When you’re looking at any new or approved used car, it’s important to think about the ongoing costs. Every car will eventually need repairs, so looking into the potential service and maintenance prices for your model will ensure that you can anticipate maintenance costs and set a budget for the upkeep of your car.
As a very general rule, the more expensive the car is, the more expensive that replacement parts for that car will be when a fault or issue is discovered. If you’ve chosen an affordable model that has a reputation for being reliable, then the chances are that you won’t need repairs as often and they’ll be quicker and cheaper to fix. You should also keep in mind that, with any car, the cost of services and maintenance will increase once the manufacturer’s warranty ends.
Here’s our overview of some of the best brands to consider when you’re looking for a car that will be cheap and easy to repair.
Fiat – Few makes of car are more reliable than Fiat, and their compact cars are cheaper to repair than larger models from other brands. They’re also less likely to be involved in an incident on the road than other makes of car, so you shouldn’t have to deal with much bigger repair bills for dents and knocks.
Ford – As Ford is one of the most popular manufacturers in the UK, Ford parts are a lot easier to find when you need them, and the average repair cost for any model in the range is one of the lowest of any brand. As well as the ease of finding replacement parts you also benefit from the results of the vigorous testing which Ford puts all of its models through. For example Ford engineers are confident that the upcoming 2013 new Ford Fiesta has the durability to provide its owner with up to an astounding 240,000 kilometres in road use.
Toyota – The Yaris is one of the most affordable used cars around in terms of repair costs, and Toyota cars have a good reputation for reliability because of their compact size and Japanese heritage, so they’re unlikely to break down very often.
Vauxhall – Vauxhall cars are designed for longevity, and you can get a lot of mileage out of any model without worrying about a fault or breakdown. The most recent version of the Vectra can now safely cover 20,000 miles between services, so you can make more journeys before needing to visit a garage or mechanic.
Renault – The family-orientated hatchbacks and compact cars in the Renault range are all very affordable to repair and maintain, and the Megane stands out as one of the best cars for ongoing value for money and reliable performance.
Sources Used
http://www.perrys.co.uk/car-news/articles/2011/07/fiat-named-cheapest-cars-for-repairs-5165.php
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/EDITORIAL/CARS/news/FORD/28257.html
http://www.directline.com/motor/cheapest-cars-to-repair.htm
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/articles/2011/03/cars/peugeot-207-is-most-reliable-used-car
