Do you take pride in your car?

[JM Aggie08]

Absolutely obsessive over keeping it clean and fresh, specifically the interior. Driving on the interstate back to visit my parents monthly or so kills the exterior with insects and the like, but I still try to maintain it. Fortunately, white cars tend to look cleaner than any other color.

 

[AdamK47]

So what car do you actually drive?

SS

 

[vi edit]

I did. And then I had kids.

Between door dings from the garage, footprints on the back seats, cheerios, french fries, stickers on the windows, dropped sippy cups, and vomit. It's just a lost cause. I've already told my oldest to remember how she treats the car. It's hers in 10 years. Trash it now and that's what she gets.

 

[Anubis]

the car is a utilitarian cage that gets me from point a to point b. It isn't a status symbol, it says nothing about my personal worth or pride, it is merely a sometimes-necessary tool that i would prefer to never be necessary.

That being said, I don't purposely trash it and I don't rub my greasy fried chicken fingers all over my seats. I also rarely clean it. It does need to be cleaned, though. Certainly.

Exterior-wise--nature is perfectly sufficient in providing the needed cleaning.

well said

 

[Fritzo]

I love to buy quirky/unusual cars with a history behind them, so I tend to baby them because they get a lot of attention from onlookers and enthusiasts. I'm currently in a Mini Cooper S with rare Laser Blue paint and black/white British livery on it, so I'm always getting people coming up to take pictures/sit in it/etc. Gotta keep it looking good 🙂

 

[ultimatebob]

I used to, but people around here just don't seem to give a damn about other people's cars. After two years, all of my cars are covered with door dings and scratches from the people parking next to them. At that point, frequently washing and waxing it doesn't make the car look much better.

 

[Raduque]

Yes. My truck gets washed and waxed and the interior detailed once a week. I don't eat in my truck, and drinks are only allowed if in a sealable container. It's the only vehicle I've owned that wasn't 5+ years old.

 

[NutBucket]

Even though I don't have time to hand wash every week or two anymore I still hate dirty interiors. I have to have everything clean and hate stuff everywhere inside.

 

[FeuerFrei]

Yes. Because it's a reflection on me. And I enjoy driving it more when it's clean and shiny.

IF it were a mess I wouldn't want to be seen in it.

I hose it off everyday (unless it's raining), because I park under a tree.

 

[IronWing]

If the gods wanted my truck cleaner, they would make it rain more often.

 

[Slacker]

Homerboy, that half eaten burger could save your life.

 

[Elganja]

yes... i keep my cars clean inside and outside, very rarely will you find them dirty

 

[kitatech]

Yes....
Each year I set some funds aside to "upgrade" something and keep the Camry "fresh"....wheels, paint, electronics...not all at once, just one item a year...

It's an "investment in pride," in items that go beyond maintenance to improve the machine and add to its longevity. It's a machine, it can't take care of itself, and like every car I've owned, I expect to own it for many years.

 

[nickbits]

Not since someone keyed it but there is never trash in there

 

[Midwayman]

I take pride in mine. The inside is always free of extra crap and I try to clean up and spills etc between full cleanings. My wife's OTOH is used like an extended purse and always full of random crap. Folding chairs we use a couple times a year, clothing returns that have been in there for months, etc,etc.

 

[Torn Mind]

Now, I don't have a new car, and probably won't buy one in a while, but if I did....

The car needs to treat me right in order for me to treat it right. I'm not going to pour extra effort and money into a car with poor ergonomics or annoyances. Bad seats and lack of legroom? Beyond the most basic of maintenence and maybe a light wash off of salt.

And anything Japanese, never will I give them more than that even if they do so. They're econoboxes, not precious items.

Whereas, if I ever bought a GMC, I'd might be tempted to do so even if it sucked simply because I really like Eminence Front, which I would have never heard it were it not for the commercial.

 

[nOOky]

I like my car so I take care of it. My last car was basic transportation so it didn't really excite me when I drove it. So I just performed the maintenance and kept the appearance up, but I did not treat it like a show car. I actually like the vehicle I have now, it's fun to drive, and when I see it in a parking lot I still think it's the better looking vehicle so I do feel some pride in it. I also saved up to buy it, I have no payment and that really made me consider the purchase more carefully than if I were making a monthly payment.

I do get cranky when I come out and see a fresh door ding or find some scratch when I go to wash it. If anyone should be scratching my car it should be me, not a 92 year old man swinging the door of his 2 door 1979 LTD into my car 🙂

 

[Sheep221]

I like cars and I do well care of mine however I don't see any pride in cars at all, it's machine and consumable like all other technologies. There are better things to be done than car worship.

 

[JamesSpear]

I too take pride in my car. It's my top most priority. I love my car and it it kept under supervision of mine.
Hahaha

 

[Pacfanweb]

Most people are slobs, and don't seem to give a damn about their cars it seems. This is ESPECIALLY true of women. Oh, and you're also an elitist snob. 😛

Start hauling kids around and see how clean you can keep your car.

Being anal about how clean your car is, is for single people who have nothing better to do.

If you're married with kids and spend much time at all keeping your car clean, you need to reevaluate your priorities.

 

[Fritzo]

Noticed something:

Women: house has to be clean, but car is a dump.
Men: house is a dump, but car has to be clean.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Start hauling kids around and see how clean you can keep your car.

Being anal about how clean your car is, is for single people who have nothing better to do.

If you're married with kids and spend much time at all keeping your car clean, you need to reevaluate your priorities.

I have a kid. You definitely take more crap with you but I managed to keep my cars clean even with a child in the car. Now, if you get more than one it becomes more of a challenge. One of my son's friends fell asleep in my car once and spilled a coke on the floor. D:

 

[exar333]

I just returned from lunch and when I left I looked in the window of the car I parked next to this morning and noticed the interior looked disgusting, like it hadn't been cleaned in years. Garbage strewn about, crap everywhere, dirt and filth on every surface. Then when I returned I was walking past another car (this guy works in our department) and same thing. Just completely filthy interior.

Even when I was driving a 10 year old Nissan I would wash and wax it periodically, vacuum the interior, clean the glass and armor all plastic, replace the floor mats every couple years. The car still looked in mint condition when I traded it in.

Why would anyone want to spend time in such a filthy environment on a daily basis?

People are slobs.

Am I just being an elitist?

Are you a slob?

Same here.

Even when I had my 1991 Prelude Si a few years back as a 'non-summer' vehicle I took really good care of it. I appreciate a decently-clean vehicle, regardless how old/used it may be. It is disconcerting to me to get in a nasty vehicle, regardless if it is worth $100 or $100k.

Don't give me the kids excuse either. Our family car growing up wasn't nasty and full of cheerios. 😛

 

[Yuriman]

I'm fastidious, and I've learned not to lend my car to my father-in-law. He brings it back after a short trip with empty paper cups and burger boxes all over the floor.

Typical state of my Civic Hybrid:

Typical state of my Insight:

16 year old / 210k mi engine bay:

 

[exar333]

I'm fastidious, and I've learned not to lend my car to my father-in-law. He brings it back after a short trip with empty paper cups and burger boxes all over the floor.

Typical state of my Civic Hybrid:

Typical state of my Insight:

16 year old / 210k mi engine bay:

Looks nice!