Month: May 2015

Find a Mechanic for your car

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Most people don’t think about a mechanic until their car starts acting funny or the lights on the dashboard start screaming at them. By then it is usually too late and once you get your car into the shop you will have any number of problems that require fixing. Generally speaking most people tend to go with the same mechanic that they have used before. This doesn’t mean sticking with the same mechanic is a bad idea but much like doctors, using a different mechanic may make a world of difference for your car. Knowing where and who to take your car too should be more than just choosing the closest shop to your house.

Reviews

man in black jacket and blue denim jeans riding motorcycleLike any business mechanic shops get reviewed by their customers. This is especially beneficial when shopping around for a mechanic. Seeing how good or bad a potential mechanic shop is can make the difference between getting a lot of trouble and an expensive bill or quick and efficient service. Not all mechanic shops are created the same. Looking at online and consumer reviews will help weed out any potential problems. Also another good way is to ask friends, family, coworkers, and anyone else you trust who they recommend. Much like the reviews, recommendations can save a lot of time and money.

Type of car

Another thing to keep in mind is the make and model of the car. While most cars have a number of interchangeable parts, this isn’t always the case. Additionally certain cars require specialized servicing. This can be as simple as knowing where certain parts are located to a whole different knowledge base. Knowing if your car requires and/or if a shop can handle this before visiting can save the mechanic and yourself a major headache. This is especially true for older cars as finding certain parts may be more difficult for some mechanic shops than others. In the case of classic or vintage cars finding the right part can be all but impossible in some cases. This is especially true for a mechanic shop that isn’t familiar with these types of vehicles.

mechanic working on carConclusion

When everything is said and done, finding the right mechanic might take some time and a bit of trial and error. Once you do find a mechanic shop you are happy with you can rest easy knowing that your car is in good hands.

Vintage cars

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orange car on asphalt roadEveryone loves a classic car; whether is watching a high speed chase in Bullet or at a classic car rally vintage cars are a masterpiece all of their own. Owning one on the other hand is a whole other ball game. Owning and operating a vintage car is a lot different than a regular car.

Old vs vintage

What separates old cars from vintage cars is a thin line. What might be considered normal, everyday, or basic at the time might be a collector’s item down the road. Typically most cars do not end up with this distinction. Either because they are mass produced, are simply designed, or just don’t have that “it” factor. Whatever the reason only a handful of cars ever get the honor of being classified as vintage. This is becoming increasingly so with the mass produced, mass marketed approach most car manufacturers have regarding modern vehicles. While most cars nowadays will never be labeled as vintage those that are set the standard for all vintage cars everywhere.

Owning a vintage car

As mentioned above, owning a vintage car requires a whole different approach than with a standard car. There is a reason most of these vehicles are classified as “hobby cars.” They require far more dedication and firsthand knowledge of the vehicle. Additionally as these cars more often tend to be for showing instead of transportation there are a number of different factors to keep in mind with regular maintenance that you normally wouldn’t have to think about. For example, tire rot. When a vehicle sits for an extended period of time the rubber in the tires begins to break down. This is especially true for cars that are stored outside and exposed to the elements. The same is true for the paint finish on these types of vehicles. As cars age their paint starts to dull, fade, and crack. This can be especially troublesome as some colors of paint might be hard if not impossible to find to fix any paint issues.

Conclusion

Owning a vintage car can be a great way to share your passion with the world. However, it requires a lot more than keeping it in a garage and bringing it out once in a while to show off. Making sure that it is in decent shape both mechanically as well as aesthetically is a big part of it. Additionally, owning a vintage car necessitates a different kind of regular maintenance, unlike a standard car. Once it’s all said and done owning a vintage car can be very rewarding, as long as you keep these things in mind.