It is only normal to be attached to your beloved car. There however comes a time when you simply must say goodbye. You may now wonder how to know when it is time to bid farewell to your favourite automobile. Worry not because we have you covered in this regard. Browse our ultimate guide on the warning signs you need to be on the lookout for.
This is a hard pill to swallow but if your car has been in a flood, an accident, or some other kind of natural calamity, it just has to be disposed of. Unfortunately, keeping a car that has suffered such damage will only prove expensive over time. The costs are not the only thing that should bother you. There is possibly one too many things to take care of that need your constant time and attention.
Additionally, there might be serious damage to some key parts of your car. Driving around such a car could be dangerous and particularly unsafe on the road. In such a case, it is very important to cut your losses early on. Furthermore, it can be difficult to understand which parts are stable and which could be vulnerable to damage later.
It is of course very normal for a car to accrue some damage through the course of its lifecycle. However, what is not ok is for you to spend most of your weekends taking care of issues at the repair shop. Sudden loss of power, rise in exhaust smoke, and strange noises emanating from the engine are all signals that the car has some serious problems.
Of course, repairs are not unusual but given the make, model, and age of your car, some repairs are simply not worth it. Consider your car’s value before indulging in these kinds of repairs. Chances are your car might be up and running but you will never quite recover the cost of these repairs when you finally sell it. This is when you just have to let go.
While the first signs of rust might not seem like a big deal, they must not be disregarded. Rust is pretty much the beginning of the end as far as automobiles are concerned. While the first signs of rust could be treated, rust on vital parts like the engine is much too difficult to treat. Rusting of parts like fuel tanks and brake lines can even cause some serious damage in the long run.
Especially if left unnoticed or untreated for a considerable amount of time, it could cause brake failure and fuel leakage at highly inopportune times putting you and the family at risk. While rust on the body can persist without damaging the structure for some time, it is still quite risky to wait around for things to start falling apart. Furthermore, rust makes your car look old and you will likely find no takers for a car that doesn’t look good.
While the common adage does dictate that older cars are built better, it might be time to rethink this statement. The average age of a car on the road in Australia is around 10 years, and those older than this are unlikely to be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. These cars are also probably out of date with current emission and pollution standards. This ultimately sets back green initiatives and creates an unsustainable environment.
The problem with older cars is precisely that – they are not up to date with current standards. Be it technology or even safety standards, these cars simply fall behind. The cost of updating a defunct model with these new features can be too expensive. When replacing the car is easier than upgrading, there is no point in continuing to burn that hole in your pocket.
Sometimes the problems you are facing with your car are different. Much like many things in your life, it is entirely too common to outgrow your car. It is very likely your petrol-guzzling sports car no longer serves you well. In this case, it is a big mistake to keep it on when a different make and model is more suitable to your current requirements.
What we observe in most cases is that people choose to keep on their old car while upgrading to a new car. Disuse of cars is particularly bad if it is simply sitting around in your garage gathering dust, it’s time to call a cash for cars service. When you are faced with such a situation sooner is better than later because you have a better chance of securing a fair price now.