How Long Will Your Car Last?

Whilst you can get many years use out of a car, eventually there comes a time when it begins to fail more and more often.

Taking it to the mechanic once or twice isn’t such a big deal, but if it becomes a regular occurrence then you might be better off trading in your old car and getting a new one.

Unfortunately you cannot predict exactly when you will need to trade in your car, which can make buying a new car difficult to factor into your budget.

However there are some factors which if you are aware of should allow you to gain some idea as to how long your car is likely to last you.

So lets have a look at some of them now, and then in the next article how you can get the best deal when you decide to trade it in.

Maintenance

Cars are machines and need to be maintained, otherwise they break down.

The more you look after your car the longer it will last you, so try to check it over at least once every month or every few months.

Used Cars

If you buy a used car there is no way to know for certain how it was treated by its previous owner.

This is something you must take into consideration when purchasing a used car, as it may not last as long as a new car would.

To avoid potential problems with used cars, always buy your car from a respectable used car dealership which offers you some sort of guarantee that the car will be free from mechanical errors for one or two years.

When buying cars privately you can minimise the risk of your car failing by purchasing a new car with fewer miles on the clock. It is also worth asking the owner how they used their car, and if it was purchased new or second hand.

Climate

The climate you live in will affect the overall condition and lifespan of your car.

For example, if you live in a wet area with salty air (such as by the coast), then you can expect your car to be more prone to rust, failure and have a shorter lifespan.

Therefore when buying a car, try to purchase it from a dealership or owner located away from coastal areas.

Accidents

Nobody plans to have an accident, but if they occur your car could become damaged in a way that severely shortens its lifespan.

This is most likely to happen if you didn’t realise that a particular part of your car was damaged, so always get your car thoroughly checked over by a trusted mechanic before you set out on the road again.

Can You Fix It?

People who have the ability to fix their own cars are much more likely to keep it for longer than people who rely on others to fix their car for them.

Learning how to fix a car may be worth your while in the long run, although most countries will require you by law to have your car serviced on a yearly basis by a mechanic. So you cannot completely avoid maintenance expenses.

How Often Do You Use Your Car?

Put simply, the more you use your car the more likely it is to fail. You can therefore extend the life of your car by using it only when it is absolutely necessary.

When you don’t need to use the car try walking, riding a bike or using public transportation instead.

In addition to this, make sure that you are the primary user of your car and don’t lend it out to friends or family on a regular basis.

Another tip is to arrange car pooling with your work colleges by driving to work in their car, and occasionally driving them to work with your car. This benefits everyone as overall your car and your friends cars are used less.

Do You Get Bored Easily?

Some people simply like driving around in new cars, and as a result get bored of their car very quickly.

This causes them to go through many cars in their lifetime, never getting the full use out of it.

If you are buying a used car this is an ideal car to get, because it won’t have many miles on the clock and be relatively new.

Make Of Car

It is a well known fact that some makes of cars last longer than others.

By purchasing a car which is known to be reliable, you can minimise the risk of it breaking down and then having to spend money on repairs or getting a new car.

In a recent survey carried out by Warranty Direct, the following 100 cars were found to be the most reliable cars of the past decade.

Top 100 Most Reliable Cars

• 1 Honda Accord
• 2 Subaru Forester
• 3 Mazda MX-5
• 4 Mitsubishi Carisma
• 5 Toyota Yaris
• 6 Honda Civic
• 7 Nissan Almera
• 8 Honda CR-V
• 9 Toyota RAV4
• 10 Nissan Micra
• 11 Lexus IS 200
• 12 Mazda 626
• 13 Jaguar X-Type
• 14 Toyota Landcruiser
• 15 Volvo S/V40
• 16 MINI (BMW)
• 17 Suzuki Vitara
• 18 Mazda 323
• 19 Toyota Carina E
• 20 Saab 9-5
• 21 Lexus LS400
• 22 Ford Ka
• 23 Rover 45
• 24 Hyundai Lantra
• 25 Mercedes SLK
• 26 Citroen Xsara
• 27 Ford Cougar
• 28 Subaru Impreza
• 29 Skoda Octavia
• 30 Audi A4
• 31 Nissan Primera
• 32 Toyota Avensis
• 33 Volvo 850
• 34 Vauxhall Corsa
• 35 Seat Toledo
• 36 Volkswagen Golf
• 37 Daewoo Lanos
• 38 Fiat Brava
• 39 Hyundai Coupe
• 40 Mitsubishi Shogun
• 41 Rover 25
• 42 Mercedes CLK
• 43 Fiat Marea
• 44 Ford Focus
• 45 Peugeot 106
• 46 MG MG TF
• 47 BMW Z3
• 48 Hyundai Accent
• 49 Volkswagen Polo
• 50 Fiat Punto
• 51 Vauxhall Zafira
• 52 Mercedes C-class
• 53 Volvo S60
• 54 Toyota MR2
• 55 Mazda Xedos 6
• 56 Ford Puma
• 57 Vauxhall Astra
• 58 Vauxhall Omega
• 59 Chrysler Neon
• 60 Audi A2
• 61 Ford Fiesta
• 62 Ford Mondeo
• 63 Vauxhall Corsa
• 64 Citroen Saxo
• 65 BMW 3 Series
• 66 Vauxhall Vectra
• 67 Isuzu Trooper
• 68 Mercedes M-Class
• 69 Subaru Legacy
• 70 Rover 400
• 71 Fiat Ulysse
• 72 Mercedes E-Class
• 73 Renault Clio
• 74 Toyota Celica
• 75 Peugeot 306
• 76 Peugeot 406
• 77 Volvo S70
• 78 Rover 75
• 79 Daewoo Matiz
• 80 Peugeot 206
• 81 Mazda MX-3
• 82 Vauxhall Tigra
• 83 Seat Ibiza
• 84 Peugeot 106
• 85 Renault Megane
• 86 Peugeot 406
• 87 Saab 9-3
• 88 Audi A3
• 89 BMW X5
• 90 Mercedes S-class
• 91 Toyota Corolla
• 92 Seat Alhambra
• 93 BMW 5-series
• 94 Daewoo Nubira
• 95 Alfa Romeo 145
• 96 Saab 900
• 97 Mazda MX-6
• 98 Jaguar S-Type
• 99 Daewoo Leganza
• 100 Porsche Boxster

How Long Will Your Car Last?

As you can see from the examples above, how long your car will last you really depends on how well it is looked after, your attitude towards that car and the make of your car.

If you look after it well and don’t really care about what type of car you drive, then you are likely to get many years use out of your car.

But if you don’t take care of your car and strongly desire to drive the latest models, then you are likely to spend a lot more money on cars throughout your lifetime.

When it comes to personal finance your aim should be to get a car that fulfils your needs, doesn’t cost much to run and will last you for a long time.