Our steel horses that we demand the best from everyday, also need from us our best. We expect them to thrash through the wet, the snow, the sleet and dirt roads. We command them to do this without hesitation and to remain strong while they do. We maneuver them harshly and expect them to follow every move we do without breaking down. Although our cars are purely inanimate objects, great pieces of modern engineering they need annual care to make sure they perform at their best. All too often, there are drivers that know how to push their cars to the limit but no idea how to take care of them so they can remain at a high level of performance. It’s not a toy that one can simply use up and the toss aside. Sidestepping the knowledge deficit, for many the issue of caring for their car isn’t their lack of attitude. In fact it’s usually always about money because they think they won’t be able to afford the things they must to use on their car. This is all wrong and thankfully, there are several ways you can give your car the best annual checks without denting your wallet.
See what’s popular
Many cars will actually hold their value despite being several years old. This is bizarre to many people because almost any other product, it’s the exact opposite. You can’t buy a pair of jeans and then see the value stay the same or even get better a few years after of wearing it. You should therefore realize that there are people out there that value cars for their worth in several key areas. They of course operate much like any other business as some things will be more valuable than others.
Go onto expert car websites such as Autosport, Top Gear, WhatCar, AutoCar, and CarBuyer. They have articles of all kinds that allow you to see where your car stands in terms of degradation and market value. You should even sign up with an account so you can talk on the forums with other motorists. They will show you why your car might be worth more if you fix something pertaining to the quality or originality of the vehicle. For example, some old TVR cars are worth a lot more than when they were first sold because they are rare but also because they are unique. Sold at $50,000, some are now with around $80,000 or more. See what is popular regarding your own car. Do people like the ride handling? Do people like the interior? What can you fix up or take extra care of to make sure when you do come to selling your car it retains as much value as possible.
Fluctuating quotes to the rescue
For many car owners, getting all the legal paperwork done is a hassle. It’s never fun to sit through multiple papers and trying to scour the internet trying to find the best possible deal. Of all the things that annoy people, car insurance is by far the most testing of all. For customers that don’t really want to spend a lot of money and get the basic car they will have many options. For car insurance companies they are more than willing to offer very basic care and set a reasonable price. However if you want more than just the bare bones of something, you will have to pay more. The insurance companies know this and they will increase your coverage but only along with the price which makes perfect sense. The thing is though, just because the list of things they cover has increased doesn’t actually mean they all apply to you or your situation.
It’s therefore very advisable to use a professional service that can compare car insurances for you annually. This is done every single year to make sure that you are on the best plan possible. Some plans that suit you might be a little too expensive so you settle for less one year. The next year these could flip. So many car owners just stick with whatever insurance plan they sign up to and never look back. This is a big mistake if you want to save money. So changing up your plan every year to something that is cheaper and still gives you everything you need can first be initiated by comparing quotes from hundreds of different companies.
The health of the bones
A car from the outside might look great. Spick and span, the car can look clean and safe to drive. However underneath, the chassis and the metal parts can be rotting and can cause the car to handle horrible. It goes without saying that this is also a safety concern but once rust and other fatigue sets in it’s difficult to get rid of. You’ll be wasting a lot of money of paying for part repairs and replacements. The car however, will never be the same again.
Twice or three times a year you should lift your car up and check underneath for signs of deterioration. This could be cracks in the bodywork, rust in the suspension, bending of the axle or drive shaft etc. The bones of the car need just as much car as the interior and the exterior. A car’s strength is locked in these bones and thus you should wash away grit and salt from underneath the car when you have driven over dirt and wet surfaces. Especially during the winter when the roads are being salted, you should get home and wash your car with a hose for a few minutes.
There are lots of things you should be doing annually to your car but saving money and retaining as much value of the car as possible are the two main concerns you should have. Clean the underside of the car, where harmful chemicals and debris can hide to stop rust from setting in. Snoop around to find the best insurance plan annually so you are keeping a fluid position and saving as much money as you can.
