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Motorists drive old cars into the New Year

8th January 2014 Print

Mechanics are gearing up for an influx of car repair requests this January, as motorists seek to spruce up their old vehicles for 2014.

whocanfixmycar.com, a site which helps car owners find rated mechanics in their local area, recorded a 25 per cent increase in job requests in January last year and early indications are that January 2014 is going to be very similar.

The figures indicate that UK motorists prefer to ensure that their old cars are in top condition for a new year, rather than forking out for an upgraded model. In fact, the average car in the UK is 7.44 years old, and a survey from Carfinance247.co.uk revealed that just 17% of Brits are planning to buy a new or used vehicle within the next six months.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) states that out of 31 million vehicles in the UK, one in three have been on the road for at least the past ten years.

Data from whocanfixmycar.com reveals that online, the most commonly searched repairs are for Ford, which leads the way with 11.8% of all job requests posted, followed by Renault in second place with 8.9%. Clutch replacement tops the list of the most common requests, at 9.1% of all jobs posted.

Ian Griffiths, CEO of whocanfixmycar.com said: “Now that we’re into 2014, many drivers are considering their choices for the new year.

“Older cars are more reliable than ever due to build-quality, and they obviously depreciate at a slower rate than new cars. However, they tend to need more maintenance, and January is the ideal time to get the year off to a good start from a motoring perspective.

“Find a mechanic to advise you about how best to prolong the life of your car, and to tell you how any repairs will compare to its value. If you’re undecided about whether or not to take the plunge and buy a newer model, a mechanic will be able to confirm if it is worth it. Remember to get any newer vehicles fully inspected by your mechanic before you commit to buying.”

Mechanics on the site also advise drivers to make weekly oil, fluid level and tyre checks to keep everything ticking over safely and to ensure that running costs are kept to a minimum.

whocanfixmycar.com is free for motorists to use. Customers can post jobs on the site, receive quotes from rated garages and mechanics nearby, and leave feedback about their experiences. More than 25,000 jobs have been posted by motorists on whocanfixmycar.com and in excess of 4,000 mechanics have signed up.