We can all think of obvious things to consider when buying a car, whether new or used. Things like:
– Starting price
– How do you drive? (noises, moans, clunks)
– How many miles/km have you driven?
– Condition of the interior (breaks, tears, marks, scratches)
But what about the things we often DON’T consider? Some of which can have a big impact on the actual cost of running and maintaining the vehicle we intend to purchase? These can really surprise you and leave you with buyer’s remorse pretty quickly, if you’re not ready for them.
In this article, I’ll cover 3 of the most often overlooked factors when buying a car so you don’t get caught out the next time you’re looking to buy. Are here:
TIRES
The size of the tires installed on the vehicle you wish to purchase, as well as their type, can affect a number of things in the future, including:
Ride Quality – Lower profile tires can be harder to ride because there is less rubber on the sidewall to absorb bumps and bumps in the road.
Road noise – Again, low profile tires can be noisy on the road, such as large four wheel drive tires (all terrain and muddy terrain tires), which can be very noisy compared to regular passenger car tires. This can surprise and upset you if you are used to a quiet ride.
Ongoing Costs – The size and type of tires on the vehicle you intend to purchase can have a massive impact on future costs, both on the cost of replacing tires and on fuel costs.
Something equipped with a large four-wheel drive tire with more rolling resistance will cost you more, as the car will consume much more fuel than regular highway tires, sometimes surprisingly. This is definitely something to keep in mind if you’re considering a four-wheel drive vehicle or an SUV.
When it comes to replacement costs, always make sure to write down the size of the tires installed on the car you want to buy and call at least 3 tire shops to get quotes to replace them. This is one of the most common causes of surprise add-ons that I see every day, and people are often unprepared for or expecting it.
TYPICAL TRANSMISSION
This is another factor that is commonly overlooked when it comes to buying a vehicle. When considering the type of transmission in the car you are looking at, keep the following in mind:
Maintenance costs for different transmissions vary greatly. What kind of transmission is in the car you’re looking at? It could be, to name just a few:
– Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
– normal automatic
– Automatic double clutch
– Manual transmission
All of these (and the other types found in vehicles now) require different types of oil, filter types, different service techniques, and different service intervals, which, you guessed it, will have an effect on the costs associated with maintenance, as well as if something drastic happens and you need to replace the entire transmission.
As with the tires, I recommend taking note of the type of transmission the vehicle has and calling at least 3 shops to get quotes on transmission services. Don’t be surprised at the cost, as some of these can be big bucks!
Another factor that is often overlooked when it comes to transmission type, is how much fuel will it make the car use?
Modern vehicles have come a long way, however automatics generally use more fuel than their manual counterparts. This is a relatively minor thing, but something to consider nonetheless.
ENGINE SIZE/TYPE/CAPACITY
The size, type and capacity of the engine installed in the car you are looking at can also have a drastic effect on the ongoing costs associated with it, in the same way that the transmission can.
How many cylinders does it have? Is it turbocharged, supercharged, dual-charged, naturally aspirated? Is it gasoline, LPG, diesel, hybrid, direct electric?
All of this has an impact on maintenance costs, for example, the more cylinders an engine has, the more parts it will need, ie an 8 cylinder engine will need 8 spark plugs, a 4 cylinder engine will need 4. This may sound silly. But when you’re talking as much as $30 per plug or more in some cases, it can add up to costs quickly.
In addition to this, the motor oil required, both the type and the number of liters the engine contains, will also change based on these factors. It is not uncommon for some diesel engines to contain up to 10 liters of motor oil, as well as requiring a higher quality oil which, yes, costs more.
This is the same with many forced induction engines (turbocharged, supercharged, etc.), which typically require a higher quality oil to stop engine damage.
And what about fuel costs?
Higher capacity engines with more cylinders require more fuel to run, so your costs go up. The type of fuel needed will also change, as some engines require higher octane premium fuels to run without risk of failure, and with fuel prices skyrocketing around the world, this is definitely something to consider.
As with the other two items, make a note of the size, type, and engine capacity of the vehicle you intend to purchase. I always suggest calling to get some quotes on the service of any car you are considering buying.
It would also be worth getting quotes for some of the more routine/common maintenance items, if the car is not yet on the logbook, such as spark plug replacements, fuel replacements, and air filters. Some of the costs of these can vary considerably.
So there you have it, 3 of the most commonly overlooked factors when it comes to buying a car. We hope you learned something new, and remember to keep this in mind the next time you go car shopping!
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