Setting Up Your Car Before You Move Off

By Robert David Morgan

Before you set off on busy roads and in traffic, you should always master the basic techniques of starting, moving off and stopping. You must ensure that you have full control of your car at all times and to have this you need to have:
a. A good working knowledge of all the controls in your vehicle
b. Be able to co-ordinate both hand and feet controls together when needed
c. A good understanding of the highway code
d. A good level of respect for the needs of the other road users
e. A good basic knowledge to enable you to check your vehicle to make sure that everything is in the correct working order and the car is safe before setting off.

Starting to drive isn't just a matter of starting the engine and driving off. You should first of all check that your car is safe and ready for road use. There are a few everyday checks that you should get into a habit of checking before setting off:
1. Ensure that the windscreen, windows and mirrors are clean.
2. All the lights, including the indicators are working and if not replacing the dead bulbs (it is always a good idea to carry spare bulbs and fuses).
3. Always check that the brakes are working, never drive with fault brakes.

There are also some good periodic checks that you should get used to making; these checks are for both safety and good vehicle maintenance. Check and top up if necessary:
a. Engine oil
b. Water level in the radiator or the expansion tank
c. Brake fluid level
d. Battery; top up with distilled water if necessary (some batteries are maintenance free and don't need topping up)
e. Windscreen and rear window washer bottles

You should check your tyres and make sure that they are legal; they must have the correct amount of tread depth and should be free from dangerous cuts and defects, they should always be at the correct pressure, not only for safety but for fuel economy also.

How often you make these checks will depend on how much and often you drive. Consult your vehicles owner's manual. If you drive more often, you may need to check these items every day.
Always have your vehicle serviced regularly by a professional garage, your owner's manual should advise on when is best for your vehicle.

Once you have checked the items above, you check the following for the safety of you and your passengers, and also for other road users.

Every time you get into your vehicle, check that:
1. All doors are properly closed
2. Your driving seat is in the best position for you to see clearly in all directions, and reach all the controls comfortably
3. The head restraint is in the correct position
4. You and all your passengers have their seat belts on
5. Check the parking brake again and that the gear lever is in neutral (if you are in an automatic it should be in the position P or N)
6. Always check that you have enough fuel to get where you need to be, or that you can make it to a fuel station. It may sound silly, but before you set off make sure you know the controls and how they work, and also make sure that you know the size of your vehicle (width, height and weight) and always ensure you know if your vehicle is front, rear, or four-wheel drive and if you have ABS or not. This will ensure that you use the correct braking distance and handling for your car.

From Rob Morgan at Budgen Motors
Car Rental Shrewsbury

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Buying A Used Car? Some Useful Tips

By Brianna W

Purchasing a used car is a smart decision to fulfill the personal riding needs, especially when you are short of the budget to buy a new one. Go through the following guidelines, and learn on how to purchase a well-kept vehicle at very reasonable rates.
With rising prices of vehicles, purchasing a used vehicle seems to be a wise decision. But another fact is that it could be a sort of gamble, as you are not aware of the vehicle problems like its engine issues, mileage and maintenance. But the deal can be a profitable venture if you buy the vehicle after a well-conducted research. Read on to get some useful guidelines for buying a used car, that could help you to possess a well-maintained car in very economical manner.

For few years, prices of automotive vehicles have been rising extensively. This has turned the people to buy used vehicles for their private riding needs. And no doubt, this move is reasonable, especially for those who find it difficult to purchase a new vehicle in absence of the required budget. While searching for a used vehicle, one can find a well-kept vehicle, in good condition, at cheaper prices. Additionally, a used vehicle gets lesser value depreciation compared to a newly purchased one. That is why, buying a used car has become very popular among the buyers.

Purchasing a repossessed vehicle is not a hard job, if you follow a pre-planned pattern. Before getting into a deal, you must be clear about your needs. It is highly essential to have the buying purpose clearly in your mind. Is it to meet your personal riding needs, transporting the goods for your official purpose, or something else? Just keep your needs in mind and select the vehicle accordingly.

