A study by UK company Warranty Direct has found that when it comes to automobiles, the conventional wisdom of newer cars being more reliable may not always hold true.
According to the Daily Mirror, the study found that older cars are often cheaper to fix than newer models, and were on average 10 percent less likely to break down. Obviously, this varies from model to model, but it appears that the newer versions of many cars are becoming less reliable.
For example, the current iteration of the Audi A4 is three times more likely to have an engine problem than the car that was sold from 2000 to 2005.
"Buying new may be the most desirable option when it comes to purchasing a car but it isn’t always the most cost-effective route," the company wrote. "Our analysis shows new doesn’t necessarily mean more reliable – not to mention the steeper repair costs. So as well as paying over the odds for a new car, you may also be opening yourself up to additional, unwanted costs."
If the study is true, then it appears auto maintenance is more important than ever. Buyers may find it more cost-effective to take care of car repairs on their older vehicles rather than commit to buying a more expensive new car that could potentially cost them more money in the long run.