2015 is fast approaching and that means one thing: New Year’s Resolutions. You’ll probably have some in mind already. Maybe it’s to join a gym or keep a tighter budget. It might be career related or to finally ask out the girl or guy you’ve liked for ages. Whatever your new year’s resolution, the key is to make it achievable. They should be little things you can do to improve your life for the better. That’s why we’ve made a list of resolutions for you and your car.
These are small things you could start doing in the new year to help your car. We often buy our cars and then fail to stay on top of the important things. We forget to have them serviced. We forget to clean them and we run up large fuel and maintenance costs. Keeping on top of your car will help you keep your budget in check. It will help you stay safer and think about the world differently. Each of these is a great way to start the new year.
1. Learn car maintenance basics
If you don’t already know how to perform vital checks and repairs, make this your priority. Your car is a complex machine. Understanding it can be daunting, let alone getting stuck in and fixing things. However, we’re not asking you to fix a broken engine here. We’re suggesting that you learn the basics of vehicle maintenance. All cars are built in a similar way. The engine is the heart of your vehicle. What you need to worry about are all the small things around it. When they work efficiently, so does the engine.
Learn how to keep the fluids in check and topped up. That’s your oil, brake fluid, transmission etc. That will keep your car running smoothly and keep it out of the repair shop. Learn how to check and replace brake pads and learn to switch tyres. This will help them last longer and save you money. Check your tyre pressure and tread depth regularly. All of these little things will help your car last longer. You’ll avoid breakdowns and costly garage bills.
2. Clean your car regularly
Cleaning your car gives it a whole new lease of life. It gleams in the sunshine and looks brand new. However, it is not only a cosmetic consideration. Keeping your car clean keeps its resale value higher. This is particularly true of the interior. Learn to clean the inside and the outside of your car correctly. That means doing a hand wash every few weeks. Finish it off with a wax and buffer.
3. Cut your running costs
Tightening the budget will be at the top of many a new year’s resolution list this January. One of the easiest ways to do this is reassess the running costs of your car. This means the tax, the insurance, the fuel costs and maintenance bills. Search around to see if your insurance deal is the best out there. Cut down on fuel costs by seeking alternative modes of transport. Start by walking or cycling to work. This can be part of your ‘get fit’ resolution too.
4. Upgrade your car
If your car is showing its age, perhaps 2015 is the time to upgrade. Use January as a starting point to begin saving for something new. Start browsing www.rrg-group.com and see what new models are out there. There is probably something better suited to your lifestyle. Fuel economy and safety technology is advancing fast in today’s cars. Upgrading can help save you money for the future. You could even consider investing in a hybrid car. They are the future of driving and you would do well to invest in one now.
5. Drive in an eco-friendly manner
There are many good reasons why you should reassess your driving in 2015. The first is to help preserve the environment. It’s no secret that our cars have caused irreversible damage to the planet. Governments, businesses and individuals are doing what they can do alleviate this problem. This is a trend you’ll see throughout 2015. You can help by changing your driving habits. Stick to the speed limit, change gears at the correct time and don’t accelerate aggressively. You’ll also preserve fuel and cut down running costs by driving sensibly. Finally, this is a more safe and responsible way to drive. Help the planet, cut costs and increase your safety next year.
6. Restore an old classic
I’m guessing a lot of you have “pick up a new hobby” on your new year’s resolution list. Restoring an old classic car could be just the project you’re looking for. It is a long and demanding project, but it is incredibly rewarding. To help bring a beautiful old car back to life is quite something. All car lovers have that one classic car that they love. It could be an Austin Healey or an old Corvette. Whatever the car, look on classic car forums and websites for the best prices. Set up a space in your garage and get to work! You’ll love hunting down the correct parts and cleaning up the interior. At the end of it all, you’ll have your very own classic car to take out at weekends.
7. Kick the habits
Make 2015 the year that you cut out the bad habits from your driving. There are many little driving quirks that all of us are guilty of. They are dangerous, distracting and sometimes fatal. We may have avoided accidents so far, but you just never know what’s around the corner. The biggest culprit here is talking and texting while driving. This has already caused more deaths than it ever should have. If you do this, remove it from your life next year. The same goes for eating, drinking or applying makeup while driving. We’ve all done it, but we all know we shouldn’t. It puts ourselves and others at risk.
Most of these resolutions are small, easy things that can slot into our daily lives. They won’t take too much effort, but they will yield big rewards. Making resolutions related to your car helps satisfy all aspects of our lives. These resolutions will help you save money, get fit, live a greener life and stay safe. What better resolutions could you ask for?
