Turbo engines accelerate vehicle repair costs

 Once the badge of the boy racer, turbos will be fitted to more than 70 percent of new cars in the UK within the next 10 years, experts predict.

Whilst they ably improve efficiency and lower CO2 emissions, owners will also hope they become more reliable and cheaper to repair.

According to data from Warranty Direct, turbocharged cars are more likely to breakdown today than their non-turbo rivals, leaving owners with repair bills as high as £2,500.

Delivering up to 40% better fuel economy for diesels and 20% for petrol, turbochargers are leading the way in the drive towards smaller, greener engines.

Today, 50 percent of cars built in Europe come fitted with the technology, which pushes compressed air into the engine, but that figure could rise to as high as 85 percent by 2020.

However, analysis of claims handled by Warranty Direct shows the average repair cost stands at £874.82, almost half as much again as the average engine failure cost of £619. In the worst cases, the figure has been as high as £2,484.67.

Despite the rise in petrol cars with turbos, diesel cars still account for more than 85% of all turbo failures handled by the Company. Meanwhile, overall, turbo cars are generally more likely to fail and more expensive to fix.

Overall cost of repair and incidence rates for turbo and non-turbo cars

Duncan McClure Fisher of Warranty Direct warns: “The vast majority of owners probably don’t even realise their vehicle is equipped with a turbocharger. As they become even more prevalent, it’s important that motorists make sure they have adequate protection, should the unwanted happen.”

ENDS

* Editors Notes - sources: www.honeywell.com; http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8266975.stm; http://www.ihsglobalinsight.com/Automotive