Trying to make our cars last a long time

One of the things I’ve been wanting to write about is trying to make our cars last a long time.  While I have always leaned towards keeping a car for many years in order to make the purchase more cost effective, I have also become quite fond of some cars and have enjoyed keeping them for as long as I could.

Before I get too stuck into this, please remember that although we are in our mid-50s and on FIRE, we are not multi-millionaires, “flash Harry’s”, bank robbers, Lottery winners or anything like that.  We are ordinary people and we drive ordinary cars with an increasing thriftiness.  Actually we are at the budget end of FIRE.

I thought I would list some “tips” here which I have picked up from our friend Ian who looks after our cars. If you have any other suggestions, please leave a comment below.  Besides, now we are on FIRE and having to consider a bit of frugal living, making sure our motoring becomes very cost effective is most important.

1. Avoid heaps of junk and buy a decent car in the first place

• British made Japanese cars are reliable and efficient.  We currently have a Honda Jazz and a Toyota Avensis.  Both are UK made, no nonsense, good quality and not too expensive.  Older the better.
• We generally go for a mid range model, avoiding poverty spec cars without air-conditioning etc.  We also tend to avoid top of the range models with extra toys which make them more expensive and provide more things to go wrong as the car ages.
• If there’s a choice of engine sizes, often the middle-sized would be the best. This avoids under-powered breathless cars which are boring to drive and could even burn more fuel.  More powerful cars might be fun but will cost more to drive – fuel, insurance etc.
• We avoid like the plague buying new cars with eye watering depreciation.  I would rather let someone else absorb all that.
• We try and keep a car for as long as you can to average out depreciation.  If the car is a mistake (and we can all make a mistake) simply cut your losses and replace it.
• Consider the colour.  Buy a colour you like so you can enjoy it.  I avoid all those insipid pastel colours which are not for me at all.  These insipid colours remind me of old people.  Seriously though, I like red cars but blues, greys also look great.  I think different colours suit different cars (a Honda Jazz looks fun in yellow but a serious looking BMW 5 series would look a bit daft).
• Make sure a prospective car has a good service record.
• Avoid insurance write-offs which have been repaired unless you intend to keep the car until it completely wears out.  Problems can emerge with unsatisfactory repairs and these cars are worth less when you sell the car on.
• Unless you do a very high mileage (25,000+ miles in a year), petrol engines, produce less pollution, are simpler, require less servicing and are arguably more reliable.

2. Don’t EVER buy a personalised number plate

Here in the UK you can buy yourself a personalised number plate.  If you’re lucky and super-rich, it can spell your name or your business.  Some people, perhaps with less money to spend will buy their three initials alongside three numbers (so everyone will know who they are but not the age of their car).  I think this is a complete waste of money and perhaps even as bad, a sign of vanity and having far too much money in the first place.  Remember, there are people still starving in the world and yet people waste money on their car’s number plates!

The world of personalised number plates is actually quite a carefully managed part of a Government agency.  It is a crazy world with huge amounts of money changing hands on something which is pointless and where I believe GOD and SEX are banned.

3. Don’t be a miser using super-market fuel

Super-market fuel might be a little cheaper but it won’t have the same additives or solvents as a decent brand such as Mobil, Texaco or BP.  This can have a significant effect over a longer period of time.  The odd tank full now and again won’t be an issue at all.

I normally run my car with premium petrol for about 1,000 miles at least once a year.  It certainly feels better to drive and is a little more economical.  The main thing is all of the extra solvents which are added and help to keep the engine running sweetly.  Certainly seems to work.

4.  Get a good mechanic

Having a positive relationship with a garage or a mechanic is essential so they understand “where you’re at” in terms of how you want your car looked after.  This helps motoring be very cost-effective.

Rachel has been known to call our friend Iain and make funny car sounding noises down the phone in trying to describe what the problem is.  Being able to get an honest appraisal or opinion which is trust worthy is so valuable.  Furthermore being able to give him the keys and say “change anything that needs changing” in the knowledge you’re not going to be ripped off is so appreciated.

Therefore a friendly mechanic, or a friend who is a mechanic, is priceless.  Often when we have a car serviced, Iain comes in for a cuppa to give us the low-down on the car, together with a hearty conversation about anything and everything!

If you’re lucky, you can nurture a good relationship with a main car dealer who will also do a good job but this will come at a price and you have to accept their motives will be more one-sided, no matter what they say!

5. Keep servicing up to date

Those little service stamps in the car servicing record will be helpful when you sell a car on and provide a good guide to what needs to be done.  Keep it up to date with the manufacturer’s specifications.

6. Get that oil changed!

Arguably the most important bit of servicing a car is making sure the engine oil is always changed to keep it fairly clean.

One of my FIRE friends who should have known better, almost wrecked a car through being too stingy to have the oil changed.  He admits now how that was a case of being too stingy.

The rule of thumb for a metro engine is an oil and filter change every 10,000 miles.  5,000 miles is even better.  Car manufacturers who claim oil changes are only needed every 20,000 miles are being stupid and just trying to keep servicing costs down to a minimum and be attractive to fleet buyers.

Most mechanics will tell you that regular oil changes are the single most important things you can do in making your car last a long time.  Modern engines can easily run up to 500,000 miles if they are well looked after with good clean oil!

The actual choice of oil is becoming increasingly important, especially on the most recent cars.  All to do with achieving optimum performance and low emissions.

7.  Keep the body work in good condition

Not much to say here because we all know this.  Keeping a car washed is important in lowering the opportunity for rust to take hold.    If you can, washing off any salt encrusted dirt underneath the car might be beneficial.  Any scratches where the steel is exposed needs to be dealt with, otherwise rust is a near certainty (unless you live somewhere like the Sahara Desert).

8. Negotiate insurance costs

I have easily fallen into the trap of paying whatever the insurance company wants when the policy is renewed each year.  And yet for the last two years I have queried the price and each time it’s been reduced or an extra “thrown in” such as free breakdown cover.

The trick is to be calm, polite and civil about it.  Don’t threaten to leave them, just have the confidence and see what happens.  When I renewed my insurance recently, I told them I was now retired and I saved £40.  Simple.  Keep it civil.

9.  Know when to part company

A couple of things to say here.  At some stage a car could become uneconomic to keep repairing and it will be more cost effective to simply get rid of the car and replace it.

Instead of waiting for it to be on its last legs, why not pass it on while it still has some useful life in it?  By that I mean, if it will last another two years, why not give it to someone who needs it?

Have I missed anything?

Please leave me a comment below if there’s anything else we can do to help maintain our cost effective motoring – thanks in advance.