How Much Life is Left in 10-Year-Old Cars?

Buying a used car? As we all know, that’s a tricky one. We must, however, consider that older vehicle may require more maintenance and repair. Wear and tear inevitably take their toll, wouldn’t you agree? So, the main question pops, what is the sweet spot for buying a used car? When shopping, is there a best age for a used car? And the main one, how long will my car last?

Let’s kick off with a classic textbook example: A dealer offers you a car claimed to be barely used – only a few km on the odometer, new tires, and only in need of a tune-up for it to run smoothly. A great deal? Well, sounds too good to be true. Probably it’s not. Buying a used car can be a smart investment if you know where to look. At some places you can get the most bang for your buck with a wide range of used vehicles, especially if you’re on a hunt for a used car in the Netherlands. Once you figure it all out and grab yourself a hot pair of four wheels, the proper thing is to maintain them.

But, let’s get back to our topic. How much life is left in 10+ years old cars? Well, to be precise, a lot. And here’s how to increase the longevity of your vehicle.

Read the owner’s manual

The simple (and the best) answer is to read the owner’s manual and have all the services recommended performed at the mileage intervals specified. It’s really that easy-peasy simple. Just go with the flow, do what, and when to book tells you to. You also can’t go wrong with doing oil and filter changes a little early.

It’s more than just a good old scrub

Modern cars are, generally speaking, extremely reliable even as they age. Automobiles are being designed to last longer than ever. In fact, it becoming more common to find a used car that continues to perform well after 100,000 kilometers. But to keep those bad boys running tidily, it needs more than a good scrub. What your car needs are decent and regular oil and filter changes. Not to mention the small things: the critical fluids in the engine such as anti-freeze, brake fluid, washer fluid, and steering fluid), are topped up.

Check your car every now and then

Pretty much all car manufacturers recommend that a car should be serviced every 10,000 to 15.000 kilometers, or every 12 months, whichever comes first. Some cars feature a self-diagnostic system that will advise you when your car service is due. But if you’re not racing hard (not racing at all to be precise), every few months will be the perfect period to check the essentials of your car. P.S. Run a diary book, that always helps (especially if you’re a true petrol-head).

In conclusion

The best age for the purchase of a used car is highly subjective and comes down to your priorities and amount of money. Purchasing a used car that is just 2-3 years old is a massive saving on new car prices and you get a virtually new car. But if you are willing to potentially sacrifice on styling and features, a five-year-old or even 10-year-old vehicle offers even more dramatic savings and is unlikely to cost much more in annual maintenance. So, how long will your ar last?

Well, it will go for miles (if you know what we mean haha) if you follow all those steps and who knows, it may even reach those oldtimer years.