A useful approach is to follow the POWDER sequence about once a fortnight:

P – petrol

O – oil

W – windscreen washer, coolant and fluid levels

D – damage to the vehicle

E – electrics (lights and battery)

R – rubber (tyres and wipers)

If you’re not sure how to do any of these checks, get an experienced friend or family member to show you. Doing the checks yourself, rather than relying on the nearest available bloke, helps you become familiar with your vehicle, so if it develops any problems (like leaking fluids or making odd noises) you’ll be quicker to spot them!

THE GIRLS’ GUIDE TO GARAGES

For overall happiness and peace of mind, having a capable, trustworthy garage on speed-dial is every bit as vital as tracking down the perfect hairdresser – but where do you find one? Personal recommendation is the best way forwards, so ask family, friends and colleagues as independent garages can be very good, very bad and all
points in between! If your car is still under warranty then you’ll probably want to have it serviced by the franchised dealership, but charges and levels of service can vary even within the same franchise, so it’s worth doing some reconnaissance on local dealerships before deciding where to go.

The ways a garage can potentially rip you off are many and varied – they range from fabricating work that doesn’t really need doing, to using a cheap brand of oil and charging you for the top-of-the-range variety, to charging extra hours labour for a hour’s job. It’s best to choose a garage that’s a member of a trade federation such as The Retail Motor Industry Federation or The Motor Vehicles Repairers Association.

GOTTA NEW MOTOR?

Whether you’re buying new or secondhand, one of the most important factors in getting a good deal is to do your research beforehand! The internet is particularly useful – sites such as www.whatcar.com will not only give you the list price of new and used models, but also the ‘target price’ – which deducts the discount you can reasonably expect to get.That means that you’re not ‘haggling in the dark’ with a car salesman, but negotiating from a position of greater power.You can also look up the resale value of your current car, both as a trade-in or if you decide to sell it privately.

BUYING FROM A DEALERSHIP

It’s important to bear in mind that dealerships don’t just make their money on selling cars, but also by flogging finance deals, extended warranties, and making
money on cars traded in. A typical dealer strategy is to dazzle you with generosity in one area, such as offering a decent discount on the car you’re buying, whilst quietly stitching you up on the finance. Do your research beforehand; know the exact sums and it’ll be impossible for anyone to pull. the wool over your eyes.

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BUYING THROUGH A PRIVATE SALE

Although real bargains can be found, there are also far more pitfalls for the unwary. You’ve got very little legal comeback if the car turns out to be a complete crock, and also need to be more vigilant about not landing a stolen car! Always visit a private seller at their home, rather than letting them bring the car to you or meeting somewhere else, and never complete a sale without all the relevant documentation (like the vehicle registration form). No matter how independent you are, it’s best to bring someone along when buying through a private sale, as going for test drives or exchanging large sums of money with a complete stranger isn’t a good idea!

For more information about Maria's book go to mariamcarthy.co.uk