The argument persists that older cars are more cost-effective than newer vehicles, due to the availability of better-made parts and ease of repair. For example, it has been said for years that the Volvo brand of vehicle is the best car to have if you are absolutely in love with and can repair older cars. Some people just don’t want to invest a ton of money into a new vehicle. Whatever the reason, high quality parts are key to prolonging your car’s life.
Parts are readily available and do cost more than most other brand of repair part. However, it is generally felt that once the major problem is repaired, it won’t require the same repair 50,000 miles down the road. It is a plus if you have some mechanical ability yourself, as Volvos were built for ease of accessibility under the hood and in the chassis itself. Parts like gas tanks, transmissions and oil pans are usually easier to repair or replace as compared to other branded cars.
Vehicle Maintenance
It is a well-known fact that they can run for over 200,000 miles with little major maintenance. Of course, maintaining any vehicle from the start is always a plus on the side of vehicle lifetime. Changing the oil, rotating the tires, checking hoses, fluids, and filters all help to keep the car running properly.
Parts Shopping
Easily available high-quality genuine Volvo parts are also an influence on keeping a car for more than a few years. Either you or your mechanic-of-choice can usually find a part for even a 15 year old car without much trouble. With the dawn of the computer age, it is certainly much easier to find a little-known part–even if it has to be shipped–and get the car back on the road in no time.
Why Would You Want to Keep an Older Car?
Older vehicles are sometimes more comfortable, have more leg room, and are usually easier to figure out mechanisms found on the dashboards. This is not to say that today’s vehicles are not lovely and convenient, but older cars take less brain power to play your favorite song or to turn the air conditioner or heater on and off. Cheaper insurance and no monthly payment are both plusses on the side of older cars.
Considerations
The one argument regarding older vehicles is the weather. Obviously, a 10-year old car in the northern half of the United States would experience much more road salt, snow and ice than a vehicle in the warmer states. This, of course, deteriorates the body and causes rust to form faster. However, even rust is easier to repair than most people think. A new fender or door is sometimes called for, but this type of maintenance is usually a once-in-a-car’s lifetime repair. Many younger people are discovering the fun of driving an older car, and some even enjoy learning how to repair them. These young people do sometimes turn into the best mechanic around because they started with cars “before their time” and worked their way up to the current day, where computers are needed to diagnose vehicle problems.