The Hazards of Driving an Older Vehicle

Driving in the Lower Mainland can be scary on a good day. And when you commute from somewhere like Abbotsford to Downtown Vancouver every day, the risks increase two-fold. Other drivers pose an added risk to you on the road. Along with ever-changing weather conditions (that Vancouver is known for). As well as, other variables like how we drive, where we drive, and even what we drive. And one of the hazards many of us add to our time on the road are the hazards of driving an older vehicle.

Driving an older or aging vehicle can bring with it many other obstacles that we need to navigate while driving in Metro Vancouver or the Fraser Valley. An aging vehicle doesn’t necessarily mean that the vehicle itself is older. It could be “aging” due to high mileage or overuse in harsh weather.

As a professional used car buyer who has been buying cars in the Lower Mainland since 1998, Cash For Cars BC has seen the result of driving an older vehicle in both good ways and bad. And we are going to explore both the positives and the negatives in today’s blog post about the hazards of driving an older vehicle.

Is It Better to Drive an Older Vehicle or a Newer One?

Driving a car in general comes with a lot of added benefits. However, with those benefits, also comes a price. And that price will vary depending on the type of vehicle you’re driving, its age, and if you are driving smart to get the most out of it.

It’s been said that older vehicles have better longevity than newer ones because they were constructed in a time when things were “built to last”. It’s also been said that many older vehicles are safer than newer ones because they were comprised mostly of metal, and no so much fiberglass. However, science doesn’t lie.

Newer vehicles may be mass produced in quantities that are larger than they were 30 years ago. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that the quality goes downhill. In fact, due to more rigorous testing and safety standards, newer vehicles are a safer bet than most older vehicles.

Not to mention that newer cars typically come stock with various safety features that weren’t even around 30 years. Which is why if you’re thinking about selling your car because of its age, sell it to Cash For Cars BC. We’ll offer you the MOST cash for cars in Metro Vancouver.

The Disadvantages of Driving an Older Vehicle

Many pros and cons come with owning an older vehicle. Some older vehicles have more familiar features and a more comfortable interior. Others have decent gas mileage despite their age. And others have a lot of great memories still stored in them, so letting go of that vehicle can be hard.

However, sometimes it’s necessary, depending on what mechanical or electrical problems are going on with your car. And as a professional car buyer that has been buying cars in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, and Vancouver Island since 1998, we know the headache that owning an older vehicle can bring. Below are some of the most common problems we have seen over the years with older vehicles.

1. Electrical Issues

Electrical problems are a vehicle owner’s worst nightmare. The time it takes to find the source of your electrical issue can easily empty your wallet. Because typically, when there is an electrical issue going on in your vehicle, there isn’t just one.

What may have started with a fault alternator could have quickly become an alternator issue, a wiring issue, and a battery issue. Determining which one it is, and where it is if it’s wiring related, can really rack up your mechanic’s bill in labour costs alone. Then one you find the source of the problem and get it repaired, you have to cross your fingers and hope that you really did find the only electrical problem on your car.

Metro Vancouver is a rainy region. And we see many vehicles come to us with wiring or electrical problems that started due to water exposure. When you leave a vehicle parked outside in the rain 60% of the time, something is bound to go wrong. And on an older vehicle, this is even more likely to happy.

That’s why we also pay the MOST cash for cars with electrical problems and even water damage in the Lower Mainland. It doesn’t matter your vehicle’s age or malfunction, you’ll get the MOST cash for it when you sell it to Cash For Cars BC.

2. Worsening Gas Mileage

As if paying for frequent repairs and maintenance costs wasn’t enough, an older vehicle can also have considerably worse gas mileage than a newer one. Particularly because as a vehicle ages, things start to break down. What may have had great gas mileage at the start, can easily become a gas guzzler simply because of its time on the road.

As any vehicle ages, or racks up high mileage (which ultimately equals the same wear and tear as age) carious components breakdown. Naturally, an engine that once fired efficiently will lose its capabilities to do so at the same level over the years. And the more drive time on a vehicle, the more the gas mileage continues to drop.

This is one of the reasons we see many aging vehicles being sold to Cash For Cars BC in the Lower Mainland. Many people have moved out of Metro Vancouver into the Fraser Valley, and have a lengthy commute as a result. This increases fuel costs and produces poor fuel economy over the years. And when that happens, they sell their car to Cash For Cars BC.

3. Mechanical Problems

While there has been a long-standing debate about older vehicles being more well-made, the fact of the matter is that no matter how well-built something is, everything has a shelf life. And while some vehicles that were built in the 90’s or early 2000’s may have had exceptional construction, engineering, and reliability, they are all starting to break down in various ways.

