What is the one/main car thing you're extremely anal about?
Discussion
After an extensive conversation with my brother about not skimping on car maintenance (he's never had a car serviced in his life) it got me thinking about the above question...
For me I do not care about car spec. I do not care about car parking dings, or in fact bodywork in general to an extent. I don't even really care about service history!
The thing for me, is tyres. Oh boy. I didn't know I cared so much until I had the above conversation
they've just got to be a decent brand, and all matching. If I see a potential car to buy that has matching tyres, that is a massive plus point. I would buy a car without this, but I'd get on and change them soon after purchase. It's even got to the point recently where I look at tyre treads on the car in front of me when parked in traffic and tut if they don't match lol.
The conversation by the way, was that after purchasing his first ever Porsche Boxster yesterday, my brother was going to replace just a single tyre on the rear that had a nail in. I was trying to convince him to change as a pair. His 'tyre bloke' apparently said this is rubbish and not needed at all
(the tyres are ooold, I'm not sure how old at this point, but let's just say there are cracks appearing and the car's hardly moved for 3 years)
So shoot, what gets you?
For me I do not care about car spec. I do not care about car parking dings, or in fact bodywork in general to an extent. I don't even really care about service history!
The thing for me, is tyres. Oh boy. I didn't know I cared so much until I had the above conversation
they've just got to be a decent brand, and all matching. If I see a potential car to buy that has matching tyres, that is a massive plus point. I would buy a car without this, but I'd get on and change them soon after purchase. It's even got to the point recently where I look at tyre treads on the car in front of me when parked in traffic and tut if they don't match lol.The conversation by the way, was that after purchasing his first ever Porsche Boxster yesterday, my brother was going to replace just a single tyre on the rear that had a nail in. I was trying to convince him to change as a pair. His 'tyre bloke' apparently said this is rubbish and not needed at all
(the tyres are ooold, I'm not sure how old at this point, but let's just say there are cracks appearing and the car's hardly moved for 3 years)So shoot, what gets you?
I'm with you CC. Taking your car to the garage once a year for a service and MoT check is no great hardship.
Same with tyres, getting a mid-range tyre from a company you've heard of isn't much more expensive than some random Chinese brand. I'd probably not worry about changing in a pair or having 4 identical if the other 3 were nearly new.
I can't understand why people don't fill their cars to the brim when stopping for fuel - they can't all be down to their last Tenner - seems a waste of time having to keep going back to the petrol station.
My car is too old to have tyre pressure sensors (let alone a display for the results) so I regularly check them manually, I don't know anyone else who does that unless a warning light appears.
Same with tyres, getting a mid-range tyre from a company you've heard of isn't much more expensive than some random Chinese brand. I'd probably not worry about changing in a pair or having 4 identical if the other 3 were nearly new.
I can't understand why people don't fill their cars to the brim when stopping for fuel - they can't all be down to their last Tenner - seems a waste of time having to keep going back to the petrol station.
My car is too old to have tyre pressure sensors (let alone a display for the results) so I regularly check them manually, I don't know anyone else who does that unless a warning light appears.
I agree on the tyres. Looking for any car, I die inside when I see 4 different tyres and again if they are Ling Long, Triangle, Sunny and a very old, cracked premium tyre. That usually tells me to walk away. Been to see cars with flat tyres....
I also hate rusty steel wheels behind covers as they're not hard to take off to clean the wheels and I get mildly apoplectic if the wheel covers or rims have hit every kerb between here and Land's End.
On a more reasonable note, if the car is not clean inside, it tells me that underneath will be no better. If the bonnet has never been lifted and it's a forest floor...
I also shrink away from a car which has an MOT but where the MOT checker still shows a long list of advisories.
I also hate rusty steel wheels behind covers as they're not hard to take off to clean the wheels and I get mildly apoplectic if the wheel covers or rims have hit every kerb between here and Land's End.
On a more reasonable note, if the car is not clean inside, it tells me that underneath will be no better. If the bonnet has never been lifted and it's a forest floor...
I also shrink away from a car which has an MOT but where the MOT checker still shows a long list of advisories.
Brakes and Tyres for me..I am obsessed with brakes much to the amusement of my mates.. I do my own caliper rebuilds every year to make sure they are all working properly.. totally overkill..
Oh and when people say "full service" history, they include things like air con service (for cars), fork oils (for bikes) and a load of other "time based" items that people leave out..
