A mechanic has given motorists a controversial tip that could help them avoid eye-watering repair bills on their next car.
TFLtalk is an automotive podcast in which Andre Smirnov and Roman Mica recommend the best new and used models to buy and offer tips to help viewers save on their motoring costs.
In a recent edition, Andre and Roman speak to their resident mechanic Toby, who recommended that drivers avoid buying models built before 2015, stating they some are designed to fail after 100,000 miles.
He explained: “I’ve been working on them for long enough to see enough of them and enough with mileage on them. I’m not happy with anything past about 2005. After that is when [car companies added] plastic and planned obsolescence.
“2005 was the beginning of that, certain manufacturers are a little better, maybe up until about 2010 or 2015, but not too many in my opinion. They’re all basically made to last 100,000 miles, and after that [the companies] want you to get a new one.”
When buying their next vehicle, many motorists consider the reliability of models they are considering. However, some driving experts have argued that modern cars are less dependable than they used to be.
This is because many new cars feature more electronic equipment to control components that are necessary to driving the vehicle. If they fail, these parts can be costly and more difficult to replace.
As a result, drivers who are thinking about keeping a vehicle for longer than it is covered under warranty may wish to consider buying an older used car.
Toby warned that the problem is particularly common with recently launched models, which are more likely to be recalled.
He added: “You never know what you’re going to get, it’s all the crystal ball. You don’t know what will go wrong until you put the mileage on them. A good vehicle is any one that you can get is 80,000 to 100,000 miles out of and all you’re doing is specific maintenance, oil and transmission changes, stuff like that.
“If you start going above and beyond and replacing all sorts of problematic [components], like engine mounts and different parts, to me, it’s not going to be worth it.”
Instead, Toby suggested that drivers looking to buy a car that will remain dependable for many years to come should buy a cheap used model and invest money futureproofing it.
He advised: “It’s better to take an older vehicle, say 1990s or early 2000s, put £4,000 or £5,000 into it and bring it back to life. You’ll have everything you need.
“The only thing they lack is the amenities, and you don’t need all the amenities to go to the moon. I mean most modern cars have more features than I know what to do with myself, and I know my stuff!”
