You’ve been saving your money diligently for months, if not years, for your dream car. The entire time, you’ve kept your eye on the prize, only to find out that the manufacturer has discontinued that particular model. Heartbreaking, I know. I’d been in that same boat not too long ago.
But is it okay to buy a discontinued car? What about car spare parts and after-sales support? Relax, it’s not as bad as it sounds. Yes, it’s perfectly fine to buy a discontinued car model, as I found out, and I’m going to tell you why.
Of course, you’ll want a balanced view. That’s why I’ll cover both the pros and cons of buying a discontinued car model.
Let’s get to it.
What Does It Mean If a Car Is Discontinued?
Before we get to the nitty-gritty of it all, let’s take a step back and look at the big picture. Learning that a car model is ‘discontinued’ can be quite scary if you don’t fully understand what that term means, so let’s start with that.
When a manufacturer ‘discontinues’ a car, it means that they’ll stop producing that particular model. Some might even describe it as the car coming to the end of its production run. For whatever reason, the manufacturer wants to focus its resources on producing a newer model, so they’re no longer working on the discontinued vehicle.
Can You Still Buy a Discontinued Car Model?
Yes, you can still buy a discontinued car model, either brand new or secondhand. Remember that ‘discontinued’ simply means that they’ve stopped rolling off the factory floor, but could still be yet-to-be-sold units, waiting for you to find them at some dealerships.
So, if your dream car is a recently discontinued model, don’t fret. They’re still out there for you to buy. You just have to put in a bit more effort to find dealers that have them in stock, that’s all.
It gets even easier if you’re willing to buy the car secondhand.
Think about it. Car collectors do this all the time with classic vehicles! The same thing happens with non-classics, too.
What about Discontinued Car Parts?
I’ve also worried about buying discontinued models for fear of those hard-to-find auto parts that might be needed one day. But here’s what.
Local laws in Australia require manufacturers need to continue producing spare parts for discontinued models, at least for a ‘reasonable period’ of time.
Here’s the catch: the law doesn’t specify a time frame, so that will be up to the manufacturer to decide. Not very reassuring, I’m afraid. Yet, I still believe that it’s ok to buy a discontinued car. I’ll tell you why.
The Pros of Buying a Discontinued Car
Buying a discontinued car model comes with a host of advantages. Here are just a few:
Lower Price Tag
If you’re shopping for a discontinued car model, then the chances are that you can get a lower price tag on the vehicle. Dealers will want to try their best to clear the car off their lot to make room for newer models. In a way, the situation motivates them to want to sweeten the deal for you.
Bottom line? You might pay a much discounted drive-away price for the model compared to its price tag when it was still in production.
Better Deals Overall
This pro is somewhat related to the previous point. Dealers will want to get rid of discontinued models as much as possible, so they’ll put in extra effort to make the deal irresistible for you. That goes well beyond just a discounted price tag.
They may even throw in extras like accessories, free upgrades, and who knows what else just to get you to buy the car.
All of those, plus you’ll still drive off the car lot in a brand new, albeit discontinued, vehicle.
Investment Value (Might Go Up!)
Not only will you (probably) pay less for the car, but it may also end up being an investment for you. With the car no longer in production, it starts to become a rarity, and someday people may be willing to pay you a premium to take it off your hands.
Think about classic cars. They’re decades old yet, with diligent maintenance, their owners can fetch a very high price among collectors and enthusiasts.
Still, it’s important to remember that this is a double-edged sword and probably shouldn’t be your primary reason for buying the discontinued car. I’ll explain the flip side of this point in the cons section below.
The Cons of Buying a Discontinued Car
Nothing in life is perfect, and that includes discontinued cars. Here are just a couple of the cons that you must be aware of.
Investment Value (Might Go Down!)
Yes, a discontinued car’s value could go up and fetch a high price at a collector’s auction someday. Still, as with any investment, it could go down, too. After a few years and despite your hard work in keeping the car looking brand new, it may be worth less than nothing.
Don’t buy a discontinued car for the sole purpose of making an investment, because the resale value could be next to nothing in the future.
Hard to Find Auto Parts (Maybe)
This point isn’t a universal con for all discontinued cars, but there’s always the very real possibility of hard-to-find auto parts in the future. Sometimes, a discontinued car also means discontinued car parts, as the manufacturer stops making anything to do with that particular model.
Is It Hard to Get Parts for a Discontinued Car?
Well, yes and no. In my experience, this one depends on how determined you are in finding parts for your discontinued car model. Let me explain.
Yes, car manufacturers must produce parts for discontinued models, at least for a ‘reasonable time’. But they’ll eventually stop making those parts, so you’ll have to look elsewhere.
If your discontinued car isn’t that old, you’ll still be able to find parts from OEM or third-party manufacturers. Plus, there’s always the used car parts supply you can rely on.
Whatever the case may be, finding car parts even for discontinued models is reasonably easy through Carpart.com.au. You can use the Parts Finder to send a request to suppliers all across Australia, and they can have those parts shipped right to your doorstep. Alternatively, you could also browse the Marketplace to see if anyone else is selling the part you’re looking for.
Bottom line: Hard to find auto parts undoubtedly are a reality for discontinued car models. However, finding hard-to-find auto parts is also much easier these days, thanks to the internet and websites like Carpart.com.au. Know more about locating a part here!
By Ray Hasbollah