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I notice when I look at used cars on dealer lots and by previous owners, some of their cars are incredibly clean (as if "new") with no dings or dents anywhere... there are 100k miles on them, the interior is incredible, and there are no dents anywhere... I have never owned a car that I couldn't leave many, MANY small dents on... sometimes there are hailstorms and I am at work and don't have it under a protected garage, its got dings on the trunk, the top, and the hood... There are so many dings on my door because the car next to me is a complete a$$ and slams their doors against mine... When I am driving on the road, I get rocks thrown up against my windshield, top, and hood and sometimes there is damage from that... but I driven less than 70k miles on my car... how do these people keep their cars so "new"? Most of the dealer cars are left out for people to see, they must get hail damage on these used cars but I don't see it...
I notice when I look at used cars on dealer lots and by previous owners, some of their cars are incredibly clean (as if "new") with no dings or dents anywhere
Used Car Dealers are grand masters at turd-polishing.
That's what the body shop is for.
We had a huge storm here a couple months back and one of the dealers had a "hail damage" sale...guess they were really messed up!
LOL, that was my first thought too! My husband, who never has the kids in his truck, keeps his spotless. My vehicle however, it's very evident the kids outnumber me
I drove a Honda Element for four years. The inside bed was badly scratched because I actually used the car for its intended purpose which was hauling around furniture etc., but the only exterior scratch was a malicious (and deep) one someone put on it in San Francisco. Otherwise I left it as fresh as when it rolled off the lot.
I get a lot of comments on my '00 Celica - usually someone will get in for the first time and ask if it's new and I tell them the car's true age. I've kept the car that way by keeping it garaged at home and covered at work, conditioning the leather a couple of times a month and vacuuming it on a regular basis. The car gets washed every 3 weeks or so and every other time I put another coat of wax on it. I don't use soap when I wash the car.
I have a 1995 Eagle Talon TSi with about 150,000 miles. It looks great principally for the following 'rules' that I follow:
1) Wash by hand, with carwash soap not dish soap, in the shade. Detail the car after every wash. Don't leave waterspots!! Don't let bird poop or other organic debris stay on your car for extended periods - as soon as you see it, wipe it off.
2) Garage it when at home.
3) Fix all blemishes before they get out of control. This may make no sense but my theory is if you allow the car to have one scratch or ding too many, then sooner or later you'll stop caring and it is all over (or others will observe this and not care).
4) Do not park anywhere near other cars if possible. I do not park close to building entrances. Instead, find a nice secluded spot.
5) Avoid adverse weather and have a second, daily driver for the grueling commute.
6) Like others have said, it helps not have kids.
7) Avoid driving behind trucks. Stay in the fast lane.
8) Keep your car in good to excellent running condition.
NOTE: I acknowledge none of these things are always practical. When it comes to material things, others may like really nice clothes, food, or other stuff, while for me it is a clean car. It seems reasonable to me especially if you've spent thousands of dollars purchasing it and are still making payments.
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