Wheels and Tyres

** Check tyre (tire) tread depth, the deepest groove in a tyre has a tread depth indicator which is a small hump in the groove, the side of a tyre also has an arrow or small triangle which shows where the tread depth indicators are located

** Most tyres start with either 10/32" or 11/32" of an inch of tread. When the tread depth indicator is level with the height of the tread (2/32"), this means it is time to change tyres. The usable amount of tyre is on most instances 8 to 9/32"

** When tyres are fitted to wheels, wheel weights are fitted to a wheel to help balance the wheel/tyre combo and to remove vibrations when driving, the less weight  fitted the better the build quality of the tyre and/or wheel in general. If many wheel weights are added, it means the build quality of the tyre or wheel may be poor

Oil Changes

Basic tips I follow when doing my own oil changes -

** Make sure the hand or foot brake is on. If car is auto, put selector in park, for manual leave in 1st gear

** Place brick behind either rear wheel

** Change oil when the engine is warm, wear disposable gloves so you don't get burned or get your hands covered in used oil, keep rags or paper towels close by in case of mess

** Remove the oil cap and dipstick when draining oil to drain oil trapped by engine vacuum

Post Sale Tactics at Dealerships

The deal is done. The contract has been signed. It's almost time to drive off into the sunset with your new car that you have just purchased from the dealer.

If you used your own money or a finance plan that you organised before buying, I'd like to say well done and congratulations. Good stuff!! I only wish more people did the same and I hope to spread this message with my blog.

After a sale, a dealer will try to get you to sign up to all sorts of crazy stuff you will not need. They will try to gouge more money out of your wallet if they were unsuccessful with the car deal.

Easy Driver

Does driving get any easier?

Nope.

Down here in Melbourne, I have noticed over the past 10 years that the standard of driving seems to be getting worse despite advances in vehicle design, road infrastructure, education and policing.

As a courier, I would often see accidents and events on the road which would make most people shake their head in disbelief and think WTF? Did that just happen?

The Test Drive

The best way to organise a test drive at a dealer or from a private seller is to initiate contact using the phone.

By choosing a day and time in advance, I am able to let the seller know when it is suitable to view and drive the car. Usually this depends on whether anyone else is test driving the car or whether the car is available, which the seller should inform you of.

The best time to drive is usually Monday to Friday from 10am to 2pm since most people will be at work and there will be less traffic on the road. Weekend test drives are busier since most people don't work weekends.

Shopping Online for Cars

Thanks to the internet, it is becoming much easier to shop online and to research products or services we as consumers are interested in buying or selling.

Cars are no exception. As a result, I do all my shopping for cars or car stuff online and you know that I prefer to buy and sell cars privately due to the savings.

Rather than wasting time and money, driving from dealer to dealer or house to house looking at cars which may or may not interest me, it's all too easy to jump online and to search from the comfort of home.

GM Holden going to China?

It was announced today on the news and confirmed by Holden that Australia's number one selling car, the Holden Commodore, will very likely be no longer manufactured or designed from 2014 here down under.

Can I say that I am not surprised despite being the owner of a Holden car?

The reason I say this is because there has been an enormous shift from buyers into smaller and more fuel efficient vehicles.