Preventive Maintenance Can Be An Investment |
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Eli Gali
March 1, 2014
Owners of foreign cars have made an investment in their lifestyles. The choice of vehicle says a lot about a person's status, likes and dislikes, and appreciation for the finer things. When it is time to trade up and sell the existing car nothing says more about the condition than a portfolio of preventive maintenance that was performed at a car repair shop.
There is no doubt that when something goes wrong with a car, servicing can be expensive and time consuming, especially if that car is an exotic. However, there are certain preventative measures that can be taken to reduce the chances of an expensive break down.
The first step in proper car servicing is to find one car repair shop that specializes in the make and model of your foreign car. This can be difficult because sometimes an owner will purchase a European exotic from a dealer in a different city, leaving him without the comforts of a dealer's mechanic. Alas, it does not have to be a dealership. In fact, there are a few independent shops that specialize in vehicles that weren't purchased locally that can also save hundreds if not thousands of dollars over the life of the automobile. Also, a relationship of trust can be built as the mechanic gets to know your car and all its idiosyncrasies.
It is very important to keep your service records from your chosen car repair shop for the day you do want to trade or sell your car. It shows that you were a responsible owner and you protected your investment. The individual buying your car will know that this will be a good purchase.
Every new car and most pre-owned cars come with owners' manuals which tell the owner what kind of service needs to be performed at certain mileage milestones. If you do not have an owners' manual for reference, know that you need to have your oil changed, oil filter and air filter replaced at regular intervals. You have these services performed to keep your car running at peak performance and to ensure good gas mileage. If you are the type of individual who never likes to read manuals, your mechanic will let you know when certain preventive measures are needed.
If you have all of your regular servicing performed at your car repair shop and a breakdown of a more expensive nature occurs, your regular mechanic will be the one you trust to tell you exactly what repairs are needed without leading you down the garden path.