A new car is a significant financial investment, whether it’s fresh off the production line or a new addition to you. Implementing car care tips cannot only enhance its value and prolong its lifespan but also save you money in the long run, making it a smart financial decision.
Proper vehicle maintenance is a bit more than the annual MOT or service, although both are important. The MOT, as you know, is a legal requirement.
It’s about taking a holistic view of how you drive, the care your vehicle needs, and ensuring that you do everything in your power to help you avoid or minimise damage to the interior, exterior, and working components to deliver a smooth, safe drive each and every time you get behind the wheel.
So, let’s take a closer look at some of the things you can do to keep your new set of wheels in the best condition possible.
Wax and Polish
Waxing and polishing your car’s bodywork is about more than ensuring it looks good. It allows you to identify any scratches, dents, or other issues, such as first impacting the body and paint. Regular washing is great, but that extra step that will help you keep your vehicle in top condition is ensuring you have a wax and polish routine in place that allows you to inspect it on a deeper level.
Invest in top-of-the-range cleaning and polishing buffing tools as well as a power waxer to deliver a more thorough and even application that offers shine and protection to your car’s paintwork.
Upholstery Care
By giving attention to the interior of your vehicle, you’re not just preserving its resale value, but also ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable driving experience. No one wants to drive in a car that’s messy or sit on worn-out seats, so maintaining the interior will keep you and your passengers at ease.
Regularly cleaning away rubbish, removing heavy items, vacuuming the carpets and seats, and even using seat protectors can help reduce wear and tear. Floor mats, leather cleaner and protector, and shampooing to remove ground-i dirt and stains will also go a long way to helping you preserve the soft furnishings inside your vehicle.
Ensures you wipe away any dust and build-up from hard surfaces, such as your dashboard, handles, steering wheel, door handles, centre consoles, etc. This enables you to ensure a clean, hygienic interior and will help you identify any damage that might need fixing, too.
Drive Properly
Once you have passed your driving test and built up your experience on the road, it is only natural that some bad habits can slip into how you drive. This isn’t just about making bad decisions on the road, although you need to avoid those too; it’s about how you drive.
Moving off at speed, not gradually, not changing gears correctly, crunching gears, riding the clutch, and more are all bad habits that can and do create wear and tear on the vehicle and how it runs. The more bad habits you possess, the more likely you are to experience significant issues prematurely or increase the likelihood of certain parts failing. For example, regular heavy braking increases wear and tear on the brake parts, and driving up and down kerbs can impact tyre wear and cause uneven tread, even knocking the wheel balance and tracking out, causing more damage and increasing fuel consumption, too.
Spark Plugs, Filters and Bulbs
Despite cars becoming more and more complex, involving many complicated parts and processes, there are still some things that remain the same, such as the need to update and change your air filters and spark plugs regularly. If you are getting your vehicle serviced regularly, then it will be done as part of your service. However, if you do not, or if you drive a lot more than usual, i.e. a delivery driver or taxi driver, then doing this between services can be beneficial and help your vehicle run as needed.
Regularly checking and replacing your bulbs, including brake lights and headlights, is not just a legal requirement but also a safety measure. Ensuring all your lights are in working condition not only keeps you safe on the road but also prevents potential fines and penalties, giving you peace of mind.
Taking care of your vehicle is about more than simply giving it a quick wash every now and again. It’s about driving it properly, paying attention to the small details and changes to how it drives, making regular service repairs, and ensuring it looks its best at all times.