How to maintain a car properly
Quite simply, oil is the lifeblood of your car, and it needs to be changed regularly for the best health.
Also, any regular maintancen you do is a great way of spotting problems early, which means less downtime so your future-proofed car will be more useful. Cleaning it once a week also helps to spot issues early.
Use your garage
That room in your house with an up-and-over door filled with junk is actually designed as a bedroom for your car, so use it as such.
It’s one of the best long-term ways of making your car easier to start and less prone to corrosion.
How to stop the rot
Cars don’t rust any more – except that eventually they do, and a rotting underside is the single most expensive part of your car to repair.
Preventative action is key, so steam-cleaning underneath before winter and applying a preservative with a brush or spray will save a fortune.
10 future-proof cars to buy right now
Ford Mondeo
Good to drive, parts are everywhere and there’s the option of a massively capacious estate. Comprehensive specs, but best go for a relatively straightforward Mk3 powered by a strong petrol unit. A classy 2007 3.0 Ghia X V6 is £2995.
Volkswagen Golf
Still impressive, and the Mk5, 6 and 7s give old-fashioned ultra-reliability in petrol and diesel form. Performance-chipped TDIs get the best of all worlds, apart from ULEZ access: thrash it all day and get 60mpg. A 2007 1.6 FSI with 60,000 miles is £5295.
Mazda MX-5
Mazda has a fine record for build quality and reliability, but the MX-5 is in a class of its own. It’s the bestselling roadster of all time for several reasons, but good driving vibes and value are two of them. Pay £12,400 for a 2015 2.0 SE with a Euro 6 engine.