Jazzway - interesting few snippets from my recent car change. I paid £9,500 for my 2013 Honda Jazz 1.4 EX Manual in January 2016. I follow a reasonably careful plan of bodywork maintenance washing with the 2 bucket method roughly every two weeks. In spring I use an all in one product like Autoglym Super Resin Polish and top that with Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection. Every other wash I have been using Autoglym Aqua Wax as a drying aid. Pre winter I just top up the protection. Having run out of Extra Gloss Protection last October I used Bilt Hamber Double Speed wax.
My car looks very shiny. I got a CAP valuation for the car before I thought of trading it in. You won't be familiar with this in Holland but it's basically a guide to trade in values. My car was valued at £6,250 to £6,700 (the higher price being for cars in exceptional condition). I was given £7,000 in part exchange and the dealers have my car on sale for £9,000 which is only £500 less than I paid for it over 2 years ago. I will admit the low mileage was a factor as well.
I think this shows that looking after the bodywork of your car can pay dividends so the effort put into looking after the car's paint job is not always wasted.
I'm beginning to wish I'd sold the car privately!