Operating Costs Are Becoming Increasingly Important

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 09:36

Car buyers no longer just look at the purchase price alone. The cost of maintaining the vehicle is becoming an increasingly important factor.

For many car buyers, the price is the decisive factor when choosing their vehicle. "But if you really look at your money, you look beyond this amount," say experts such as market researcher Nick Margetts from Limburg. You also look at the operating and maintenance costs, which are due every day after the purchase and are crucial for financial planning.

More than fuel and insurance

"It is not enough to calculate the fuel consumption and the costs for taxes and insurance," says the ADAC in Munich, which offers a calculation for a total of 1,600 vehicle models on the Internet. In addition, there are the costs for maintenance, repair and care, the wear and tear of the tires and, above all, the loss of value, which the ADAC has identified as the largest cost item. According to a recent study by the Schwacke analysis institute from Maintal (Hesse), it is particularly high in the luxury class, where cars only have a residual value of 56.6 percent after two years. Roadsters lose the least, losing just 27.4 percent in 24 months.

Price spiral continues

For their mobility, drivers have had to dig deeper and deeper into their pockets in recent years. "Nothing has become cheaper, but - in the context of normal inflation, one more, the other less - constantly more expensive," said ADAC spokesman Andreas Hölzel, summarizing the cost development. Vehicle prices have risen by almost ten between 1995 and 2006, and maintenance and repairs by around 23 percent. “The number one price driver is fuel prices,” says Hölzel, referring to an increase of 67 percent.

Question of repair costs

"Of course, items such as fuel prices and hourly rates of the authorized workshops are beyond the influence of the manufacturer," says Margetts. But how long the maintenance intervals are and the type classes with which the new vehicles are classified by insurance companies can influence the design. «Headlights that do not break in an accident, but simply fold out of the housing, body structures that are not welded but screwed, and expensive components that are kept out of the crash zone are just a few examples of how we can reduce the repair effort and thus the Keep insurance tariffs as low as possible,”says Audi spokesman Jochen Grüten in Ingolstadt.

"Another set screw for the manufacturer is the workshop costs and maintenance intervals," says Nick Margetts: "One brand only asks to go to the workshop after 30,000 kilometers, the next still after 18,000. For customers, it makes a big difference whether the manufacturer is Has technology, durability and reliability under control."

Economical driving

However, consumption has the greatest impact on the wallet, says ADAC spokesman Hölzel. It also offers the greatest potential for savings for drivers: "The owner can save money primarily through his driving style and sensible use of the vehicle," says Hölzel, and offers up to 30 percent lower fuel costs through a fuel-saving driving style.

safety first

After the relaxation of the Block Exemption Regulation (BER) and the relationships between customers, manufacturers and workshops, Nick Margetts says there are also many ways to reduce costs in service. ADAC spokesman Hölzel warns that drivers should not make one mistake when it comes to reducing costs. If small errors are not corrected, they can turn into expensive repairs. (Thomas Geiger, dpa / tmn)