Tag Archives: vehicle

Car Care: Pay Attention To These Areas

Standard
Car Care: Pay Attention To These Areas

Are you a car owner? If so, then you will no doubt be aware of the constant struggle to take care of your vehicle. To do this, you need to make sure that you understand the key areas that will always require your attention with your vehicle. There are lots of elements that you need to think about here, so let’s dive in:

First, you should make sure to clean it properly. In doing so, you can avoid a build up of dirt and grime. Believe it or not, this is more than enough to damage your vehicle and it’s why it’s always important to clean your car thoroughly. Make sure that you use the right cleaning liquids too. If they are the wrong choices, then they could ultimately end up damaging the paintwork and this could also eventually lead to issues with rust in key areas of the vehicle.

Dirt and grime may also cause issues with key areas of your vehicle like the brakes. If there is a problem with the brakes, then it could diminish your stopping distance and this will ultimately lead to a collision or a severe crash on the road. That means that you’ll need to pay a fortune to get your car repaired at some point in the future.

In most countries it is a legal requirement to book your car in for a regular MOT and service. This informs you that your car is safe to drive and roadworthy, the last thing you want to be doing is driving around on faulty breaks. You will be given a certificate when you book into an MOT or service and this stays with your car. If you prefer, you can go to the correct dealership for your services. If you have a Mercedes then you will need to book Mercedes service to find out more.

Finally, if you are trying to look after your car then it can tell you a lot about what is going on by the way it is driving. For example, if your car is jumping or juddering then this could signify an issue with the gearbox. Make sure you listen for any and all unusual noises and get it booked into a garage. You don’t want a simple issue to grow due to you ignoring it. A garage and mechanic will be able to hoist it up on the ramp with the diagnostic tool. This will give you a full workup of what could potentially be wrong with your car.

We hope this helps you understand some of the key areas that you need to keep in mind to ensure that your car remains in great working order in the future. In doing so, you can guarantee that your car retains as much value as possible and doesn’t let you down when you are on the road!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

A Car Repair Cautionary Tale

Standard
A Car Repair Cautionary Tale

Hello!! My car, AKA the Little Red Love Machine, is my little pride and joy. She is basically me in car form and I worked very hard to be able to buy my dream car. It is so important to me to make sure she is running in the best, safest way possible and I always stay up to date on regular maintenance. I began going to a shop down the street from me for oil changes and have had a positive experience every time. Except for the last time…

After my last oil change, I was informed that my car needed some extra work and that the price was going to be steep – the bare minimum being around $1340. YIKES! Right away, my feelers went up because what they were recommending was something that I had gotten done before and for way cheaper. Rather than commit to anything right away, I called another repair shop I go to on occasion and got a quote from them. The price just on the phone? $960. That was much more like it! Better yet, when I took my car to get fixed, the true price when they called me was $820. That was even more like it and over five hundred dollars less than the original quote!

While I was doing the happy dance for a repair that was even less than anticipated, I was a bit peeved. Did the people at the first repair shop think I was stupid or something? In fact, after they high balled me, I got a text from one of the team members saying I could get a free oil change if I wrote a review and I’m pretty sure they knew I had their number lol. (And, no: I did not write the review as temping as a free oil change is!)

This is why I decided to share my cautionary tale. If you are getting a major repair on anything done and the price seems way too high, get a second quote from a different source. Hell, get a few! If the prices are similar across the board, then that’s okay. However, you might find yourself in a situation similar to mine and will be so glad that you called around. This might seem like a no brainer but it is definitely worth the reminder so that you can continue to get the most bang for your buck and find professionals that are trustworthy. You couldn’t pay me to go to the original shop I went to again!

I am pleased to report that the Little Red Love Machine is back in excellent condition and my savings speak for themselves. You can’t beat that!

Do you have a story similar to mine? How much money did you end up saving by getting additional quotes? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Fed Up With Car Failures? It Could Be Time To Upgrade!

Standard
Fed Up With Car Failures? It Could Be Time To Upgrade!

Our cars really are our ticket to independence, and having your own vehicle gives you the ability to go where you want, when you want. If you’ve been driving for a while your car probably feels like an extension of you, and so when things go wrong it can spell disaster. If your car is giving you trouble and it’s reaching the end of it’s life, here are some things to consider:

Reasons For Upgrading:

There are plenty of reasons why a newer car is a good investment. First of all, if you’re considering scrapping your car it’s likely to be because it’s unreliable. Newer cars are generally more reliable, as all of the parts are less worn. Plus, it’s easier and cheaper to find the parts to replace them if they go wrong, too. In more recent years pollution and car emissions have become a hot topic, and car manufacturers have taken this on board. This means newer cars tend to be more environmentally friendly – not just through electric or hybrid models, either. New cars also have better safety features, so if you are unlucky enough to be involved in a crash, you massively improve your chances of surviving or, at least, avoiding serious injury.

Choosing Your Next Car:

There are many factors to consider when you’re buying your next vehicle. You should never just rush into it and choose something based solely on price or looks. When shopping for a new car, make a list of “must haves” and “nice to haves” for your new vehicle with safety being paramount. Keep in mind that extra features in a car will have an impact on the price and that might not be within your budget so be reasonable and practical. This could include more cost effective upgrades like Private Number Plates to personalize your car or a subscription to satellite radio. The most important thing is that you have a safe vehicle to get from Point A to Point B.

Keep an open mind as you consider different options for your car as they might not check every box you have. Then, you can utilize sites like autoeasy.com/cars to give you options for cars that fit most of your preferences. It will help simplify the process because, let’s be honest, car shopping can be really frustrating sometimes! Of course, you should run some quotes through comparison sites to check out how much insurance will cost and if it’s affordable for you. If you have a very specific model in mind you might struggle finding one local, but luckily companies like Shiply do vehicle delivery. This is useful as you don’t need to travel or sort out insurance costs for driving it back, you can sort everything from the comfort of your own home, instead. And who doesn’t love online shopping?

As you consider your next car, it’s beneficial to research any common problems that that specific vehicle might have as well as a solution to the issue. Then, you will have the knowledge and a shop ready to go should your car need repairs. For example, you could enter a search for “volkswagen t-roc air conditioning service” (or the issue for your car) to find a body shop that specializes in that repair. It’s always a good idea to have a local shop on standby!

How To Get Rid Of The Old Model:

If your car is an older model, and either something major goes wrong or a few things all go at once, you can find yourself in the position where the costs of the parts and labor can be more than what the car is worth. In this case, it makes the most sense to scrap your car for cash or find a car yard that does trade ins, and then put the money towards a newer vehicle. If your car is particularly well maintained or a rare model, you could even sell it and make some good money, as collectors will be prepared to put in the cost of parts.

If it’s long past its best you could have it scrapped – just make sure that you choose a licenced car scrapyard. This prevents the vehicle from being unlawfully sold, where it could potentially end up in criminal activity while still registered to you!

A new car makes an excellent gift to yourself this holiday season – especially if you are in desperate need of a new one. Hit those holiday sales and drive away in your dream car!