HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-10-25, Page 17Henry Ford told buyers of his
Model T they could select any
colour as long as it was black.
Today we see cars in any of 7,000
hues, including shades of rust that
won’t appear on colour chips in new
car literature.
“Serious rust damage, including a
hole right through the metal, can
begin with a minor scratch in a
parking lot from a shopping cart,”
says Marc Brazeau of Car Care
Canada.
“Steel is strong and lasts a
lifetime when it’s protected, but
when that protection is invaded, the
metal is exposed to the elements.
That’s when rust begins its
invasion.”
Cover paint chips as quickly as
possible, Brazeau recommends. For
a quick fix until you can get some
touch-up supplies, dab a little clear
nail polish on the scratch. touch-up
paint can be found for virtually
every vehicle ever built, including
antiques.
Use the paint code number shown
on the identification plate located
on a door jamb, in the glove box,
under the hood, in the trunk under
the carpet next to the spare or
wherever else the car maker has
hidden it.
The owner’s manual will tell you
how to find it.
“Some uncommon colours
will have to be ordered where
auto parts are sold or from the
Internet. Also available are scratch
repair kits including everything
needed from preparation to
finishing a deep scratch,” Brazeau
says.
Small dents can be fixed with
paintless dent repair, a service
found either through local
automotive suppliers, the classified
section of the phone book or on the
internet.
Like so many aspects of car care,
preventive maintenance is much
easier and beneficial than corrective
measures.
Maintaining the original integrity
of the finish keeps the vehicle in
“like new” condition.
The basic rules of body and paint
maintenance apply:
• Avoid parking in the hot sun; it
can damage interior surfaces as
well as the exterior.
• Wash the vehicle frequently,
including areas underneath, with
mild, safe products.
• Select and use cleaners and
waxes carefully. A cleaner that
is effective for one type of
finish could be disastrous for
another.
Consult the vehicle owner’s
manual to be sure.
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2007. PAGE 17. (MS) - Purchasing a vehicle is an
expensive venture. Sticker prices on
average vehicles typically stray
above the $30,000 mark across the
board.
According to a 2004 report by
CNN, prices seem to climb by two
or three per cent each year. With
such a tug on the wallet, many
dealerships offer creative financing
and incentives so buyers can reign
in that number.
However, just when a buyer sits
down with their salesperson to
hammer out the sales contract -
content with the negotiated figure -
the long list of extras is presented.
This can include everything from
auto accessories to extended
warranties.
And the fact of the matter is, most
you don’t even need.
Consider these items you can take
a pass on:
1. Dealer prep fees: The
manufacturer pays the dealership to
prepare the vehicle for you and you
shouldn’t be charged for it.
However, it always is included on
your bill. Refuse this unnecessary
fee.
2. VIN etching: With this service,
the vehicle identification number
(VIN) is permanently etched into
the windows to help deter theft.
Some auto-insurance carriers will
offer a discount for VIN etching,
but that doesn’t mean you have to
pay top dollar to have the dealership
do it. There are other less-expensive
options, even a do-it-yourself kit
that costs about $25. Make sure the
dealer removes this cost from your
bill.
3. Rustproofing or undercoating:
According to Consumer Reports,
rust problems have almost vanished
in modern vehicles and today’s
manufacturing offers good
corrosive protection.
4. Fabric protection: If your
vehicle has cloth seats, you can
purchase a can of fabric protector
and do the job yourself - much
cheaper than through the
dealership.
5. Wheel locks: These are special
lug nuts that cannot be removed
with a standard tire iron, and are
meant to deter wheel theft. Unless
you are overly concerned about
theft, pass on this option.
6. Extended warranties: Today’s
vehicles come standard with at least
a three-year/36,000-mile bumper-
to-bumper factory warranty. So if
you lease your new vehicle under a
typical three-year lease or are
purchasing a vehicle that has an
above-average reliability record,
there’s no need to waste funds on an
extended warranty.
7. Dealer oil changes: Dealers
often try to sell oil change and car
wash packages. Usually you can
have a quality job done elsewhere
for much less. The same can be said
for any major repair work.
Rust: a nasty 4-letter word
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