-----Original Message-----
From: Philip R Glotfelty <glotfelty@juno.com>
To: peugeot@padui.org <peugeot@padui.org>
Date: Friday, June 05, 1998 1:57 AM
Subject: American Car Mentality
>Call it a mid-life crisis if you like, but I'm dealing with the issue of
>keeping my Peugeots drivable and loveable for another ten years.
>
>What I'm finding interesting is how often the issue of keeping the car
>clean comes up. It seems to be a truism - the cleaner you keep your car
>the longer it lasts.
>
>Like most Americans, I've always thought keeping a car clean meant
>washing and waxing the exterior and vacuuming the interior. But it's
>quickly becoming apparent that keeping a car "well maintained" for the
>long haul means keeping the engine compartment, underbody and fluids
>clean as well.
>
>This lack of attention to anything other than the car's superifical
>looks, seems to be endemic in American culture. When was the last time
>anyone was ever overheard to say "Well it's springtime, time to change
>my car's fluids, and have the underbody and engine compartment steam
>cleaned". We just don't do it and then we're surprised when the body
>starts to rust and components fail.
>
>I'm not sure if this is a result of the way Americans think, or if it was
>just lazy thinking on my part, so a I thought I'd throw it out to the
>group and get your reactions. Are Americans generally guilty of poor car
>care? (Since our prevailing mentality seems to be - keep a car for 7
>years and then trade it in) Are Europeans any more diligent than
>Americans in keeping their entire cars clean?
>
>Thanks for your insights
>Philip
>89 405 DL 145,000mi
>88 505 Turbo wagon 104,000mi
>
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>
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>
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