Oh and when people say "full service" history, they include things like air con service (for cars), fork oils (for bikes) and a load of other "time based" items that people leave out..
LuS1fer said:
I...
I also shrink away from a car which has an MOT but where the MOT checker still shows a long list of advisories.
Advisories are fine, as long as they are not still there the next year (or not silly things like low tyre tread, or blown blubs that you can spot and fix yourself before the test).I also shrink away from a car which has an MOT but where the MOT checker still shows a long list of advisories.
CrippsCorner said:
The conversation by the way, was that after purchasing his first ever Porsche Boxster yesterday, my brother was going to replace just a single tyre on the rear that had a nail in. I was trying to convince him to change as a pair. His 'tyre bloke' apparently said this is rubbish and not needed at all (the tyres are ooold, I'm not sure how old at this point, but let's just say there are cracks appearing and the car's hardly moved for 3 years)
I once had a lease car through work and got a puncture on my drive. (the tyres are ooold, I'm not sure how old at this point, but let's just say there are cracks appearing and the car's hardly moved for 3 years)The lease company would only replace the one tyre, rather than both on the same axle. I protested, even suggesting that we use the spare wheel to go with the new tyre and then use the remaining part worn tyre as the spare, but it was to no avail.
That bothered me a bit, I have to say.
I'm a little anal about cleaning it, but not as bad as I used to be. I find that if I have the ability or product to make it look clean then I will use it. But if I can't get it looking like new, I don't bother cleaning it.
The OH's car, for example, rarely sees a wash mitt - it's just too far gone. However, if/when she gets a new car, I'll wash it regularly.
For me, it's people putting things on the roof of their cars. Not carrying stuff on a roof rack - that's OK, but the people who put their coat, handbag, takeaway coffee etc on the roof while opening the door.
I also enjoy the car karma when someone who does this forgets they've put something there and drives off. I struggled to maintain a straight face a few years back when when my aunt, who was a particularly bad offender for this started complaining how she lost her handbag coming out of a motorway services. Still at least it wasn't the complete picnic, complete with plates, cutlery and teapot she had also laid out on the bonnet......
I also enjoy the car karma when someone who does this forgets they've put something there and drives off. I struggled to maintain a straight face a few years back when when my aunt, who was a particularly bad offender for this started complaining how she lost her handbag coming out of a motorway services. Still at least it wasn't the complete picnic, complete with plates, cutlery and teapot she had also laid out on the bonnet......
I agree on the subject of tyres. I’ve viewed a few performance (ish) cars and the sellers think 10 year old tyres with loads of tread are just fine. I’d rather not run any over 5 years old whatever the car, as the cost of new tyres Vs the cost of the car and potentially crashing is not in sync. I purchased a 2.5 year old MX5 from a car warehouse type place (the price was right). It had three brands on the car. Straight off to Tyre Smart in Essex for a matching set of 4. Luckily the tyre situation was not a sign of future disaster and the car has behaved.
The tyres thing bugs me too. If buying, mismatched or cheapo tyres sends off big alarm bells. Not necessarily a total show stopper but it certainly puts any potential purchase onto the back foot. Yes, you can quickly remedy it yourself post-purchase but it always hints at neglect or simply the cheapest maintenance possible to stay broadly legal.
I can be funny about certain MOT advisories or failures too. Some things I'm happy to turn a blind eye to but if someone presents their car with various non-functioning lights or bald tyres, again, alarm bells are ringing.
I don't mind cars being mucky inside or out though as I don't think I've seen any correlation between how cars are looked after mechanically vs cosmetically. I know people who's cars are cleaner underneath than inside! And in a perverse way, I also love buying a car that is absolutely minging and spending a day with potions and elbow grease transforming it.
On the subject of being anal about things, I find it quite troubling when climate control temperature does not match left to right.
I can be funny about certain MOT advisories or failures too. Some things I'm happy to turn a blind eye to but if someone presents their car with various non-functioning lights or bald tyres, again, alarm bells are ringing.
I don't mind cars being mucky inside or out though as I don't think I've seen any correlation between how cars are looked after mechanically vs cosmetically. I know people who's cars are cleaner underneath than inside! And in a perverse way, I also love buying a car that is absolutely minging and spending a day with potions and elbow grease transforming it.
On the subject of being anal about things, I find it quite troubling when climate control temperature does not match left to right.
