You may not know much about cars. Like all things in this blog, I may not be able to give you all I know and teach you the ins and outs of everything so simply-so I give you my best simplified version and provide the resources of where you could go to get what you need in its entirety-I just go a step further to one-up a Siri or Google Search! Cars are so vast and complicated, so here are just a list of things that are helpful for all automotive owners to know:
Buying a newer car and keeping it well-maintained is a better deal than buying older used cars or a new car every year. Trade-ins and leasing don't help you either. Get a new car and make it last more than a decade. Racking up lots of miles and constant abuse depreciates the value of the car more than driving it new off the lot!
Having a car in great shape is all in how you maintain it. How you drive is huge! If you are frequently in stop and go traffic, don't tailgate or be intimidated by tailgating drivers. This tip usually goes for Utah, but racing to stop at red lights wastes your fuel efficiency and wears out your breaks stopping fast. Brake pads and other such things are expensive, so coast to smooth stops, and don't race to short stops. Your passengers won't like the heaving and jerking of your petal-to-the-metal foot, and your car will need a lot less maintenance in the car.
Keep your car fluids up to par. You might be surprised to know how many people drive their cars without changing the oil or running the oil down and will seize their engine. The engine metals melt together because the fluids to keep it cool and lubricated are in the car. Try to not wait longer than six months to have a full-body assessment on the car. Also do your research so car repair places do not cost you more money in addition to refilling the fluids.
Do not run your tank below a quarter tank with fuel. Waiting until your tank reaches empty can pick up the debris found in the bottom of your fuel tank will run through the engine and repairing your fuel pumps is pricier than your regular check-ups to change your oil, batteries or fuel filters. You might be wondering, "How does debris of any kind get in my fuel tank?" Valid question. No fuel from your gas station is pure. Sand and pieces of little things can get in. Driving to the low portion of your tank will pick up the little rocks, sand and other things in the fuel and run it through the engine and damaging it while you drive, bit by bit.
Choosing the appropriate fuel. Most of the time your Owner's Manuel will tell you what to use. Diesel fuel in a regular car can be bad or premium in a diesel engine. Do NOT do this. It will ruin the engine instantly and siphoning the fuel tank is required stat! Use the right fuel. If you have the choice between regular and premium fuel- the only thing you must know in choosing between these options is that the premium fuel burns better and cleaner. Regular gets you there just as well, but it leaves a little more residue behind and a little friendlier to your wallet.
Know some of your basic noises. If the car sounds like a jet plane and is loud- you have a hole in your muffler. If your axle isn't off but the drive feels off balance, the clunk noise is possibly a lump in your tire. Do not ignore these warnings! If you hear something that sounds like paper stuck in a fan, it is probably your brakes are becoming worn down. It will scream loud when they won't work anymore. If your car squeals or sounds higher pitched when turning your steer wheel, get your steering fluid filled up and the leak fixed. If your car revs and revs, there is a starter issue that could be influenced by something as minor as a sensor, but will still cost money because it is so annoying for your mechanic to fix.
Mechanics and dealers are developing more and more of a monopoly on cars because they already know people are vulnerable to not knowing about cars, but now the newer cars are all closed off-requiring a professional to fix the more and more modern cars. There will be a day when people who like fixing cars will not be able to do it at home anymore. The more you know about cars, the more liberating it will be when your mechanic requires you pay their time and repairing techniques.
Go to all different dealers to see all your options. Sometimes it is hard to leave the dealer without a new car, but you can start to tease apart the market, sales gimmicks and lies you may be told when specific salesman will say whatever it takes to have your business.
Ask lots of questions. Be the annoying customer to the annoying salesman. You need to make informed decisions; you're buying a car, not a pair of shoes. If you ask lots of questions, negotiating a lesser price becomes easier. I recommend checking out Car Max first. Car Max does not negotiate prices, so you can take home a car, drive during your "cool off period"/five days to another dealer and ask them if you are really getting the best deal. Again, Car Max won't drop their offers to win the sale, so other salesman will compete to get the sale Car Max was going to give you.
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