Car enthusiast Bob Flavin has spent the last ten years test driving cars around the world. He also owns Ireland’s number one car review channel on YouTube. Bob sat down with us to share his top tips on car maintenance, so you can keep safe on the road and don’t lose unnecessary money in the meantime. Firstly, there are three things Bob wants us to know about the importance of good car maintenance.
Watch episode one of Bob’s advice:
Transcript
00:00:00 Music playing in the background throughout the video
00:00 Bob Flavin speaks to the camera directly
My name is Bob Flavin and I’ve been a big car enthusiast my whole life. I’ve spent the past 10 years testing and reviewing all the new car models in Ireland; all of which you can find on my YouTube channel.
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that proper car maintenance will look after road safety as well as your finances, so here are three things I want you to know about.
00:21 Bob Flavin
First of all, good car maintenance is very important. It will give you real peace of mind. Having your car in top working order will give you peace of mind because you know you and your passengers are safe.
00:32 Bob Flavin
Secondly, maintaining your car means you're better equipped to avoid potential issues. We Irish tend to put things on the long finger, but by staying on top of your car maintenance you can save yourself money in the long run. Even if your car has been more idle than normal, it's important you follow the maintenance tips I give you in this series.
Small issues can turn into really big jobs if you just neglect them, so have a qualified mechanic check anything you're unsure of, in accordance with your car manufacturer's guidelines.
00:59 Bob Flavin
Lastly, keeping your car in good condition can improve its resale value. Cars usually lose 40 to 50% of their value in the first three years of ownership, but you can try to slow the rate of depreciation by taking care of your car and making sure it maintains its roadworthiness.
00:01:21 Finish.
Benefits of Regular Car Servicing
Tip one – Good car maintenance gives you peace of mind
Good car maintenance ensures you have peace of mind because you know you’re doing your best to keep yourself and your passengers safe. Ensuring a regular car maintenance service means that you don’t have to worry about breakdowns on the side of the road, windscreen damage or flat tyres.
Tip two - Good car maintenance prevents potential issues
We tend to ignore minor car problems if they don’t immediately prevent us from driving. Unfortunately, this can often lead us into bigger and more expensive trouble down the line! Bob advises routinely checking on your car’s performance and doing your best to not ignore small issues for weeks or months on end. It’s important to do regular checks under your bonnet and keep an eye on dashboard warning lights to help prevent serious damage.
Ask a qualified mechanic to make sure everything is ticking along in accordance with your car manufacturer’s guidelines if you’re unsure of anything.
Tip three - Good car maintenance can improve resale value
One of the disadvantages of buying a car is the minute it leaves the dealership it loses a chunk of its value. This is called depreciation. When we go to resell our car one thing we are shocked by is that it’s often worth less than what we originally bought it for.
Cars tend to lose 40 to 50% of their value within the first three years of ownership, but good car maintenance can help to slow this rate of depreciation. Monitoring mileage is just one way to help increase resale value but taking your car for a regular service can also help. To read more about depreciation and how to slow it down, check out our article on how to maximise your car's resale value.
If your car’s no longer fit for purpose and you’re exploring different options, have a read of what to consider when buying a used car.
Keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram, where Bob will be revealing more tips and advice to do with car maintenance.
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