The cars we drive are among the most significant investments we make. Getting the best out of them in the long-term means getting into the habit of caring for them every so often. Let’s take a look at a few of the ways in which this might be done!
Regular servicing
The attention of a professional mechanic will benefit your car, allowing you to avoid minor issues before they have a chance to deteriorate into major ones. The dealership you bought the car from may offer regular servicing, but it’s worth shopping around for the best possible deal. The same applies if you’re leasing the car.
A service will make your car safer and more valuable in the long-term, and it’ll also lower the cost of repairs. This is because you’ll be able to avoid expensive problems rather than having to fix them afterwards.
Tackle issues head-on
It can be tempting to ignore problems when they first begin to manifest. If the check engine light comes on and then switches off by itself, then you might assume that the problem has fixed itself. This is rarely the case. Consequently, it pays to be pro-active. Seek out repairs before they have a chance to really slow you down. If you’ve built a good relationship with a mechanic in whom you can trust, then you can take the car to them at the first sign of trouble, without fear you’re going to be ripped off.
Keep it clean
To get the best of life behind the wheel, you should make sure that the interior and exterior of your car are treated to a regular clean. That means vacuuming the upholstery and polishing any leather and chrome items. It also means getting rid of any residue building up on the engine.
Washing the exterior bodywork will help the car to look its best in the long-term, but it’ll also confer a few functional benefits. For one thing, it’ll keep your windows as clear as possible, ensuring maximum visibility. For another, it’ll help to preserve your car’s value in the long-term.
Refill
Your car relies on several types of consumables, including oil and wiper-fluid. You’ll want to be sure that everything is topped up. This includes the air that you put into your tyres, which will have a marked impact on your fuel economy, and the likelihood of your being involved in an accident.
Of course, you’ll also want to periodically rotate and replace your tyres, too. Do this well before they reach the legal tread-depth minimum of 1.6mm, as you’ll see a drop off in performance well before then.