Once you have selected the vehicle, the next thing you need to do is to set your budget. For any financial deal, it is beneficial to have a pre-decided budget. In any case, you can't spend more than what you have. So decide it in advance how much could you spend on the vehicle. However, some banks offer monetary assistance to put your financial worries at ease. When it comes to finding the deals for used vehicles, there are numerous means to search for. You can read auto-magazines or search over Internet. The second option is more reliable, and hassle-free. While searching over Internet, you could find some reputed car dealers offering a wide range of used vehicles for sale. Visit their websites and find the vehicle that suits your buying criteria perfectly.

Do as much research as you can and make a wise decision to select your car. Check out the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), and go through its entire history. Take a test drive before finalizing the deal. Inquire about all parts of the car and check out their functionality. Walk from one end to another and check for any visible sign of dents and damages to the body. Apart from that, you must inquire on the engine issues, and steering problems of the vehicle. If you are buying a vehicle for the first time, you can take an expert with you while testing the vehicle. Do all the paper works to make your deal a legitimate one. Check out the documents containing warranty policy, billing details, car insurance, registration and transfer of ownership. Keeping all these things in mind, you can select the best deal for yourself. You can get a car that is profitable economically, and enjoyable to ride. It is therefore a wise decision to purchase the affordable used cars, especially in absence of appropriate budget to buy the new ones.

This article is written by an expert who is currently associated with http://CallingAllCars.com, a reliable website that provides a variety of deals for car max used cars and other used vehicles.

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Driving a Car: Using Your Mirrors

By Robert David Morgan

Right from the very start when learning to drive, we learn how important using our mirrors can be to become a good driver. We all know the basic MSM Routine (Mirror, Signal, and Manoeuvre) and must always be aware of how our own driving is likely to affect the traffic following you.
The MSM routine helps you to be aware of what you see in your mirrors and then how to act accordingly. Regular and sensible use of your mirrors is an essential element of driving safely, and toy should make the MSM routine an integral part of your driving.

A driving mirror is often referred to as the driver's third eye. Mirrors are one of the keys to defensive driving. Always use them to keep up to date with what is behind you and also to the sides of your car.

Remember, don't just look in your mirrors, and act safely on what you see!

Most cars should have three driving mirrors:
a. An interior mirror
b. Two exterior mirrors, one on the door of each side of the car.

Their main function should be to give you a view of the road behind you and to the sides; they should enable you to keep a constant check on what is happening around you, and also help you make safe and sensible decisions based on the position and speed of the other traffic around you.

You should make sure that your mirrors are clean and correctly adjusted before setting off, you should place them in a position that is comfortable and one that requires little head movement to get a good view.

Many new models may have electric door mirrors, you should be able to adjust them from the controls that are usually placed on the driver's door. Some will also have a heating element to keep them clear from frost and condensation. The interior mirror usually has an anti-dazzle position.

When you are driving at night, you can use this to prevent dazzle or distraction by the lights of the cars behind you. When moving the mirror to this position, you will still be able to see the lights, but the dazzle will be greatly reduced, always remember to reset this when returning to normal driving conditions in the day time.

Using your driving mirrors regularly and sensibly is vital to good driving. Learning to judge the speed and distance of vehicles behind you takes time. The use of your mirrors should depend on the manoeuvre you wish to make, and the type of car that you are driving.

Normally, you should always use the interior mirror first, followed by the exterior mirrors. Your use of the exterior mirrors will depend on the move you make and the situation around you. For example, before turning left in slow-moving traffic, your nearside exterior mirror will help you to look for cyclists filtering on your left.

Always use your mirrors in good time, well before you approach a hazard, slow down, change lanes or commence a manoeuvre, then act sensibly on what you see.

One of the few driving rules that is not subject to any exception or qualification, other than in an emergency is "What is behind you?", you should ask yourself
a. How close is the following traffic?
b. How fast is it moving?
c. What is it doing?
d. Is the manoeuvre safe?

It's also important to use your mirrors early enough to allow other road users time to react to any signal you will need to give. Use your mirrors to check their reaction. Although the mirrors help us see better when driving, we need to remember that we all have a blind spot. A blind spot is the area that cannot be seen either when using normal forward vision or when using your mirrors.

