How-To Drive An Old Car Without Getting Taken For A Ride

There are a lot of good things about driving an older car. Usually there are no monthly payments to make in service of any lease or loans, theft and vandalism is rarely a concern, and even the risk of a fender-bender isn't much of a worry, if the damage done is really just cosmetic.

There is one pretty big downside to driving an older car though. Repair costs are inevitable. For whatever reason too, people rarely budget for them.
My mechanic is a gem of a man: When I go to get things done, he'll always point out what needs to be repaired, but he'll also let me know when things can wait for a little while too. That said, I've been in the hands of people in the past who, it seems, will say and do just about anything they can to drain my bank account before sending me on my way.

A lot of repair costs are inevitable, but if you drive an old car (or if you're thinking about it), there are a few things you can do along the way to lessen the blow, and generally keep your ride in better working order over time.


First up, take the time to find a good mechanic – before you need one.


Stay up to date on routine maintenance. Oil changes are a big one. While you're at it, have all your fluid levels checked and change your oil and air filters as needed. Regular tire rotation, along with an inspection of the car's hoses, cables, belts and filters are other points of interest which should not be missed in a regular schedule of maintenance.

Periodically, every month or so, make sure your tires are inflated to the proper pressure. This will make your tires (and probably parts of your car) last longer. Having properly inflated tires also helps the car's fuel economy.


Be good to your car and talk to your mechanic about annual maintenance. We, my aging vehicle and I, live in a snowy (and seasonally road-salty) climate. To keep the body of my car from falling apart over time, I make a point of getting it treated at a shop that specializes in oil and chemical "underspray" to prevent rust and corrosion. (You find these guys the same way you find a good mechanic – start by asking your own mechanic who he or she would recommend).

In addition to the underspray, Dave Redinger, "the neighbourhood mechanic" (expert, teacher and radio show host, as well) says there are a number of other routine maintenance procedures that should be done each year. "The brakes have seized because you're supposed to clean them. It's a $45-$90 bill, but people don't do it. The parts lock up, and suddenly you've got a $700 bill. Had the car been maintained, it wouldn't have been an issue," he says. "A lot of the failures we see nowadays are lack of maintenance repair, rather than car failures. What would've been a small service, now becomes a major repair."


Pay attention to your engine light. Redinger says most cars today, even a lot of the older models, are computerized, which often takes the owner completely out of the maintenance loop. "He can't screw it up if he tried," he says. When the engine light comes on, however, it's time to go see an expert: "When I first started out, I'd see a customer every 2,000 miles for an oil change, an ignition or timing adjustment. Today a computer can make those adjustments, sometimes up to 100 times a second. It'll keep the car on the road until it runs out of adjustments, it throws the engine light on."


Consider getting an auto club membership. I hate to sound like such an endorsement, but I do actually believe that an auto club membership is an essential bit of insurance to carry with you if you drive an older vehicle. (Our memberships have always paid for themselves.) They come with a lot of great perks too – the free maps and trip planning services are fantastic.


Budget for the inevitable. "Nobody ever budgets for car repairs," Redinger says. "I'm 46 years in the trade and I've only had one woman in my whole life who came in with envelopes – the money was put aside and she knew how much she was going to spend on the car. We would go with her budget to keep the thing running. She got really good service out of it."


"People will service the furnace in their house faster than they'll service their car," he adds. "Put a little money aside for maintenance and understand that you need to do it."


Related:
How to Find a Good Mechanic
My $976 Oil Change
Hypermiling: Save On Gas, Drive Like a Granny
Hypermiling: Save On Gas ($30/tank!)


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Kate McCaffery is a freelance writer, editor and former urbanite, now living somewhere in between the lake, the ski hill and some farmer's cow path. Visit mccaffery.ca/kate2.0/ for more information.