As a car guy, I really like to keep the cars clean inside and out, but not just paint and interior needs attention. My S-10 Blazer is a SB Chevy V-8 conversion that gets regular oil changes and tuneups, and is well maintained mechanically. Not the most fuel efficient car in the fleet but hey, it's paid for!! My 16 year old daughter has a nice '99 Jeep Cherokee - she loves it and keeps it clean. I do the mechanicals but it doesn't need much. The thing will go to 200K miles if you take care of them and I would recommend this SUV to everyone. The wife's Mountaineer just got a new transmission - enough said. I would like to replace the Merc with another Jeep, maybe a Nitro. Then there's the old cars. I have owned a 57 Chevy and a first generation Corvette for 37 years. Yes they fit in the garage and no I don't own an oil well. They have really become additional members of the family that need to be washed, cleaned and fed. All are fun to drive.
The problem is when football season starts they get forgotten until the seaons over and the Bucks become Big 10 Champs and the bowl games are over. So between now and September 1, the cars are No 1. After that they struggle for a occassional oil change or a wash.