There’s no better way to soak in the summer sunshine than heading for a long road trip. But in between packing up your bags and hitting the road, there lies a very important, unmissable step. It is to give your car a thorough maintenance check to make sure it’s ready for the long journey ahead. Keeping your car in a good condition will not only ensure your safety on the road but will also save you a considerable amount of money. Here are a few maintenance tips to make your road trip safer and more economical.

Keep Checking the Tires

Keeping an eye on the condition of your car’s tires is a must to make the car road-trip-ready. Particularly check the inflation pressure of the tires regularly. Properly inflated tires can save a great deal of gas cost, almost nine cents per gallon. It’s necessary to check the tire inflation pressure once a month in cold conditions and to adjust accordingly. The cold condition means the time before the car has been driven one mile and a minimum of three hours after it has been stopped.

Make Sure of Proper Wheel Alignment

Proper wheel alignment is another big factor in driving a car safely. It contributes to even greater fuel efficiency on a road trip. If the wheel and your vehicle are properly aligned, you can save as much as fifteen cents per gallon of gas cost.

Keep the Air Filters Clean

A clean air filter is important for the health of both you and your car. Air filters prevent the outside impurities from entering the vehicle, minimizing the health risk for you and the damaging risk for the internal engine components of your car. So, clean or replace the clogged air filters before hitting the highway for a summer road trip. Also, a clean filter saves nearly thirty-one cents per gallon.

Many people have heard the cliche that the value of a car drops about 20 percent the moment it rolls off the gate of the dealership. Even though the actual figure may vary, the jest of it is true. Rationally speaking, a new vehicle may be a bad investment, but we don’t necessarily think rationally when it comes to cars, not by a long shot. The smart thing is buying a used car – not old, just used. Audi RS7, for example, changed generations only two years later. Just like the original Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, the design of the A7 model has aged rather well.

When talking about performance, car enthusiasts can be easily surprised to know the old model surpasses the 2021 RS7, yet this is an exception, rather than a rule. Also, the model from 2017, in the comparison, has the Performance Package installed. This lifts its power from 552hp to 596 hp. It’s five ponies more than the new RS7 Sportsback.

Extra Safety Features & Comfort

As a result, the older and much more affordable Audi is quicker to 60mph. However, because the RS7 model is more of a GT in spirit than an actual performance vehicle, many people might choose to ignore this and generally focus on the extra safety features and comfort. Still, if you have a brand new RS7, you wouldn’t want this piece of information popping up during a conversation with a friend over a beer.

If you have the money and you can easily buy the 2021 model, go for it, even if the Performance Version isn’t available yet. What you lose in acceleration, you can make up for by benefiting from other important key aspects of the car: refinement, safety, soundproofing, tech, and so much more.

Audi RS7 2016 & Porsche Cayman for the Same Price

If you are willing to spend over a hundred thousand dollars on a vehicle, the possibilities are endless. However, if you are even considering the model, this means you like it and want something new. In this case, you should buy it. The other choice you have is to buy a 2016 RS7 and have enough money to buy a Porsche Cayman of almost the same age.