In this day and age, because of the ever-changing economic times, it seems as though drivers are holding onto their cars as long as possible whether they have 100,000 miles on them or over 200,000. For some, this is a constant personal struggle as in our society we seem to have been programmed into thinking that once our car hits that 100,000-mile marker it’s time to replace it because it is suddenly “old” or unreliable.
This can be far from the truth.
Sure, 2 years ago when our vehicles hit that 75,000- to 100,000-mile mark, it was most likely that it was time for that car to go. But today it is not uncommon at all for a modern-day vehicle to easily last up to 250,000 miles or more. Preventative or routine maintenance is the key to making this happen.
Many auto shops see their customers become scared of their vehicles because they suddenly think their car is unreliable or can’t be trusted. When preventative maintenance is performed, a mechanic will be able to anticipate an upcoming automotive difficulty. Many automotive repair shops have seen a pattern in today’s times where maintenance and recommended repairs have been put off because of tough economic times, but then the same car comes back soon after with even more problems because the maintenance was delayed. Every vehicle make needs the typical maintenance with oil changes, brakes, air filters, oil filters, etc. But vehicles often need service every 30,000 miles, where spark plugs, belts among other items are checked This is where mechanics can foresee a problem. For instance, when a cracked, loose hose or belt repair costing often under $100 is put off, major engine problems such as overheating can occur down the road, making the next repair bill extremely high. Also, when a “check engine” light comes on some like to ignore this-don’t. This light means that your car is telling you that something in your vehicle is not working properly. Bring your vehicle to be checked out by your mechanic-it could be as simple as a loose gas cap, but it could also be a more serious problem that could cause major engine problems or blow ups.
Cars are too often replaced when drivers suddenly think the needed repairs are too expensive and then feel as though it would be more cost effective to get stuck in a new car payment. Sure, a big repair can cost up to $500-$2000, but if the preventative maintenance is kept up after this repair, the drive may not be seeing anymore bills that high for some time.
Overall, when you look at the price of the “big-ticket” repair it will be far more economical that the cost of a newer car especially when payments are involved over many years. And remember, those big-ticket repairs can often be prevented as long as you don’t delay your preventive maintenance. And of course, sometimes it may actually be time to replace your vehicle; a qualified shop will be able to let you know if its wiser to replace your car or if you should continue the repairs and maintenance.
