MOTORING NEWS - You’ve been with her for years and she has served you well, meeting your needs and bringing you joy, but now the years are starting to show and you have started thinking about possibly trading her in for a younger model.
There comes a time in every car owner’s life where they need to make this difficult decision. But for most of us, buying a new car is a big expense.
With spring definitely in the air, there are six things to breathe new life into an older car while it’s still running well.
• Clean and shine
You would be surprised what a proper wash can do for your car. Clean everything you can see, inside and out. Remember the nooks and crannies that you don’t necessarily look at.
• Fix up the cabin
Fix those little problems and irritations in the cabin. If a steering wheel is worn, replace it or get a new cover. If the gear shift is looking rough, get a new one. Are your seats worse for wear? Get seat covers to hide unsightly seats. This could add up to a pretty penny, but it is worth spending this. After all, it is way more affordable than buying a new car. If your car’s interior is better, your driving experience will also be better.
• Up the sound
It is quite possible that the sound and entertainment system is either outdated or lacking quality sound. Update it with a new radio head unit that can connect with your phone via Bluetooth or has a phone auxiliary and USB port. You might also want to upgrade the speakers for better sound.
• See clearly again
If the vehicle has plastic composite headlights that have become dull, it affects the look of the car a lot. Get your hands on a restoration kit to buff the grime off and clear things up again. Your car will look better and the lights will shine brighter.
• Check the outside
If the car’s exterior is looking a little tired, you might want to consider having it repainted completely to freshen it up. Alternatively, you can just touch up the body work where needed. You would also be surprised how the proper wash, polish and detailing will improve the appearance of the paintwork.
Many older vehicles have black plastic trim on the bumper, mirrors and other places on the car’s exterior. Often, these look terrible when faded.
There are products out there that can help revive your trim, but prevention is always better than cure. If the trim is looking bad and you have restored it, keep it up to prevent it from fading again
• Get rolling
Having your tyres in a good condition and properly inflated has many benefits. Apart from how important this is, the look of the wheels can also affect the overall appearance of a car. If they are still in a relatively good condition, just grab some tyre polish and get busy. While you’re at it, revive your mags with a good quality cleaner. If not, a nice set of new mags can also help make your older car look great again. Plus it gives you an opportunity to inject some personal style.
Source: www.autozone.co.za
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