Popular Cars Most Neglected for Servicing..

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USED car buyers beware. A recent study has revealed some of our most popular car brands are also the most neglected when it comes to servicing.

And prestige brands are not immune to the problem.

A survey of 74,000 Australian vehicles showed that about 14 per cent of cars on our roads are overdue for their scheduled service, risking ongoing problems or damage from dirty oil and worn parts.

Daewoo owners are worst when it comes to neglect, with close to 18 per cent of them overdue, but Holden and Ford owners are close behind at 15 per cent, while Honda and Toyota owners were at 14 per cent.

HOW DOES YOUR CAR RATE: Scroll to the bottom of this story to see the 15 most neglected brands.

Surprises in the worst 15 list were luxury brands Mercedes-Benz and BMW, with more than 13 per cent of vehicles behind service schedule.

The survey, undertaken by Kmarts Tyre & Auto Service chain, showed that cars in the Northern Territory are worst with 26 per cent past their service date, while West Australian owners are most careful, with just 6 per cent lagging behind.

The ACT is close to double in second place at 10 per cent, followed by Queensland on 11 per cent, New South Wales (16 per cent), Victoria (15 per cent), Tasmania (21 per cent) and South Australia (22 per cent).

Kmart Tyre & Auto Service spokesman Tony Skallias said cost and awareness were behind the neglect.

"There are a number of factors including family budgetary pressures and cars generally being more reliable and less prone to break down between services," he said.

"There is also a general lack of awareness of the importance of servicing and the savings to be had through a correctly serviced and well maintained vehicle."

Mr Skiallias said poorly serviced cars risked higher fuel consumption due to clogged air and fuel filters, driving unknowingly on dangerously worn tyres, brakes or shock absorbers, or catastrophic engine failure in the case of a potential broken timing belt.



MOST NEGLECTED


1. DAEWOO - 17.76%

2. HOLDEN - 15.52%

3. FORD - 15.33%

4. HONDA - 14.48%

5. TOYOTA - 14.26%

6. MITSUBISHI - 13.84%

7. HYUNDAI - 13.66%

8. KIA - 13.63%

9. MERCEDES-BENZ - 13.57%

10. SUBARU - 13.35%

11. BMW - 13.29%

12. VOLKSWAGEN - 13.07%

13. NISSAN 12.58%

14. MAZDA 12.09%

15. SUZUKI 11.00%
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/n...-1226418198858