As many people already know, there are plenty of benefits to be had from buying used cars. You can expect to make significant savings and value from that vehicle, especially if it’s still in good condition. Yet, people rarely discuss how old a car should be for it to be a good purchase, leaving us to wonder: is it worth buying a 10-year-old car?
Yes, buying a 10-year-old car could be worth the money, as long as it fulfils your needs for functionality, safety, and comfort. Still, you should expect that a vehicle that old will have outdated fuel efficiency and features for safety, driver-assist, and comfort. You can expect it to have a mileage of 250,000 km, though a lower mileage is better.
Buying a used car comes with some significant tradeoffs, especially if it’s 10 years old. Keep reading, and we’ll explore them to help you decide for yourself if buying a 10-year-old car is worth it for you.
Let’s get to it.
Is a 10-Year-Old Car Too Old?
Firstly, it’s very helpful to understand that judging a car as “too old” is very subjective. Remember: Classic cars are way, way older than just 10 years, yet they’re still worth a ton of money to many people. Of course, things are pretty different when it comes to non-classical, everyday brands and models.
Still, we must recognise that not all 10-year-old cars are the same. All of it depends on the ‘quality of life’ that the car had throughout that time.
A Well-Cared-For Car Vs a Worn-Out Car
For instance, one owner might have taken excellent care of that car for all those years, keeping keep up with a regular servicing, replacing ageing parts with brand new, OEM or aftermarket car parts. In this case, that 10-year-old car might be in better shape than most cars on the road that are half that age!
Another owner, however, may have only done the bare minimum to keep their car lasting a decade. There’s the occasional car maintenance and repairs, sure, but nothing much beyond that. Despite being the same age as the previous one, a car like this will surely not be worth as much.
What Can You Expect from a 10-Year-Old Car?
We’ve already mentioned the answer to this, but let’s delve deeper.
Outdated Features
Even if that 10-year-old car is in the best condition imaginable, it's still going to have some significant disadvantages compared to a relatively newer car. No amount of repairs or upgrades can make up for the vehicle's outdated features.
Reduced Fuel Efficiency
For almost all car manufacturers, every new generation of cars they produce is usually more fuel-efficient than the last one. That's mainly because of consumer demand and industry regulations that call for more environmentally-friendly vehicles.
If you're buying a 10-year-old car, expect to experience an outdated level of fuel efficiency. Simply put, that means you'll be spending much more on fuel when you drive a car that old.
Older Safety Features
When you buy a second-hand vehicle, you can expect that it'll also lack the high-tech safety features found in more recent cars, no matter its condition. That can be a dealbreaker for some car buyers, especially if they plan to use the car as their family vehicle.
Some of the safety features that you might miss out on when you buy a decade-old car include things like additional airbags and various sensors.
Lower-tech Driver Assist Features
Over the past couple of years, driver-assist features have become a standard in most vehicles, not just high-end luxury models. These features make it much easier for you to drive safely and efficiently while avoiding all sorts of dangers that might lie ahead.
A car that's 10 years old will certainly not have these kinds of features, let alone the most cutting-edge ones that you can find even in a used car that's only two years old.
Sure, there are some aftermarket drive assist technologies that you could retrofit into the 10-year-old car you want to buy, but your options are minimal.
Inadequate Comforts and Conveniences
Lastly, a 10-year-old car will probably not offer the same comfort and conveniences as a more recent car. For instance, there’s little chance that you’ll find multiple-zone climate control in a 10-year-old vehicle.
Besides that, you can give up hopes of finding USB ports and smartphone compatibility with the car’s entertainment system.
Again, that might not be a big deal to some people, but it’ll certainly be a dealbreaker for others.
What Is a Good Mileage for a 10-year-old Vehicle?
Sometimes, you can tell everything you need to know about a 10-year-old vehicle just by looking at its odometer. Generally, the higher the mileage for a used car, the more you should expect worn-out and problematic parts.
But when you’re shopping for a decade-old car, what’s a reasonable mileage to expect?
The general rule of thumb is that a car that’s been on the road for 10 years will have a mileage of approximately 250,000 km. So, if you see anything less on the odometer, that’s a positive sign.
You'd get more of your money's worth if you chose a car with a mileage of only 150,000 km. Of course, that would mean that the vehicle was only driven 15,000 km a year throughout its life, and that's not as common as you'd hope.
Bottom Line
So, is it worth buying a 10-year-old car? The bottom line is that you need to weigh the value you get versus the money you’ll pay for the car. If the car is well-maintained and still in excellent condition, plus the price is much lower than other cars, then that could be an excellent deal for you.
However, if you can get a better deal on a car that’s perhaps a few years newer than that one, then your money is better spent there instead.
Whatever the case might be, consider all your options and decide for yourself which one you’d be happier buying.
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To learn more about buying used cars and other essential topics for car buyers, check out the blog at Carpart.com.au. We update this blog daily with helpful how-to articles you can use in making better buying decisions, whether you're buying used car parts or a whole vehicle.
By Ray Hasbollah