Frugal Tip for the New Car Bug

Scanner · #1 (**permalink**) 03-04-2007, 06:24 PM

I detailed both my cars this weekend. I actually get a tiny little flathead screwdriver and a wet papertowel and clean out all the gunk in the cracks and coffee holders. I spray down the windows inside and the dash. I Armorall the plastic.

The only thing missing is a can of "New Car Smell."

I drove to work today and it felt like a new car with 75K miles on it (a 1999 Ford Taurus). Clear dashboards, crispy clean carpets (used some OxyClean).

I also use Nu Finish - car polish for 1X/year (I do it twice - once in fall for winter weather and once in spring for summer weather). But that's next month - I'll apply a coat for that.

Ahhhh, good for at least another 40K miles.

Cures the new car bug instantly.

Bookie · #2 (**permalink**) 03-05-2007, 04:45 AM

Sounds like a good plan, but I have a simpler cure for the New Car Bug:

I fill the gas tank. No way am I going to trade after that.

PrincessPerky · #3 (**permalink**) 03-05-2007, 05:39 AM

heh, while I do love a clean car, I am lucky to find 20 minutes to remove all misc toys, food, cups, coats, bags, boxes, and run a vacuum....though I will admit, even 20 minutes makes a world of difference...

nanamom · #4 (**permalink**) 03-05-2007, 06:57 AM

Our car was new a couple months ago (at least to us it was) now it looks (inside) like something involving alot of paper exploded in it. Somedays I am reminded of how my DH truck looked when I first rode in it. 20 minutes wouldn't make a dent in the mess we have and we only have the 3 of us riding in it.

kealina · #5 (**permalink**) 03-05-2007, 02:13 PM

great idea... i don't know about the new car urge... for us, it's more like the "new to us" car urge... lol...i do think it helps though
my DH really enjoys the feel of the car after it's been cleaned and so do I...
i've also found that no matter how cheap or expensive the car, it just feels great after being cleaned...
usually we'll work together too... I'll detail the inside and my DH will detail the outside... it helps that we also keep our car relatively empty of misc. stuff so we don't have to do much prep to get down to cleaning...
we're also lucky because most of our cleaning supplies were either free or cheap from various sources...

jIM_Ohio · #6 (**permalink**) 03-05-2007, 02:54 PM

can you do mine next weekend. LOL

Ima saver · #7 (**permalink**) 03-05-2007, 02:59 PM

My husband completely cleans my car 4 or more times a week. He spends a good hour just washing and drying it.
My last car was 7 years old when I traded it and I still got compliments every day. People thought it was brand new.

Unfortunately, NOTHING cures my husband's new car bug. He wants a new one the end of this year. (He will probably get it too)

Scanner · #8 (**permalink**) 03-06-2007, 10:06 AM

IMAsaver,

Well, 7 years isn't a bad time frame to keep a car - my wife's father is like your husband - constantly fussing over the car (beleive it or not, I just detail once/year, vacuum every so often, and wax 2x/year).

Anyway, he trades his car in for a new one every year.

cschin4 · #9 (**permalink**) 03-07-2007, 03:43 AM

I think it is the old "love what you have". And, in winter here, the cars get pretty grungy looking. Looking foward to spring and I want to give those cars mats a good scrubbing!

sakigt · #10 (**permalink**) 03-07-2007, 06:01 AM

I three step (clay bar, polish, was x2) two or three times a year. I wash it weekly and keep the interior clean all the time. I dust at stop lights!

The one thing I notice about cars is how clean they are. A $50k BMW will pull up next to me, and Ill shrug my shoulders. A 1992 Toyota with a showroom-like finish? Now THAT gets my attention.

LuxLiving · #11 (**permalink**) 03-07-2007, 06:44 AM

Tooling around town yesterday running errands with the boys and we saw probably four or five OLD cars (not classics) that were in Excellent shape. I was sure to point out to them that the reason these cars were still up on the road and running and Looking F.I.N.E. was that somebody loved them enough to take care of what they already had and babied it! Hint! Hint!

P.S. The cure to buying new? Take out the old bank statements and look at all those nasty monthly payments! UGHHHHH!!

Quick, where's the Armor-all???

sakigt · #12 (**permalink**) 03-07-2007, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuxLiving

Tooling around town yesterday running errands with the boys and we saw probably four or five OLD cars (not classics) that were in Excellent shape. I was sure to point out to them that the reason these cars were still up on the road and running and Looking F.I.N.E. was that somebody loved them enough to take care of what they already had and babied it! Hint! Hint!

P.S. The cure to buying new? Take out the old bank statements and look at all those nasty monthly payments! UGHHHHH!!

Quick, where's the Armor-all???

We were out helping a friend car shop and ran across a 1993? Jeep. It was in PERFEECT condition. The paint was excellent, no dents, the interior was flawless, the engine bay was spotless. It had 120,000 miles but looked like it had 1,000. My boyfriend and I were awestruck. Unfortuantly someone had already picked it up for 4000. What a bargain.

bigsaver · #13 (**permalink**) 03-30-2007, 12:41 PM

My car smells like something died in it. But, I still don't have the new car bug. I've had it for many years, bought it used, car now closing in on 20 years of age.

newlyfrugal · #14 (**permalink**) 03-30-2007, 02:11 PM

I practically LIVE in my truck and my DH is constantly disgusted with it. But with a toddler and and I eating breakfast in the truck and various things that get sent home from daycare, it can look horrible in as little as 3 days. REALLY glad we got the expensive floor mats. You can easily tell which one is DS's but the carpet underneath is spotless. Very good investment. Plus, once DH gets upset enough about the condition of my vehicle, he cleans it out. Now if only he could do that with the rest of the house....

The best part is that I love my truck and it is totally paid for. The thought of another car payment makes me shiver...

Sara

baking23 · #15 (**permalink**) 03-30-2007, 03:29 PM

As soon as it's staying warm around here I'm vacuuming and washing the inside and outside, trying to clean the rest of the salt off the undercarriage. I don't do that often, not that my car is messy, but getting the little leaves and gunk out of there will be nice.

I bought the car with cash and it's always been in good shape for being approx 7 years old. I had to spring for new tires a month ago but they were needed. Now I'm trying to sell the performance ones on-line.