Don’t Break the Bank on Brakes

Posted on: 16 January 2015

There are many people who disregard domestic cars to buy foreign ones each year. This is a trend that started a few decades ago and that has gained in magnitude since. Import vehicles come with a number of perks and disadvantages that must be carefully weighed before deciding on whether or not to buy one. If you own a foreign car, then it's important that you find and visit a certified auto repair that can keep it in great condition. This article explains why.

Pros and cons of having a foreign car

The benefits of owning a foreign car include:

• Higher fuel efficiency
• Higher resale value
• Better quality

While American manufacturers have joined the hybrid revolution during the past few years, they are still far behind their foreign counterparts whose vehicle lineups are more advanced and feature a larger number of models. Second, foreign cars are more expensive than American vehicles, which is why their resale value is also higher. Finally, import cars are superior to U.S. cars in terms of overall quality. Indeed, unlike foreign manufacturers whose entire range of models are highly rated, domestic manufacturers have fluctuating ratings among their models.

The two main concerns of having an import car are the high costs of auto parts and the limited accessibility of auto shops where you can be serviced.

Finding an import car repair service can save you money

To save money on import car repairs, you should:

• Keep up on the maintenance schedule
• Never take your car to a domestic auto repair shop

Skipping scheduled maintenance visits is highly discouraged with foreign cars. This is because doing that automatically reduces the lifecycle of your vehicle and increases the chances that you might be assessed a steeper repair bill. Keep in mind that frequent repair visits are designed to detect any potential mechanical problem on the vehicle, which may worsen and require the replacement of an auto part. Buying a new part for your import car is something that you want to avoid given its prohibitive cost.

Observing the maintenance schedule will also reduce the probability of experiencing random breakdowns. As you might know, this kind of situation can be particularly annoying, especially if your car is your only reliable means of transportation. The end result will be that you'll end up calling a local auto shop, which barely has or has no experience with import cars, so they can quickly fix your issue and get you back on the road. While you may be surprised that you repair bill is lower than anticipated, you need to understand that the lack of training and recent technology in the local auto garage explain why you'll be charged less.

How do you find a foreign auto repair service?

A quick answer to this question is the foreign dealer where you purchased your car. There's a growing number of dealerships that provide in-house repair services to customers. This is one of the strategies that foreign manufacturers developed to address their limited accessibility issue. In addition to foreign dealers, you may also consider conducting an online search to find automotive forums that provide useful tips to car owners.

Those online places feature other people who have owned the same car as you and can tell you where to get the best service depending on the mechanical issue that your car has. If you live too far from a foreign auto dealer, then there should be an auto shop near your house that has the right foreign auto repair certification.

Finding a certified import car repair service to take your car to is essential if you want to operate it for as many years as possible. Not only is this cost-efficient, but it also saves you from lots of frustration.