Written by CARCHEX
There’s no reason every car cannot reach 12 years and 150,000 miles trouble free. Just as the key to long life is proper care, the key to a long-lasting vehicle is proper maintenance and driving. Follow these tips and you’ll keep the wind in your face and steep car payments out of your wallet.
Regular Maintenance – Most automakers provide a service schedule for new vehicles, complete with listings according to mileage for when certain maintenance work should be done. These schedules are not just friendly suggestions from the manufacturer, but should be closely followed. Periodically servicing not only for your vehicle’s oil, but also its brake system, cooling system and transmission can ensure a longer life.
Practice Appropriate Driving Styles- It may seem like a lot of fun to drive like Dale Earnhardt Jr., and start full throttle, whip around corners, and brake hard, but driving like you’re racing at NASCAR not only kills gas mileage, but prematurely wears out your tires, engine, brakes and transmission. Slow and steady does not always win the race, but sure keeps you in the game. So, practice smooth, steady driving to extend the lifetime of your vehicle. Such small changes in your daily driving habits will save hundreds (and thousands) of dollars in repairs and new car costs.
Competent Trained Technicians- While it may seem appealing to crawl underneath and tinker with your vehicle for a cheap Do-It-Yourself repair, the reality is today’s cars are complex and require the knowledge of skilled technicians. Make sure the person looking under your hood is a trusted source.
For more information visit www.carchex.com.
BBB Accredited, Carchex, is a leading online provider of extended vehicle protection.