Vauxhall, Ford, or Volkswagen- Which Will Cost you More to Repair?

Buying a car is a gamble, whether it's new or pre-owned. You never know what's going to go wrong with it sometime down the road, or, more importantly, how much those repairs and replacements are going to cost you. Or can you?

What if you could purchase a car with a little more information at hand than you've had in the past? Thanks to research performed by WhoCanFixMyCar.com, you can be a little more prepared when buying a Ford, Vauxhall, or Volkswagen.

Difference in Repair Costs Between Brands

Anyone who has every had any type of repair done on their car knows that every repair is different when it comes to cost. Transmission repairs are going to cost a lot more to fix than replacing a sensor will. According to the research, though, there's only about a 10% different between all three brands overall in each type of repair. With each repair, these are the brands that were the most expensive.

• Transmission- Vauxhall

• Electric- Ford

• Engine- Vauxhall

• MOT- Volkswagen

While the difference between brands overall isn't much, the difference in the cost of repairs between models is higher when the car is larger- 36% higher. The research dug a little deeper to determine why the cost was more for larger models and what was causing the spike.

While under-the-bonnet repairs relating to engine and cooling are very similar for almost all types of cars, the complexity of car parts changes when it comes to other areas, like the brakes and exhaust, transmission, servicing, and electrical work. This is often due to more expensive gearbox repairs, more expensive car parts, and increased technology in our vehicles. In these cases, larger cars tend to be much more expensive to repair than smaller ones.

Everything Gets Better With age- or not

While complexity may affect the cost of repairing Ford, Volkswagen, and Vauxhall parts somewhat, age is what you should worry about. Why? The older the car, the more expensive the repairs will often be. But that's not all you have to think about.

Older vehicles mean more frequent car repairs, which lead to more frequent car service costs.

The problem with this is the major problems that are much more likely to occur in the latter part of a car's life- problems related to transmission. These repairs can be very expensive. Many times, drivers will scrap or get rid of a car with transmission problems, especially when it's older, because the cost to fix the issue is much more expensive than the car is actually worth.

In fact, research shows that the frequency of car repairs peaks at about nine or ten years old. This isn't because car owners stop caring; it's because many of these older cars are no longer on the road after this age. Those that are still being driven often see fewer miles and won't require as much work.

Other Ford, Volkswagen, and Vauxhall parts, like electrical, brake, and exhaust work will be necessary as a car gets older, as time results in wear and tear on these parts. They aren't very expensive, though, and can easily be replaced.

It's not all bad news though. Older cars are often easier to work on and repair, which can reduce the cost of labour when they do need to visit the shop.

So What Should you do?

If you want to keep your service costs down, there are a few things you can do before and after purchasing a Ford, Vauxhall, or VW.

• Buy a Smaller Model- This way, when things do go wrong under the bonnet, you can reduce the cost of the car parts you have to purchase and the complexity of the project.

• Keep on Track With Maintenance- Simple things, like checking your oil regularly, changing out filters, and keeping the tank full will help to eliminate many problems from occurring in the first place. For instance, by checking and changing the oil, you allow for the right amount of lubrication in the engine, making it live longer. By filling up at the petrol station, you ensure the fuel pump in your car doesn't have to work as hard to get fuel to the engine, lengthening its life.

• Fix What Goes Wrong- While it might seem counter-productive to spend money to save money, that's exactly what you need to do. If you have car parts acting up, have them fixed immediately. The longer you wait, the more chance there is that those car parts will affect other parts of your car. This can lead to more expensive car service costs.

• Do Some Research- When problems come up, don't drive to the nearest mechanic and assume you're getting the best deal. Shop around and do your research. You want your car in the hands of someone you can trust. This doesn't always mean choosing the lowest quote you're offered, either. While you want to reduce costs, you also want the job done right, the first time. Choose a mechanic that knows what he or she is doing so you can feel confident when you drive your car away.

• Treat Older Cars With Care- As the research suggested, older cars often require more time, effort, and money to remain operational. While many drivers ignore some of the 'quirks' their older cars have, it's important that you don't. Again, a small issue now may become a larger one in the future. Don't shy away from buying an older car either. While you may have to make more frequent visits to the mechanic, these cars are often easier to fix and have a lot of classic charm you won't find in a newer model.

When you purchase a car, have the facts on your side so you can make an informed decision. Knowing what models will cost more to service and keep functional can help you determine whether they are worth buying, and knowing what steps you can take to reduce the amount of money you have to spend over the years can help you save as much as possible on car service costs.