A car, no matter how new or old, is only as good

Practice careful and proper driving.

Starting up doesn't mean revving up, so don't add wear to your engine by racing it during start-up, especially in cold weather. Let the engine warm up gradually on its own, but don't let it idle in the driveway. Keeping the vehicle in the driveway prevents the engine from operating at its peak temperature, which results to incomplete fuel combustion, oil contamination, and soot deposits on the cylinders. Avoid damaging components by taking the car out. As you begin your drive, accelerate slowly. The engine and drive train of Japanese used cars goes through the most stress during the first ten to twenty minutes of operation, so go easy on your vehicle.

At a red light, shift to neutral to put less strain on the engine and automatic transmission. This allows the engine to rest from working to push the car. Drive moderately, avoiding quick acceleration and speeding. This will put less strain on the engine and make the roads safer for other motorists and pedestrians as well. Observing speed limits also make sure your tires don't wear out too soon. Turn slowly and surely and as much as you can, avoid potholes!

Keep your battery full of energy.

Nobody wants to be stranded with a dead battery, so check regularly and make sure it's well-maintained. Keep your battery clean by wiping the case with a damp rag. You can use a mild detergent to wipe away the grime. Loosen and remove the black/negative cable followed by the red/positive cable. To clean the terminals, use a brass wire brush. Dip the battery brush in a mixture of baking soda and water. Examine the case for any signs of damage such as cracks. Remount the cables in reverse order (red first) and then coat the terminals thinly with grease to prevent corrosion.

Don't overload.

Japanese used cars have load specifications and it is best to follow them. Overloading a vehicle can put too much strain on the engine (it also consumes a lot of fuel), tires, and suspension; avoid wear and tear by keeping well within the vehicle's load limit. Consult the owner's manual for the vehicle's specific limit. Save your car from carrying too much by having heavy items delivered instead.

Make your key chain carry only the necessary keys.

Avoid overloading your key chain too! Keeping your ignition key with several others can wear out the tumblers inside the ignition because of all the extra weight. Jiggling the key in and around the switch doesn't help, either. What you should do is to purchase a lightweight key chain for the ignition key and drive with only that in the ignition.

If you are the owner of a newly-bought pre-owned car, follow these Japanese used cars care tips to make extend vehicle life and make secondhand cars run like new. Even if your vehicle already has several years' driving experience under its belt, you can keep it sputter-free and save yourself some repair money.