Your main blind spots are:
a. The area between what you see as you look forward and what you see in your exterior mirrors
b. The area obscured by the bodywork of your car when you look in your mirrors.

Vehicles of different shapes and sizes will have different blind spots.
Even though you have looked in your mirrors, always look round over your shoulder before moving off to check your blind spot, you never know there might be a cyclist around!

By Rob Morgan at Budgen Motors

http://www.budgenmotorcars.co.uk

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Driving a Car: Using Pedals

By Robert David Morgan

Once you have got the hang of the gear lever, the next thing to master is the pedal, in all manual cars there are 3 pedals.

One good way to remember them is to think ABC, accelerator, Brake and Clutch.
The accelerator or the 'gas pedal' is operated by the right foot and is positioned on the far right of the three pedals.

Its main function is to control the rate at which the mixture of fuel and air is supplied to the engine. The name 'gas pedal' is derived from the American 'gasoline' for petrol.

Where a petrol engine is run a carburettor mixes the fuel with the air, which is then drawn into the engine. Many modern cars have an electronic fuel injection system instead of the carburettor. When a diesel engine is used, a high pressure fuel injector delivers the fuel into the cylinders. This is known as a compression-ignition engine.

With both engine types the more pressure you put on the accelerator, the more fuel goes into the engine, in turn generating more power and giving the engine a higher speed. Getting to know the correct amount of pressure to put onto the pedal takes practice, when moving off from standing still you need just the right amount. Too little and the engine will stall, too much and the vehicle will surge forward and if in traffic may possibly cause an accident!

As well as the accelerator, the right foot operates the footbrake. You shouldn't need to use both pedals at the same time! The footbrake is the middle pedal, so your right foot can easily move between the two pedals. The main function of the brake pedal is to slow down or stop the vehicle. When using the pedal the more pressure you apply, the more the vehicle will slow. Slowing down under control isn't just a matter of slamming the footbrake on as hard as you can. As with the other foot controls you need to practice to get using it just right.You should press the footbrake with the ball of your foot, using enough pressure to slow the wheels without causing them to lock.

When using progressive braking, in normal circumstances you should press lightly on the brake pedal to begin with, and gradually press harder as the brakes begin to act. This will give you maximum control and the smoothest stopping for the vehicle. In some more modern cars you will find that they are equipped with dual-circuit braking system. These systems ensure that in the rare event of a braking system failure, there remains some braking available when the brake pedal is pressed. When this happens you will need to push the brake pedal harder than normally necessary.

Many cars will have ABS (anti-lock braking system) fitted as standard or it will be an option to you when buying new. If ABS is fitted it activates automatically when maximum braking pressure is applied. This will prevent the wheels from locking so that you can continue to steer the car during the braking process.

Don't forget though, ABS is only a driving aid. It does not remove the need for good driving practices such as anticipating events and assessing road conditions. You always need to plan well ahead and always brake smoothly and progressively. Finally, the Clutch pedal is the only pedal operated by your left foot, and is located on the far left of the other pedals. The main function of the clutch is that it is the main connection between the engine and the gearbox. It's a connection over which the driver has control, but which requires practice in its use.
In its simplest form, the clutch is made up of two plates. One is connected to the engine and rotates the whole time that the engine is running. The other is linked to the gearbox and rotates only when it's held against the first plate by springs. When you press the clutch pedal, you force the plates apart, breaking the drive connection. When the car is in neutral, even though both plates are touching, the wheels don't turn because no gear is engaged.

To pull off smoothly we all need to find the 'Biting Point', this is the point of engagement when the two plates begin to make contact and the load on the engine increases. You will learn with practice to judge the biting point exactly. You will feel it, and hear it because the engine speed will drop slightly.

The clutch will vary with different cars, and with wear the biting point will change, but with plenty of good practice it will all become easy!

By Rob Morgan at Budgen Motors.

http://www.budgenmotorcars.co.uk/brands.php?section_id=220

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