SkodaIan said:
I also enjoy the car karma when someone who does this forgets they've put something there and drives off. I struggled to maintain a straight face a few years back when when my aunt, who was a particularly bad offender for this started complaining how she lost her handbag coming out of a motorway services. Still at least it wasn't the complete picnic, complete with plates, cutlery and teapot she had also laid out on the bonnet......
Only an idiot would do that! Like me: earlier this year while on holiday I was carrying a handful of knives and forks to the outdoor table we were to eat at. Mrs Irrelevant asked me to get something out of the car while I was at it. I put the cutlery on top of the car while I did so, then immediately forgot about it. I only realised I had done this as I walked back to my car the next morning, having driven several miles to the nearest shop, wondering what the hell that weird metallic jangling sound was all the way there. Amazingly, they were all still there. the cueball said:
I do my own caliper rebuilds every year to make sure they are all working properly
I presume you mean remove the calipers and clean and lubricate the pads and slides, surely you don’t actually rebuild the calipers, as in pop the pistons out, clean and replace the seals?If the volume control in the car I'm driving has a stripe on the knob it has to be pointing at 12 o'clock. I have a small fleet of Fiat vans and the exact 12 o'clock position falls between 2 "clicks" so it's either extremely slightly before or after 12. Bothers me much more than it should! 
The tyres thing bothers me as well when I'm looking to buy cars.
The tyres thing bothers me as well when I'm looking to buy cars.
Truckosaurus said:
LuS1fer said:
I...
I also shrink away from a car which has an MOT but where the MOT checker still shows a long list of advisories.
Advisories are fine, as long as they are not still there the next year (or not silly things like low tyre tread, or blown blubs that you can spot and fix yourself before the test).I also shrink away from a car which has an MOT but where the MOT checker still shows a long list of advisories.
I care quite a lot about having a matched set of good tyres on my own cars, but I don't mind buying a car with whatever mismatched penny-pinching rubbish the PO has fitted.
I mean, I'd be prepared to pay more for a car that comes with the full set of fresh, matching Michelin Pilot Sports that I'd want anyway, but failing that I don't really mind as I'll probably be replacing them in short order.
If anything, a car on Linglongs just means it can't have been driven that hard. The better the tyre, the more forces it can apply to suspension, brakes, structure etc.
I mean, I'd be prepared to pay more for a car that comes with the full set of fresh, matching Michelin Pilot Sports that I'd want anyway, but failing that I don't really mind as I'll probably be replacing them in short order.
If anything, a car on Linglongs just means it can't have been driven that hard. The better the tyre, the more forces it can apply to suspension, brakes, structure etc.
For me, as with others above, annual attention for a car, whatever the service indicator says. Oil always changed and brake/tyre wear measured if they’ve lasted the year.
On a day-to-day basis, I’m not an obsessive exterior car cleaner (my dailies get an exterior clean every 2/3 months?) but I do clean lights, mirrors and front windows weekly. Dirty windows, out of which I look, are just not right.
On a day-to-day basis, I’m not an obsessive exterior car cleaner (my dailies get an exterior clean every 2/3 months?) but I do clean lights, mirrors and front windows weekly. Dirty windows, out of which I look, are just not right.
We have a small holding and our Duster and Ranger are either muddy or dusty but windows are my thing.
I can't stand dirty car windows so most days i am there cleaning the windows with shower spray or some other product...
Our non work vehicles are stored in barns so fair much better...
I can't stand dirty car windows so most days i am there cleaning the windows with shower spray or some other product...
Our non work vehicles are stored in barns so fair much better...
Edited by Norton850 on Tuesday 22 August 17:22
I'm know that I'm a bit silly with this, but I won't extend the revs very high at all on a cold engine. I always baby the engine until the oil temp is up to around 80 degrees. However I see a lot of car leaving videos where folk leave on a cold engine and then they're bouncing off the limiter! It makes me wince a bit to be fair, but I'm probably miles too anal with my approach to it though I reckon.
Anything regarding the cleanliness of the windscreen. Screeching wipers? Nails on a chalk board to me. Split blades/water trails? Enough to make me scratch my skin off. Mucky, greasy film on the inside that is impossible to clean off and all you seem to do is shift the streaky glare around the screen?! Oh how I wish windscreens were easily removable for the purposes of washing the insides.
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