Making my car last

ShandyAndy_2

Just purchased an immaculate 2006 Toyota Avensis 1.8 for £1100, 66k, full Toyota service history, I love the car it’s so comfortable and smooth to drive, going to get a quote to under seal and waxoyl/dinitrol the underneath,apart from regular servicing how else can I make the car last?, would like to carry on with Toyota servicing but I use a good local garage so may just use genuine parts and let them do the work.

Browntoa

Regular servicing , fix things as required but no car is indestructible as age rots rubber and plastic so things will fail.

Availability of parts often becomes the issue , I had terrible problems getting genuine quality spares for a common Leyland mini a few years ago.

MovingForwards

Don't thrash it.
Do regular services.
Do repairs when they occur and not wait months.
Wash it, especially in winter when the salt the roads.
Wash bird !!!! off, don't leave it.

tacpot12

Use a good local garage, and buy genuine parts for long life or critical items such as water pumps, cambelts, suspension bushes, and exhausts. You can save money on regularly replaced service items like brake discs, pads, air filters and pollen by buying OEM spec items; the shorter lifespan vs. genuine parts does affect the life of the car because they get changed before they cause problems. I always buy Bosch parts if I need something electrical like spark plugs or coils.

parking_question_chap

Check your oil level often.
Smooth gear changes
Get the cam belt done when needed (assuming it isnt chain driven car)

Ectophile

Wash it, especially in winter when the salt the roads.

And when you wash it, don't just wash the top of the car. Cars rot from underneath.

EdGasketTheSecond

Ectophile wrote: »

And when you wash it, don't just wash the top of the car. Cars rot from underneath.

That's why you dont want to go spraying water underneath and into seams then. If you've got mud behind the wheel arches, scrape it off with a plastic spatula.

chunkytfg

Treat the rubbers seals so they don't dry out and perish.

Seat covers

Replace wear and tear items as preventative maintenance and not corrective.

Actually use it! Cars can become unreliable through underuse as much as overuse

a.turner

chunkytfg wrote: »

Treat the rubbers seals so they don't dry out and perish.

Seat covers

Replace wear and tear items as preventative maintenance and not corrective.

Actually use it! Cars can become unreliable through underuse as much as overuse

Really, does anyone still use them?

ShandyAndy_2

It’s a cam chain so no issues there, how do you treat rubber seals?, I enjoy cleaning and polishing cars but hate doing the interior so usually go to local hand car wash for £10 then use a finishing spray wax after, I have been driving it very steady, never had a big car before but absolutely loving a champagne car for lemonade money, my only regret is not getting one sooner.

Ergates

Deal with deep scratches/chips as soon as you spot them - stop rust before it starts.