Ways That We Waste Money On Our Cars
There is a fine line between taking good care of your car, and wasting money on it. Here are some common ways that we waste money on our cars:
Gas: Not all cars benefit from premium gas. Octane just prevents knock. Using a higher octane gasoline than your owner's manual recommends offers no benefits. It won't make your car perform better, go faster or run cleaner. Buy the cheapest gas that doesn't make your car engine knock.
Oil: You don't always have to get your oil changed every 3,000 miles. Some vehicles can go much longer before the oil really needs to be changed. Many car markers now include oil monitors that tell you when the oil is dirty. And don't be talked into buying a high-priced synthetic oil, unless your car is one of the few high performance cars that actually need it.
Antifreeze: You don't necessarily need to change the antifreeze every winter. Antifreeze often only needs to be changed every two or three years. Check the manufacturer's recommendations as well as the recommendations on the antifreeze container.
Replacements: You can easily change things like your air filter and wiper blades yourself. Buy them on sale at a discount auto-parts store rather than having a garage or dealer replace them.
Maintenance: Stick to the manufacturer's recommended schedule, not the dealers, unless there is an obvious problem. If your engine is running fine, don't change the spark plugs or wires until the manufacturer says so.
Repair Shops: Look for a well kept shop with someone who is willing to answer all your questions. Make sure that estimates include a provision that no extra work will be done on the car without your permission. Take your car for a drive to make sure the problem is fixed before you pay. Pay with a credit card in case there is a dispute later.
Warranties: Not complaining when your warranty claim is rejected can be a mistake. Check Alldata and the NHTSA to see if a technical service bulletin has been issued about the component in question. Manufacturers will often repair known defects outside of the warranty period. This is sometimes referred to as a 'secret warranty'.
Extended warranties: You don't need to buy an extended warranty right away. Most manufacturers will allow you to wait until just before the regular warranty expires to decide. By then you should know whether your car is problematic enough to require an extended warranty. It's not always worth the price.
Records: Keeping a log book of the repairs done to your car can help you determine if something's out of whack. With a log book and receipts, it will be easy to keep track of the repairs that have been done. It can also be helpful at resale time.
Insurance: Don't over insure your vehicle. Never skimp on liability, but why pay for collision and comprehensive insurance if your car isn't worth much to begin with? Add your deductible to your yearly bill for collision and comprehensive coverage, then compare that total to the value of your car. If it's more than half, then it may be a waste of money.
Tires: Knowing(how to change a tire and changing it yourself can save you both time and money. Make sure your spare is in good shape and that you have all of the necessary tools in your trunk.
Car Washes: Why pay for a car wash when you can do it yourself? Do you really need to pay for long lines and gray water? Doing it yourself is cheaper and you'll know that it's been done right.
Published on Friday, March 27, 2009 - Email to a friend
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