Maximize the Lifespan of Your Vehicle: Budget-Friendly Tips to Avoid Costly Upgrades

2023-07-23 05:04:19

With ever-increasing prices and higher interest rates, it can be harder to switch vehicles. Why not prolong the life of the one you have? All it takes is a little planning to avoid unpleasant budget surprises.

Posted 1:04 a.m. Updated 5:00 a.m.

Pay now, save later

When the suspension of her 2014 Mazda CX-5 broke down last spring, Geneviève Boucher did not hesitate to spend $2,000 to fix the problem. With current prices in the new and used markets, there was no question of going in search of a new vehicle.

“In the category that we would like, we are talking about at least $40,000,” she says in an interview. It’s expensive. Why change when our vehicle is still doing the job? We had planned this expense [la réparation] and we have no monthly payments. »

PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS

Geneviève Boucher with her Mazda CX5

Ms. Boucher is not the only one to think this way. In both Canada and the United States, the average age of the vehicle fleet is on the rise, particularly since the start of the pandemic. According to data from the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), the average age of 7.5 years in 2020 had reached 8.1 years last year.

Several factors explain this increase. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the production rates of automakers, causing a shortage of new vehicles and increased demand in the used market – a situation that is not yet fully resolved. Added to this is the rise in interest rates, which is encouraging a growing number of motorists to extend the life of their car rather than changing it.

Philippe Lévesque came to this conclusion. After weighing his options, he decided to loosen the purse strings to give his 2011 Subaru Impreza a facelift, which has an odometer reading around 140,000 km. Timing belt, new spark plugs, welding of the exhaust line, oil pressure sensor… The bill came close to $3,000, but in the medium term, the problems seem to have been resolved.

PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS

Philippe Lévesque chose to fix the problems with his 2011 Subaru rather than change it.

With our dwindling purchasing power, stretching the life of something is worthwhile. I weighed my options and it was too intense, especially with current interest rates. I preferred to pay all at once and move on for a while rather than settling on monthly payments.

Philippe Levesque

Sharp rise

According to the AutoHebdo price index, the average price of a vehicle reached $64,215 last June, which represents an increase of 27.3% compared to the same period a year ago. At dealerships, entry-level models are sometimes less available than more expensive versions with more options, which pushes prices up. This statistic also takes into account sales of luxury vehicles and vans, whose average prices are higher.

In the used car segment, the increase is less pronounced, but it was nevertheless necessary to pay an average of $37,365 (+ 5.3%), according to data from AutoHebdo.

“In both cases, I find that it’s not affordable, says Philippe Lévesque, owner of a 2011 Subaru Impreza. The repairs were expensive, but I don’t have monthly payments. I didn’t want to get into that. »

Another element explains the rise in average prices. Over the years, the low-end car has practically disappeared from showrooms. Only three models remained in the segment prized for its affordability: the Kia Rio, the Mitsubishi Mirage and the Nissan Versa.

There will soon be two left since the production of the Rio will cease. The 2023 version of this car retails for $19,909. Next in the price range is the Seltos subcompact crossover at $27,809. There is therefore a difference of several thousand dollars between the two product categories.

“We see fewer affordable cars being offered,” says Patrick Saint-Pierre, sales director at Groupe Monaco, an auto parts distributor. Fit (Honda), Yaris (Toyota) and Micra (Nissan), we no longer sell them. To limit his expenditure, the consumer therefore has two options: maintain his vehicle or turn to the second-hand market. »

Mr. Saint-Pierre says business is good in the repair segment. The manager of the company, which was founded in 1960, says that “2022 has been a great year for the industry”.

Durable ?

The trend could run out of steam, however, as dealer inventories approach pre-pandemic levels, said Jean-François Champagne, president of the Automotive Industries Association of Canada. Consumers may also be tempted to switch if interest rates stop rising.

Historically, as soon as there are inflationary pressures, we delay the purchase of a vehicle. Will this trend continue in the long term? If this is not the case, we may see a slowdown in the average lifespan of vehicles.

Jean-François Champagne, President of the Automotive Industries Association of Canada

Aside from money issues, there may also be another reason motorists pay for repairs: the wait for electric vehicles. Some don’t feel like turning to a transition car while they wait for an electric model. They therefore stretch the life of their vehicle.

Mrs. Boucher thinks about it.

“The ideal would be to buy an electric model in the same format [que notre CX-5] in the future, she says. But the options are not yet many. We want to take the time to shop. I have friends who waited a year to receive their electric car. It has to be foreseen. »

PHOTO ANDRÉ PICHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES

Properly maintaining your vehicle saves money in the long run.

Extend the life of your car

How much does it cost to give your vehicle some love?

You can save money by extending the life of your vehicle, but you have to give it a little love when it needs it. It is better to build up a reserve to avoid unpleasant surprises when you have to visit your mechanic.

Planning is key, says Geneviève Boucher. This is what allowed his family to keep their CX-5 in good condition after the warranty ended.

“You have to nurture it from the start,” she says. You have to put some heart into it. If you neglect your vehicle, it could be a dumpster in 10 years. »

CAA calculation

But how much should you budget for in order to properly maintain your vehicle? An online tool developed by CAA to calculate the costs of using an automobile provides an idea. By entering information such as year, model, mileage and distance traveled annually, it is possible to get an idea of the maintenance costs “to keep the vehicle in good working order”.

The non-profit association explains that the tool’s calculations take into account the “maintenance schedule, but also contingencies”, such as a flat tire or a dead battery.

In the case of a 2014 Mazda CX-5 (Geneviève Boucher’s vehicle), annual maintenance costs are estimated at nearly $1,900. This does not include the cost of insurance, driver’s license and registration fees. For a 2017 Ford F-150, the annual maintenance bill jumps to nearly $2,400.

“For us, everything was paid for with a planned budget,” says Ms. Boucher. Over the years, parts cost more and more. »

Electronics are expensive

At the Monaco Group, Patrick Saint-Pierre agrees. In the workshops, the average bill is also increasing. Over the years, vehicles have become more complex, with the addition of electronic modules that are more expensive to repair or replace.

“Age always comes into play,” he says.

Generally speaking, vehicles last longer, but when they are equipped with things like an all-wheel-drive system, it costs more to repair.

Patrick Saint-Pierre, Sales Director at the Monaco Group

According to data compiled by the Automotive Industries Association of Canada, car owners spent an average of $818 per year in 2016 on repairs and maintenance. This average has climbed 12% to nearly $915 in 2021.

The group did not have more recent data, but with an increase in the average age of vehicles on the roads, everything indicates that this progression has continued.