Americans Feel Car Love, But Don't Practice It

  Protecting Your Auto Investment Can Be as Easy as a Visit to the Car Wash

    CHICAGO, Feb. 18 -- Americans love their automobiles so much
that they converse with them, name them, adorn them with trinkets, and involve
them in some of life's most significant and personal moments.  However, when
it comes to protecting one of their biggest investments from environmental car
culprits, most Americans just plain stink.
    A survey of 1,000 U.S. car owners by the International Carwash Association
found that although 62 percent of car owners believe appearance is essential,
53 percent wash their cars less than once a month -- and 16 percent never wash
their cars.  Even worse, 61 percent of respondents admitted to leaving garbage
in their cars, and 27 percent say their car stinks, or used to because of it.
    By neglecting simple car maintenance, such as getting their cars
professionally washed at least once or twice a month, car owners are putting
their cars at risk for environmental damage and financial loss.  Consider
these facts:

    -- Acid rain, a problem throughout North America caused by industrial and
       automotive pollution, leaves a film of acid on your car after a
       rainfall.  This can permanently damage your car's finish.
    -- Salt, which is used on winter roads, can corrode even the toughest
       paints and finishes in the long run if not washed off consistently.
    -- Bird droppings, road grime, and tree sap can also mar your car's shiny
       finish, leaving it dulled and imperfect looking.

    "All of these menaces eat away at a car's metal and chrome.  They dull the
paint.  They corrode and cause rust under the carriage, in the wheel wells,
even under the hold.  You may not see it right away, but over time they will
contribute to the decay of a car's exterior, ultimately diminishing its resale
value," says Courtney Caldwell, founder and publisher of American Woman Road &
Travel and a leading authority on all things auto.
    According to auto trade-in experts such as Kelley Blue Book, cars in
excellent appearance and mechanical condition can be valued as much as $1,500
higher than those in good or fair condition.  Even further, nearly 24 billion
a year is spent battling automobile corrosion damage, a cost absorbed by
consumers in three ways:  Funding auto manufacturer efforts to research
corrosion-resistant paints and coatings, fixing damage caused by road or sea
salt, or corrosion-related depreciation of cars.
    For more information on how to protect your car investment visit
Carlove.org , an online resource containing factual and entertaining
information and tips about professional car washes and their benefits.  Site
visitors can also register to win "car love" -- a $10,000 value -- for a year
of free car care.