If you are that kind of buyer who likes to make long-term investments, your concerns surrounding the longevity of used cars are definitely valid. Unlike new cars, the vehicle that is entering your garage will already have some years on its back. That means, its parts will have faced considerable wear and tear. Durability definitely comes to mind if you wish to drive your car for a long time as, just like any other owner, you will want to keep your vehicle on the road rather than the shop. So, here is your answer to how long does a used car lasts and all other queries that can possibly branch out from that stem.
- How long do used cars last?
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics puts the average healthy age of vehicles at 12 years. That means, when properly maintained following most of the rules of the book, you can expect your 3-year-old used vehicle for 9 more years with some routine repair work. Now, this does not mean that your car will just crumble into pieces one fine day beyond that 12-year-old mark. It will run way beyond that but you will probably have to incur a few expenses behind changing a few parts or tweaking a few existing ones.
Another angle to talk about the longevity of used cars is its mileage. Like any other machine, cars degrade proportionately to the distance it covers. Consumer Reports estimated that a new car will run fine for 150,000 miles without any hiccups and anyone can stretch that to 200,000 miles with proper care. Now, the previous owner can eat up that 150,000 miles in a matter of 6 years or 10 years, and accordingly, you will be left with a health that depends on the mileage left. Here again, crossing 150,000 miles does not mean imminent death of your car. With proper replacements, the vehicle can run a decent amount without any further expensive maintenance.
- How to ensure that I am buying a durable car?
As evident, both the year and the mileage do not provide any conclusive figures about the durability of the car. Think about someone driving their sedan regularly on a rocky region. Just at 50,000 miles, the vehicle will behave like a 200,000-miles car. So, inquire with your dealer where the used car you are thinking of buying was previously stationed. Consider the road’s health there and add it to the odometer reading.
Plus, Consumer Reports also says that modern automakers are making better longer-serving vehicles than they used to a couple of decades back. This factor should back your durability-trust more. Apart from these, two more factors affect the durability of a used car:
- The car’s brand
There is a survey called the Vehicle Dependability Test that scores vehicles based on their reliability or durability. In simpler words, it judges all US car brands and models and ranks them on their likelihood to develop a problem. For the past few years, Asian brands like Toyota and Kia are topping the reliability data and their cars are known to last longer. American brands come next followed by the Europeans. Thus, a Toyota Camry may give you longer service than an Audi.
- The car’s maintenance history
Remember that rocky-road driver? That sort of an owner is unlikely to maintain their car properly as well. A simple unchanged air filter can damage the engine in so many ways and the demons will not even show themselves until you have bought the car and drove around for a year. At the dealership itself, request for the maintenance history of the car you select and go through it thoroughly to ensure all the routine steps had been taken. All those average figures can be trumped when the vehicle is taken care of.
- The secret lies in buying right
When you buy a quality used car, you can be sure about its long service. And quality dealers are where you will get your quality used cars. We, at Family Auto, maintain a supreme benchmark for our cars and ensure that we sell nothing but the best. Through our expertise, we filter healthy cars for our lots and back them with warranties. Think Family Auto if you do not wish to change your car soon.