Those of us blessed to live in the great state of Colorado are fortunate enough to have some of the greatest scenery in all of the United States. For many of us, we can look out our windows and see the snow-capped peaks of the Rocky Mountains any clear day. We can also see the desert and forest areas from parts of Colorado. But, wouldn’t you want to enjoy this country up close and personal? If you are more of a doer than a bystander, consider checking out some used SUVs for sale to get you to the great outdoors.
Benefits of Owning an SUV
Most SUVs are built to handle the demands of taking you to off the road places. Sure, there are some smaller subcompact SUVs that are sport utility vehicles in name, but that’s about it. They might have a body style that vaguely resembles some other SUV, but they are not equipped for taking on terrain other than blacktop. The SUVs you want are the larger, more rugged ones that are not afraid of a little mud.
These SUVs are far more suited than any car for getting you to these outdoor locales. They have the suspension necessary for going off-road. They have tires that can handle any terrain that the Colorado countryside can throw out you, from mud and dirt to ice and snow. They can also tow plenty of adult toys behind them. If you have ATVs or kayaks that you would like to take out to the Arkansas River, these SUVs can easily tow them to your site.
SUV vs Pickup Trucks
Pickup trucks also have these capabilities, but they are typically not as comfortable on the inside. Most of the mid-size SUVs and larger are plenty roomy on the inside, and also have plenty of interior cargo space. The only way you get the passenger room of a SUV with a pickup truck is if you get one of the larger pickups. When you do that, you will invariably pay much more for it. You are also sacrificing the interior cargo space, not to mention the agility of an SUV. Trucks are great for hauling, handling terrain and other things. But only an SUV can give you all of what you need for exploring the Colorado nature.
But, we all know that new SUVs can get pretty pricey, especially if you plan on adding on all the features that make off-roading both safe and enjoyable. Features that help control braking can help you safely accelerate and brake on uneven terrains while keeping your focus on what is in front of and around you. Certain towing packages can greatly increase your towing capacity, allowing you to safely haul more of your stuff out there with you.
Unfortunately, these features and packages are only available on higher trim levels for most SUVs. And if you are purchasing a new SUV, that already high sticker price keeps climbing higher and higher with every package and trim level.
Included Technology
One of the added benefits in the boom of automotive technology this century is that the brilliant engineers that come up with these safety, infotainment and convenience features come up with them so frequently that the automakers cannot keep up. New features and tweaked designs hit new vehicles every year. Each major automaker is in a rush to put their version of the latest feature in their own cars, trucks and SUVs. What this means is that, regardless of what year, make or model you are interested in, you are pretty much guaranteed to get top notch features.
Of course, what safety features you do get will depend on the make and model of the vehicle, as well as the year and trim level. Not all SUVs have every feature, and some features go by different names depending on the automaker. Additionally, different automakers include different features on different tri levels. What one maker might put on its highest trim level, another might put at a lower trim. It is also important to look at the year of the vehicle. Many features that were once only on higher trim levels can now be found as standard features. The Rear View Camera, for example, was once considered a luxury feature. Now, it can be found as a standard feature on cars, trucks and SUVs from all around the world.
Used SUV
With that being said, the benefit of getting a used SUV as opposed to a new one is the price. With the high turnover rate of modern technology, you can get a used SUV that is still in great shape that is fully loaded with a ton of amenities. And simply because it is a couple of years old, you will be able to get it at a substantially lower cost.
Some people are a little bit scared of a used vehicle. That is understandable. When you buy a new vehicle, you get a warranty and the peace of mind of a reliable vehicle that has never had any accidents or engine problems. Unfortunately, that new vehicle also comes with a new vehicle price. Is there any way to meet in the middle and get the guarantee of a quality vehicle without paying the high sticker price?
Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle
There is. That is why certified pre-owned vehicles exist. The certified pre-owned program has been adopted by virtually every major automaker, both in the US and international automakers. A certified pre-owned vehicle is a used vehicle that undergoes a stringent inspection. Everything from bumper to bumper is inspected by trained engineers. They will inspect the engine, brakes, tires, chassis, CPU, upholstery… in short, everything on the car will be inspected. Depending on the manufacturer, the checklist could be up to 200 items.
Most checklists also include a test drive. So, even if everything about the vehicle passes on paper, a test drive might uncover something that might be missed. What all this adds up to is that, if a used vehicle passes this rigorous process to the satisfaction of the engineer (and remember, the standards are quite high), the vehicle will be certified pre-owned.
Now that the vehicle is certified pre-owned, it has a guarantee fro the automaker that vouches for its roadworthiness. That is a huge selling point for used vehicle shoppers, as most used vehicles don’t come with any kind of guarantee. Furthermore, a lot of vehicles are sold “as is” and if something happens to you 20 feet down the road, you are on the hook for it yourself.
If this happens with a certified pre-owned vehicle, you are covered, because certified pre-owned vehicles also come with an actual warranty. Again, the terms of the warranty will vary depending on he automaker, as far as mileage or years go. Some automakers even refuse to give a vehicle a certified pre-owned stamp, regardless of the condition it is in. It could be in as pristine shape as the day it rolled off the assembly line. But, if it is over the mandated age or mileage limit, it will not be considered.
Explore Colorado
Once you have found a used SUV for sale and have made your final purchase, you can take it out onto the open road. You can pack up the kids and go visit the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, go on a date to the Cave of the Winds Mountain, or pack up your hiking gear and climb Pikes Peak. Whatever you are into there are plenty of things to do in the great outdoors near Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the best way to get there is a used SUV. You get the best parts of the most recent technological advancements in a rugged vehicle built to take on any road it can find. On top of all that, you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to get one.
