5 Mistakes That Will Devalue Your Car Quickly

You spend a lot of money buying or leasing your car, so it only makes sense to ensure that it retains the best possible retail price so when it comes time to sell your car you get the best possible price for it. Here’s a handy guide of five things from Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville that you should not do to maintain the value of your car.

Service and maintenance

The one thing that a prospective car buyer is looking for is peace of mind, and that is where a service history comes in. Don’t get your car serviced at a budget store and throw away any receipts or records. If you have a new car, ensure that the official dealer carries out all servicing operations. Each car comes with a service book, which will be marked and stamped by the dealer. It is vitally important that you keep these records, as it shows that the people that best know your car have serviced it, repaired it when necessary, and fixed items under recall notices. If you have a used car without a history, start one now. The best option is still to return to a dealer that sells and knows these vehicles from top to bottom.

Paint care

Don’t neglect your car’s paintwork. Modern day paints are pretty robust and it takes a lot to damage the paint job. The paint is usually several layers of primer, color, and a top layer of clear coat. It is this clear coat that protects the paint underneath, and it is this that you should in turn protect with a good quality wax. Don’t buy discount car care products, but rather the best you can afford. These usually consist of a series of treatments including washes, waxes, polishes, and extra protective layers. The key to cleaning car paintwork properly is to always use the least abrasive method of cleaning. Do not use brushes, but rather softer cloths to clean your car.

Insurance

Don’t forget insurance. Always get insurance for your car. Not only does this help in the case of a major accident, it also means that any damage will be fixed properly, usually by the car dealer or a reputable bodywork shop. Again, a record should be kept of any such repairs, as nothing eases a buyer’s mind as a complete as possible history of what the car has gone through.

Smoking

Don’t ever smoke in your car if you value its resale. The smell of the smoke gets into any fabric surface, including the headlining, seats, and carpets and is virtually impossible to remove. By smoking in a car, you are reducing the amount of people who would buy your car to those who smoke themselves. Even then, the smell may offend even them.

Cleaning inside the car

 
Never let trash build up in your car. Unless the floor of your car is made up of entirely plastic or waterproof rubber, you need to take care of the carpet. Always use car mats to avoid grinding fragments of stuff into the car’s carpet, and generally treat the inside of your car like you would treat your home. Also, many car carpets are synthetic, so when vacuuming make sure you don’t move the vacuum head too fast or too hard against the carpet, as the resulting friction can actually melt the fibers together, producing an ugly mark.

Tips to Remember When Driving a Rental or Loaner Vehicle

Driving a rental or loaner vehicle can be a fun break from your usual vehicle, even if you have been forced to do it by factors outside your control. If you are driving a car of this sort, however, you should not assume that it is simply a case of taking the keys and cruising away. It’s very important to understand what your obligations and responsibilities are. Here are some tips from our team at Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville to remember when driving a rental or loaner vehicle.

Fuel

It is vital that you check your liabilities for gas. In some cases you will be supplied a vehicle with a full tank of gas, and you must return it on that basis. In other cases, the tank will be close to empty, and you will simply have to put in the gas that you need to use. In the case of the former, make sure that you fill the tank up completely or you may be charged a nasty re-fueling fee. In the case of the latter, ensure that you do not put more fuel in the tank than you need or you may be funding the next user’s driving.

Damage report

Make sure that you have checked the car over for damage BEFORE you drive it away. In most cases, you will be issued with a damage report. Check this carefully, and do not be frightened to be too picky. In many cases, you can be held liable for all damage to the vehicle and if it is not on the report when you take the car away, you will be unable to prove that you did not cause the damage.

Emergency cover

Your rental or loaner vehicle will normally be supplied with inclusive emergency breakdown coverage. Ensure that you have all the details to hand that you may need in the event that you need to call for assistance. Check this before you drive off, but if you forget, give the rental company a call from home to clarify the contact details and level of cover that you have. Make sure that you are aware of any additional responsibilities that you may have. You may be asked to give the rental company a call as well as the assistance number, for example.

Mileage limits

You cannot assume that you are able to drive the car for unlimited mileage while it is on loan to you. In some cases, you may be limited to a reasonable mileage limit, after which you will be charged a hefty fee on a mile-by-mile basis. If you are on a mileage-restricted contract, ensure that you confirm the car’s mileage before you leave and that you reset the counter to zero so that you can easily keep tabs on your usage.

Documentation

Keep all the documentation related to your rental or loan vehicle. Do not leave it in the glove box or on the seat in the car. If the car is stolen, you will not have any paperwork related to the car. Make sure that you do not blindly sign every piece of paper put in front of you either. Like any other type of contract, make sure you know what you are signing before you sign it.

The Best Cars for a First-Time Driver

For the first-time driver, selecting the right car can be a difficult decision. While there may be a temptation to choose an older sports model or a larger, more powerful car, such as an SUV, this fails to take into account more important practicalities. Of these, cost, reliability, and—most significantly—safety are among the main considerations that need to be taken into account. Our team at Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville has details on other factors, as well.

Cost and reliability

It is true that the cost of purchasing an older car will be less than newer models, and this is especially the case with powerful sports cars, larger sedans, and SUVs. However, there are other costs that will add to the initial investment.

Insurance is the first element of added cost. Car insurance is based upon a number of factors. These include driver age, experience, and statistical data related to the likelihood of their being involved in accidents and causing injury to others. Due to lack of experience, the first-time driver represents a higher risk. This risk, which increases with more powerful and larger cars, is reflected in increased insurance premiums.

