Keeping the value of your car high

Posted on March 17, 2008
Filed Under Cars | Leave a Comment

I wrote a couple of day ago about selling my used car. I managed to get a good deal for it because the car was well maintained even though it had been on the road for 18 years. In general, a car is not an investment and one should never purchase a car for this purpose; always buy the car that will fulfill your driving needs and nothing more. A new car loses its value much faster than a used car so depending on how much driving you want to do, I strongly suggest that you spend your money on a good quality used car.

A used car that is well maintained will retain more of its value for longer which means that if at some point in the future you decide to sell it then you can get most of your money back. So, how to you keep your car in good condition? There are many ways. For example, make sure to take it to the mechanic regularly to have the oil changed and the engine tuned. Also, keep it clean inside and out to prevent rusting of the frame. Purchase a car cover, especially if you are parking your car outside all the time; better yet, given the option, park your car in an underground parking like I did. Sure it will cost you a bit more since you have to pay for parking every month but it might prevent the frame from rusting or some bonehead from crushing into it on the street; good luck selling a car full of rust or one which have been in an accident even if it was not your fault.

Lastly, I suggest that you avoid driving the car for no reason. If your destination is within walking distance then leave your car at home. Other than avoiding unnecessary wear and tear of your vehicle, you get to exercise a bit which has many other health benefits. You are also burning less fossil fuels and you are not contributing to the ever increasing problems of air pollution and global warming.

So, these are a few simple ideas of how to keep your car’s value high so that, if need be, you can sell it at a price that will put a smile on your face.

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