Are Kiwi cars less reliable?
Over the past few years, car manufacturers have been making vehicles that are more aerodynamic and feature-packed. These changes increase drag, which in turn decreases fuel efficiency.
The lower gas mileage is partly due to having to use more power to move the vehicle through the air, but also because of how much energy is lost when the car loses momentum and comes to a stop.
When a driver starts moving again, they must get back into gear and this can be quite difficult if the engine has to work harder to start moving again.
This is why most engines include something called an idle control valve. The valve works by allowing certain parts of the engine to deactivate while you are sitting still. When you do come to a stop though, these systems close off so that your engine doesn’t need to spend extra money burning fuel trying to stay running.
Many people think that it’s expensive for the manufacturer to create this technology, but what many don’t realize is that some of those costs are paid for by someone else!
The government pays half of the cost to make new engines function properly, and old ones are reimbursed if they are torn down and recycled. Head down to your nearest AA or NZTA to learn about what cars they recommend for New Zealand roads.
