In August of last year, car prices had achieved a record high of over $31,000 in 2013 (source: www.usatoday.com), and it has become more important than ever that you protect the life of your automobile. Automobiles today can easily last for more than 250,000 miles with using some of these Your Smart Money Moves tips. My latest used car purchase is already at 130,000 miles and I intend to take it over the 200,000 mile marker. Here are five ideas on how to make your car last longer.
- Follow the maintenance book- It always pays to be penny wise and not pound foolish. There is a reason the dealership gives you a laid out schedule with a coupon book for servicing your car. If you follow that guide to a tee, the cost of maintaining your car will be a lot less expensive than having to shell out a bunch of cash for a new one.
- Keep your tires full- Think about the bumps, potholes, and stop and go that is put on your tires. Not only do I think it is a good idea to make sure you have quality tires on your car, but if even one tire is low on pressure make sure you stop by the gas station to get them filled to the right pressure. This will help on gas mileage as well as wear and tear on the car.
- Clean it- Especially those of you who live in the Snow Belt, the salt crust will absolutely beat up your car. Try to keep your car parked in the shade when you go to work and make sure to invest the time or money to clean the inside and outside of your car so your car looks as good as new.
- Use premium gasoline- It took me a number of automobiles to really realize the difference with this trick. I fill up the car twice with the regular unleaded and then clean it with a super unleaded gasoline. While this will add just a little extra for your monthly gasoline bill, the savings in the long run will make a lot of sense.
- Don’t avoid going to the mechanic- Not many people like going to see the doctor, so they end up avoiding it even though they know it is not a good idea for the long term. The same is true with your automobile. The moment you notice something is wrong, bring it to have quality mechanic take a look at the problem. As long as you trust your mechanic, you’ll solve small problems before they become big ones.
Don’t worry about what your neighbors or friends think when it comes to you holding on to a car for 8 or 10 years. You’ll get the last laugh when you have more money to enjoy for vacations or maybe even making work optional!
Written by: Ted Jenkin
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