The second cost is related to maintenance and reliability. Larger and more powerful cars lose resale value much faster than more popular small and mid-range cars. Equally, sports and larger cars attract higher running costs than small and medium models, due to the increased price of replacement parts. Furthermore, due to increased wear and tear, maintenance costs will be higher with older cars. Therefore, as noted in an article by Cars.com, “if an inexpensive older car breaks down frequently, it's not really an inexpensive car.”

Safety

Safety is not only important to protect the new driver from harm, but also to protect passengers and other road users. Smaller sports cars can increase the temptation to speed and offer less crash protection. SUVs also have a tendency to increase aggressive and overconfident driving, and at the same time are more prone to rollover. Moreover, older cars are less likely to have safety features, such as ABS braking, traction and stability control, and airbag protection.

The most practical and sensible choice of car

Based upon the above overview, the best car for a first-time driver is likely to be a small- or medium-range sedan no older than five years. Although the initial price may be higher, insurance costs will be lower because these models attract a lower risk element. Maintenance costs are also likely to be lower, mainly because the cost of parts will be less and in some cases the car is likely to have a remaining warranty period, as Cars.com states. In addition, because of their popularity, small and medium sedans tend to lose less value.

Regarding safety, cars within these groups and age range are more likely to have enhanced safety technology. These include stability control and ABS braking systems, which reduce the likelihood of skidding and loss of control, as well as internal airbags that provide greater protection for occupants. These systems are important for new drivers as they develop their driving and vehicle handling skills.

Summary

 
First-time drivers will do well with a reliable, cost-efficient car that requires low maintenance and includes as many safety features as possible. The small or medium sedan aged five years or less comes with these attributes, making them the best cars for a first time driver.

The 10 Best Songs for Valentine's Day

If you play these songs this Valentine's Day and don't get everything you were hoping for, it's not the music's fault. Here are recommendations from Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville for music to play during the car ride to and from your dinner date!

1. "All I Wanna Do is Make Love to You" by Heart. Let's not beat around the bush. This might be a little too brazen for a first date. If your spouse thinks it's a joke and bursts out laughing, you may want to work on the romance the other 364 days of the year.
2. "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" by Bryan Adams. A Valentine's Day without Bryan Adams? For shame! If you can't afford to take your special someone to a nice restaurant, or if you already spent most of your money on champagne, take her to Taco Bell and serenade her with Bryan Adams while standing on one of those plastic swivel chairs. It'll be a Valentine's Day you'll never forget.
3. "Canon in D" by Pachelbel. Who needs words? This romantic classic will provide the necessary aura for what often happens on Valentine's Day.
4. "Just the Way You Are" by Billy Joel. If, in fact, you love her just the way she is or just the way he is, don't change to another song. If you're kind of tired of that special someone and are thinking about a divorce if things don't change, stick with Bryan Adams.
5. "Saving All My Love For You" by Whitney Houston. The ambiguity of the title gives you an escape if, in fact, your date doesn't care for all that love you've been saving.
6. "All out of Love" by Air Supply. In Australia, it's illegal not to play Air Supply on Valentine's Day. Don't be confused by the title. What Air Supply is saying is that they're all out of love and lost without you. They're not all out of love because you've drained every last ounce of decency and kindness from their collective body.
7. "Dangerously In Love" by Destiny's Child. The song's title implies recklessness, and some like a little recklessness on Valentine's Day.
8. "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley. Make sure your Valentine's Day lover understands that it is he or she you can't help falling in love with; otherwise, you may have a lot of explaining to do.
9. "Love For All Seasons" by Christina Aguilera. Your lover may suspect you're being nice because it's Valentine's Day, or that you have some romantic ulterior motives. Emphasize your sincerity by letting that special someone know your love is for all seasons.
10. "Power of Love" by Huey Lewis. There would be no Valentine's Day without the power of love. Celebrate it.

You'll probably want to listen to these songs in advance before your date arrives...just in case.

What to Do When Driving in a Hail Storm

Driving in a hailstorm might seem exciting, but this kind of extreme weather can in fact be very dangerous. Hailstorms tend to occur very suddenly, and often by surprise when the weather is otherwise very good. The unexpected nature of this type of weather can therefore leave drivers taken by surprise. The next time this happens to you, take the following advice from our team at Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville to ensure that you and your passengers remain safe.

The first and most important piece of advice is to leave the road and take shelter as soon as possible. Even a fairly moderate hailstorm could damage your car or cause injury, and in a severe hailstorm, the risk of damage is even higher. Leave the road as soon as it's safe to do so, and try to park where there's cover, like a gas station or under a bridge.

If you can't find shelter, try to park with your car facing the storm so the hail hits the windshield rather than the side windows. The windshield is much more likely to be reinforced. Make sure you park away from any ditches, where there may be a lot of rising water or where it will be difficult to leave the car suddenly in an emergency.

Keep the safety of passengers as your top priority. Don't leave the car unless you have to or unless there's shelter immediately available, as hail can fall at extremely high speeds and cause injury to unprotected witnesses. Inside the car, get everyone to lie down with their back to the windows. This minimizes the risk that any broken glass particles cause facial injuries. If you have blankets, jumpers, or coats in the car, cover up to prevent injury from debris.

If you are forced to drive through a hailstorm, turn on your headlights and set them to low beam so that your visibility is as good as possible. Slow right down so that you can brake suddenly, if required, and maintain extra distance between you and the car in front. Approach intersections very carefully and treat all traffic lights like stop signs.

It's worth remembering that hailstorms can come and go quickly too. If the storm ends and you carry on driving, be wary that another storm may soon follow. Listen to the local radio station for information about any other approaching storms. If appropriate, it may be better to leave the car and take shelter indoors somewhere until all the storms have passed.