Dealership shares tips to keep outdoor cars looking nice

COLUMBUS JUNCTION — Tornadoes. Hail. Snow. Dust. Rain. Extreme heat. Extreme cold. All of these weather events can be expected during Iowa’s unpredictable spring season, often on very short notice, and in rapid succession.

For those in the business of selling cars, that can cause some anxiety: vehicles are typically kept on outdoor lots, rather than indoor sale floors, where they’re both more visible to the public and more vulnerable to the elements. Indoor alternatives are limited, given the size of the products on hand.

Mincer Ford Inc. Sales Manager Alex Mincer said the business had learned, over the years, what sorts of precautions to take. The list includes not parking under certain type of trees — oak, maple and aspen leaves are known to discolor car paint, as are bird droppings — and moving vehicles away from lamp posts and flagpoles.

“We had a flagpole once that, one time in a really bad windstorm it got bent and it went right between two cars,” he said. “So now I always move them away from the flagpole.”

Otherwise, the dealership and service center employs a full-time detailer, who’s paid to bring used vehicles up to sale quality, and keep them clean while they’re on the lot.

Cars get washed several times a month.

“Being so close to the highway, stuff gets dusty,” Mincer said. “We have a nice indoor facility. Once that first detail is done, just doing a touch-up, like a quick wash, that takes a half-hour or so.”

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As for what car owners can do to keep their own vehicles looking good as new, Mincer advises many of the same best practices: keep the surface clear of leaves, clean off bird droppings, and don’t park under anything a windstorm could knock over.

Many people underestimate the value of an occasional trip to the car wash. Mincer said the easy upkeep made a huge difference, especially early in the spring, to rinse away the last traces of road salt, which can otherwise rust a vehicle.

“Even if it’s just once a month, taking your car through an automatic car wash is so important,” he said. “It keeps the paint so much fresher. In my opinion, you can really tell a vehicle that’s been taken care of and washed. Especially black paint, or ruby-red, stuff like that that’s a little darker and richer, you can tell that they’ve been washed because they’re not so dull.”

And for those that want to go the extra mile, Mincer suggests car owners look into spray-on paint sealants, and even ceramic coatings, to keep the outside sparkling.

While more expensive, he said the treatment was plainly visible.

“It’s expensive, but it’s super awesome,” he said of the coatings. “Water just beats off of it, and it really protects the paint.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com