Upgrade your car every 3-5 years?
Unlike Singapore that has strict rules regarding the years and overall condition of active vehicles, the Philippines has a number of questionable vehicles that are still registered. From public utility vehicles that run for decades with minimal maintenance to private cars that haven’t aged gracefully, you have the freedom to use an old car on Philippine roads and highways.
Given this scenario, should you or should you not upgrade your car every 3 to 5 years? Though it is an unusual practice, here are some things to consider.
Safety
If safety is your number one priority, it is a good idea to upgrade your car every three to five years. Ideally, new cars are safer given the data that they’ve collected from crash tests. This means that newer vehicles are most likely safer than predecessors. But of course, this isn’t always the case.
For instance, it is a possibility that a car can be recalled for safety issues. And the sad thing is that you will not be aware of these things until a few years after your purchase. Thus, it is also a risk to upgrade to a new vehicle every three to five years.
Cost
If you decide to buy a new car every three to five years, keep in mind that this could be an expensive option for you, especially in the Philippine setting. A sedan, for instance, will most likely be around P800,000. Could you imagine paying that amount of money every five years?
Even if you decide to sell your vehicle after five years, you have to keep in mind the depreciation rate of vehicles.
Road troubles
If you are concerned about engine troubles or so-called “kalampag”, you don’t have to deal with this if you are regularly upgrading to a new one after a few years. A car’s engine problem will most likely appear after around 4 years.
So if it is your concern going to a car mechanic and pay for costly repairs and maintenance, this can be minimized when you opt for new cars every now and then.
Insurance
Another aspect that you need to remember when you buy a car is car insurance. You just can’t buy a car without thinking of the right car insurance. If you decide to buy a brand new car every three or five years, you could easily have the right insurance product that you need. Typically, car insurance companies will cover a car that is around 9 years old.
Conclusion
Should you or should you not upgrade your car every three to five years? If you opt to buy a car every few years, this can be a good thing if you have the money to burn.
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