When buying a car, it’s essential to consider both the upfront cost and the long-term cost of ownership for that particular vehicle. The cost of ownership can be higher for many reasons, but it’s almost always going to be higher for foreign cars. Why is it that these foreign-made luxury vehicles are so much more expensive to maintain and repair? Keep reading to find out.
Parts Must Be Shipped
On domestic-made vehicles, many of the parts for common repairs are standard. However, foreign car manufacturers have different standards than American ones, so the parts that fit into the engine of most domestic vehicles likely won’t fit a foreign one. This means that the parts will need to be shipped from overseas and that automatically costs more.
Higher End Parts
As the saying goes, “You get what you pay for.” There’s a reason that these cars are called “luxury” cars—they’re a luxury! Each part of the vehicle is simply of a higher quality than your average commuter vehicle. Higher quality means a higher price, and there’s just no getting around that.
High-Performance Wear and Tear
It’s difficult to own a powerful vehicle and not try to see what it’s capable of. Owners of high-performance vehicles tend to drive faster and brake harder than most domestic-car drivers. This leads to more wear and tear on the parts and more frequent repairs, driving up the cost of ownership. Luckily, this is one contributor to higher costs that you can control. Drive your car a little more gently, and your cost of ownership might be lower than the average for your vehicle.
Specialized Mechanics
As mentioned above, foreign luxury cars are simply constructed differently than domestic cars. This means that your car should also go to a specialized, certified mechanic in addition to needing specialized parts. Finding a mechanic that’s been trained and certified to work on your car model ensures that they have the knowledge and equipment needed to maintain and repair it properly. Of course, it also means that they’ll charge a little more per hour for you to have access to their expertise, but the higher cost is well worth it. While the cost of ownership is higher for foreign luxury cars, many luxury car owners believe the superior performance and quality of the vehicle are worth the added cost over time. So, if you’re in the market for a luxury car, just make sure you plan ahead for the costs of foreign parts and take your vehicle to the best body shops in Houston.
