The day you drove your car off of the lot, the dealership probably detailed it for you. And you might have noticed how sparkly and shiny it was for that first week. But after that, the shine that you loved so much probably began to fade.
Wear and tear happens to all vehicles. And believe it or not, Americans spend up to 200 dollars at a time just for car detailing services.
The good news is, you don’t have to break the bank to keep your car looking its best year-round. In fact, there are plenty of methods for helping your car keep its allure, and continue looking great no matter its age.
With some aged vehicles, it’s harder to keep them looking great without a complete body overhaul. But for today’s drivers, you can easily keep your car looking youthful by considering the following advice.
Paint Protection
Of all the attributes of your car, a fading paint job is the first tell-tale sign of age. But paint is nothing like human skin. And this simply means that though your car might age, it never has to show its age if you take the proper steps.
Adding a protection film to your paint job is a great strategy for keeping the paint protected under a variety of conditions.
As you drive, your car is subject to a number of conditions that can cause the paint to chip and fade. Whether this comes in the forms of road debris, tar, grease, rain, or other weathering elements, paint protection film offers you a layer of defense between your car’s paint and damaging substances.
Paint protection films typically last for several years. And if you wash and wax frequently, you can enjoy that glimmer that lured you in at the dealership for years to come.
Adjust Your Driving Habits
Believe it or not, your driving habits can seriously affect the rate at which your car will age. And if every time you get behind the wheel you think you’re Mario Andretti, this is sure to deteriorate your car’s age at a much faster pace.
If you’re a speed racer, chances are you need to take it down a notch or two. And this will keep your vehicle from incurring too much wear and tear.
Over the course of a vehicle’s lifespan, abruptly shifting, slamming on the brakes, taking sharp turns and the like can affect engine performance and take a huge toll on your suspension and other components.
And these are practices you’ll want to avoid if you want to keep your car looking and feeling worn.
Sun Protection
One of the biggest causes for a car looking old is due to the direct effects of sunlight over many years. The sun will help deteriorate your paint job, and it can also warp the polymers in your dashboard, or any other plastic pieces on the vehicle’s exterior.
Many waxes and polishes offer some degree of UV protection, much like sunblock for human skin. But as you wash your car and it endures road-wear, this protection fades as well.
One of the best defenses to keep your car looking new is to keep it out of direct sunlight whenever possible. And there are many ways to do this.
If you have no access to a garage or a carport, consider using a car cover. And if you do have a garage, keep it indoors as often as possible. Additionally, take advantage of parking spots that offer shade when you’re out in town shopping or running errands.
The life of your car depends largely on you and how you care for it while you own it. And if you neglect regular maintenance, washing, or if you drive like you’re on the Brickyard, you run the risk of aging your car considerably in very little time. So ensure that you care for your car often, and it will likely benefit you in the long run.
