Car ownership, can be a joy so it’s worth while considering just how important it is to take care of your car properly.
Car ownership is like owing any other gadget or item – if you don’t look after it properly, you will eventually need to replace it.
Here are just five of the key car ownership mistakes that people have made in the past, that have cost them far more than they could have imagined.
The Wrong Wheels
Believing that you are a car expert, when you are new to the world of automobiles can be a disastrous car ownership mistake to try and pull off. For instance, installing oversized wheels is a rookie mistake and will eventually cause you nothing but massively expensive problems. You can eventually damage the fenders and wheel wells for your vehicle and leave yourself with a huge bill to pay and no car for quite some time.
Unaligned Tyres
Car Ownership Mistakes
Tyres care is a big part of car ownership, and aligning them in the wrong manner is a mistake that plenty of people do. If you’re putting on new tyres make sure they are properly aligned. Failure to do so will see your tyre’s running out much quicker than you ever thought possible!
Ignoring Oil Changes
Just like anything else that uses oil, it has to be changed and re-mixed from time to time. Whilst oil technology has improved in the last generation or so, it’s still vital to make sure that your car gets an oil change from time to time. If you fail to do so, this car ownership mistake will eventually start to cause your engine to wear out, as there will not be efficient enough lubricant. This can be an expensive problem to clean up, in more ways than one.
Buying Cheap Batteries
Sometimes, trying to save money on vehicle maintenance will only cost you far more in the long-term. A dead battery as you might imagine is useless. When buying a car battery, look online for the exact battery type for your vehicle and try going for one of the better ranges. Buying a cheap replacement to save a few pounds may cost you extra money for a battery charger and a replacement, so try not to scrimp and save in this department.
Unprofessional Body Work
The last thing that your vehicle needs is cheap bodywork – if you have dented or damaged your car, get a professional to fix the problem. Your mate with a hammer or that DIY specialist with his own garage out the back, might not be the best people to really help you, as it may end up costing you far more in the future.
If you can think of any other car ownership mistakes you want to shout, about feel free to let me know.
To health and vehicle happiness,
Your fearless mechanic,
Phil.
Bad car habits can put a hole in your pocket if you don’t keep them in check.
As you might imagine, car maintenance is very important because the majority of cars can be relatively fragile if you don’t look after them. Bad car habits tend to be entirely self-inflicted, and therefore can cause vehicle damage that may prove to be expensive. So if you find that your car is beginning to incur problems a touch quicker than you are used to, it maybe it’s due to the way you drive.
Okay… so this post isn’t a dig, or a way to preach about road safety, it’s a legitimate concern, as certain bad car habits can directly cause crashes and accidents. Equally, the following bad car habits are going to put a severe dent in the lifespan of your vehicle.
Bad Car Habits
Dodging Maintenance
If you were to go through life without ever doing any exercise, or looking after your body in any fashion whatsoever, it would no doubt lead to shorter lifespan than normal. Right? Well a car is the exactly same. Delaying going for regular service checks ups and maintenance may turn into one of those bad car habits, meaning that your car will never get its proverbial exercise check up. If you want to avoid this dilemma, you should take your car for a regular service for things like oil and filter replacement, transmission fluids, air filters and replacement brake pads.
Head ups! Your vehicle should have come with a maintenance manual. If you can’t find it, you may be able to pick one up online. Following the advice found in your vehicle manual will help you to create a nice maintenance routine to follow.
Shifting When on the Move
Gear shifting when on the move is a foolish tactic, it’s another one of those bad car habits, it’s costly, and will wear out the transmission fairly quickly. Don’t shift from drive to reverse whilst you are moving as it’s like a kick in the face to the transmission. Too many of these jerks and jabs, and you will eventually need to replace the transmission. In many cases, this can almost be as expensive as buying a new car outright!
Computer Game Driving
Do you tend to drive at the maximum speed possible, only to come to grinding halt at every stop you encounter? If so be prepared to put your car in the scrapper early. This type of driving will accelerate the deterioration of the key parts of your vehicle, it’s again another one of those bad driving habits, and eventually it will leave you with a hulking mess of a vehicle. For a good car life span, take it nice and smooth and don’t make computer game driving a bad car habit.
