Buying a new car sure has a lot of appeals – squeaky clean, better features, even that new car smell. But did you know that by keeping your current vehicle longer, you can actually save more money in the end? The smartest way to get a solid return on your vehicle investment is to keep your car through what Car Care Council calls the “Cinderella Era”. What is the “Cinderella Era”, you ask? This is the period of time after your loan is paid off and your car is still in great shape, but only needs modest service and repairs. By simply allocating the equivalent of just 1 new car payment, you may be able to cover an entire year’s worth of basic car maintenance!
With proper care, a typical vehicle should deliver at least 200,000 miles of safe performance. And that’s no fairy tale. Factory recommended maintenance procedures and timely repairs such as checking the oil, filters and fluids, the belts and hoses, brakes, tires, and air conditioning, keep your car operating safely and reliably while maintaining its long-term value. Here at Luke’s Auto Service, we also recommend an annual check-up and wheel alignment as well!
In the end, a properly maintained vehicle is safer, more dependable, more fuel-efficient, less polluting, and more valuable! As you can see there are many financial benefits associated with holding on to your vehicle during the “Cinderella Era”. Be sure to bring your vehicle down to Luke’s Auto Service in Essex County, New Jersey, and our certified technicians will keep you on schedule with all of your routine maintenance procedures to ensure your current vehicle maintains its long-term value!
Still on the fence about if you should buy a new car or keep your old one? Check out our previous blog post Should I Repair or Replace My Vehicle? for more information!
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