It`s your first day as a muscle car owner. You have just driven your new beauty back home and there you stand, like a proud parent looking over their child… or perhaps like a child that has been rewarded with a brand new toy at Christmas. In truth, owning a muscle car is more like looking after a teenager than a child; they can be unpredictable and temperamental unless you take good care of them. To continue this string of colourful metaphors, you might liken a muscle car to taming and owning a wild horse (the company named itself mustang for a reason!). These machines can be wild beasts, so difficult to control and master that they scare off the faint-hearted and it’s not easy to have this beast as your muscle car.
More than a few tentative drivers have bitten off more than they could chew and ended up in a dusty roadside ditch. Yet, if treated well, driven properly and stored correctly, purchasing a muscle car might well turn out to be one of the best decisions you ever made.
Like any other vehicle, owning a muscle car presents you with a whole load of factors you will need to consider. So here are some of the most important things to know when you have bought one of your own.
Use the right fuel
At some point after buying it, you will need to fill your car up with gas. Any old unleaded gasoline will do the trick right? It might not seem like a big deal but the type of fuel you put into your muscle car will have a direct effect on its longevity. Sure regular petrol will work fine but if you really want the best out of it, you should use low-octane fuel wherever possible, especially if yours is a classic car.
This refers to the ethanol content of the petrol. Petrol has nearly 200 chemical components within it, one of which in modern compounds is ethanol (pure alcohol), which older engines were not always made to accommodate. As such, it is advisable to use a type of gasoline (another word for petroleum) which has a low ethanol content, demarcated by the number on the pump.
E10 indicates 10% ethanol and E5, 5%, nice and easy! This will help your car run for longer and preserve its engine. Some niche vehicles might need specialist fuels, possibly leaded gasoline, so it is always best to check with the seller or the manufacturer if you are in any doubt.
Keep her clean!
This one might seem self-explanatory but keeping your muscle car clean will go a long way, both literally and figuratively. Our cars come into contact with all sorts of substances every day.
And while those stains on your hood might seem harmless, if a little ugly, they can harm the vehicle if left untreated. Bird poo, tree sap, even chemicals that your car needs such as brake fluid or gasoline itself, are all potentially corrosive.
They react with chemicals in the paint, causing havoc to your spray job. If you need those stains removed fast, mobile cleaning services like Judge Mobile Wash -- Power and Pressure Washing are available, often at short notice. This will help your muscle car maintain its sheen.
Store it properly
On a similar note, the way you store your car is important, particularly if it is going to be spending a lengthy time off the road. Remember to never leave it under a tree for months at a time for the reasons outlined above. It will also definitely be worthwhile investing in a dust sheet to prevent rust.
Cars are infamous for the way their price depreciates over time so you should take every precaution to ensure yours retains its value for as long as possible. Where you store it might not seem like a crucial detail but, over time, storing your car in a dry, dust-free environment will extend its life significantly.
Drive responsibly (until track day)
My last piece of advice is simple driving etiquette. Of course, the factor that has the greatest impact on your car`s longevity and sale price is the way you drive it. As I mentioned initially, driving a muscle car can at times feel like a rodeo ride and, with that much power beneath the hood, it is easy to get carried away.
Always remember to drive carefully, take bends at the right speed and use the break every once in a while, even if it means fighting your impulse to put your foot down and hear the engine rumble! If you want to release your inner F1 driver, book a local track day.
So there you have it. Take care of your muscle car and it will be sure to take care of you.
