How To Tell Whether Your Car Should Be Scrapped

Sure, your car is old - but you love it. You've maybe even given it a name, or maybe it's almost became a family pet. However, all good things must come to an end.



Nowadays, we are fortunate to live to the ripe old age of 70 or 80, or even more if we're lucky. But our beloved cars only last a fraction of that time. There comes a moment when you’ve got to realize the cold, hard truth: it may be time to let it go. But how do you know when this time has come? Well, there are a few dead giveaways that your vehicle needs to be retired.



For instance, strange noises even your mechanic can’t fix. If there is incessant whirring, wheezing or buzzing coming from underneath the hood, even after your mechanic does the seasonal tune-up, there may be cause to worry. There are literally hundreds of moving parts in your engine, and they wear out. What's more, when they do wear out, they don't run as well, and for every month you keep driving you may be increasing the risk of a safety issue.

Or your vehicle might start to suffer from declining fuel economy. You’re sure that you used to do the Montreal-Toronto drive on one fill-up, and you still had nearly a quarter-tank left every time. Didn’t you only hit the gas station 3 or 4 times a month, and now it's almost two times a week? Well sure enough, this is another sign your car is getting old. Increased friction between the parts means it takes more energy to make them turn. An old car uses more gas. So think about it: replacing it will be good for your wallet, as well as the environment.



You might even have noticed rising maintenance costs. If you have to spend hundreds a year on replacement parts and repair problems, this should turn on a bright little light bulb above your head. It’s telling you something. Yes, the new ball joints were necessary, as your front wheels were in danger of coming off and that windshield replacement job was well worth it, but if there are too many of these things adding up, you need to consider if you’d just be cheaper buying a new car!



Finally, there’s rust. You can see it peeking out from under the wheel-wells, and at the bottoms of the doors. There's even rust on the crack between the trunk door and the rear panel. Actually, this situation is quite serious. It means that the oxygen in the air and water (especially salty slush) has corroded its way through your paint job, and is actually eating away the carbon steel body of your beloved vehicle. This also means the car's frame is gradually getting weaker. This is a safety issue, and if this is the case it may be time to go shopping for a newer set of wheels.



So, despite your loyalty to your faithful four-wheeled friend, there are definite signs it needs to go to automobile heaven. Maybe the place old vehicles go to die is not that bad after all. Besides, you can get a significant trade-in rebate if your dealer will take the old one as partial payment for a new car. It can save you hundreds, maybe even thousands. It's worth it financially and you'll end up safer in your new vehicle.



Paul Buchanan writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.