Secrets to keep your car looking like new for 10 years

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 are overwhelmingly compelling. So why is it so rare to find someone who has had the same car for so long? After all, most cars today will still be running well after a couple hundred thousand miles. So why do people keep buying a new car when there is nothing wrong with the one they have? Group pressure? Maybe it looks outdated? This could be true, especially when the new edition undergoes major style changes. Maybe it’s because people are starting to worry about the likelihood of a major mechanical problem.

We’ve found that if you can keep it looking like new through a proven strategy, it will be that much harder to make a new car purchase. 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 OVERNIGHT. Most people think that the damage is the result of the strenuous midday heat and the dust that bakes the grime into the 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 basin here in Los Angeles that is filled with cars moving around all day. Exhaust fumes, pollution and road grime rise into the atmosphere on hot days and hang there until cool sea air enters and captures the pollution in moisture that will condense on the car. That morning dew sitting on horizontal vehicle surfaces is a toxic sulfur/acid cocktail from all the trash in our air. It eats away at paint, molding around doors, yellows headlights, and destroys rubber parts. No testing lab can recreate that! Moisture isn’t terribly bad, but if this process is done every night for 5-8 years, it will take its toll on the outside.

2. Keep the vehicle under an overhang at night. The next best thing to a garage would be to prevent the vehicle from getting dewy at night. Reread the reason in the previous paragraph. The next best long-term protection is the overhang. (Car covers come in handy when your vehicle will be at the airport for 2 weeks or in your driveway for a week. As a daily defense, it’s a good idea, but over time it’s a hassle and too messy to put on. Car. )

3. Periodic hair removal. 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 from the elements. As the vehicle ages, attention to the exterior should increase. From time to time, the paint needs to be polished to restore the clarity of the surface. Buffing the paint every year and a half to 15,000 miles will increase the life of the wax and keep the paint in top condition.

4. Regular washing of the exterior will keep the vehicle free of dust and contaminants. The longer dirt and dust sits on the paint, the more likely it is to start sticking to the surface.

5. 3M Paint Protection Film is the best way to keep your paint chips free. By applying this film to the bumper and hood, you will protect the vehicle’s original paint from damage. This film is removable and has no long-term effect on the paint. Possibly this film could be removed in 10 years after installation, and the painting would look like the day it came off the assembly line. Truly the best long term solution for the daily driver.

6. Window tint. Protect the interior from fading and drying out with a lifetime warranty film. During the day, vehicle interiors are vulnerable to the harmful effects of the sun’s UV rays. Window tinting blocks 100% of UV rays. It also reduces internal heat and reduces glare. With regular interior trim and window tint, your interior will look like the day it was installed. Additionally, window tinting improves comfort for passengers and drivers.

7. Semi-annual engine cleaning will ensure proper visibility of fluid levels. It can improve preventive maintenance inspection and keeps the engine running cooler. Also, mechanics respect a clean engine and are more likely to clean it themselves.

8. Periodic removal of small dents and teeth from the door. The cost of keeping your doors dent free is actually reasonable and the paintless dent removal process is non-invasive. It’s impossible to prevent a daily driver from getting knocked on the door, but the good news is that a message can be sent and it can be restored to its original position. No painting or bonding is required and the vehicle retains its original factory paint.

9. Deep cleaning detail. Every 1.5-2 years the vehicle should get a full detail. Most people will wait until the vehicle is so bad that something needs to be done. For a potted plant, that’s the equivalent of waiting until the leaves turn brown before watering.

10. Achieving a like-new vehicle after 10 years will require preventative or preventative care. Detailed appointments scheduled over a 1-year period will help keep the vehicle running. The paint job can’t remind you that you need waxing. So don’t wait until you notice the car is a bit worn before you act. Finally, the mechanical part of the vehicle is just as important. We strongly recommend compliance with all mechanical maintenance schedules.

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