What do you consider "Well maintained"?

[DoctorP]

Driving on the lemon lot at Kadena today, I noticed quite a few cars that had this term:

Well maintained

in the window. As I looked at the car/truck/van though it was evident that it hadn't been washed, or was covered with rust, or tires needed replacing, or various other things.

I don't want to get into the rant about cars from the lemon lot, but what exactly do you consider being well maintained?

Does it mean you bought a turd 3 years ago and it is still a turd?


:rolleyes:

[badkitty]

I have noticed that people don't really take care of their cars here. It's quite scary. I wouldn't buy nada from the lemon lot here. I have heard too many horror stories.

[proudtobnotpc]

IMO "well maintained" means the following weekly wash and wax, oil & oil filter changed every 6 months (maybe sooner if you are driving allot), tires and brakes /rotors need to be checked and replaced/repaired every 6 months, wiper blades/engine coolant once a year- we do this for our company/everyday cars (5 of them) and we don't have any problems

[kombu_kid]

Yes, there are a lot of "time change" items, not only belts & hoses but even the electric fuel pump. Flush cooling system, keep the fuel filters changed out, even flush power steering oil, and brake system & replace the brake fluid. I even R&R my alternator if it's over 5 or 6 years old, and replace both of the idler pulleys on the serpentine belt drive. Also service the automatic trans.....something a lot of people don't do. I am not into road calls, especially for my wife & kids. This stuff really isn't super expensive if you do it yourself.

[DoctorP]

Yes, there are a lot of "time change" items, not only belts & hoses but even the electric fuel pump. Flush cooling system, keep the fuel filters changed out, even flush power steering oil, and brake system & replace the brake fluid. I even R&R my alternator if it's over 5 or 6 years old, and replace both of the idler pulleys on the serpentine belt drive. Also service the automatic trans.....something a lot of people don't do. I am not into road calls, especially for my wife & kids. This stuff really isn't super expensive if you do it yourself.

I do the same. Change the plugs, oil, and filters regularly. Change belts yearly, check hoses yearly, keep the car washed and clean (at least on the outside :D)
I also change the timing belt on time, not when it breaks.

[IndyGal]

Yeah all of the above I agree with as regular maintenance. Hubby takes care of the oil, belts, plugs, etc. I take care of the washing, waxing and interior. I get a lot of comments from neighbors about washing our cars. I hear them say that they do that all the time with their cars in the states but not here. :rolleyes:

Many NEVER clean their cars and run them into the ground with no maintenance and then complain when it breaks.

[GODH8SU]

Driving on the lemon lot at Kadena today, I noticed quite a few cars that had this term:



in the window. As I looked at the car/truck/van though it was evident that it hadn't been washed, or was covered with rust, or tires needed replacing, or various other things.

I don't want to get into the rant about cars from the lemon lot, but what exactly do you consider being well maintained?

Does it mean you bought a turd 3 years ago and it is still a turd?


:rolleyes:

If I see "well maintained", I expect a well kept maintenance record, very little to no rust, clean inside and out and good tires. Just to name a few.

[Ammoyankee]

I usually do my own oil changes, minor tune-ups etc. But anyhting beyond that, I leave for the professionals. I tend to keep receipts for most maintenance I have done.

I would think that if someone were to advertise "Well Maintained" that I would be able to pull the dipstick and see clean oil, look at the overflow bottle and not see mud.

Also, if I were to advertise a new timing belt or head gaskets replaced, etc... I would be able to produce the documentation to back it up.

With the exception of the beater car I bought my son when he first got a license, I avoid pre-owned vehicles from the base. Most of the time, for a few hundered dollars more, I can drive something off a car lot with a warranty!

[badkitty]

When I park at the BX parking lot, you can't help but to walk by other peoples cars and see the inside. Some are SOOOOO GROOOSSSS!! it looks like a trash can threw up in there. I don't understand why people keep garbage in their car or not maintain their cars engine. It's your money that you spent, why throw it away????

[Asshat]

When I park at the BX parking lot, you can't help but to walk by other peoples cars and see the inside. Some are SOOOOO GROOOSSSS!! it looks like a trash can threw up in there. I don't understand why people keep garbage in their car or not maintain their cars engine. It's your money that you spent, why throw it away????

Two reasons:

One: Cars here are so frikken cheap here it aint funny.
Two: The rust will eat it long before the lack of an oil change fries the main bearings.

[ArizonaGirl]

I don't wash my car that often here. :p I just pray for rain when my car gets too dirty. I will wash it before I sell it though! :D

[P_chan]

Depends. If you wash AND WAX it regularly and take it for all the necessary stuff. Such as oil changes, tire rotations, tire changes, new brakes, radiator flush, oil system flush, tranny fluid change, spark plugs and wires, etc...., then yes your car is well maintained.

However, throwing a bunch of after market parts on your car does not equal well maintained. Of course, some people can mod out their car and still keep it well maintained:thumbup: