Dear Bree,

It’s summer and I want to spruce up my ride.  I plan on getting out, cruising around, and meeting some ladies.  Since you spend every day in the business of making cars and trucks look better, I thought you might have some tips for me.  What can I do, on a budget, to really give my truck a new look and feel?  Thanks!

Kevin in Maryland

Dear Kev,

Can I call you Kev?  I feel like you and I should just get comfortable with each other since I’m about to break things down for you.  Do you know what the ladies you’re referring to would really appreciate?  A clean truck!  I can’t tell you often I hear women complain of having to sweep candy wrappers, Coke cans and chip bags off the seats of their boyfriends’ cars/trucks before they can even sit down; and lots of them have mentioned being somewhat afraid that something might actually poke out of the mess on the floorboards and bite them!  So, guess what my first tip is?  Clean your truck!

Once you’ve cleaned out the trash, vacuumed, and shined up everything you can with some Armor All, take a bucket, soap and sponge to the outside and see if you can find that beautiful paint under the winter grime.  Dry it off and take it for a spin to blow any remaining water out of the nooks and crannies, and get some wax on it (see if you can find a wax with UV protection to battle that summer sun).  Don’t whine about the waxing, either.  Even though cars these days have a clear coat finish that protects the paint from UV rays, squished bugs, bird poop, road salt, brake dust, etc. (the list goes on and on), over time, all of those environmental factors can still cause a car to lose its shine.  The answer to saving the shine is waxing.  Waxing offers a protective coat and layer of shine that’s worth the work.  And you don’t have to wax every time you wash; a couple of times a year should do the trick.  So, unleash your inner Daniel-san and wax-on/wax-off!  Now that you’ve got a car ladies will actually want to get into, let’s move on.

You know that at RNR we’re all about wheels and tires.  You should definitely do a tire safety check (I’ll post some tips on that next week to welcome in National Tire Safety Week (June 1-7)) and make sure that your tires are in good shape after the winter snow and ice, but if you’re really looking to make your truck stand out in the crowd, you need some new wheels.  We have a huge inventory of wheels at each of our stores, so check out our website to find the location nearest you.  We’ve got wheels in a wide range of sizes, finishes and prices, so really, the sky’s the limit on choices.  You just have to decide what kind of look you’re going for, and we can definitely help you with that.  Come on in and take a look around with us, spend some time chatting with one of our associates, and we’ll help you through the process if you’ve never done this before.  And best of all, we’ll help you pay for it.  We’ve got a payment plan to fit your budget, and you can get right back on the road with your new wheels.

Beyond that, my suggestions are minimal: Consider an air freshener, keep your sponge handy and your trash in the can.  We’re looking forward to the summer months, being outside, getting fresh air and taking some long drives with the windows down.  Hope this summer is all you want it to be, Kev!  Stay safe!

Bree