Some of the most common mechanical problems that affect almost any vehicle with high mileage or increasing age include:

• Suspension issues
• Brake system issues
• Heating and cooling issues
• Engine malfunction or failure
• Transmission problems or failure
• Timing belt/chain failure
• Miscellaneous drivetrain issues (not usually covered under warranty)
• Leaking or burning of oil

These are just some of the most common mechanical problems you’ll face on any vehicle that has high mileage or considerable age under its belt. However, even smaller problems, when combined with others, can really start to add up. Making driving an older vehicle a not so practical choice.

4. Less Safety Features

Whether an old vehicle is safer than a new one has been something people disagree for many, many years. Older vehicles do tend to be made with heavier metals and overall durable construction. However, newer vehicles may be lighter, but they bring many new safety features with them that old vehicles have never had.

Older vehicles are without things like lane assist features, back-up cameras, ABS braking systems, and even various malfunction indicators that illuminate on the dashboard. Whereas there was once a time when the only light that would come on your dash would be the check engine light or your oil light, now there are many other indicators that signal various mechanical issues in newer vehicles. These were implemented by trial and error, because without them, catastrophic issues followed.

When you drive an older vehicle, you run the risk of being blind-sided by mechanical failure, like brake system issues, that could lead to an accident. And while you may be driving a solid metal vehicle, it may be without appropriate air bag features or the most supportive crumple zones to minimize injury and fatality.

5. Rising Maintenance Costs

Just like as kids grow, as a vehicle gets older, the price of everything seems to go up. You’re fueling up more often due to poor fuel economy. Your car is constantly in the shop for things like oil leaks, electrical issues, brake replacements, and wheel alignments. And no matter how much money you sink into preserving your aging vehicle, you’ll never get it back to where it started from.

Which is why owning an aging vehicle is less practical than buying something new. In fact, statistics show that the amount of money you spend annually on vehicle repairs and maintenance on an older vehicle isn’t that much less than what it would be to finance a new car. In fact, depending on the vehicle, owning an older car could actually cost you more than a new one.

That’s why if you find yourself reaching into your pocket for money more than you are your keys, consider selling your car to Cash For Cars BC. We pay the MOST cash for cars, regardless of age or condition. NOBODY Pays More!

The Benefits of Driving a Newer Vehicle

The term, “out with the old, in with the new” was created for a reason. Because when you get rid of something that is old and not serving a truly effective and worthwhile purpose, only to replace it with something new that does, it’s a great feeling.

Which is why owing a that is 10 years old or less is something to give some serious thought to. Driving a newer vehicle comes with many great rewards that you’ll feel in your peace of mind, but also your wallet. Because owning a newer vehicle typically means less repairs.

The Advantages of Owning a New Vehicle:

• Better gas mileage (especially with hybrid and EV options)
• Manufacturer’s warranty to cover various issues
• Less maintenance costs
• Fewer repairs to have done (and many are covered under warranty)
• New and improved safety features like crumple zones, more airbags, extensively crash tested, lane assist, parking assist, mirror indicators, back up cameras, etc
• Newer technology including infotainment systems
• More seating capacity and cargo room
• Higher resale value, depending on the brand

There are so many reasons to swap out that older commuter car for something more practical and purposeful, like hybrid, EV, or even a PHEV SUV or mid-sized sedan. But there’s only one place where you can get the MOST cash for your car, no matter what age it is… Cash For Cars BC! NOBODY Pays More!

Cash for Cars in Metro Vancouver

If you’re thinking about selling a vehicle in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, or on Vancouver Island, consider Cash For Cars BC. We buy vehicles from all walks of life, and in absolutely any condition. From scrap cars to Supercars, we buy them ALL!

Whether you’re selling a daily driver that needs some major repairs, or newer vehicle that has barely been driven, you’ll get the best price for it at Cash For Cars BC. We buy vehicles from $100 – $100,000+, no matter what shape they are in.

Our car buyers always come to you, not you to them. And we provide this service entirely free of charge. We’ll arrange a day and time that works best for you, then come appraise your vehicle firsthand. Once we see your car, we’ll make you an instant cash offer on it right then an there.

From start to finish, the entire process only takes a little under 30 minutes on average. Which means you can call today, and sell your car TODAY.

Sell Your Car to Cash For Cars BC!

Just a simple phone call is all it takes to get your old car out of your life, and a new one rolling into your driveway. Because when you sell your car to Cash For Cars BC, you’ll get the MOST cash for your car, truck, SUV, van, or motorcycle in the Lower Mainland. And you can take our large cash payment and use it to secure a new vehicle with a great down payment at the dealership.

So, if you’re looking to sell an older, unwanted, or even pristine vehicle for the MOST cash in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, or Vancouver Island, sell it to Cash For Cars BC. We handle all the paperwork, we come to you, and NOBODY Pays More!