Compared to the family trucksters of a generation ago, modern cars require about as much maintenance as a toaster. This is a real liberation from the oil, lube and tune merry-go-round that ruled not so long ago.
Curiously, many people haven't adjusted their thinking to keep pace with new car maintenance schedules. The preoccupied still run their daily drivers without service until the dash warning lights burn out, while over-achievers fret about running synthetic oil more than 2,500 miles without a change.
Although maintenance intervals are now more widely spaced, even the newest cars require scheduled service to live long, productive lives. Whether yours is the latest model or you paid it off years ago, the trick is giving your car the maintenance it was designed to receive.
Surprisingly, the answer to what maintenance is required is hiding no farther away than the glove box. Every car is supplied with a maintenance schedule — in the owner's manual or in a separate maintenance log book — that details that vehicle's needs.
Proper Tire Inflation and Rotation
Tires leak naturally and need the occasional check. Figuratively speaking, underinflated tires suck up gasoline. Under- or overinflated tires wear out sooner, and deliver the same emergency maneuver handling as marshmallows. You probably aren't going to check tire pressures monthly, but how about twice a year?
Furthermore, front and rear tires wear differently and should be rotated to even that wear. Your owner's manual will have a recommendation on both pressure and rotation periods.
Tune-Up Anachronism
There are no more "tune-ups." Valves no longer need adjusting, ignition timing is computer controlled and there are no carburetors to fiddle with. About all that's left of the old tune-up drill are the spark plugs. These are often good for 100,000 miles, so don't change parts just to change parts. Instead, save up for those big 60,000- and 120,000-mile services when the timing belt, spark plug wires and coolant are due for replacement.
Oil Change Timing
Oil changes every 3,000 miles used to be required jobs, just like cleaning the accumulated fuzz from record player needles or defrosting freezers. Today, advances in engine design and lubricants make oil changes something to be done when the schedule calls for it, not when granddad says it's time. Some cars call for 5,000-mile change intervals, some up to 15,000-mile stints. Others have a variable timer. Follow the schedule and use the oil called for by the manufacturer.
Tired Tires
Tires wear out, but they also time out. The tire industry says tires are toast after five years, but they're selling tires. It all depends on heat, sunlight and ozone conditions. There's little argument from any pundits that after seven years those black donuts are dried and better off holding down a farmer's tarp than carrying your family around. If you're not sure how old your tires are, a tire shop can read the date code stamped into the sidewall.
According to a recent J.D. Power and Associates
study, sales of certified used cars have increased 46 percent since
2000. For many people, certified used cars have become affordable
alternatives to new cars. By "certified used" or "certified pre-owned,"
we mean used cars that are offered for sale by your local dealer and
feature warranties that extend beyond the initial "when new" coverage.
To qualify for our definition of a "certified used" vehicle, the
warranty must be backed by the original vehicle manufacturer. The
original manufacturer of the vehicle is using its dealer network to
inspect the car, determine if it is worth certifying and then offer
support for the vehicle for a period of time beyond the original
warranty. Not all used cars can qualify for certified pre-owned
programs, and terms vary from one brand to the next, but any true
certified pre-owned program will include at least a 100-point inspection
of the car. If problems are found, the factory-trained technicians will
fix it or disqualify the car from the program. The certified warranty
protection typically takes effect when the original warranty expires
and, like a new car warranty, offers coverage for a certain number of
years or miles, whichever comes first.
Used cars sold with third-party warranties are sometimes advertised
as "certified" but are not truly factory-certified because the authority
and expertise of the vehicle's manufacturer is not standing behind the
"warranty" in any way. In fact, the term "warranty" may be misleading,
as third-party warranties are really just extended service contracts
that the buyer must purchase at an additional cost. Extended service
contracts can usually be purchased for any vehicle, and the vehicle's
manufacturer is not involved in any coverage promised by the aftermarket
service contract. A true warranty offers coverage that is included in
the original purchase price.
The major downside to third-party service contracts is that they
often obligate the customer to pay for needed repairs up front, and then
wait for a reimbursement check; some require the payment of a
deductible that can vary from $50 to $400. In addition, there is always
the risk that the insurance company or other underwriter of the service
contract will not be around to honor the warranty when a claim is made —
this risk is much less when the responsible party is a vehicle
manufacturer. Also, most extended service contracts do not require the
rigorous inspection and repair procedures that a real certified program
offers.
In many cases, a customer who purchases a certified used car will
become eligible for benefits that a new car customer enjoys. Perks such
as service loan cars, shuttle pick-up and drop-off service, roadside
assistance, free maintenance and low-rate "incentive" loans are just a
few of the reasons to choose a certified used car over a less expensive
used car bought from a private party or used car lot. There's also the
added benefit of having your car or truck serviced at your local dealer,
which in most cases means a cleaner waiting room with little touches
like fresh coffee and more comfortable chairs — it's not reason alone to
choose a certain car, but it sure doesn't hurt. Even if a specific perk
is not part of the official certified program, you can sometimes
negotiate additional features with your local dealer — dealers selling
certified used cars will, by and large, want to treat you the same way
they treat their new car customers. Of course they're hoping to earn
your new car business at some point, so they have more interest in
building a relationship with you.
Some certified used programs offer the option of purchasing even
more coverage, but the real value lies in the factory-provided coverage
that is included in the purchase price of the car you're considering.
Because some cars have a longer initial warranty when the car is
purchased new, they represent a better candidate as a certified used car
— in other cases, buying a certified used car will net the customer a
longer warranty than if he or she bought that same car new. The
attraction to certified used vehicles is clear — new car benefits at a
used car price.
Many programs offer perks not directly related to the vehicle itself.
For example, some certified programs offer services similar to what an
auto club might offer. Services such as trip routing and trip
interruption protection are often included as part of the certified
program. Trip interruption protection is a feature that will reimburse
the owner of a certified used car for incidental costs such as car
rental, lodging, meals and out-of-town repair expenses should he or she
become stranded due to a warranted mechanical breakdown when traveling
out of town — usually an owner must be at least 100 miles from home in
order to use the service. Some luxury brands will offer such services as
trip planning or include a year's worth of subscription fees to in-car
telematics services like Lexus Link or OnStar.
So the benefits of purchasing a certified pre-owned car versus a used
car from a private party or used car lot are obvious. You have the
factory standing behind the certified pre-owned car, plus you'll be
buying a car that the original manufacturer has inspected to ensure that
it is worthy of certification. The only downside to certified pre-owned
cars is that they are generally more expensive than other used cars.
But in this case, the benefits may outweigh the cost — for many buyers,
the peace of mind alone is enough to justify the extra money.