We’re not saying you should be a skilled auto mechanic or a whiz with automotive trivia, but there are some things that aren’t negotiable with cars and one of them is a car wash (and no, waiting for it to rain doesn’t) . count, especially in California). A thorough and complete car wash / detailing is as essential to your car body as is an oil change for your engine.
Seriously? Or are you just being a drama queen?
Actually. First, we must analyze the purpose of the painting. This goes beyond ‘it’s my favorite color’, ‘it matches my personality’ or ‘it’s British racing green’. Paint protects the body of your car. The bodywork is made of metal, and metal will rust and weaken when exposed to the elements (moisture, in particular) and will eventually compromise the structural integrity of your car. This, plain and simple, is a safety hazard and absolutely dangerous.
When dust and dirt are left unhindered, it acts like sandpaper. The paint begins to weaken, crack, and peel off. You may think you’re safe if it rains, but rain mixed with dirt, dust, and other pollutants can act even faster in terms of damaging your paint job. Now let’s say you live on a nice tree-lined street and you park under the tree closest to your house or building. You can avoid sun damage with regular shade, but what happens when the tree drops the sap, or when the birds fall … other things? They all accelerate the rate of damage.
Do not panic. Your paint job won’t ruin overnight (unless it’s ridiculously bad quality and something extraordinary happens). Have your car detailed regularly and it will accompany you to the end.
Money talks
Some people keep a car for decades, while others like to get a new one every 50,000 miles or so. It doesn’t matter which category you fall into, because not washing or detailing your car regularly will kill your wallet one way or another.
Let’s say you are a unique type of person. As long as your car keeps running, you keep driving it. If it is not broke, do not fix it. But, that’s the thing … it will break, and you’ll have to fix it, fix it, and fix it again. Damage to the bodywork of your car is potentially devastating and you will need to repair it repeatedly so as not to compromise its structural integrity.
Are you ready to sell your car and buy a new one? Excellent! There’s just one problem … the resale value of your car has plummeted due to the fact that it is now an ugly bucket of rust. It is an extreme, but nonetheless true. Whether you are in true rust bucket territory or your car has some paint and body damage on it, your car’s resale value will take a hit.
Your car is an investment, one way or another.