Back
Waiting for a new car - is it worth it?
Waiting for a new car - is it worth it?
We all know that the process of buying a car can be frustrating, tedious and repetitive. There are pros and cons to buying new or used cars, and these must be weighed carefully against safety and practicality while still being packaged in a vehicle you actually want to drive.
In the past few years, this process has been further complicated by supply shortages caused by Covid-19 and then exacerbated by other events such as the Ukraine war.
In this article, we’ll go over the things you should keep in mind when deciding whether to buy new or pre-used, as well as provide some estimates of wait times for Hyundai cars.
The chips are down
The main reason for the increased wait time is a shortage of semiconductor chips, a critical component in many features of modern cars, like sensors, power management, displays, and control devices.
Electric vehicles need even more semiconductors, which means their production has been even more affected. Despite this, demand for electric vehicles, driven by soaring fuel prices, has exploded. Sales more than tripled in Australia last year, with more than 17 000 finding new homes.
Another hurdle for electric vehicles here is that many companies aren’t prioritising Australia as a destination, instead sending their limited supply to other markets with stricter emission restrictions that would preclude sales of other models in their ranges.
How long must I wait?
To help you decide whether it’s worth waiting, we’ve compiled a rough list of wait times for new Hyundai models.
- The Tucson has a 7-month wait whereas for the Staria its 5 months. The Staria’s front-wheel-drive cargo-hauling cousin the Staria-Load will only have a wait time of two months.
- The Kona N SUV will be roughly 24 months, with its electric version somewhere between eight and nine.
- Our i30 range, Australia’s most awarded small car, is still relatively easy to obtain, with a wait time of around 3 months.
- The new IONIQ 5 has seen strong demand and is still in limited supply, so Hyundai has gone with a staggered release block system, dropping a new set every 12 months. If you do manage to get your name on the list you’ll still have a three to six-month wait for delivery.
Things to consider
Having seen how long it might take to get your hands on a new Hyundai, you’re probably thinking it might be better to simply buy a used vehicle, so here we’ll take at what to keep in mind when you’re making this decision.
- Cost: The most obvious and widely-known pro of a used car is that they tend to be significantly cheaper than buying brand new.
- Customisability: when you get a new car it comes with a lot more options. Safety packs, accessory kits, even wheel trim and paint colours. Buying used, though, means you’re getting what you get, without any room for customisation.
- Distance: if you’re buying a used car it’ll have seen some travel. However, all of our used cars have been thoroughly tested and checked to ensure they’re completely safe.
- Warranties: all our new cars come with a five-year unlimited kilometre warranty, and additional coverage is available for accessories.
Is it worth the wait?
It depends on you!
If you’re happy to wait, the accessory options and warranty might make buying a new car the better option.
If you’re in more of a hurry or want to take advantage of lower prices, one of our pre-owned vehicles would also be a great choice.
Whatever you decide, we at Mantello Hyundai Roxburgh Park are happy to help!