A new survey from Consumer Reports has revealed that many drivers, still on a tight budget because of the economy, are ignoring their auto maintenance in order to save money.
The poll found that 40 percent of drivers surveyed said that they are putting off necessary maintenance work, like oil changes and tune-ups, on their current vehicle in order to save a few bucks. However, this isn't a smart strategy, the guide feels.
"The two things Consumer Reports is concerned about are if people don’t take care of their cars up front they may be in for an unfortunate economic impact when a minor problem gets worse," Jeff Bartlett, deputy online automotive editor for Consumer Reports, told The New York Times. "And there’s also the safety implications. Maybe they have a failure that has them on the side of the road or leads to an accident that impacts other people."
Those who want to ensure they don't get stuck with a big bill for car repairs in the near future - and who want to stay on the road during holiday travel season - should set aside some funds to invest in basic and routine auto maintenance.