If you have ever considered buying a foreign car, the chances are that you have heard the rumor that foreign cars cost more to repair. But how much truth is there to this rumor? We’ve done the research for you.
Foreign Cars Used to Be Costly to Repair
At one time, foreign cars used to be more costly to repair than domestic cars because replacement parts had to be shipped overseas. With foreign cars being so widespread these days however, their parts are much more widely available, and even those that must be can be shipped much faster than they once were.
So Is One Car More Expensive to Repair Than Another?
In today’s market the cost of car repair is less dependent on the origin of the car and more dependent on the class of the car. So, whether a vehicle is foreign or domestic, so long as it is in the vehicle class, repairs should cost approximately the same.
Let us take a look at some examples –
Compact Car Class
The average cost of a catalytic converter replacement for the foreign Nissan Versa is just over $1,850.
The average cost of a catalytic converter replacement for the domestic Chevrolet Spark is just under $1,700.
The average cost of a transmission rebuild for the foreign Nissan Versa is just over $2,800.
The average cost of a transmission rebuild for the domestic Chevrolet Spark is just under $2,700.
Midsize Car Class
The average cost of a catalytic converter replacement for the foreign Honda Accord is just over $2,400.
The average cost of a catalytic converter replacement for the domestic Chevy Malibu is just over $1,100.
The average cost of a transmission rebuild for the foreign Honda Accord is just under $3,050.
The average cost of a transmission rebuild for the domestic Chevy Malibu is around $3,199.
Luxury Crossover SUV
The average cost of a catalytic converter replacement for the foreign Lexus RX is just over $2,000.
The average cost of a catalytic converter replacement for the domestic Ford Edge is just over $1,200.
The average cost of a transmission rebuild for the foreign Lexus RX is $3,500.
The average cost of a transmission rebuild for the domestic Ford Edge is $3,500.
Sports Car
The average cost of a catalytic converter replacement for the foreign Audi R8 is just over $2,400.
The average cost of a catalytic converter replacement for the domestic Chevrolet Corvette is just over $1,400.
The average cost of a transmission rebuild for the foreign Audi R8 is $3,000.
The average cost of a transmission rebuild for the domestic Chevrolet Corvette is $3,600.
Extreme Luxury
The average cost of a transmission rebuild for the foreign Bugatti Veyron is $7,000+.
There is no comparable car in the domestic market at this time.
Conclusion
Although at one time it used to be true that foreign cars cost more than domestic cars to repair, with today’s rapid shipment methods and wide-reaching foreign car market, this is no longer the case.
