I bought my first car this year. I owned for about three weeks,
before sending it on. A brief love affair, it was a sobering experience
of ownership and the testy relationship between humans and vehicles.
As one friend said, “Cars. They break your heart”. They also have the
tendency to break your bank account. Here are some of the bigger money
pitfalls in dealing with the dealings of our four-wheeled friends, and
how to avoid them. Thanks to MSN Money for inspiration.
Premium, not regular petrol
Giving your car ‘presents’, like nicer petrol, is a bit odd. Let’s be
honest- they can’t hear you, and they’re not going to run nicely
because you’ve been so sweet. If you’re driving a car from pre-1992,
steer clear of ethanol petrol because that’ll kill it faster than a fly
swatter on a lazy fly. If not, premium is a money drain that you can
ill-afford.
Getting Stingy
Sometimes we get stingy at the worst moments- we ignore the
manufacturer’s suggested oil change timetable, or avoid changing the
timing belt. Then the car breaks and we have to spend a fortune fixing
the rotten thing. Avoiding this is easy- follow the instructions, and
spend money when required. That said, don’t believe the dealer when he
suggests you get a major service every thirty seconds which, of course,
he will provide.
Services at the Dealer
Independent shops will generally do cheaper, more efficient service
than the major dealers. Take your owner manual and see how it goes. This
is an important relationship, so spend some time asking around. Word of
mouth is the best bet and once you’ve found your man, never let him go.
If you’re getting repairs, before you pay for the job, have a look at
the work or drive the car around for a bit to check it truly is fixed.
Paying To Have Wiper Blades Changed
Once a year, buy a new wiper blade and fit it yourself. Get DIY and
don’t believe people who try and convince you that it’s a job to pay
someone for. It’s a pretty self-evident process and getting someone else
to do it for you is a waste of money. The same goes with air filters.
It’s a five minute job. If you’re living in a dusty climate, it is
advised you change it with every oil change. If not, then every 30, 000
kms should do the trick.
Losing Records
Keeping a record of all the repairs done to your car will not only
help you to decide if something is a serious problem, it’s also great if
you decide to sell it on. Having a comprehensive list of repairs is a
great bonus should you want to move the car along. Records will also
help should there be any warranty on the repairs.
Giving Up
Nothing drives me more crazy than companies who make it difficult to
claim warranty so people have to give up. I know it takes a lot of time
(that none of us have) but it’s a deliberate policy on their behalf to
save money. So save your money, not their multi-billion dollar bottom
line, and fight for your warranty. There’s no need to be unreasonable,
but stand firm on what your contract of sale says and if they’re being a
pain, call a consumer watchdog for advice,
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