Americans drive more than a trillion miles a year, mainly commuting to and from work. Not surprisingly, these are among the most stressful hours for many of us, sometimes straining our traditional love affair with our automobiles.

Nevertheless, our cars remain an integral part of the family, with better than two-thirds of buyers planning to keep their vehicles for five or more years. Our cars, trucks, and vans have become second family rooms and/or offices for many of us.

In the home, a family or living room typically would be redecorated every five years. Our family room on wheels, by the time it reaches its average age of more than eight years, probably needs some sprucing up too. The owner of a good older vehicle need not put up with a shabby, faded interior. It can be completely refurbished, wall to wall, floor to ceiling.

A car’s interior can be redecorated with current state-of-the-art fabrics and styling to take on a whole new look and feel. Genuine leather upholstery, for example, is gaining popularity as a re-upholstering material for motor vehicles, adding genuine quality. An old vinyl interior can be upgraded with luxurious fabric, available in a wide variety of colors and patterns.

Comfortable and durable cloth fabric still is preferred by most vehicle owners and car company interior designers. It’s cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

Consider restyling your older car, pickup or van. It won’t improve rush hour traffic, but it can enhance the environment inside your vehicle. It costs nothing to look over samples of material at your auto trim specialist (found in the classified section of your phone directory under “Auto seat covers, tops and upholstery”) and you may be pleasantly surprised at the price estimate.

Source: Car Care Council