When you say “investment” it usually means something that will go up in value, or at least be stable. Used cars tend depreciate in value, so they are not a good investment, however, (they are normally) a better investment than new cars. With the price for a car these days it may seem that a new car would be a good buy, is that it begins to lose value before the new car smell has even left the car.
Those buyers who are looking to buy a used car will still lost some value, but consumers wouldn’t have had to pay as much to begin with. Dealers who sell used cars normally have a solid reputation and have strict rules and regulations that they use when accepting trade ins. Cars that are in good condition, have low mileage, are still visibly attractive, and have somewhat up to date control panels on the interior. Every car goes through thorough inspection and is cleaned from top to bottom once it is accepted.
But what about what happened to the car previously to the dealer accepting it, what happened that can’t be seen with the naked eye. Always ask to see the carfax, this report will tell you the car’s “medical history.” The report will be able to tell you if it was in an accident, past repairs, and the overall use and condition of the car before it was spit shined to appeal to the new buyer. Having this report and negotiating with the salesmen will save you a lot of headache in the long run, and it will help you appreciate your “investment” more.