1. The Petrol Costs are Getting Out of Hand
With fuel prices forever on the rise, there is little sense in keeping around a gas guzzler. As your car ages, the fuel efficiency is only bound to dip. That means more trips to the petrol station and a bigger hole in your pocket. This is especially true if this is your daily use car and you need it to get around. The more you drive, the bigger the petrol bill, so do the wise thing and retire your old car quickly. This is also the more eco-friendly thing to do and in light of a future shift to greener options, the wiser choice to make.
2. Pay Attention to the Mileage
That little odometer on your dashboard is there for a reason, so it’s a good idea to pay regular attention to it. If your car has been putting in a lot more kilometres, the chances of wear and tear will also be equally high. The little blinking lights that signal trouble are not to be ignored, that is just trouble waiting to happen. So if your car has gone over the 160,000km mark, it has served you well. After this mark, you have to be mindful especially if you haven’t been attentive to the servicing after every 10,000km rule.
3. Safety is No Joke
When you are on the road, safety simply must be the top priority. While the myth that is widely accepted is that old cars are rock solid, they are lacking in the latest safety features. The new advancements in terms of safety have massively helped reduce the possibility of fatal accidents and create safer roads. When you drive a car that is not up to date with these developments, you are not only putting yourself in danger but also other drivers. It is not practical or economical to outfit your old car with these new features.
4. Damaged Key Components
If essential parts like your transmission or engine have suffered some kind of damage, it is very unlikely that repairs will fix much. Not to mention repairing these crucial parts will prove expensive. If it is an old car, we don’t have to tell you replacement parts can be hard to come by. Slowing transmission is a signal to slow down with the car as well. While you can of course repair these parts, driving the car will just damage these parts further. Repair costs will not only add up but you are simply delaying the inevitable scrapping of your old car.
5. Increasing Smoke and Leaks
In case your car is more prone to leaks now than before, your car is likely telling you that there is trouble brewing. Vital liquids like coolants, brake oil, and steering fluids leaking regularly will have you continuously pausing to refill these essentials. Not only is this quite an expensive chore but dangerous to your health and surroundings. Excess smoke pouring out of the tailpipe could also mean distressing liquid levels or some kind of heavy damage waiting to happen. If these signs are left unattended it can call for serious fixes.
6. The Recalls Continue
Now it’s not entirely unheard of for cars to have certain issues and recalls to happen. All major brands have had recalls. It is not uncommon for recalls of certain makes and some models to occur. As a car owner, you have to, however, keep tabs on these recalls. Furthermore, know if the car has been recalled for some serious issue. Also if the recalls continue time after time, it is best to retire it from your home. Make a more informed decision with your replacement car and let your old car go if there is a persistent problem.
7. Sudden Jerks and Breakdowns
Perhaps nothing is quite as obvious as constant breakdowns to signal the end of your car’s life. Breakdowns are a surefire indicator of a car’s poor health. Add to that a jerky start and driving can become quite an unpleasant experience. Furthermore, if there are unusual accompanying noises during the entire journey then you must know something is not quite right. These noises are usually signs of transmission failure or coming engine trouble which are often far from fixable, especially for an old car. So attend to it as quickly as possible and get rid of it.
8. Weigh the Cost of Repairs
Every car will face some kind of repairs at some point in its lifecycle. If your car is particularly old, however, it makes sense to weigh the cost of these repairs and how often you need it. Is the money you are shelling out more than the value of the entire car? Can you buy a better car with the profits made by selling the car while it is still functional? These are important questions to ask before you splurge on exorbitant and extensive repairs just to keep a dying car running. We advise selling it while it can still earn you some money.
9. The Insurance Doesn’t Match Up
We all know older cars are more expensive to insure, some insurers even flat-out refuse to insure them. Renewing insurance in this situation can become a headache because finding one will be quite the task, and driving around an uninsured car is simply a no-no. If the cost of insurance is adding up, you need to reconsider if it is at all worth it. The day-to-day operating costs of an old car coupled with increased annual insurance premiums make it one expensive drive, so consider a cheaper alternative.
10. Rust is Spreading
Nothing signals doom for a car quite like rust and unless it’s caught early on, it is a very difficult problem to solve. Once rust is on the exterior, it quickly spreads and only worsens with exposure to the elements ruining the look and structural integrity. Paint and metal are one of the many things rust eats away at. Unfortunately, once it spreads to the complex parts of the automobile, it can be highly corrosive and dangerous. There is no inexpensive solution to rust and if your car is old, it might prove to be a hazard to you and your family.
When it is time to bid adieu to an old car, it simply is time. There is no point in trying to prolong your time with an end of life car. Call a reliable car scrapper like Metro Car Removal, who will not only remove the car from your premises within 24 hours but pay you a fair cash for cars.
Don’t keep around a car that is a threat to you, fellow drivers, or the environment. Do the smart thing and call 0422 600 833 and let them take care of the hassle for you.