Americans cars are getting older. Last fall the average car was about 5.2 years old. Today it is over 6 years 
old. We are holding onto our cars longer. The purchase of a new car is being delayed as the economy works its way out of this recession. Yet keeping a car longer means we could be facing more mechanical problems. To help with that and knowing we'll eventually sell that baby, here are Ten Tips on Keeping an Older Car.
(You can also WATCH FRUGAL LOUISE discuss these tips on a recent visit to NE Cable News.)
1) MANUALLY PROFICIENT
Yeah, it's not as exciting as reading a Dan Brown novel or even the back of a cereal box, and you won't be quizzed on it, but information like maintenance schedules, little tricks and what things do is vital. And because it is not a page turner, here's a suggestion, while you're waiting for you spouse/child/habitually late friend, grab the manual and read a few pages.
2) MR. LUGNUT
Having a good mechanic who knows cars is vital. Here are a few quick tips on how to find one.
Get recommendations from friends and people who own similar cars
Be sure they are certified by National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).
Ask AAA for locally approved mechanics.
Don't wait until you need a big repair, get oil changes etc. first. Get a feel for the place.
3) WELL MAINTAINED
Keep the baby up to snuff. Keeping on top of small problems usually keeps bigger and more expensive ones at bay. Tune-ups, oil changes, and regularly scheduled maintenance are part of this, but so is body inspections, tire rotations etc.
4) BE A BOY SCOUT
Be prepared. Have a good emergency kit in the truck including a blanket (useful for working on the ground, keeping warm in bad weather and accidents). Think about using your cell phone's camera to document accidents (disposable camera in glove compartment will also work), remembering where you park and things to show your mechanic.
5) PRECIOUS BODILY FLUIDS
If you lose a fluid, the chance your car could become toast is very real. Loss of coolant and subsequent overheating could easily mean a blown head gasket. Knowing what to check is a basic for any car operator, but if your are unsure, but suspect a problem, place a big piece of cardboard under the car. If there is fluid stains on it, take that to the mechanic. Here are a few guidelines:
Red, think transmission.
Green think coolant.
Blue,(orange) think windshield washer fluid
Molasses-like, dark brown, think oil.
6) BRAKE DANCING
If you're older, you were taught to pump brakes rather than slam. These days ABS pumps the brakes automatically and far faster than you ever cold. Bottomline- don't pump. TIP: be sure you mechanic inspects your brakes on a regular basis. and at the first sign of trouble, metal sound, loss of effectiveness, see a mechanic asap.
7) LOVE THE BODY
Wash the car, especially underneath and get all of the accumulated winter salt and grim off. Then carefully inspect the body. If there are a scratches, get some touch up paint and touch it up. It is very easy to do. If you see signs of rust, look closely. Then sand and use touch up. If large,
8) SAVE RECEIPTS
Keep all maintenance & repair receipts is a secure location. This is helpful if you run into a problem and even better when you sell the car. YOu can get a better price if you can prove there have been regular, good maintenance done on the vehicle.
9) MADE IN THE SHADE
Always try to park your car in a garage or in the shade. UV damage to the exterior and interior will be minimized, it'll keep the car cooler in the summer, and out of the elements in the winter. A few caveats: bird poop should be cleaned quickly. It is acidic. Pine trees drip sap which is difficult to remove. Soldering flux will remove it, but be very careful.
10) AFTER MARKET PARTS
Understand owning an older car means it will need repairs. It's the nature 
of the beast. Over the last few years, spare parts don't necessarily come from the manufacturer, they come from places like China. These are called After Market Parts. Sometimes they can save you a lot of money, sometimes they can cost. Quality may be suspect and not up to specifications. Work with your mechanic to find a good after market supplies or who knows good junkyards. The savings could be substantial.
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Comments: 15
Great tips! I still drive my 97' BMW and just love it! I'm hoping it will last me at least 2 more years!
Great post, and very helpful indeed.
My husband was having problems with our 99 Odyssey stalling on him. A gather friend of mine suggested that I look into recalls and problems related to this model.
Sure enough it turned out that stalling was a common problem in the Honda models due to a mistake in the ignition.
When my husband went to the mechanic he was told he needed parts for about 500 dollars, and that was without the cost of labor.
Today he went to pick up the part needed at the Honda dealer (70 dollars), and he decided to let them run a check on the car, as they were telling him their computers showed that the ignition part had already been changed as part of a recall.
After the check it turned out that it was in fact the ignition though, and tomorrow he will go get it fixed. We are hoping that it will fix the problem.
Excellent tips. I may also add a few financial tips on saving on cars.
1. The biggest accident occurs on the showroom floor. Stay away from new cars when your old car dies or is involved in an accident. a 4 yeard old car can be purchased at less than 1/2 of the original price. Think economy and think reliability.
2. The most expensive cost of a in the annual ownership cost is the depreciation for most drivers. If your car gets 23 mpg and gas costs $2.30 a gallon, you pay only $1K in gas if you drive 10,000 miles. First year depreciation for a $30K car is $6K. Third most expensive cost is financing (first 12 months' interest cost of a $30,000 loan at 6% for 6 years is $1,683 or higher).
3. Remaining cost of car ownership include maintenance cost, insurance, registration, inspection, etc.
Consider these costs for new vs used. If you are very wealthy, this is not an issue, but if you are like most people who are living paycheck to paycheck, buying a new car is not a good idea for your wallet.
Good to know, my car is seven years old and still runs good. Not plannining to buy another one for a while.
My car is a 1989 Mercury Marquis and I'm not planning on getting a new one.
While I haven't done all the expensive maintenance on my 98 Camry, I've done as much as I can afford. When I had my last oil change, the guy was amazed they couldn't find anything wrong with a car with 237,000 miles on it. It's begun to use a little oil between changes, but $3 a month is so much better than a car payment!
Hi Frugal Mom, good luck with the Honda. They're good cars. My Civic is still purring and getting 40+ mph.
Elizabeth. obviously you're taking care of your car. When you think not only of the payments, but also the taxes & insurance you're NOT paying, a good used car is a steal.
And Jeff S, excellent analysis. One of my fave stats is the average new car loses 12% of its value the moment you drive it off the lots. And like you said, if you're wealthy its not issue, but for the rest of us, well, tossing money out the window is just not smart.
As all the rest of the commenters have said, owning a good used car and keeping it maintained is what makes us smart, like Frugal Yankees.
Thanks to all. Your thoughts are much appreciated.
One other idea I can offer in car financing is to continue investing the car payment money each month into a growth mutual fund after the car debt has been paid off. Then when your old vehicle no longer runs after 10 or 12 years, you'll have enough money to buy two reliable USED vehicles (I only suggest one) in cash with money left over. Pretty soon, you'll be debt free, and will feel very good.
((( Great tips! I love my PT Cruiser...I keep it like newww! It's a 2004 )))
((( You should join POINTS NATION...people in that group would love your tips Mr. Yankee! )))
My husband van is 8 years old. Now my car is only 2 years old. He has to keep his van until my car is paid for because we can only afford 1 car payment at a time and we really can't even afford that.
good mechanic is heard to find. my 2000 Kia has seen better days, but I'm going to at least 300,000 on my baby. A few more years be ready to turn my old girl over.
Thanks for the tips! Plan on keeping my 97 Camry for quite some time.
I still drive my 1994 Camry, i got in 2001 at auction with 102.000 original miles on it. I dont drive all that much and it has 142.00 miles now. I hope to have it a long time. Thanks for all the tips.