Cars are beneficial as they make people’s lives easier by increasing the convenience of transportation from work, school, or vacations. Most of the time, people spend every day in their cars, and the duration becomes longer depending on the heaviness of traffic. A government analysis recorded that a majority of Australians travel for 90 minutes back-and-forth from work. Because of this considerable amount of time spent with cars, people tend to develop emotional attachments. A survey found that 70% of respondents feel a level of devotion to their cars. More than half of these respondents consider their vehicles as an “old friend.” The reasons for these are dependability and comfort.

Creating memories

People go through significant moments with the presence of their cars. It’s where they and their friends cramp into for road trips or even just driving around town. Maybe the owner picked up their one true love with this car on their first date. It’s the car that sent off their children to college. Thus, letting it go may be a challenge for some.

Humans’ attachment to material objects

In the hopes of making sense of this deep connection, Laura Bliss from CityLab cites that humans tend to become attached to material objects to compensate for the uncertainty of relationships between humans. As opposed to the fleeting loyalty and emotions of human beings, material objects stay with people until the person decides to let them go. Things, like vehicles, will not leave people on their own.

Overspending on major repairs

This kind of relationship between the vehicle and the driver causes people to overspend on extreme repairs rather than buy a newer replacement. On average, the age of cars on the road in 2015 was 11.5 years old. This number goes to show that people are holding onto their vehicles longer, compared to the previous years. The extension of use is said to be caused by the recession, with more people encounter more financial challenges. Other reasons are the durability of old cars and the consistent increase in car prices in the modern market.

How will a new car save you?

Despite all these emotions, why should someone still get a new car? The following are reasons replacing an old car might be the smartest thing to do:

• Safety

Modern vehicles are equipped with safety features, such as airbags and Anti-lock Braking System, in case of accidents. They also come with alarms and automatic locks to prevent robbery and to increase alertness.

• Energy-efficiency

In 2014, cars can travel up to 25.5 miles per gallon—a significant increase from 20.8 miles in 2007. Hence, a new vehicle saves money for fuel and also helps the environment.

• No more worries

Sometimes, an old can be unpredictable, and this is dangerous when driving alone at night or long distance. This risk can be eliminated with a newer car with a healthier engine. When looking for a replacement, it’s best to research on different choices. Asking help from Holden car dealers in New Zealand will significantly help with the process as they can present a wide variety of options.