It’s no secret that car manufacturers around the world are always busy coming up with all sorts of cool technology that makes our lives easier on the road. Millions, in fact, billions of dollars are spent by carmakers worldwide on an annual basis for the purposes of developing a range of safety, comfort and infotainment systems that make driving more pleasurable and less stressful.
For example, it is now possible to buy cars from a number of car manufacturers that have parking assistance features; simply put, if you hate parallel parking, you have only to press a button on your dashboard after finding your desired parking space, and the car does the steering for you, leaving you to control the pedals and gears!
But if your car is a few years old and hasn’t got anything technologically innovative other than a 6-disc multi-changer in the boot, is it worth spending the money to upgrade your car’s technology so that it is similar to the new cars on the road today, or should you just save your cash and trade your car in for a new one?
To be honest, whilst at first glance it might seem cheaper or easier to upgrade what you’ve got, in reality it’s just a waste of your time and money. Here’s why:
Gadgets are expensive
By the time you add up the cost of purchasing new technology for your car, such as a DAB-enabled Bluetooth car stereo, a widescreen satellite navigation device, a handsfree kit for your smartphone and even retrofitting dual-zone climate control for your air conditioning system, you may as well have just spent the money down at Southend Mercedes and bought yourself a fab new E-Class!
Your time is valuable
A lot of people that buy aftermarket upgrades for their cars have to spend the time learning how to install them, and then spend the time doing the actual installation work, which can often be significantly longer than what a professional would spend on the job.
Your time is going to be more valuable than the value of the items you are fitting, especially if you are self-employed and spend a lot of your time working. In such circumstances, not working means not earning, so it’s far better to simply trade in your car and get one with the technology you need already in it!
It does little for increasing your car’s value
If you spend thousands on all sorts of hi-tech gadgets for your car, I’m afraid that these aftermarket additions won’t add anything significant to the value of your car. In fact, sometimes it can actually devalue your car, especially if you have had to perform irreversible modifications to the car’s electrical system or dashboard, for example.
You know you really want a new car
It’s generally accepted that people tend to keep their cars on the road for no longer than 10 years before they trade them in or recycle them. Why prolong the process when you could simply just get the new car of your dreams with the latest technology in it today? It’s not only more cost-efficient, it’s also a lot quicker and easier to do than having to replace all the hi-tech gadgets you put into your old car.
And don’t forget about warranties!
Anytime that you upgrade or modify your vehicle with aftermarket parts, chances are that any warranty you had from the manufacturer may become void. This means that if something goes wrong, you won’t be able to take it back to the dealer and have them fix it for free. With a brand new car, however, your manufacturer will typically cover any problems or defects without question – so don’t forget to factor this in when weighing up your options.
The other great thing about buying a new vehicle is that you’ll be able to select from the latest models, with all the modern features, safety systems and fuel efficiency benefits. And if you do decide to buy a cutting-edge model, then you can rest assured that it’s been designed with the latest technology and will be less likely to experience problems down the line.
Furthermore, if you decide to purchase an older used car, you could end up inheriting issues from previous owners who may not have serviced it as regularly or taken proper care of it. Alternatively, a new vehicle means that you’ll get an all-inclusive warranty, which will give you protection from any manufacturer defects and make sure that your car is taken care of for years to come.
Finally, buying a new vehicle could also prove to be a sound financial decision, as fuel economy standards for cars have been increasing over the years. This means that a newer car will likely be more fuel-efficient than an older model, saving you money on gas and helping to keep your carbon emissions low. Additionally, you may also find that a new vehicle offers more advanced safety features, such as blind spot monitoring or automated emergency braking, making it easier. Hopefully this post helped you make up your mind about buying a new vehicle!
No matter what you decide, we wish you the best of luck and safe travels. Thanks for reading!