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When buying a car, and even when maintaining an existing vehicle, you are sometimes forced to make decisions on how proactive or reactive you will be with repairs and maintenance. For example, do you wait until something is broken before fixing it, or do you try to be proactive and fix it when it starts to look like it might be an issue? When purchasing a used car, you may also be in the position of deciding what problems you fix right away (if they are safety or certification-related), and what problems get put off until later (maybe more aesthetic issues like trim or scratched interior). Many times, these decisions are based around your budget, as well as your priority for what you consider to be important (for a vintage car, keeping it in mint condition may be a priority).
New cars often have mandated maintenance and repair schedules built into the warranty process that are intended to identify/fix problems proactively, so be sure to read through your obligations when buying a new car and make sure you follow through on regular service intervals, as it may void your warranty if you don’t.
In general, it often ends up being less expensive to be proactive with maintenance, and keeping a regular maintenance schedule helps to identify problems before they get worse. As an example, if your brake pads need replacing it is normally an inexpensive repair if you are proactive, but if you leave them too long you could damage the rotors as well, which is much more expensive to replace. A common schedule is to have the oil/filter changed every 3 months, with annual check-ups to look for any other issues (such as brakes, suspension, fluids) that might come up. Depending on the type of vehicle and your location, seasonal maintenance may also be appropriate (to change from summer tires to winter tires, change fluids, get a convertible ready for storage). Over time, you may also become more familiar with the vehicle, and be able to perform regular maintenance and check-ups yourself, using an experienced mechanic or garage for only more involved repairs.
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