The Joy of Owning a Locally Used Car (It's Not a Downgrade)

There is a stigma that "locally used" means "worn out." This is false. Locally used cars have been 'tropicalized'. They often come with upgrades that the previous owner paid for—heavy-duty suspension, improved ground clearance, alarms, and tints.

If the history is clean and the service record is full, a local car offers better value. It has already taken the biggest depreciation hit, and the 'teething problems' of a new import have already been sorted out. My friend Steve drives an '85 Mercedes. It's not the fastest, but it has soul and history. Don't be afraid of a car with a story, as long as it's a good one.