Ignoring Dash Lights
It’s fairly self-explanatory – if you decide to ignore the clear warnings that your vehicle is giving you, then hands down you will eventually regret it! Bad car habits are not paying attention to dashboard warning lights, they are there for a reason. And if you do come across a legitimate problem, please do yourself a favor and hot foot it down to the local garage or your trusty mechanic to have the problem repaired.
Tire Replacements
Are your tires balding or damaged? Then you need to bite the bullet and get replacements. It might be expensive, but it may cost you more than and “arm and a leg” in the long-term if you decide to just ignore it. Bald tyres are dangerous full stop, and if you live in weather torn areas it’s asking for serious trouble. You’ve been warned, if your tyres are balding pick new ones up as soon as possible or you run the risk of having no car at all!
To health and vehicle happiness,
Your fearless mechanic,
Phil.
10 essentials for your first summer road trip
Planning a summer road trip anyone?
Whether you’re going to a summer festival, on a glamorous camping trip, or a day trip to the beach, there are a few things you really don’t want to forget on a summer road trip.
Join us, as we run through the checklist of summer road trip essentials.
1. A sense of direction…
You don’t want to be getting lost the very first time you attempt to venture away on a summer road trip. Obviously it’s not a very good idea to head straight out on your the day after you pass your driving test, so make sure you’re capable of using a map and driving without getting lost.
For your summer road trip, it makes sense to use a Sat Nav or if you prefer things the old-fashioned way a good ole map with some printed directions will do the trick.
2. Food, food, glorious food
No one wants to be hungry on a summer road trip, so don’t forget the sweets, the Pringles and the cash for the McDonalds drive-thru. Don’t go too eating to much though, you don’t want to end up sticking your head out the window like a sick dog.
3. Bring some tuuuuunes!
You’re going to need some seriously good music for your summer road trip. You know… the kind of songs that make people shout ‘TUUUUUNNEEE’ or run to the dance floor like they’re being chased by a pack of hungry dogs.
A collaborative summer road trip playlist is a good idea, providing no one created a playlist filled with songs from the wonder years.
4. Your Ray Bans
What’s the point in going on a summer road trip if you haven’t got any Ray Bans? Okay…we’ll allow cheap knock offs too; but for swag just make sure you’ve brought your driving shades along for the ride.
Note: In the interests of safety, please make sure that you can actually see out of your sunglasses while driving.
5. An in-car mobile phone charger
The last thing you want if on a summer road trip is to get stuck driving around the countryside looking for Glastonbury with a dying mobile battery. Having a mobile phone charger in your car can you get you out of all sorts of situations, so don’t forget to stick it in your glove box before you leave.
6. A Polaroid instant camera
On a summer road trip, who needs Instagram if you can take instant pictures of your mates really going for it in the dance tent? Polaroid instant cameras aren’t too pricey, and there’s no need to spend hours uploading everything to Facebook when you get home. Job done.
7. A torch
You may be going on a summer road trip, but every driver should have a torch in his or her car, although hopefully there’ll be no need to use it. Your first road trip should be a fun, stress-free affair. But you never know when a torch may come in handy, or when you might find yourself searching around in the dark for the right tent.
8. Money…
It may sound obvious, but you’d may be surprised by the number of people that break down because they run out of petrol. On your summer road trip make sure you’ve got cash on your card, so you don’t find yourself sitting at the side of the M25 instead, of lounging at the beach. Oh… and seeing as you’re the driver, don’t forget to make sure your mates chip in with the petrol money too!
9. Something warm
We know the summer is the time to take as many clothes off as possible, but lets face it… we are in England and who knows what the weather is going to be like. A good suggestion is to bring a few warmer clothes with you, at least a hoodie and a pair of leggings, because as soon as it gets dark you’re seriously going to regret your choice of daisy dukes.
10. Your friends
Summer Road Trip
Finally on your summer road trip…
Don’t forget to bring your mates with you. Your first road trip isn’t going to be much fun if you’re sitting on your own shouting ‘TUUUNNEE’ with all the windows open, so bring your friends drive save and have a wonderful time.
That’s all folks!
Your fearless mechanic,
Phil