With American icons like General Motors and Chrysler heading into bankruptcy, there are probably many people with numerous questions about the future of their Chrysler or GM vehicles.  Questions like: What’s the value of my “mobile palace” now? What will this mean for my warranty? What will I do for regular service with the closing of numerous dealerships? Now, I am not going to pretend to know all of the answers to these questions.  I would venture to say that the companies probably don’t have all of the answers either, but what we do have is examples of past companies who have closed their doors to serve as a guide for what probably will happen.

The most important lesson we can take from the rise and fall of automobile companies is that just because your car’s manufacturer takes a blow, doesn’t necessarily mean you will. In all probability, there will only be minor changes for you, the consumer. For example, while discussing this with my boss, he told me he bought a Studebaker Hawk the last year it was made and after the car company shut down, he had no problems maintaining that vehicle for the next eight years.

So what changes should you expect? One very open ended question that many people are concerned with is that of warranties. The first thing to know is that the government has committed to backing warranties on autos made by Chrysler and GM, so don’t start fretting about having to transfer money from your “Brand New Outfit” fund to a “Fix the Car” fund. Really, the question left to be answered is where will the warranty work be done?  In short, we don’t have an answer yet but with the closing of many dealerships across the U.S. it will be interesting to see where the warranty work ends up.

GM and Chrysler will likely emerge from bankruptcy as much leaner companies, with fewer products and less dealerships across the U.S. This doesn’t mean that the manufacturers of the parts for your cars will stop producing though.  The demand for these parts will still be great enough to keep these manufacturers producing parts, which means shops like AAA Car Care Center will still be able to purchase parts for your vehicle for years to come, long after the production of those vehicles has stopped.

It is still unknown what brands of Chrysler and GM vehicles will stick around and which ones will fade into auto oblivion. There will undoubtedly be a few casualties after all is said and done, and there will be many Americans left to worry about their investment. What I would tell those people to remember is that although the return on that discontinued vehicle may not be as great, you will still be able to maintain it and drive it for years to come if you are smart about maintenance.

The most important thing I wanted to get across is that the vehicle you have now, whether it is still under warranty or just out, can be maintained and be a good investment for years to come. At AAA Car Care Center, we preach regular maintenance because it’s a proven way to keep your investment running longer. If your vehicle’s make or model the ends up being discontinued, we will still be able to locate parts and service your vehicle.

The purchase of a car is one of the biggest investments you will make in your life, and although the situation with Chrysler and GM is not ideal, it does not mean that you cannot get your money’s worth out of your vehicle. If you take the initiative to visit your mechanic regularly and adhere to the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule, you can enjoy that investment for years to come!

If you have any tip and tricks, or there is something you want to know about, email me at girlsgarage@mailaaa.com