I own a Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4. I want to sell it and get a car. One of the main reasons is because of the high costs to maintain a 4x4 system as it ages, or so I’ve heard, and I do not need four wheel drive nor a SUV. I have two GQ’s:
How much extra cost is the maintenance of a 4x4 system over a typical lifetime of the car? I know it varies, but maybe just an average, assuming it’s rarely used. How about an all wheel drive car, like a subaru? Is there any difference between the two regarding repair/maintenance costs?
Is there any resource that gives data comparing the average maintenace costs of different brands? For instance I think it’s generally known that japanese cars cost less in parts to fix than german or european. Hopefully a website exists that lists actual numbers.
The reason I ask is because I like VW Passat’s, but I’m worried it will cost as much as a BMW to fix; I like Subaru’s but because they have all wheel drive I’m worried that will defeat the purpose of selling my 4x4.
As little as 0, as much as ???. It’s just one more thing that can go wrong. Some 4WD systems are incredibly reliable and durable, other’s aren’t.
German is European.
Again, it depends. Average doesn’t mean much. I can show you brake jobs that cost $1000 and $400, the same work for the same car. There is a huge range in pricing for parts and service, and costlier doesn’t always mean better. Your best bet is to find an excellent local independent mechanic (ask around, talk to them, sit in their waiting room and listen to their explanations to other customers), then buy whatever they like to work on.
I have a Chevrolet (badge-engineered Toyota Corolla) and a Volvo. Despite the (purchase) price difference between the Volvo and the Chevy, there are some repairs on the Volvo that are cheaper than the Chevy, and vice-versa. I honestly can’t say that one costs much more than the other to maintain - they are about the same.
I’ d worry less about the cost of the repair and more about the FREQUENCY. I used to only own American cars because I thought I was being patriotic in my younger days. Now every car is built partially here and partially overseas or in Latin America/ Canada, so what’s the point.
After getting my wallet emptied by Chrysler, Ford, and Chevy (in that order) with less expensive but frequent repairs, I have decided to give Infiniti a try because I understand their repair record is second only to Lexus.
If you are buying a car used, try to either get it with a warranty like at Carmax, or get one new enough that the factory warranty is still in effect. This is the smart way to do things in the long haul. Pay the money up front, get rid of the car when the warranty is still in effect, and you’ll get it back in the resale of the car… if you are lucky.
Think resale here, while repairs are important, think cashe flows for the next 5 years. Never own a car for too long.
Forget resale, think total cost. Buying a new or nearly-new then selling in a few years is an expensive way to go. Repairs should be low, but depreciation and insurance are high, and routine maintenance (tires/brakes/oil/etc) are the same as any car.
Cheapest way to own a car is to buy a junker for $500, drive it until it dies (6 months? a year?), then replace it with another junker. Maintenance is $0 (just throw it out), insurance is very cheap (liability only, no collision or comp).
Second cheapest is to buy one about 5 years old in a private sale. Make sure you see maintenance records. Ask why they are selling. If they say “I’m sick of it - in the last year I replaced the tires, brakes, timing belt, battery, alternator, radiator - when will it end?”, then this is the car for you. Think about it, they just paid for all the long term maintenance and typical one-off repairs. You should be pretty clear for, say, another 5 years, and the car will cost nor more than about 1/3 the price of new. If it is still worth it at 10 years, do another round of long-term maintenance and keep it until 15 years. Depreciation is probably about double the junker route, maintenance is pretty cheap, and insurance is the same as for the junker.
Third cheapest is to buy a not-hugely-expensive new car with a well-deserved good reputation (i.e. Toyota, Honda), take excellent care of it, and drive it for 15 years. Depreciation is probably 50% more than the 5 year old used car, maintenance shouldn’t be too bad, but insurance will cost you (at least for the first few years, at which point you drop collision/comp).
I would avoid dealers for used cars. You have no idea of the maintenance history or use of the car, and for this you pay a premium? Buying from a private seller, you can see maintenance records, plus subtle things that might indicate to you more about the car’s condition or how they treat things they own (i.e. is there a big oil spot on the driveway where the car is parked? Is their house in good repair, or is it a mess?).