Category: Used Car Tips & How-Tos

Taking care of your car is the best way to maintain its value and get the most out of it. More than just routine maintenance such as checking the brake pads and regularly changing the oil every 3,000 miles, or washing the exterior as needed, your car’s interior needs to be kept clean, too, to maintain its value. A car’s interior is vulnerable to harmful UV rays that can damage surfaces. Combined with the day-to-day grind of tracking dirt in and out, spilling coffee or drinks, or scattering crumbs everywhere, your car’s interior can take a beating.   

The smell of cigarettes and cigarette odor in a car is unmistakable and difficult to tolerate for nonsmokers. In addition, when the time comes to sell your car or trade it in, the funk of cigarette odor can depreciate its value. The problem is, to remove cigarette smell from your car can be difficult, though not impossible. The scent of cigarette smoke is strong, and one of the most potent and hard to remove odors in vehicles. Burnt tobacco penetrates upholstery, carpet, hard surfaces and infiltrates the air system.

Considering how much mileage is good for a used car can be tricky. If you are looking for a used car over a new one, its mileage is going to be an important factor in your decision-making. That’s because the value of any used car is often directly related to its mileage. You may find a choice car in excellent condition inside and out, but then see that the odometer has passed 100,000 miles. Is that too many miles? Is it worth the risk? Or should you pass on it? When it comes to a used car just how many miles is really too many miles? The reality is, it really depends on the kind of miles, the age of the car, and the car brand.

Kelley Blue Book (KBB) is considered one of the most reliable resources and for determining the value of a used car, and an authoritative pricing guide for selling, buying, and trading cars. The company provides customers, businesses, and consumers with accurate vehicle pricing information. Automotive experts acknowledge that KBB is one of the most popular and trusted guides in automotive pricing. Though Kelley Blue Book was first published in 1926, since 1995, the Blue Book price guide is available online for convenience.

When it comes to buying a used car, fuel economy is always one of the key factors to consider. The most fuel-efficient used cars are perfect for a long daily commute or nearby errands or to simply pick up the kids after school. If fuel economy is something you are considering in your next car, the best fuel economy is found with vehicles that have four cylinders. The number of cylinders found in an engine relates to its overall performance, a big part of that relating to fuel efficiency. Four-cylinder engines are known for their straight inline configurations while V6-cylinder engines are named for their “V” shaped configurations. V6 engines were long the engine of choice for American automakers—powerful, quiet, but not that fuel inefficient.

Preventive maintenance is the best way to ensure the long life of your car and save you big money on repairs. Some of the best car maintenance tips are also the easiest to do. Any questions about your car’s maintenance can be found in your car’s owner’s manual, along with the recommended fluid types. Following simple car maintenance tips will go a long way in helping make the engine, transmission and your vehicle last longer and maintain value.