used primarily for highway driving or off-road?

-- How much money will it cost you to insure one type of vehicle versus another?

-- How much vehicle will you be able to realistically afford?

After these very important questions have been answered, you're ready to start shopping. It's a good idea to go online and do a little research now. With your criteria in mind, use a search engine to look up which makes and models of 4WD vehicles may suit your needs best. Be prepared to be flexible: what you need may be very different from what you had originally intended to get.

Once you have a ballpark of what you are looking for, you may search online classifieds for private owners looking to sell, or contact or visit a reputable used vehicle dealership near you.

If the 4WD feature is the main reason you are looking for the SUV or truck, make sure you closely inspect how the vehicle 'sits.' It should look level when viewed from the front and the rear; when viewed from the side, the rear should sit a little higher than the front. If the 4WD doesn't sit right, then it most likely has been driven extremely hard and will require extensive work. Unless you want to pay more money up front, you should also check out the quality of the tread on the tires.

Once you have found a few vehicles which interest you, it's time to do more research. Use the VIN numbers to conduct title searches on the 4WD to make sure the truth of its history is the same as that being presented: you should do this both for privately owned ones and for those offered by dealerships.

An advantage to buying from a good dealership is that it will generally only offer certified cars (which won't require you to hire a mechanic to look it over), and it may offer protective warranties as well.

Good luck!

Author: Art Gib

About the author:
If you are a Utah resident looking for a high quality Orem used vehicle, or if you are seeking good used cars in Provo, contact the reputable experts at Brent Brown Auto. Art Gib is a freelance writer.

Article source: Free Automotive Articles.