Luxury Car Care: What Premium Vehicle Owners Get Wrong

Premium vehicles make certain assumptions. The paint will shine, the interior will feel like new, and everything operates precisely how it did the day it left the showroom. But what happens is that these vehicles, unfortunately, fall victim to misguided attention and care, resulting in unfortunate damage from consumers who only had the best intentions.

It starts with assumptions. Premium vehicles come with premium price tags so customers assume a higher level of durability. Or at least, the assumptions extend beyond basic vehicle performance even if one has German engineering or Italian craftsmanship. What happens? Mistakes get made that cost significant amounts of money that don’t become apparent until months or years down the road.

The Wash Car Owners Fall Victim To

Automatic car washes are one of the most detrimental components to any luxury vehicle finish. However, luxury owners innocently venture to them time and time again. Automatic car washes wash vehicles with rotating brushes meant to cleanse paint and bumpers and rims of less sophisticated vehicles. However, on premium paints and delicately appointed seams, this little effort does more damage than good.

In reality, luxury vehicles are often equipped with softer paint options that show swirls much more readily than run-of-the-mill paint jobs. Those spinning brushes create thousands of spider web scratches that dull the paint over time. What looks good upon exiting the car wash is essentially marred with a layer of filigreed scratches that only show with sunlight.

Many owners also wash their luxury cars in the sun believing that the sun will make the soap more effective. In fact, premium paint heats up far quicker than traditional paint, giving the soap a better chance but allowing the paint to be vulnerable to spotting and residue. The result? Paint that’s always suboptimal, regardless of cost or effort.

Cover Your Investment—Unless You’re A Luxury Owner

Protection and storage fall victim to misguided assumptions as well. Many people believe that garages are the ultimate safeguard but in reality, a garage can be filled with dust and humidity. Climates and conditions that do as much harm to premium trims and interiors as they would rough storms or inclement outdoor conditions.

The real mistake comes with protection choices. Generic car covers might work for basic vehicles, but luxury cars need protection that matches their engineering precision. Options such as audi car covers that are specifically designed for particular models provide the kind of fit and protection that universal covers simply cannot match. The difference becomes apparent when you consider how poorly fitting covers can actually cause scratches and abrasions on the very surfaces they’re supposed to protect.

They also fail to see how breathable materials make all the difference for any kind of protection. Luxury vehicles boast leather interiors and sensitive systems which all require breathability for airflow, even while in storage. Non-breathable covers allow for mold, mildew, and corrosion which all do far more damage than minor rain exposure ever could.

The Problem With Avoiding Professional-grade Products

Walk down any grocery aisle dedicated to automobiles and you’ll find dozens of products meant for professional results which a premium owner may think are appropriate for their premium purchase, especially if they’re priced as such. Thus comes a cache of spray-on products, dedicated cleaners, polishes, and protectants which ultimately confuse materials designed for proper use.

Many luxury vehicles come with specialized factory treatments requiring precision in certain products to maintain other similar options. The wrong polish on a ceramic coating strips it; the wrong conditioner on a luxury leather changes its texture for good.

That’s without even accounting for factory treatments that come with specialized care requirements. Washers can cross products, void warranties and damage expensive materials faster than any generalized treatment ever could.

When to Do It

Prevention is key but luxury vehicle owners assume maintenance schedules are suggestions rather than requirements. When luxury ownership becomes expensive quickly is when assumed systems boast tighter tolerances and specialized components.

The problem is that premium systems often have tighter tolerances and more sophisticated components. A luxury sedan’s air suspension system might need attention every 30,000 miles, while the owner assumes it works the same as conventional springs. Premium brake systems with high-performance components need more frequent attention than basic braking systems.

Temperature-based comfort systems are composed of multiple zones, cabin air filtration, and sophisticated technology are rarely seen in basic cars; thus, they require additional maintenance for their air filters and electronics compared to their manual counterparts until it’s too late for someone to assume something else as wrong.

The Price of Getting It Wrong

Premium vehicles lose resale value faster than conventional vehicles when they’re not equipped with proper care. A luxury vehicle with swirls in its paint, crackled leather, or non-operational systems can lose thousands compared to one which boasts age-appropriate wear and tear.

Twenty-thirty percent becomes a loss in value at time of trade or resale compared to a retained figure of what could have paid for another car! But people fail to acknowledge this damage until it’s too late to reverse it.

The Success All Luxury Vehicle Owners Want

It’s easy to take for granted luxury vehicle care, but that’s where people go wrong. Luxury vehicles need additional attention to detail; everything from proper products to appropriate recommendations transforms a luxury vehicle from a burden into additional value over time.

Success comes from treating the investment as an investment instead of expense. Where protection would’ve prevented damage, products would’ve enhanced surfaces, and attention to predetermined timelines would’ve saved owners far greater expense until transfer time down the line. Luxury car ownership becomes cheaper than ever expected through comprehensive efforts that honor vehicles as sophisticated luxuries—not additional expenses.