Shopping for my first automobile: What I Want I Knew #AD

Interested by my first automobile brings again joyful reminiscences. It was a Volkswagen Derby that value £30. . . however wanted a few hundred quid spending on it to get it by means of its MOT. As soon as it did go its MOT, that automobile and I had been inseparable.

What I want I knew

ATS Euromaster, specialists in car servicing, has challenged me to write down an inventory of issues I want I Knew earlier than shopping for my first automobile. With out additional ado, right here’s what I’d advocate:

Common servicing is vital

Common servicing is an funding. It prolongs the lifetime of the automobile and can prevent cash in the long term as it would choose up on minor faults earlier than they change into main issues. It would additionally provide you with a warning to points comparable to worn brake pads or broken brake disks which could be very harmful. With trendy automobiles being extremely computerised, servicing might be much more vital than it was after I first began motoring.

Don’t take dangers along with your tyres

That is one thing I used to be not so good at after I was a novice motorist. At instances I even purchased what we known as “runners,” low-cost, partly-used, second hand tyres. I’d by no means try this nowadays because it’s simply too harmful. With age and expertise, I’d advise you to at all times test the tread depth, guarantee your tyres are inflated correctly and usually examine your tyres for cracks or different injury. Except for security, good high quality, well-maintained tyres cut back gasoline consumption and with petrol and diesel changing into more and more costly, it makes monetary sense.

Hold a ‘survival pack’ in your automobile

Hold a survival pack in your automobile with a torch, charged cell phone battery pack, emergency triangle, first assist package and excessive visibility jacket. For those who get caught on a rural street in the midst of the evening, you’ll need to make use of this lot.

Change your wiper blades usually

Wiper blades ought to be usually modified. After I began driving, I don’t assume I appreciated how typically they wanted changing. It’s extremely harmful to drive with a grimy windscreen or to drive within the rain with ineffective wipers. Then once more, in the event you’re getting your automobile usually serviced, a change of wiper blades ought to come as a part of the bundle.

Carry spare mild bulbs in your automobile

At all times carry spare mild bulbs in your automobile. As a younger motorist, I as soon as obtained stopped by the police when not one, however two bulbs had blown on my automobile, one on the entrance, one on the again. I used to be fortunate: The police officer accepted that I used to be driving dwelling and let me proceed on my journey, nevertheless it was a detailed factor. If you get a brand new automobile, it is usually price spending slightly time studying the best way to change the bulbs as a result of in some automobiles it’s fiendishly troublesome!

The enjoyable of getting your first automobile

Severe factors apart, getting your fist automobile is a milestone and could be immense enjoyable. I’ve very fond reminiscences of happening adventures throughout these carefree days. One explicit story is price telling as a result of it’s so ridiculous.

I went on a day journey to Stonehenge with my pal Stuart. Neither of us had been earlier than so we set off, full of pleasure and searching ahead to studying one thing about this historic monument. I used to be driving and Stuart was the navigator. In what I can solely name probably the most staggering navigational fail ever, Stuart obtained Amesbury, the village subsequent to Stonehenge in Wiltshire, confused with Aylesbury, the city in Buckinghamshire. Being daft 17-year-olds and this being the times earlier than satnavs, we solely realised our mistake as soon as we’d reached Aylesbury. In complete we drove about 300 miles and arrived at Stonehenge two minutes after the gates had been locked for the day! I suppose it’s the kind of loopy factor you do when younger, proper?

What do you want you knew?

From the enjoyable I had happening day journeys, to the significance of servicing and automobile tyre upkeep, these are a number of of the issues I want I knew after I began driving. What do you want you knew? Do you will have concepts for newly certified motorists? Depart a remark beneath and let me know. Oh, and one bonus bit of recommendation, don’t let my pal Stuart do the map studying.

Disclosure: This publish is a collaboration with ATS Euromaster however all ideas and opinions are my very own.

Like this publish? Effectively please do take a look at my different motoring-focused weblog posts.