Low mileage Honda Accord (another question)

[seriousthistime]

Hey all,

A few years ago I bought a 2004 Honda Accord with 9,500 miles. Yes, 9,500. It really was owned by a little old lady who drove it to the grocery store and to doctor appointments. She had a full service oil change every 850 miles or so. At 6,000 miles she had the tires rotated. Just before she died she replaced the battery. I know all this because she had it all done at her local dealer's and they gave me all the info.

I've owned it about 3 years and I get the oil changed every 3,500 miles or so at one of those independent auto maintenance chains, so my tire pressure is checked, they changed my wiper blades, I had my cabin filter changed, and so on. They tell me I should rotate my tires, which I've never done. I figure new tires are probably in the forecast in the next year or so, so why bother to rotate the tires?

I want this car to last me a long time. I have 35,000 miles on it now. Are there any unique problems that are caused simply by age rather than miles? My car has the miles of a youngster but at 8 years old is middle-aged. Is it more prone to things like the tire rubber hardening, the brakes failing, or hoses and belts cracking? Are there other things I should keep an eye on?

I know if I bring it to the dealer for a once-over, they'll find lots of ways to relieve me of $1K or more.

[seriousthistime]

Ahh, as I suspected. Thanks Rick. I do live in a salt area, although there hasn't been much salt this year. Last year was a different story...

My local dealer caters to well-healed clientele who throw money at them to do periodic maintenance at exactly the recommended intervals. What I would rather do is take the car to a trusted independent garage and have them do the sort of inspection they'd do pre-purchase on a used car (which they have done for me in the past). They will tell me what should be done now and what can wait. I have been complacent owning a car with so few miles and thinking it's "new" when it's really not.

[seriousthistime]

Last time I was in for an oil change, the place said that my transmission fluid was looking like it needed to be changed. I've read about transmission service and there seems to be a difference of opinion about transmission drain and fill vs. flush and fill. Filter change either way. What's your opinion?

Thank you for answering all these questions. I learn a lot about reading the other threads in the Automotive board. So, thanks. (Zaire and the tire issues -- hoo boy! Tires are about the last thing I'd worry about. They wear down, you replace them when you need to, what's so complicated? Maybe it's the same thing with transmissions.)

[seriousthistime]

Thanks!