5 of the Silliest Misconceptions About Cars
Updated: Nov. 22, 2019
Ever heard that automatic transmissions are less fuel efficient than manual? That’s just one of the misconceptions about cars that we’re about to bust!
5 Misconceptions About Cars That Everybody Falls For
There are many misconceptions about what goes on in the auto industry. For decades, people have been speculating on topics ranging from car colour affecting insurance premiums to outlandish service intervals. You might ask yourself why these misconceptions exist and where these myths come from. It’s partially due to the lack of transparency in the industry itself as well as the fact that most people find the world of cars to be a little confusing. Whatever the reason, we’re debunking five of the silliest misconceptions about cars, once and for all.
It’s new, so it doesn’t need servicing
All cars need to be regularly maintained, no matter what their age. While older vehicles might require an extra bit of TLC, it doesn’t mean that your brand new car is exempt from routine servicing. In fact, new vehicles might be subject to recalls and repairs that are covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, which means that there may be some instances where a new car might see a mechanic more often than an older model. Following a vehicle’s maintenance schedule is crucial, especially considering that proper service and service records affect the vehicle’s longevity and its resale value.
Diesel cars are bad for the environment
Diesel vehicles have been getting a lot of negative press recently, especially following the recent Volkswagen scandal. While consumers might associate diesel vehicles with the heavy, smoky and smelly diesel trucks of yesteryear, most modern diesel vehicles are actually more powerful, efficient and cleaner than their gasoline counterparts. So feel free to pick up that diesel car!
Winter tires aren’t necessary
It all depends on where you live. If you’re a resident of Quebec, for example, you’ll be required to drive with winter tires between the 15th of December to the 15th of March. If your main residence is on a beach in California, however, odds are that winter tires won’t be on your holiday shopping list. That said, most Canadian provinces have the ability to accumulate enough snow to warrant a change of tires in the winter. After all, it’s always better to be safe than sorry!
Insuring a red car costs more
If you’ve ever filled out a car insurance form you’ve probably noticed that “colour” is never a field that needs to be filled out. When it comes to determining your insurance rate, your vehicle’s paint job doesn’t make nearly as much difference as other factors such as driving record, make and model. So go ahead, buy that fire-engine red car of your dreams!
Automatic transmissions decrease fuel efficiency
There’s a reason why a number of manufacturers are killing off manual transmissions, and it’s definitely not to give you worse fuel efficiency! While vehicles equipped with manual transmissions might have once been more fuel efficient than their automatic counterparts, technological advances in the realm of automatic transmissions have improved significantly, and some vehicles now include dual-clutches, CVT technology and even twice as many gears in some cases. All of these factors contribute to increased fuel economy as well as faster and smoother shifts and increased performance.
