They say cleanliness is next to Godliness, so I like cleaning and maintaining my car inside and out, but I need advice on keeping it running well for a long time. It’s comfortable, good on gas, has all the tech I need, and I love how it looks. I want to make sure I do everything right to take care of it. I got it from CarMax, and their MaxCare warranty (up to 100k miles, my car has 80k now) is $20 a month. Are there better options? Any tips on regular maintenance? Should I go to a Honda dealer for advice? Someone said these cars need a special oil that places like Meineke might not have. I’m not very experienced with this, so any advice is appreciated!
Great news: 2013 Civics are almost indestructible. I’d suggest skipping the CarMax warranty unless you drive extensively and it covers scheduled maintenance.
My wife’s 2013 Civic has only needed one repair (some check valves in the AC system) in 10 years and 70,000 miles, which cost just $100 to fix.
Everything else has been routine maintenance, cosmetic touch-ups (like painting over rock chips and replacing the rubber trim on the doors, which I handled myself), or repairing damage from incidents (a windshield broken by a tree branch and rear-end damage from a careless driver).
Maintaining your car is indeed a great way to ensure it serves you well for the long haul.
The MaxCare warranty from CarMax seems to have mixed reviews. Some users have had positive experiences, while others have not. It’s important to read the terms carefully and consider if the coverage is worth the cost for you.
If you are considering alternatives, I’ll recommend companies like CarChex, Endurance, and Autopom