We can all think of obvious things to consider when buying a car, be it new or used. Things like:
– Starting price
– How do you drive? (noises, moans, clunks)
– How many miles / km have you traveled?
– Interior condition (rips, tears, marks, wear)
But what about the things that we often DO NOT consider? Some of which can have a big impact on the actual cost of maintaining and operating the vehicle we intend to buy? These can really sneak up on you and leave you with buyers’ remorse pretty quickly, if you’re not ready for them.
In this article, I’ll cover 3 of the most commonly overlooked factors when buying a car so you don’t get caught the next time you want to buy. Are here:
TIRES
The size of the tires installed on the vehicle you intend to purchase, as well as their type, can affect a number of things in the future, including:
Ride quality – Lower profile tires can be more difficult to handle, because there is less rubber on the sidewall to absorb road bumps and bumps.
Road noise: Again, lower profile tires can be louder on the road, such as large wheels or four-wheel drive tires (all terrain and muddy terrain tires), which can be very noisy compared to normal passenger car tires. This can surprise and annoy you if you are used to a quiet ride.
Ongoing Costs – The size and type of tires on the vehicle you want to buy can have a massive impact on costs down the road, both the cost of replacing tires and 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 normal road tires, sometimes surprisingly. This is definitely something to keep in mind if you are considering a four wheel drive vehicle or an SUV.
When it comes to replacement costs, always be sure to write down the size of the tires installed on the car you are considering purchasing and call at least 3 tire stores for quotes on how to replace them. This is one of the most common causes of surprise additional costs that I see every day, and people are usually not prepared for it or not expecting it.
TYPE OF TRANSMISSION
This is another factor that is commonly overlooked when it comes to purchasing 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 type of transmission is in the car you are looking at? It could be, to name just a few:
– Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
– Regular automatic
– Automatic double clutch
– Manual transmission
All of these (and the other types found in vehicles now) require different types of oil, types of filters, different service techniques, and different service intervals, which, as you may have guessed, will have an effect on the costs associated with maintenance, as well as if something drastic happens and the entire transmission needs to be replaced.
As with tires, I recommend taking note of the type of transmission that is installed in the vehicle and calling at least 3 stores for quotes on transmission services. Don’t be surprised by the cost, as some of these can be big bucks!
Another factor that is normally overlooked when it comes to the type of transmission, is how much fuel will it make the car use?
Modern vehicles have improved a lot, however, automatics generally use more fuel than their manual counterparts. This is a relatively minor thing, but something to consider nonetheless.
MOTOR 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, much like the transmission.
How many cylinders does it have? Turbocharged, Supercharged, Dual Charged, Naturally Aspirated? Is it gasoline, LPG, diesel, hybrid, pure electric?
All of this has an impact on maintenance costs, for example the more cylinders an engine has, the more parts it will need, i.e. an 8 cylinder engine will need 8 spark plugs, 4 cylinders will need 4. This may seem silly, but when you’re talking up to $ 30 per spark plug or more in some cases, it can add up costs quickly.
In addition to this, the required motor oil, 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, in addition to requiring a higher quality oil which, yes, costs more.
This is the same with many forced induction engines (turbocharged, supercharged, etc.), which generally require a higher quality oil to stop engine damage.
What about fuel costs?
Larger capacity engines with more cylinders require more fuel to run, thus increasing their costs. The type of fuel required will change as well, 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 points, make a note of the size, type, and engine capacity of the vehicle you want to buy. I would always suggest calling for quotes on anyone’s service because 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 in log book service, such as spark plug replacement, fuel filter and air filter replacement. Some of the costs for these can vary considerably.
There you have it, 3 of the most commonly overlooked factors when it comes to buying a car. We hope you have learned something new and remember to keep this in mind the next time you buy a car!
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