Depending upon what your income is, the prospect of owning a vehicle can sometimes seem out of reach. With the price you’ll end up paying, gas, insurance, and having enough left aside for routine maintenance and repairs, it’s too easy to become discouraged and utilize public transportation rather than try to own a personal vehicle. We’re here to tell you, “don’t give up!” There are always alternatives and solutions to life’s dilemmas; you just need to know where to look. Taking advantage of Ford’s Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program can be highly beneficial for a first-time car buyer. A CPO vehicle combines the affordability of a used vehicle with the incentives and benefits of buying new. If you’re in the market for your first vehicle, then there’s no time like the present to achieve this fundamental rite of passage into adulthood. Visiting your local Certified Pre-Owned Ford dealership can present you with a lot of possibilities, and we’ve picked a few that are ideal for a first purchase.
Advantages of Ford’s Certified Pre-Owned Program
Every automobile manufacturer offers its own variation of a Certified Pre-Owned program. This speaks to the industry itself and its tendency to follow trends and practices that are popular and well-received. With so many different makes and models on the road, choosing the right one can be difficult, and the same goes for finding the ideal CPO that works best for you. If you aren’t sure of exactly what benefits Ford includes with its Gold Certified Certified Pre-Owned models, here’s a brief overview of the program.
Before being considered for the program, a vehicle must fall under certain specifications that make it eligible. This separates the wheat from the chaff and ensures that every vehicle in Ford’s Gold Certified CPO program adheres to the high standards of quality that drivers expect from Ford.
All Gold Certified vehicles can be no more than six model years old.
The vehicles all have minimal wear and tear on them, as they can have no more than 80,000 miles.
Vehicles are subjected to a rigorous 172-point inspection by a certified Ford technician. This ensures that any faulty parts are fixed and only replaced with certified Ford parts.
All vehicles possess a clean CARFAX report, because as a consumer, you have the right to know the detailed history of any vehicle you buy.
1- Ford Fusion
For the first-time car buyer, the name of the game should be practicality. While you might have been dreaming of a Shelby Cobra, it’s just not sustainable for where you are in life. Luckily, there’s the Ford Fusion. One of the best-selling vehicles in Ford’s CPO program, the Fusion will get you from point A to point B with low costs as far as insurance and repairs are concerned. Breaking it down, when you have your work commute five days a week, plus the occasional doctor’s appointment and trip to the grocery store, you can expect to travel well over 100 miles per week.
Having a vehicle with good fuel economy can make all the difference when it comes to budgeting your weekly and monthly expenses. Thankfully, the Fusion is efficient in this area, with the 2020 model getting up to a combined 27 MPG. This means that you’ll be using no more than a few gallons of gas a week. There are three different engine options available with the 2020 Fusion, so in order to get the most out of mileage, it’s a good idea to find a model that’s equipped with a 1.5L 4-cylinder.
2- Ford Focus
Similar to the Fusion, the Focus was a long-standing staple of the Ford fleet since its introduction in 2000. As the successor to the Ford Escort, the Focus comes in either a sedan or hatchback style, the latter of which is ideal for first-time drivers who might want a bit of additional storage space for groceries or anything else.
The Focus is an excellent compromise between the practicality of a sedan and the sportiness of a coupe. Any new car buyer should be on the lookout for vehicles that have a reputation for being reliable, and the Focus certainly matches these criteria. When you’re working on your expense budget for your first purchase, keep in mind that you will need to account for all sorts of small repairs as well as insurance and gas money. The low repair cost of the Focus makes it a dependable choice for first-time car buyers.
3- Ford Escape
If you’re among the millions of Americans whose life is family-oriented, you might want to consider an SUV. While SUVs were once large and powered by monstrous V8 engines, they’ve since evolved into compact sizes and are the ideal family vehicle. For many years, the Ford Explorer was the smallest option available, but the Escape is the next size down and quite appropriate for a first-time car buyer who needs a vehicle that’s more family-friendly.
As far as being a practical choice, the Escape isn’t what your normal conception of an SUV might be. The combined 26 MPG of the 2019 Escape means you’ll be able to handle the work commute, soccer practice, and even go on those lengthy road trips that the American family is known for taking. And don’t worry about not having enough room for snacks and maybe your golf clubs; the Escape has an available storage capacity of more than 65 cubic feet.
4- Ford Edge
If you need an SUV for your family but still want to adhere to the laws of aesthetics and style, then the Ford Edge is perfectly suited for your needs. If you find yourself requiring more cargo space than the average vehicle can provide, then you’re certainly in luck. The Edge has space to spare with an available 73 cubic feet of room for your personal items and whatever you’ll need to take on the road with you. While you’ll be able to take whoever and whatever you need for excitement and leisure, you won’t need extra gas cash.
The 2020 Ford Edge boasts a combined fuel economy of 26 MPG. This means taking it with you and not breaking the bank as a result. For those whose family expenses add up, you can rest assured that owning an SUV will help you save in other ways, as they’re typically less to insure than sedans despite being larger and more capable vehicles.
Taking Advantage and Seizing the Opportunity
Owning a vehicle is a necessity for some, and although having one is a privilege and not a right, there’s no reason why you can’t have the quality of life that owning your own car allows you to achieve. Purchasing a vehicle shouldn’t be difficult for the average consumer, and Ford’s CPO program brings many benefits with it. Remember, the car that you’re purchasing right now isn’t what you’ll be driving for the rest of your life. Your first vehicle will help you learn the ropes of being a responsible car owner and give you the proper life experience you need to get ahead. You can always upgrade to something even more impressive with your next purchase.
