Good
as new
Squeeze more miles
out of your car with
these minor makeovers
By Peter Bohr
automotive
connection
WITH THE ECONOMY in maximum “
under-drive,” a new car may not be the top priority
on some motorists’ lists. Instead, they’re
looking to squeeze more miles out of the car
they have.
Driving an older car longer does save
money—about $11,000 if you keep your
four-year-old car another four years instead
of trading it, according to a recent study by
management consulting firm Runzheimer
International. And modern cars are so durable, easily reaching 150,000 miles before
becoming too tired to drive, that buying a
new car is sometimes more a matter of desire
than necessity.
Instead, consider investing some of
those savings in a minor makeover and Old
Faithful could become almost as good as
new, as well as safer and more reliable. Here
are some suggestions.
First, fix it. Ask your dealer or mechanic
to give your car a thorough inspection. Some
The Costco Connection
Costco members will find a variety of
car-cleaning items, tires, wheels, mats, seat
covers, GPS, iPod adapters and more at
their local Costco and on Costco.com.
Purchasing tires through Costco and
Costco.com includes free lifetime pressure
checks, tire balancing, tire rotations, as well
as flat repairs.
Still want to buy a new car? Check out
Costco’s auto buying and auto insurance
programs on Costco.com under “Services”.
AAA auto clubs also offer inspections. If the
inspection uncovers a cracked cooling system
hose, frayed windshield wiper or broken
shock absorber, replace it. Remember that
annoying power window that seems to work
only during a full moon? Repair it. And if the
odometer shows between 60,000 and 90,000
miles, renew the engine timing belt before it
breaks, demolishing both the engine and your
bank account.
Perform whatever routine service is due,
as listed in the owner’s manual. During last
October’s Car Care Month campaign, the Car
Care Council, an automotive-repair trade
group (
www.carcare.org), found that one-third of the vehicles inspected had low, overfull or dirty motor oil; a fifth had low, leaking
or dirty coolant; a sixth had low, overfull or
burnt transmission fluid.
Re-tire it. “New tires are the easiest,
quickest and most cost-effective way to make
an older car feel like new,” says Doug Kott,
senior feature editor of Road & Track magazine. Tires with deep tread better grip the
pavement, enhancing cornering ability. Thick
tread adds to ride comfort because it absorbs
irregularities in the pavement. And unworn
tires are less apt to aquaplane in the rain, a
safety advantage. New tires also may reduce
interior noise and, when properly inflated,
improve fuel economy.
A tire pro can help you select tires that
will provide the attributes you deem most
important. Tires fitted to new cars typically
are optimized for long tread life and low noise
levels, according to Kott. But if, say, responsive
IMAGESOURCE
handling is more important to you, you might
choose high-performance tires, though they
may wear quicker. Whatever you select, have
the wheels aligned and the tires balanced.
Shine it. “It’s psychological, but when I
clean my car it seems to run better,” says Rich
White, Costco member and executive director
of the Car Care Council. It’s amazing how a
professional detailing can make an older car
look spanking new. Or do it yourself, beginning with a wash. Dish soaps strip wax from
the paint; use soap made for cars. Dry with
pure cotton or special microfiber towels—
they won’t leave swirl marks. If the paint
doesn’t feel baby-bottom smooth, use cleaning clay on the surface. Follow with wax to
protect the paint.
Touch-up paints that exactly match your
car’s color are available from your dealer. A
“paintless” dent-removal service can quickly
remove parking-lot dings. Vacuum the interior and use automotive vinyl or leather treatments, or cloth shampoo, on the upholstery.
Accessorize it. Seat covers and a fresh
set of floor mats will spiff up the interior.
Install a set of fancy wheels, a GPS, an after-market sound system, Bluetooth hands-free
kit or an iPod adapter and your old car will
really seem special again. Then …
Enjoy it! C
Peter Bohr, contributing editor of Road &
Track magazine, has written about automobiles for Fortune and Money magazines, as
well as newspapers around the country.
