Keeping Your Car Healthy and Functioning
Buying a car or other personal vehicle is a substantial investment. Even used cars are typically going to be a few thousand dollars, and on top of that you will be spending money throughout the life of the vehicle as well, whether it is filling up on gas, getting oil changes or tune ups, new tires, a paint job, or any number of other maintenance issues, it takes a great deal of time, money and energy to keep your car in working condition. And it is all worth it, right? You can go where you want when you want, and if you are making smart choices when browsing the auto dealerships, you should end up saving money and helping to reduce gas consumption and emissions as well. But once you have made your selection, you will also want to have the number of a good body shop too.
Having the right body shop in mind
Hopefully, if you are just making a car purchase, you will not be in need of an auto body shop any time in the near future. But scoping out which body shop would be best for you and your car needs can save time and money if the day does come that you need some work done on your trusty personal carriage. Many places consider the work that they do in the shop to be more of a form or work of art than a procedure solely about the mechanics of repairing dents and scratches. Whether you were involved in an unfortunate accident and are hoping to mend your damaged vehicle, or you are hoping to brighten your ride with a new paint job, you will want to find the shop that employs individuals who are passionate about the work that they do, in order for you to get the most out of your money, and to ensure your satisfaction when your car is returned to you. Some places even have perks like cheap or even free towing, and loaner cars for you to use while yours is being worked on, so you do not have to miss out on anything.
Taking care of your vehicle
There are plenty of things that you can do and precautions you can take to help your car continue to run smoothly for as long as possible, getting years of service out of it. Regular tune ups are advisable, and be sure to check the oil and tires regularly as well. Within the past 30 years, there have been pretty significant advancements made in oil use and technology, and many vehicles no longer need what had been a standard oil change at 3,000 miles. Many vehicles are now equipped with oil life monitors which are set up with sensors that will automatically alert you when an oil change is necessary. Aside from oil changes, you should also be keeping track of how often the belts and hoses in your vehicle are checked. So many vehicle breakdowns could be avoided altogether if the right belts and hoses were replaced instead of being used well past the point of being completely worn down. During one inspection of multiple vehicles, about 19% had at least one belt that was not up to operating standards, and 17% of the vehicles needed at least one hose to be replaced. It may seem like a lot to remember, but taking your car in regularly can help you maintain the health of the vehicle.
We as a society spend more on our personal vehicles than ever before. In just one year (between 2011 and 2012) the average cost per vehicle for yearly maintenance rose from $514 to a staggering $5371, which did not even take into account the costs for car insurance and repair service policies. The technology may be getting better, and it may end up costing more to risk not getting a check up for your car, but hopefully keeping your car healthy will soon become a bit easier on our wallets and bank accounts.