As cars evolve, the way we maintain them is changing as well. If you’ve purchased a new vehicle in recent years, you’ve probably heard of ceramic coating. Danbury’s Larry Kosilla, a YouTube star, celebrity detailer, and founder of his own premium car care line, explained what it is. “Ceramic coating is a liquid polymer applied to the exterior of a vehicle, forming a protective layer on the car’s paint, binding to create a semi-permanent bond. They are popular due to their ease of cleaning and durability, providing up to two years of protection.”
While it is recommended to have ceramic coatings professionally applied, if you are willing to put in the effort, you can do it yourself, as I did with my 2023 Subaru using Kosilla’s AMMO Reflex ll Pro. The most important step is surface preparation prior to application, even on a brand-new vehicle. Just remember to wear gloves 
and a respirator before applying. If you have matte finish paint, ceramics are even more important as matte paint can’t be polished to remove imperfections.
For those who want to go the extra mile, Kosilla recommends paint protection film (PPF). “A durable layer of polyurethane or polymer film that is applied to the exterior surfaces of a vehicle, particularly in high-impact areas like the hood, front bumper, mirrors, and fenders. It protects the car’s paint from physical damage, such as scratches, chips, and abrasions,” says Kosilla. PPF is not cheap, but if stone chips on your hood make you crazy, it’s worth the money.
Cleaning Outside and In
For those who have older vehicles, or prefer to hand clean and polish their cars, Master detailer Corey Thomen, the founder of Mountain Detail in Falls Village near Lime Rock Park and a former New Milford Police Detective, offers some tips. Thomen has both US and international certifications and has been detailing for 35 years. For washing, he recommends the two-bucket technique. “One bucket is for soapy water and the other for clean, using the clean water to rinse your wash mitt periodically to get rid of the grit and dirt,” he says. “Also, you should add a grit guard to the bottom of your bucket to keep the dirt isolated.” For soap, there are a wide variety of specialized formulas (stop using dish soap) created for vehicles surfaces. A power washer and foam cannon can make washing easier and more effective.
Since he’s an expert at restoring older cars, I had Thomen do a “paint correction” on the exterior of my 25-year-old Honda S2000. This advanced detailing process involves painstaking polishing with multiple passes to remove small scratches, oxidation, haze, and swirls to make your paint as mirror-smooth as possible. The car now looks better than new. To protect the restored surface, Thomen hand-applied Swissvax Samarai, a carnauba wax formulated specifically for Japanese paint. Unlike ceramics, wax must be reapplied periodically to maintain protection and water repellency.
For the interior, modern touchscreens require special care. Use a slightly damp, lint-free microfiber cloth with plain distilled water, gently wiping the surface without applying too much pressure. Don’t use any harsh chemicals or cleaners, as they can damage the screen.
Whether you have a gas, hybrid or electric vehicle, a properly functioning cabin air filter can stop up to 90% of dust, pollen, and spore particles from entering the passenger compartment. It’s easy to replace, and you should do it every 15-20,000 miles.
What about tires?
Electric vehicles (EV’s) don’t require a lot of maintenance, but due to their heavier weight and higher torque, they tend to wear tires faster than comparably sized ICE vehicles. To prolong your tire life and distribute wear evenly, rotate your tires every 5,000 miles.
Most vehicles come standard with all-season tires which are suboptimal in the snow and in temperatures below 45 degrees. If you don’t switch to dedicated winter tires for the cold months, consider fitting your car with all-weather tires, which have treads and compounds designed to work better in all seasons and weather conditions.
Like milk, tires have an expiration date (date codes are printed on the sidewall). Even if you have plenty of tread left, experts recommend replacing your tires after six years due to degradation of the tire compound. At a minimum, older tires have less grip, but they are also more susceptible to blow-outs.
Cars are a big investment. Regular care can save you money in the long run.
