Oldie but a goodie- It's like having a new car without the payments
I had the honor of detailing a 78 Chrysler New Yorker today. Some of you may be asking why a car of this age and make would be a privilege to detail. The answer is simple - it has been professionally detailed since day one. It is not a show car - that has been buffed, repainted, re-chromed or a new interior installed. It is a car that is almost 20 years of age, all original and it looks better than the majority of cars on the road today. It is gratifying to see something this old look that good and know it is because of proper car care.
Most cars undergo brutal treatment. Commercial car washes, unskilled car cleaning personnel, snow brushes, lack of wax, protection and poor chemical quality ... all take their toll on vehicles, reducing the appearance and value. So, when a car of this age comes along that has been cared for by professionals it is exciting to see the longterm lasting effects.
Every year I fix hundreds of cars that are damaged by poor quality car care. Undoing the damage can be frustrating but for car owners it can be a costly mistake. It is unfortunate that most car owners don't learn about the benefits of professional auto detailing until they have been hit hard in the pocketbook. Even sadder, is the fact that most people aren't aware that they could have saved thousands of dollars on repairs and gained more at resale had they cared for the vehicle properly.
I admire a person who takes pride in what he owns. It means he has taken the time to do research and seek out the best person to care for his vehicle. He is protecting his asset by making an investment into it and when he drives down the street in his 20 year old car, people turn their head - not because he's driving an old car they are looking because it is a 20 year old car that looks like he drove it off the lot yesterday. It is something he can drive and be proud of and it is a wise decision that he has made -it's like having a new car without the payments.
Cars have become a major investment and for most it is the second largest investment they will make. People research which cars perform best, which ones suits their lifestyle, and which meet their financial needs but when it comes to car care they head straight to the car wash or a low cost, low quality detailer. Within the first year of owning the car it is a mess and if left untreated by professionals it leads to permanent damage. So many people have told me that they have sold cars in the past because they did not properly car for it and the appearance of the car had diminished and when they did they loss money.
When I hear these stories I just wish others could be witness to it - so that they don't have to be a victim. Loss of: value, years of enjoyable driving and diminished appearance can be prevented. Taking care of a car is no different than taking care of your home. Each year you need to do upkeep to a house in order to help it maintain or gain value - a car is no different. It is an asset that requires an investment and a professional to care for it. You wouldn't try to do the plumbing or electrical in your home yourself, hire someone who is unqualified or contract a person whom you knew was going to use substandard materials just to save a little money so why would you pay to try to care for your vehicle yourself, take it to someone unskilled, use a service that will damage your car or allow chemicals to be used on it that do not provide adequate protection and may damage it?
As a professional car care technician my enjoyment doesn't come from fixing the mistakes it comes when I see a car that has been well cared for and knowing that I contributed to that. There is satisfaction in taking something that looks beat up and rejuvenating it to look in as like new condition as it can be but it is a greater responsibility to keep a car looking that way from the day it is purchased and throughout its lifespan.
