The auto expert drew attention to important nuances when choosing a car

Buying a car is one of the most significant financial decisions in the life of a modern person. This purchase can solve many everyday problems, but it can seriously affect your emotional state, budget, or bring additional problems. That is why, before buying, it is important to clearly define what purposes a car is needed for. This was reported to Izvestia on November 20 by a management consultant, Director of organizational development at OOO "Together.About" Danil Berezhnoy.

"With a rational approach to choice, it is worth focusing on two fundamental criteria.: benefits of purchase and reliability in operation. The concept of car reliability consists of two main aspects. The first is technical serviceability and predictability. A reliable car should allow you to move around without the need for large investments in its repair for 3-5 years," he said.

To be sure of this, it is important to understand the history of a particular instance.: how it was used, how regularly and efficiently it was serviced. Having a reliable service history is a serious argument in favor of a purchase.

"A separate nuance of modern reliability is digital dependence: some European brands can remotely disable paid functions, such as heated steering wheel or seats, if the server determines that the car is being operated in an "unfriendly" region," the specialist warned.

The second aspect of reliability is financial. It lies in the car's ability to maintain its value over time. The most reliable machine is considered to be the one whose cost can be predicted with the same accuracy as the cost of its maintenance. Highly liquid cars are always in stable demand in the secondary market, which protects their owners from a sharp depreciation of the asset.

"Interestingly, despite the large—scale government support for the domestic automotive industry, consumers prefer the latter when choosing between a new Lada for 2-2.5 million rubles and a used foreign car for the same amount," Berezhnoy noted.

The concept of purchase benefits also deserves detailed consideration. It can be roughly divided into two types. The first is a momentary, tactical advantage. It is expressed in the fact that for a certain amount, the buyer receives a car with the most extensive equipment or a class higher than he could afford when buying a new car from an authorized dealer. The second type is the strategic benefit that manifests itself during operation. It consists in the low cost of ownership (low fuel consumption, low maintenance cost).

It is noteworthy that electric cars in Russia have lost their appeal: while there were benefits — discounts, free parking in the center of Moscow and access to free charging — demand was growing. As soon as the support stopped, the market collapsed by 57% in the first half of 2025 and consumers again prefer cars with an internal combustion engine, the expert said.

Going in circles: the used car market has set two records

In October, used car sales increased by 18%

Earlier, on November 12, auto expert Vadim Strelbitsky dispelled the myth of low reliability of modern automobile engines. The motors have not lost their reliability compared to engines of previous generations and differ in that they are more technologically advanced and demanding.

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