Going Beyond 10 Years: Can A Car Really Last?

Without a doubt, cars today are built for the long haul, with manufacturers and dealers offering plenty of warranties that seem to defy belief. For example, C&C offers a 10 year (200,000km) engine warranty on all Mitsubishi passenger cars.

Planned obsolescence is a very fine art of creating a demand for products. So, are cars really engineered and built to last beyond ten years? You will have heard of this saying, that older cars will run into higher maintenance costs, as opposed to buying a spanking new ride.

Here are some pointers to take note before you go ahead with the COE renewal. At today’s low prices, it does make a COE car look like the best budget option to car ownership!

This is actually not planned obsolescence, but it is where the biggest fallacy of an older car. At the rate that the world is progressing, cars today are built to be even safer - with plenty of safety features and active driver aids to keep you and your occupants safe.

Governments around the world are constantly updating strict regulations to increase the environmentally friendliness as well as safety - hence, newer cars will come loaded with high-tech devices.

But like the good old power window, electrics do degrade over time, which can lead to very expensive maintenance costs should such systems fail. Older cars, with their lack in fancy electrics - can be much more reliable than a newer car because there is less stuff to break.

The heart of every car is a horrible place to live in. with over 2,000 mini explosions every minute with the car at idle. For many years, iron engine blocks were the standard material. In recent years, manufacturers have increased the use of aluminum to shave weight and add efficiency.

Early aluminium engine blocks were notorious for premature failure. Ideally, a reliable engine should be made from an iron block, with an aluminum head. Another factor that can contribute to the reliability of an engine is the usage. Heavy loads, towing, or just constant high speed runs, can decrease an engine’s lifespan.

The most important factor in engine longevity, however, is how well the engine is maintained. You car’s manual will often feature a “severe-use” schedule, which is Singapore’s driving climate. Plenty of short 10 minute trips, with constant start-stop traffic while boiling under the tropical sun.

The engine, combined with a fastidious service schedule, will definitely outlast the car it was put in. This is also why used engines are commonly on sale around the world.

The suspension components, such as bushings, subframes and shocks are easily replaceable as long as spares are available - these are likely shared components with other cars in the manufacturer’s lineup, so these are rarely a concern for longevity.

A majorly overlooked part of the car is the chassis because most drivers find it hard to check on the longevity of the metal work under the car’s shiny appearance. With a huge majority of cars featuring the unibody chassis, stamped sheet metal which supports the body work and the suspension towers, a chassis that doesn’t last will spell the death of the car.

Ideally, a car’s chassis (especially with the most common unibody types) should be inspected every six months for tell-tale signs of breakage or rust. You can do this yourself if you have the right tools, or you can take it to a trusted workshop to handle the maintenance.

In Singapore’s hot and humid climate, it is very common for surface rust to appear on the undercarriage part of the chassis, especially when it’s the least washed part of the car. If left untreated, surface rust can rapidly develop into potentially life-threatening rust issues, by which the government will step in and tell you to scrap the car due to safety concerns.

All chassis are engineered to flex slightly. You can get an idea of the condition of the chassis by jacking up one corner and check if all the panels and doors fit and operate normally. If you’re fortunate to have a car that has never been raced or been in a serious accident, you can make it last by diligently checking the chassis every time you have an opportunity to go under the car.

Having your car’s undercoating reapplied is not necessary for modern cars, but after ten years of being exposed to the elements, it is definitely a recommended long-term investment for a peace of mind.

The small details in a car are also the things that add up to the hidden cost of owning an older car. For example, plastic degradation is a seriously big issue for long term car ownership since plastic easily form up to half the cars’ parts list.

The most common form of plastic degradation, is caused by UV exposure. UV light breaks down the bonds within the plastic causing a slow deterioration. With the move to plastics by manufacturers to save on cost, it doesn’t mean you should stick to plastics if you’re dead set on keeping a car for longer than ten years. With parts availability as well as unpredictable maintenance costs on the horizon - it can be a wise choice to pick up a metal alternative to plastic should it be available for your car.

Another big issues for older cars are the various wiring harness that run through the entire car, connecting systems to make the car tick. They are designed to withstand the heat and elements, thus the likelihood that you will have to replace the entire harness is very low. Even so, electrical repairs usually involve replacing a portion of the wiring to an individual part - good news for older car owners!

No matter how well you choose and care for a car, someday it will be time to move on because it might cost too much to maintain or is no longer road-worthy nor safe to use.

All that said, of course, planned obsolescence doesn't necessarily mean your car is designed to fail. Plenty of car’s parts have a certain usable life, at which point they'll need to be replaced.

For many old cars, original factory parts are made by the original automaker or supplier, start to dry up around five years after a car goes out of production. Fortunately, many modern cars share engines and parts with older models, as the trend of reducing development costs continue to grow in popularity.

An average lifespan of twenty years, that’s actually a believable figure for many cars out there!

If you are keen to keep your car beyond 10 years, how about taking a COE loan through us? Fill in your details below and we will assist you!

Credits: