The decision to opt for either “new” or “used” in purchasing an accessible vehicle is an important decision to make. Often times, the decision can be an uncertain one. The concept of a “new-used” vehicle gives consumers the best of both worlds and has been becoming a popular choice in the accessible van market.
What Exactly is a “New-Used” Vehicle?
The term “new-used”, despite being an oxymoron, describes a van typically one year old with 8-20,000 miles, but with a brand new accessible conversion. The van is used and the conversion is new, hence “new-used.” The price is less than a brand-new conversion vehicle but more expensive than a typical used wheelchair accessible van.
The Benefits of a “New-Used” Vehicle:
- Low miles and a low-age chassis will typically have some remainder of a “bumper to bumper” warranty from the factory.
- A brand new accessible conversion will typically have a full, three- year/36,000 mile* warranty from the conversion manufacturer. (* Please note that VCI Mobility will extend the conversion warranty to a five- year/ 60,000 mile as a courtesy to our customers.)
- The accessible conversion process requires carpet replacement and a number of interior panels. The result is an interior that looks and smells almost brand new.
- A “new-used” conversion van is less expensive than a new conversion van. The conversion cost is the same, but the chassis price is lower due to vehicle depreciation rates.
- On average, a buyer can save approximately $7,000-9,000 when buying a “new-used” accessible vehicle **. (**Please note actual savings will vary and will be dependent on the used car market and the economy as a whole.)
“New-Used” Means More Options:
The cost will always be less to purchase a used wheelchair van (used chassis and used accessible conversion). An important factor to note is that is always a great demand for used wheelchair vans in the $20K-$30K price range. For this reason, they are often difficult to find. In many cases the buyer must make sacrifices on either a color or model/options.
“New-used” wheelchair vans are much more predictable and can often be ordered to the customer’s specifications. In addition, you can also take into account the fact that a full warranty protection will be provided on the conversion and at least some part of the original manufacturers warranty will be provided on the vehicle chassis.