Buying a car has never been as difficult as it is today
Anyone looking for a new car these days, whether ex-factory or second-hand, is not to be envied. Never before have you had to think so much if you wanted to choose an economically viable individual transportation solution.
This is less to do with supply and choice than with the ever-changing regulations and environmental factors.
Petrol or diesel, this question already seems to be clear, only courageous buyers are still opting for diesel, which environmentally conscious cities want to put an end to soon.
But even choosing a latest-generation petrol engine is not a risk-free choice, as the particulate emissions of a direct-injection engine are apparently several times higher than those of a modern diesel. This is because the particulate filter has not yet been prescribed - by means of limit values - and has therefore not been installed. But tomorrow, it seems, concerned city fathers may decide otherwise.
So it's best to opt for an electric car or a hybrid. This would appear to be a wise choice today, but who knows whether new bottlenecks in the production of batteries or previously suppressed problems with their disposal will not lead to new findings tomorrow. In addition, stricter taxation based on weight would make some people rethink.
Why is it that legislation and framework conditions change so quickly today, whereas in the past you could be sure for decades that the car you bought would still be allowed to drive in the future? In the past, retroactive interventions were only rarely made, for example with regard to the requirement for brakes on all four wheels or the existing signaling/lighting equipment. In most cases, retrofits were comparatively inexpensive and were announced well in advance. So no problem.
Today, everything is different and a wrong purchase decision can quickly mean tens of thousands in loss of value. Even something as trivial as forgetting to tick the box for DAB+ reception can have a negative impact on a later sale, should ultra-short wave really disappear one day.
Yes, car buyers used to have it easier ...
