There’s rarely a day goes by without some attention being given over in the media to cars and the various questions surrounding them. It’s no surprise that car ownership is an endeavour that comes with a wide range of advice, tips, myths and opinion. While some of the advice you’ll receive is based in fact, a lot is based in speculation and bias that has been given the status of “fact” due to the number of times you’ll hear it. In this article, we’ll look into the myths and reality around car ownership, and provide some clarity on the questions so many car owners find themselves struggling with.
MOT and Car Tax: what are the facts?
Many drivers in ownership of a car that’s more than three years old have come to dread the annual MOT that defines their car’s roadworthiness (along with the repairs it may need if it’s not roadworthy. It’s not uncommon for people to ask “can you tax a car without MOT?”. It’s not a question that can be answered in a word, and it’s really not one that you should be asking out of anything other than curiosity – because if your car doesn’t have a valid MOT, it shouldn’t be on the road, and that should be your first priority rather than wondering if you can tax it.
Is going to the dealer a must?
We always hear that taking your car to the dealership is the only reliable option. But is it really the only option? Sure, you can go directly to the deal if you want to, but there are other reliable car repair shops to consider. When you need genuine Honda car parts, you can speak to the Honda dealer or you can find a genuine, reliable supplier that may offer you a better priced. Used parts can be just as efficient as going brand new. It’s all about making sure that you find the best deal and know that you’re dealing with a reliable mechanic or parts dealer.
Premium fuel: worth the extra outlay?
Prices at the pumps are a live topic of conversation for pretty much anyone who has ever sat behind the wheel of a car. Among the conversations to be had is the one of whether you should pay the extra few pence per litre to treat your car to premium fuel. Will that extra cost be rewarded with enhanced performance and greater longevity? Again, it depends; for some cars it’s a definite yes, but we’re talking about high-performing supercars here. If you’re happily driving a family runaround or even an upper-range saloon, any difference is going to be so negligible that you’d be better off saving the pennies and putting them towards your MOT (and any resulting repairs).
Battery longevity: worse in winter?
It’s widely believed that car batteries perform worse the colder the temperature gets outside. The veracity of this belief is dependent on the modernity of the car, and of the battery itself. Modern car batteries are designed to withstand colder conditions. Look at countries like Canada and Poland: the winters in those countries are bitterly cold, but there’s no shortage of traffic whether it’s January or July. What’s genuinely important is to regularly check your battery, run repairs and maintenance when needed, and if it’s seen better days, get it replaced.
Manual vs Automatic: which is more efficient?
With fuel efficiency an important issue from both an economic and environmental point of view, this question does need to be answered. It’s widely believed that manual transmissions are more fuel efficient than automatic. Is this true, though? Well, the answer is yes. Although automatic cars are becoming more efficient, they’re just narrowing the gap. Changing gear might be tedious, but it becomes second nature before too long, and it means that you won’t be spending valuable moments working the engine harder than necessary and wasting fuel as a result.
This is a collaborative post
