Keeping a beloved old car on the road, we have some advice writes Geraldine Herbert
While we may relish that new car smell the reality for most is quite different. The average car on Irish roads is now nearly nine years old, 8.94 to be precise, according to figures just published by Cartell.ie so whether you are planning on buying an old second hand car or struggling to keep on going here are some handy tips and advice.
Just because your car is old or has high mileage is not a reason to change it. Today’s cars are far more reliable than before so if it’s not giving you any problems, hold on to it. Taking good care of your car is an easy way to prolong its driving life and cut costs so do regular checks on the oil, fluid levels, tyres and so on. This may sound boring and time consuming but it pays huge dividends in the long run.
If you are buying an older second hand car opt for a petrol car over a diesel one as petrol cars last longer. The reason is simply that they are generally much less complicated than diesel cars.
Be kind to your car and drive gently, so accelerate slowly and avoid harsh braking. In winter allow your car a minute or so to warm up before driving it hard.
The paint work on your car is the first line of defence against rusted body panels so if possible park your car in a garage but if not then park in the shade.
Find a mechanic you can trust. Maintaining an old car depends on a good partnership between you and your mechanic.
Eventually the time will come when it becomes unreliable so take advice from your mechanic as to when there’s no longer any point spending more money on it. The time may have come to send it on its way to the big car park in the sky, you can read our guide to scrapping a car here.
Geraldine Herbert
10th August, 2016
