Never had a new car in my life (they drop in value the second you drive them out of the yard). I tend to avoid buying through dealerships, and have always managed to save hard and pay up front (finance is a total rip-off). Sure, my vehicles are never new, not flashy (though I have had the odd vintage), but all have been presentable and mechanically sound. The only time I was tempted to buy through a yard, I asked if I could have our mechanic check it out before purchase, they agreed and he had a three page list of serious faults (one being a cracked/twisted and badly repaired chassis). The car looked great, inside and out, but he said it was a nightmare. Believe they withdrew it from sale when they got the list.