September 25, 2023

Serious about my first automobile brings again comfortable reminiscences. It was a Volkswagen Derby that price £30. . . however wanted a few hundred quid spending on it to get it via its MOT. As soon as it did cross its MOT, that automobile and I had been inseparable.

ATS Euromaster car serving. Picture of Volkswagen Derby car. What I wish I knew
My first automobile was a Volkswagen Derby, like this one. As a novice motorist, there’s quite a bit I want I knew about automobiles and driving. Pic credit score: Mic on Flikr, reproduced below Inventive Commons licence.

What I want I knew

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

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’s going to choose up on minor faults earlier than they develop into main issues. It can additionally warn you to points comparable to worn brake pads or broken brake disks which will be very harmful. With trendy automobiles being extremely computerised, servicing might be much more necessary than it was after I first began motoring.

Don’t take dangers together with your tyres

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

Maintain a ‘survival pack’ in your automobile

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

Change your wiper blades often

Wiper blades needs to be often modified. After I began driving, I don’t assume I appreciated how usually 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 often serviced, a change of wiper blades ought to come as a part of the package deal.

Carry spare gentle bulbs in your automobile

At all times carry spare gentle bulbs in your automobile. As a younger motorist, I as soon as bought 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 house and let me proceed on my journey, but it surely was a detailed factor. If you get a brand new automobile, it is usually value spending slightly time studying learn how to change the bulbs as a result of in some automobiles it’s fiendishly troublesome!

The enjoyable of getting your first automobile

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

I went on a day journey to Stonehenge with my good friend Stuart. Neither of us had been earlier than so we set off, full of pleasure and looking out 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 essentially the most staggering navigational fail ever, Stuart bought 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 occurring day journeys, to the significance of servicing and automobile tyre upkeep, these are a couple of of the issues I want I knew after I began driving. What do you want you knew? Do you may have concepts for newly certified motorists? Depart a remark under and let me know. Oh, and one bonus bit of recommendation, don’t let my good friend Stuart do the map studying.

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

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