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On the road Keep a proper following distance. The most common cause of minor chips and scratches is because of loose stone or other hard material on the road surface. Larger vehicles such as trucks, buses, SUVs and vehicles with more exposed wheels have the tenacity to kick up these loose particles. Leave a wide berth as to lessen the chance of getting hit. Choose your parking space carefully. Avoid parallel parking if possible, and use lots with angled spots or wide, straight-in spots. Park near cars that are a few years old and in perfect condition, or park near special-interest or classic cars. Watch out for newer cars that have a lot of dings and scratches and of course, what out for the beaters. Avoid parallel parking on an abruptly sloped street is at all possible. One other tip that may be of use: if you’re parking in a grocery store that has a slope, park at the highest point. Park out of the sun. Prolonged exposure to the sun weakens the finish and invites scalloping, peeling and fading; and it makes the paint more vulnerable to scratching and chipping. Parking under the tree requires some extra precaution because of possible sap and bird droppings. Examine the vehicle just before departing, and if some tree sap does get onto the car, wash it immediately. Underground parking facilities are best, but keep an eye out for leaking water and sewage pipes. While loading your vehicle, don’t rest items on the hood, roof or trunk. It may be a lot easier to scratch the vehicle’s surface than you think from setting things down. Before you think of signing a parking ticket or placing your tall latte on the hood or roof, remember that you can leave scrape marks. In addition, you risk driving with the items sliding of your car, leaving scratches and even spilled coffee or juice. If possible, set items elsewhere when loading. In the end, it doesn’t matter how much you paid for your car or what type of car that you drive. It’s a long term companion—something that will take you through thick and thin, through good times and bad. It pays therefore, to keep it running and looking new and healthy for as long as possible. |
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