Covid cars - avoid?

skydish79

We are considering buying a used car in January

What are opinions on years to avoid - we were thinking of avoiding cars manufactured in late 2020, 2021 and 2022 due to the supply issues?

SuperBowserWorld

Huh ? Why ?

Jim_Hodge

I can't see what concerns you could have.

goochy

I heard in UK some cars have missing/ weird specs.

MojoMaker

That's called FUD.

L1011

Just check that it has the specs you expect. There were a few cases of cars being sold with massively reduced computerisation/automation etc but not commonly.

User1998

No need to avoid. Any missing specs would have been added to the car when the parts became available

goochy

Hardly when it left the factory ?

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122632043#Comment_122632043

At the dealers

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122632052#Comment_122632052

Not at all. Only if you asked for it and paid extra.

skydish79

Just seen a few articles

https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/valuation-issues-for-covid-cars-impacted-by-supply-chain-disruption

https://www.theautopian.com/will-cars-built-during-covid-end-up-being-problematic-down-the-road/

https://pocketmags.com/it/autocar-magazine/19-jun-2024/articles/1437487/used-car-buyers-warned-of-lingering-covid-symptoms?srsltid=AfmBOooopMxiZeICMjF89tCGQO_8l3cDp-D0XsT8FqxnMyR0oDEab5XF#exitplusarticle

freddieot

What an absolute rabbit hole of nonsense to go down . We're not in the US for a start.

I know people with cars bought in that period. Mine is a 221 for example and I had a 192 and both have the exact spec i ordered.

People here got what was advertised by the dealers, whether it was kia, BMW or whatever. I've never heard of any car being sold here with missing or hokey spec or extras. You get what was paid for..

_BAA_RAM_EWE

In my job their was shortages during that time and things just weren't finished until proper parts were sourced, now though, as their is still shortages, suppliers are using reconditioned parts and salvaged chips etc and things are acting weird (broke) when they arrive. "chip shortage" is just an accepted reason given now and broke stuff is expected.

It's not mission critical stuff or anything. I know one of the car manufacturers were buying up washing machines for the chips, would it be beyond them to use something inferior. Nowadays not a chance. Recall notices over the coming years will probably be interesting.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122641847#Comment_122641847

Stop overthinking it and just buy a car

Hailtothethief

OP, do you remember the lead times of new cars back then? They didn't build the cars with missing stuff, they just didn't finish them! My own VAG was 9 months between ordering and delivery in '22.

magicbastarder

i'm fairly certain a friend who got a toyota mentioned there were several features missing as a result of chip shortages; i must confirm that with them.

skydish79

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122642217#Comment_122642217

You must have missed the article from the uk

hoodie6029

Our cars are so poorly specced anyway, who would notice?

I know of one person specifically that always bought brand new, every 2 years. But always the absolute poverty spec. And I’m sure there is plenty more besides…

Also our ‘friend’ in Portlaoise, nearly 2 decades of brand new, poverty spec Focuses.

Glaceon

My wife had a 2020 Kamiq which supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto over Wi-Fi. Her current 2022 one only supports it over a wired connection, supposedly due to chip shortages at the time.