BUDGET OFFERS BARGAINS.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

Budget Car Sales, a division of Budget Car and Truck Rental, has brought another car-buying option to the Palmdale Auto Mall.

Motorists can buy vehicles from Budget's rental car fleet, with the factory warranty still in effect but without the new car price.

``It's like getting a new-car value for a used-car price,'' said general manager Steve Haskins. ``A used car is obviously a better bargain and with the used cars from Budget, you get the new car warranty and inspections without the depreciation.''

Budget offers these deals by buying at volume discounts as well as absorbing the new car depreciation, the single most value lost when buying a new car, Haskins said.

According to Haskins, the rental cars in the Budget fleet actually get better service than 80 percent of Americans give their own cars. All the cars that are brought from the rental fleet to the car sales fleet are put through a 101-point safety check inspection and come with a warranty and roadside assistance package.

Budget Car Sales is open Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, call [phone].