“Your car should be your peace, not your headache”
And if you maintain it will, it will surely bring you peace
As a car enthusiast, I love to maintain my car. It’s not tedious work for me but it makes me happy. But the cost of maintenance sometimes deprives happiness.
I bought my SUV five years ago, and as we say the bigger car comes with bigger expenses. But in these years I got to know about some tricks to save thousands in repair costs. Being an automobile guy helped me because I knew more about cars and their parts.
In this article, I will tell you those secrets that will reduce the amount of money you spend on maintenance. So let’s get started.
When I bought my SUV, I researched the motor market and gathered information online to find out the maintenance cost. Before buying a vehicle you must know about this information. You should only buy it if you can maintain it because later on the car will become a burden on you.
I can tell you that this machine ages like a fine wine if you maintain it well.
When you take it for repair, check the price of the parts, fluids, and other services like washing and cleaning of the interior. Every brand offers free repairs for some time but after that, they charge an amount. But before giving that amount do good research to get a reasonable cost.
Every vehicle has its period between two repairs. When I bought the SUV, they told me to do maintenance every 10,000km. But for sedans and hatchbacks, it was lesser because SUVs are more rigid and reliable as compared to others.
I always take my SUV for servicing after it touches the 8,000km mark because I don’t want to delay the repair. Delaying it may result in some major problems or even minor ones can build up to become a major problem. You should change the fluids from time to time, doing this gives a smooth driving experience and avoids any malfunction.
The first few services are free from the brand itself. So you should use it but after that try exploring the other mechanics. I started visiting some mechanics for the servicing, and I got to know the different rates for the same thing.
It’s not important to find a cheap mechanic but to find a mechanic you can trust. For me, my vehicle is my family member and I can’t compromise on his health. I make sure that it goes to a trusted and experienced person. A mechanic should know how to repair your car and should have the original parts.
This is the average cost of maintenance which can be reduced a bit if you do some basic repairs by yourself.
Don’t rush to mechanics for little problems. Learn about your drive, find out how to do basic chores like changing tires, doing basic cleanings, changing coolant, and others. Doing this will save you money and it will also help if you ever get stuck on the highway.
Try watching YouTube videos for the tutorial on basic repairs. You can also do normal modifications like spray painting your alloys or spoilers. For me doing these basic repairs is indulgence. I do these on weekends which also cuts the repair cost.
Do you know, how much is car insurance costs? A very lesser percentage of its actual worth. Never miss out on buying insurance for your vehicle. Insurance and warranties are one of the most significant to have if you own a car.
If your machine faces any problem within the warranty you can get it repaired for free. Any technical issue can be resolved under the warranty period. You don’t have to spend a single penny for it.
Insurance is a lifeline for your automobile. It covers the accidents, engine failures, and other vital issues you may face. Unfortunately, if you ever get involved in an accident and your car gets wrecked and if you have insurance then all the repairing costs will be paid by the insurance company.
With god’s grace, I never faced any accident but one of my friends unfortunately had an accident. But he received huge relief as he had insurance. From this incident, I learned that car insurance is no less important than life insurance.
When you go for servicing of your car at a shop avoid making rookie mistakes. Don’t trust the mechanic blindly, know your drive better than him. Avoid using parts of other models to save money because it can lead to major issues that will cost much more than before.
When the servicing is completed make sure to have a test drive. Check the fuel meter and miles driven before and after giving your car to a workshop. Remove all the belongings and documents and make sure to keep a spare with you. I keep these things in mind to avoid any complications in the future.
As an enthusiast, I agree that fast and rash driving gives adrenaline. But it is not good for your car. It reduces the lifespan of the machine. Don’t invite big trouble in the future for temporary enjoyment.
Do You Know? Globally, road accidents cause around 1.3 million deaths per year
This data must scare and alert you to drive responsibly to keep yourself and your car safe.
To conclude, I will say that your way of driving and maintenance directly affects your car’s health. I save my money by using these tricks and you can also do the same. I hope my article will help you in future.
