Get more out of your old vehicle as the holiday nears

The ember months are already here. November has already kicked off and we are starting to see activities in the markets increase as families begin to make final preparation for the year. Travelling will definitely feature in the itinerary of most household shopping lists but whether their movements will be done in an old vehicle or a used, only time will reveal.

However, with prices of brand new vehicles many times what they used to be in the market because of the economic recession, planning to get one may be the least on the shopping list as the holidays approach. Even the prices of used vehicles have gone up.

For households that own a vehicle a few maintenance works can bring back in Spartan condition and help you save more money.

Things like dirt, stains and crumbs ignored for a long time can cause untold damage to the look and feel of your vehicle. If you have been careless in the way you cleaned your car, it is not too late to make a u-turn. Give the vehicle a hardcore scrubbing. Shampoo the carpet and upholstery; excavate all the trash mouldering in the trunk.

When was the last time you removed the spare tire and cleaned the area thoroughly every nook and cranny of the tire well? You can take out the front seats and vacuum under there. Clean all the grime from the engine bay and under the car too. The benefit of giving the vehicle a thorough cleaning is that you are able to also observe area that need require professional attention.

The maintenance manual may be worth looking into. You probably have stopped using it after the first week you bought the vehicle, but go back to it. The manual can remind you of items that need to be replaced based on time rather than mileage. The timing belt for instance needs to be replaced every 60,000 to 90,000 miles. It may not come cheap but it saves you more in terms of the damage that it will prevent.

Give the cockpit a facelift. An expert recommends you pay attention to the area you are going to touch. A dashboard cover could be a good investment. If the wheel is deteriorated get it fixed.

Most vehicles that were built in the past ten years usually have plastic composite headlamps that weather and dull over time. It may only take a few minutes to turn a dull, yellowed headlight clear – which makes your old car look nicer and instantly improves illumination.