Cars cost a lot of money. Even an affordable ride like the Volkswagen Jetta is a major investment, and like any savvy investment, you’ll want to make sure it’s protected so it’s still worth something when you decide to sell it.
Unfortunately, depreciation is just a fact of life when dealing with cars. Still, there are plenty of things you can do to maintain and preserve your Volkswagen for better resale value. Here are some important tips to keep in mind for owners near Minden, LA.
Pick an In-Demand Model
One of the major realities of the car business is that certain cars hold their value better than others. That happens for a number of reasons, including:
- How dependable a vehicle is
- How low the maintenance costs are
- How good the gas mileage is
- What standard features it has
- How practical it is for families
Before you buy, you’ll want to do plenty of research into how well specific models hold their value, because this can help you find a vehicle that depreciates less over time, which means you may get more money when you trade or sell.
Certain broad categories of cars hold value better too—for instance, SUVs like the Tiguan and Atlas are always in demand because they have plenty of space, they’re easy to drive, and they have solid fuel economy.
Consider Buying Pre-Owned
There are a lot of advantages to buying a new car, but they also come with a couple of drawbacks—one of the main ones being that they lose a lot of their value within the first year or two.
Used cars, on the other hand, have already gotten past that initial period of steep depreciation, and this can make them a better long-term investment. Even a lightly used car with only a few thousand miles can save you significant money.
If you want to find a used car that’s sure to have excellent resale value for years to come, you can also look into buying a certified pre-owned Volkswagen, which has been inspected and maintained to guarantee that it’s above average quality.
Stay on Top of Maintenance and Keep the Records
This one seems like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many people visit our service department and discover that they’re 5,000 miles overdue for an oil change.
Properly maintaining your car is possibly the single most important thing you can do to ensure it holds its value. Following the manufacturer’s recommended routine maintenance schedule for fluid changes, tire rotations, brake jobs, and everything else prevents mechanical issues and the associated costs of fixing them. You’ll also want to fix any minor electronic or cosmetic issues as they happen, because these small problems can pile up over time.
In any case, always keep receipts for any work done to your car. Having detailed service records proves that your car is well-maintained, and this can give you massive bargaining power when selling.
Keep it Clean
Here’s another obvious one, but again, we often see it overlooked.
At the bare minimum, you’ll want to make sure you’re having your car washed every two weeks or so—hand washing is best, but the drive-thru car wash is better than nothing. This keeps dirt and grime from accumulating on the paint and underbody, which goes a long way toward protecting against rust.
You should also consider applying a coat of wax about every six months. Wax forms a coat over the paint and protects it from the elements.
Keeping the interior clean is just as important. Generally, we recommend avoiding eating in your car altogether if you can help it, but messes are a part of life. Regularly vacuuming the carpet and wiping down any hard surfaces will prevent these messes from accumulating. You can also consider having your car professionally detailed once a year.
Practice Good Driving and Ownership Habits
Safe driving is another crucial way to protect your car’s resale value. After all, very few things are as bad for a car’s value as a collision, because this can result in wallet-draining repairs, higher insurance payments, and a black spot on your vehicle history report.
The way you drive can also have an effect on long term vehicle health and resale value. Generally speaking, the more miles you put on the car, the more it depreciates. Of course, this often can’t be helped—you still have to get to work, run errands, and drop the kids off at soccer practice. Still, it’s a good idea to try to offset any excessive mileage where you can by carpooling, walking, riding a bike, or taking public transport.
Get the Most for Your Trade Near Shreveport, LA
Of course, if you really want to get the most money for your Volkswagen, you’ll want to visit the best Volkswagen dealership in Bossier City for trade-ins. We make it easy to value your trade online—all you have to do is click the link to get a quote.
Family Volkswagen of Bossier City also has tons of ways to save on your next car, including lease deals on a new VW Tiguan. Contact us online or give us a call at (318) 746-2175 to learn more.
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