Most personal finance experts would agree that keeping your vehicle for up to 10 years is a good financial decision. The economics of keeping a vehicle for so long is overwhelmingly compelling. So why is it so rare to find someone who has the same car for so long? After all, most cars today will still be running long after a couple hundred thousand miles. So why do people keep buying a new car when there’s nothing wrong with the one they have? Group pressure? Maybe it looks dated? This could be true, especially when the new edition undergoes major style changes. Maybe it’s because people start to worry about the likelihood of a major mechanical problem.
We’ve found that if you can keep it looking new through a proven strategy, that new car purchase will be much more difficult to make. So what can be done to slow down the aging process? How can you use a car on a regular basis and not get old? There is no particular activity, but several things that contribute to a common goal. The following is a list of ways to keep your car looking like new.
1. By far the number one way to keep your vehicle looking new is to KEEP IT IN THE GARAGE AT NIGHT. Most people think the damage is due to the exhausting midday heat and dust that bakes dirt on paint and plastic; however, the most destructive time is at night, when cold moisture condenses on the surface of the car. This is the source of the problem. We live in a watershed here in Los Angeles that is full of cars that move all day. Exhaust gases, pollution and dirt from the road rise into the atmosphere during hot days and remain suspended there until fresh sea air enters and captures the pollution in the moisture that will condense on the car. That morning dew settling on the horizontal surfaces of the vehicle is a toxic sulfur / acid cocktail of all the garbage in our air. Eat paint, door trim, yellow headlights, and destroy rubber parts. No test lab can recreate that! The humidity is not terribly bad, but if this process is done every night for 5 to 8 years, it will take its toll outside.
2. Keep the vehicle under an overhang at night. The best alternative to a garage would be to prevent the vehicle from fogging up at night. Reread the reason in the previous paragraph. The next best long-term protection is the overhang. (Car covers come in handy when the vehicle will be at the airport for 2 weeks or on the driveway for a week. As a daily defense, it’s a good idea, but over time it’s a hassle and too dirty to put up. Car.)
3. Regular waxing. Regular waxing is every 3 to 4 months or every 5,000 miles. So by the time your vehicle has 20,000 miles, it should have 4 coats of wax. Waxing gives the car a micro-thin layer of protection against the elements. As the vehicle ages, attention to the exterior should increase. Occasionally the paint must be buffed to restore clarity to the surface. Polishing the paint every year and a half or every 15,000 miles will increase the life of the wax and keep the paint in tip-top condition.
4. Regular exterior washes will keep the vehicle free of dust and contaminants. The longer dirt and dust sit on the paint, the more likely it is to start sticking to the surface.
5. 3M Paint Protective Film is the best way to keep paint free from rock chips. By applying this film to the bumper and hood, you will protect the original paint of the vehicle from damage. This film is removable and has no long-term effect on the paint. Possibly this film could be removed 10 years after installation, and the paint would look like the day it came off the assembly line. Truly the best long-term solution for the everyday driver.
6. Sustained window. Protect the interior from discoloration and dryness with a lifetime warranty film. During the day, the interior of vehicles is vulnerable to the harmful effects of the sun’s UV rays. Window tint blocks 100% of UV rays. It also reduces internal heat and reduces glare. With regular interior accents and window tint, the interior will look like the day it was installed. In addition, the tint of the windows improves the comfort of the passenger and drivers.
7. Semi-annual engine cleaning will ensure adequate visibility of fluid levels. It can improve preventive maintenance inspection and keep the engine running cooler. Also, mechanics respect a clean engine and are more likely to clean up what makes it dirty.
8. Periodic removal of small bumps and teeth from the doors. The cost of keeping your doors slam-free is really reasonable and the paintless dent removal process is non-invasive. It’s impossible to prevent a daily driver from eventually receiving a doorbell, but the good news is that a message can be sent and returned to its original position. No need to paint or glue and the vehicle maintains its original factory paint.
9. Deep cleaning detail. Every 1.5 to 2 years, the vehicle should receive a complete detail. Most people will wait until the vehicle is so bad that something needs to be done. For a potted plant, that is the equivalent of waiting until the leaves turn brown before being watered.
10. Getting a vehicle like new after 10 years will require preventive or preventive care. Detail appointments scheduled over a 1-year period will help keep the vehicle on track. The paint job can’t remind you that you need waxing. So don’t wait until you notice that the car is deteriorating a bit before acting. Lastly, the mechanical part of the vehicle is equally important. We highly recommend adhering to all mechanical maintenance schedules.