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"A spankin&amp;#039; new car is one of life&amp;#039;s pleasures. The luster of pristine paint. The delicious smell of a factory-fresh interior. The freedom from worries about expensive repairs or sudden break-downs.   But a little chip here, a dent there, a neglected oil change and before you know it, your dream machine is well down the road to becoming a clunker. Not only is your pride of ownership at stake, so is your wallet. At trade-in time, a well-maintained car can be worth up to 50 percent more than one in merely fair condition. Preventing the &amp;quot;new&amp;quot; from quickly wearing off isn&amp;#039;t so difficult:   Wash your car weekly. Unfortunately, one-third of car owners use damaging household products to wash their cars according to the Car Care Council, a trade group. Dish detergents strip wax and leave streaks; instead, use automotive soaps available at auto-parts stores. Wash the car in the shade, and wash from the top down, leaving wheels and tires for last. Rinse surfaces often. Dry using only towels made of soft terrycloth or micro-fiber \u2014 also available at auto-parts stores \u2014 to prevent leaving swirl marks in the clear-coat finish. Wax it before winter and summer. It&amp;#039;s a myth that modern cars don&amp;#039;t need waxing because they have clear-coat finishes. The clear-coat is only as thick as a piece of paper and needs protection from UV sunlight, acid rain, salt, bugs and road grime if the paint beneath is to continue to shine. If you&amp;#039;re not inclined to do the job yourself, have it waxed or &amp;quot;detailed&amp;quot; at a car wash or by a mobile automotive detailer. Keep after the dings and dents. Few things age a car more quickly than &amp;quot;parking-lot rash.&amp;quot; Cover paint chips with touch-up paint kits that exactly match your car&amp;#039;s color, available from your car dealer. Minor body dents can be fixed inexpensively with &amp;quot;paint-less&amp;quot; dent-removal technology. And the vast majority of windshield chips can be repaired \u2014 although it&amp;#039;s important to have a chip repaired quickly before it develops into a lengthy crack. Ask your mechanic to recommend a dent-removal or windshield-repair specialist. Keep it covered. If you regularly park your car outside, consider using a car cover to protect not only the paint, but the tires, window seals and interior. Look for a cover made of fabric that&amp;#039;s breathable; fabrics that trap moisture can cause more harm than good to the car&amp;#039;s finish. And only buy a cover that&amp;#039;s custom-fit for your make and model of car; otherwise, the cover can blow off in a breeze. Make a habit of checking tire pressures. Under-inflation contributes to premature tire wear. Both conditions make even a relatively new car drive like an old one. Properly inflated tires with adequate tread ensure that your car will ride and handle as its maker intended. Inexpensive \u2014 under $5 \u2014 tire-pressure gauges are available at auto-parts stores. Follow the manual. When it comes to routine maintenance \u2014 inspections, fluid and filter changes, etc. \u2014 that will keep your car running like new, your car&amp;#039;s owner&amp;#039;s manual is gospel. Determine whether your driving habits fall under normal or severe duty, then follow the appropriate service schedule in the manual. Do nothing less \u2014 but don&amp;#039;t do more than the manual recommends. More frequent oil changes and fluid flushes, or the use of engine additives, are generally a waste of money.   The Buying Process:       After the Sale:     "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a1586/keeping-your-new-car-new/>