Winter is about as easy on your car as boxing is on your face. Sometimes, you escape without a scratch; sometimes, it’s a few bumps and bruises; but sometimes, you’re in trouble. So when spring finally rolls around again, it’s time to pick your car up off the canvas, dust it off, and prepare it for a long summer of driving.

After a lengthy, cold winter, permeated by rain, snow, freezing rain, ice, sand, and salt, your automobile may just end up looking and feeling much like a heavyweight prizefighter. Luckily, a few simple steps will return your Boxster to pre-fight condition.

First, make sure you read the owner’s manual and follow the recommended service schedules. Your manual should contain a detailed checklist of services and schedules you’ll need to complete to ensure that your vehicle is in perfect working order. This includes oil changes, tire inspections, and filter replacements.

And while you’re at it, have the air conditioner and cooling systems checked; chances are you’ll need them sooner than you’d think. Essentially, the winter months can wreak havoc on the operative systems of your vehicle. It is better to have everything checked than discover a problem down the road.

Just as people air out and clean their houses, be sure give your car a thorough spring cleaning, top to bottom, inside and out. Remove all junk, vacuum, and dust every surface, carpet and crevice, clean all windows, and wipe down the headlights with a soft, damp rag to clean off a winter’s worth of grime, dirt and salt. Check all light bulbs and wiper blades for wear and damage, as you’ll want everything in perfect working order for the heavy rains of spring.

Lastly, a good wash and wax will do wonders for an exterior worn down by months of neglect. A coat or two of wax can restore a vehicle’s badly beaten finish, and protect it against the harsh rains and sun of spring and summer. Be on the lookout for any nicks, scrapes, and spots of rust that may have developed.

And as always, if you’re not a do-it-yourselfer, take your vehicle in to the professionals in car care. They have qualified automotive technicians who can easily service and reinvigorate your weary vehicle, as well as thoroughly inspect every part of your vehicle for wear, tear and damage.

By performing these simple tasks, you can ensure that your vehicle stays in great fighting shape for whatever lies ahead.