The 'Great Keep Your Car Tip Top For Less' Hunt

highguyuk

I have a v. simple and small tip.

Don't pay to get someone to clean your car.

Buy a few products, and a wash mitt, and do it yourself. Not only do you save money, but you have the satisfaction too

oompedoomp

Try http://www.onlineautomotive.co.uk/

Saved a fortune on my exhaust.

Si

norman

there was a VOLVO running about New York State with 2,000,000 miles PLUS on the clock because the owner kept it fully serviced. the Volvo Owners Club has access to hundreds of tons of parts at vg prices. There is a factory in Wales making s/s exhausts for ANY car. Bought through the VOC, you get a lifetime guarantee. After ELEVEN years, they sent me a complete new set. This has run five years and should last another 7 or 8.

gb57

Unless you are that worried about your image (don't be pathetic :rotfl: ), don't replace the car unless you NEED to.

Buy second hand (at least), and don't be afraid to buy an inexpensive car. My last one (Citroen BX - bought for £3k and kept for 9 years) was nearly 15 when I sold it for £300 and replaced it with a Mitsubishi - bought 3 years ago for £2500 - it is an R reg, 1998. Nothing wrong with it, at all, very nice car. I will drive it until it is dead (or almost), so should have at least another 5 or 6 years out of it, I hope.

Ladies, make sure your man can change the oil/plugs for you (give him an exam before he moves in:rolleyes: ) - saves on those garage bills! Stick a note in the car of when the oil was changed as a reminder to change it regularly (every 5000 miles).

Find a good reliable "small" garage, or mobile repairman, who you get to know and trust. The one we have used for years is absolutely great - straight as a die, and low charges. When the MOT is due we take the car to him, he checks it over, does any necessary work, then takes it to the MOT place. We collect it from him at the end of the day.

The only time I tried elsewhere (many years ago) I was told that the head gasket had gone and it would cost £400. Told them to leave it, took it to our normal chappie, who had the engine steam cleaned, tightened up a few bits, and charged me £30 for the lot!

Keep that right foot off the accelerator - don't rush around like a boy racer and you not only use less fuel, there is less wear and tear on the engine.

Try not to use the car for lots of short journeys- wears the engine out. It is better to do long journeys. For very local stuff, try shanks pony - you will get fitter as well!

tripled

I would say to remember that just because you think something will be more expensive doesn't mean it will be...

I have found getting my local garage to order some parts such as oil and air filters for me costs less than halfords.

Nationwide Auto Centre may be cheap with Tesco vouchers, but I seldom use big Mr T. The other day I went into NAC and asked for a quote to have the brake servo changed (my own part). They quoted me £190, with an extra £30 odd if I wanted the brake fluid drained and refilled as well. I took my car to the Renault dealership my stepdad used to use, when I picked it up they had changed the part, replaced a faulty brake cylinder they had discovered and refilled the brake fluid for £185 - £35 less even before the extra work.

MORPH3US

tripled wrote:

I have found getting my local garage to order some parts such as oil and air filters for me costs less than halfords.

Therin lies your mistake, NEVER BUY FROM HALFORDS!!!!

Look up your local motor factor on yell.com or similar and source parts from there or online.... much cheaper and much better service (they usually know what they are talking about)!!!!

M

fatbelly

Two tips:

If you get a windscreen chip, phone your insurer. they will probably have a deal with a mobile repairer who will come and fix it for free. I've done this three times now! The repair is almost invisible

I noticed years ago that my batteries seemed to fail when they were six years old. I then had a crisis that needed an urgent fix. Now i shop around when the battery is getting to that age and change it before it fails. I bought the last two from Trago Mills (South West readers will understand!)

Just thought of another one - make your own Swarfega by mixing white spirit and washing-up liquid!

autismmum

thanks, well im an advanced motorist and we run training to use less fuel and make the car run easier, you are spot on , if you obey the speed signs you are less likely to need to brake sharply, thus wearing your brakes and if you accelerate in correct gear you use less fuel too. good lessons.

foolsgold99

What does everyone think of National Tyres Oil change?

http://www.national.co.uk/specials.asp

If you book online you get another 10% off making a semi synthetic oil and filter change £18.

MORPH3US

Doesn't sound like too bad a deal...

Just looked online and found an oil filter for my car for £5 delivered. A big tub of Magnatec would be £20 so that would work out at £25 plus the hassle of doing it myself - not having the tools, the mess, getting dirty etc....

I just always worry when I am getting garages to do things... like they are going to do it wrong, spot 101 other things that need fixing or put in some cheapo oil or something.....

When I do it myself I know exaclty what is being done.....

Although that said, by the time I get my !!!! into gear, the oil would have needed to of been changed 5 times over....

Might give it a try.

M