There are many responsibilities that come with buying a new car. In fact, most of the time the car you buy from, for example, a Ford dealer isn’t new at all. Used cars for sale are by no means “lesser” options than new cars. Actually, they’re better options in almost everyone — and as a new car begins losing value as soon as they lead the car dealership lot, they’re certainly the most cost-efficient options. But there are things you should know before buying your used car. For example, you’ll want to know its mileage, as well as when the brakes were last checked and more. While you might think that the biggest thing you’ll have to worry about as a car accident is the potential for a wreck, in fact vehicular neglect can be a far greater threat. Each year, the economy puts an estimated $2 billion into dealing with the effects of vehicular neglect. While the car you pick up from the Ford dealer may be in great shape when you drive it off the lot, if you don’t put the time and money into regular maintenance, it won’t be long before it looks like a different car. While you may be hesitant to pay for regular maintenance, the results of neglecting your car will cost much more.
Pre Owned Cars: Know What You’re Buying
Many Ford dealers are extremely reputable. However, there’s always the chance that you could buy a car that is not what it seems to be should you answer a newspaper ad or turn to a lesser dealership. You should look into exactly how much wear and tear has been put on a vehicle before you buy it. A good Ford dealer will have this information at the ready. Mileage is one extremely important consideration. For example, your cars tires should be rotated every 7,500 miles, or at the rate that your car manufacturer recommends. Timing belts are also examined or replaced based on mileage. Usually, they’re replaced every 60,000 to 90,000 miles. An owner’s manual is yet another thing you can refer to if need be. You should also ask your car dealership if any regular checkups or maintenance services are covered by warranties. These are often regular parts of dealer services, wrapped into a “bundle” that makes your car an even better value. And of course, value is certainly something to take into consideration when buying and maintaining a car.
Saving Money: The Value In Regular Maintenance
It can be extremely difficult for some to wrap their minds around paying for regular maintenance when their cars don’t appear to need “tune ups”. But the fact is that while your car may seem to have nothing wrong with it, there could be plenty of things happening under the surface. As previously mentioned, regular maintenance is ultimately less expensive in the long term than the results of neglect. Neglect can cause cars to experience anything from brake failures to engine damage. This could result in you paying thousands in mechanics’ bills. For that matter, however, there’s always the risk that you could get hurt due to your car’s ill performance. Even if you get away with minor injuries, that will still be a high medical bill to pay.
Safety First: The Safety Reasons Behind Regular Maintenance
There are many reasons why you should have your car regularly maintained. But the most important one of all is the safety it ensures. We mentioned above the issue of the potential for car accidents. Any mechanical failure holds the potential risk of a wreck. However, the risk is upped even more if you fail to have a mechanism or device replaced when it should be. Therefore, it’s important not only for your sake but for the sake of everyone else on the road that you keep your car maintained as well as possible. Remember: a car is a potentially dangerous thing, and it shouldn’t be taken lightly.
