Do you have any genuine tricks for keeping/maintaining a car that are frugal?

Could be anything from getting a deal on a car wash, or keeping the interior nice, or keeping the engine or tires or anything really in good order.

Also, are there any things you used to be able to do frugally with your car which has changed to be more expensive–maybe due to auto manufacturers changing how cars are designed?

(I’m asking this so if something used to be frugal but isn’t now, people speak up about it.)

  • @[email protected]
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    18 months ago

    That last point is interesting. I’ve never had an issue getting filters for my old accord. What year civic did you have the issue on? My cabin filters on that car were about 1/3 the cost to get it replaced unless it was bundled into other maintenance. Even then I still saved some money. Maybe it’s an issue of where we’re both located or something? I’m not sure.

    • @[email protected]
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      18 months ago

      It was a 2006 Civic, and the filters were not available for the first five years or do. They finally started appearing in auto parts stores a few years before I got rid of it, but by then it was too late

      My Civic was also a bit of a lemon that I had to get rid of after only 10 years. The paint was peeling off and there were electrical problems, that would cost more to fix than the car was worth

      • @[email protected]
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        18 months ago

        Gotcha. I had a '13 Accord that I bought on a lease return. Bummer you got a lemon. Pretty unusual for a Honda in my experience.