Irish people don't look after their cars

BillyBoy13

I hear this all the time. I think Ive even read it on here on occasion. So apart from getting her serviced and fixing problems as they arise, what else should us Irish be doing to keep our cars right?


Im asking this as an open ended question BTW... not for any particular model or fuel type.

MugMugs

Clean them. Change bulbs and even have spares with you. Not rely on the NCT to identify a problem and have it fixed.

Not be tempted by 20 euro tyres. Not put bad fuel into their cars knowingly and maybe hoover them out now and again.

colm_mcm

Washing them
Fixing blown bulbs

bladespin

Servicing when they're due rather than when you think it's about to explode, regular cleaning, basic checks (brakes, tyres, bulbs etc) and carrying things like spare bulbs/fuses wouldn't hurt all that much IMO.

ba_barabus

Fit decent tyres

Chris_Heilong

Simply taking pride in what they drive and all that entails.

debabyjesus

Get the book stamped if you get a service! You'd be amazed the amount of people fail to do this and garages that don't bother either. If you service yourself, fill in the book yourself and keep the receipts for anything you bought.

Buy decent tyres.

Protect the cars paint.

Keep spare bulbs IN the car.

Have some pride in your cars appearance and reliability through proper maintenance.

challengemaster

Plenty of other countries (even the UK) people are out in the masses washing the car on a Sunday, or doing other little bits of maintenance.

Already said, but not relying on NCT to find a problem thats been there months. All you have to do is listen when you're walking around any town and you'll hear plenty of wheel bearings on the way out, suspension problems, blowing exhausts, exhaust hangers broken, etc etc. Never mind using your eyes as well as your ears!

The Irish attitude seems to be "A problem isn't a problem until it fails a test or the car stops working", by which stage its turned into a huge issue.

Leonard Hofstadter

BillyBoy13 wrote: »

I hear this all the time. I think Ive even read it on here on occasion. So apart from getting her serviced and fixing problems as they arise, what else should us Irish be doing to keep our cars right?

If they actually did this it would be a huge improvement. Many people don't bother servicing their cars unless it's NCT time, and then it's the case of what is the cheapest possible way of getting my car fixed.

While part of this is down to ignorance on the part of the average motorist, it's also caused by people in the trade. Sometimes people get told their car has x, y and z wrong with it when there is nothing wrong with the car in fact. Too many people have had bad experiences, or heard from friends who have had a bad experience. Thus when a car really does have something wrong with it, many people take it with an enormous grain of salt and don't bother fixing it or getting a half-arsed job done.

So, the trade has to take its share of the blame for people not looking after their cars properly.

Days 298

Irish People dont look after their cars


Fixed.... Not an exclusive Irish problem and most people do take care of their car.

flyingsnail

I think I can sum up my experience of how others treat their cars in this line I saw in an ad once “Very reliable car, never even needed a service”

Some people just don’t seem to give a dam.

Bpmull

As above and also don't ignore warning lights such as engine management light etc they come on for a reason. The amount of cars I've been in or seen lately with engine management or other lights on is unreal. It seems worse now than it ever was because things are tight for people they seem to completely ignore car maintenance as the same people may have changed there cars every few years now can't afford to and as the car gets older they don't actually spend anything on it and just drive it until it literally stops on the road. This is a stupid attitude to have. A well serviced maintained car is a hell of a lot less likely to break down cause major trouble compared with one that gets nothing done to it.

Leonard Hofstadter

Bpmull wrote: »

As above and also don't ignore warning lights such as engine management light etc they come on for a reason. The amount of cars I've been in or seen lately with engine management or other lights on is unreal. It seems worse now than it ever was because things are tight for people they seem to completely ignore car maintenance as the same people may have changed there cars every few years now can't afford to and as the car gets older they don't actually spend anything on it and just drive it until it literally stops on the road. This is a stupid attitude to have. A well serviced maintained car is a hell of a lot less likely to break down cause major trouble compared with one that gets nothing done to it.

The registation plate is a big problem with regards to the lack of maintenance many older cars receive. You'll often hear the line 'sure why would I spend that kind of money on a 10 year old car':rolleyes:.

challengemaster

Days 298 wrote: »

Fixed.... Not an exclusive Irish problem and most people do take care of their car.

Wrong on both counts.

Go around the neighbourhood and find out how many people regularly do maintenance on their car? Know when their oil service is due?

Days 298

challengemaster wrote: »

Wrong on both counts.

Go around the neighbourhood and find out how many people regularly do maintenance on their car? Know when their oil service is due?

Not just an Irish problem........

MuppetCheck

In my book looking after a car means:

Keeping the it serviced office or before the schedule and keeping the receipts and get the book stamped. I don't buy this Irish cars aren't serviced lark.

Keep it clean.

Keep an eye on tyres etc, I make sure to know in advance how much is left and try to have the tyres held for me before they wear rather than buying whatever is available when they are too bald. I learned this through being caught out.

Check the oil, bulbs and fluids once a week. It takes a minute. Tyre pressures every second fill.

Make sure consumables aren't replaced with cheap crap.

Get issues addressed in a timely fashion.

Leave it warm up and the turbo to cool properly.

Park ignorantly but ding free. You don't like it? You're probably the kind of fcuktard that hits your door off things.

If I know I can't do the above bring another car to the shops:pac:

Renegade Mechanic

I hate it. Possibly the most annoyed I was was with a Sorrento owner who had not done a thing with it in 45,000 miles (70,000km), basically since its last nct. The oil was just about On the bottom of the dipstick the air filter was a solid brick, two tyres on bars and two more on wires, the dirt? Oh it made a bin lorry look clean. Every month, he would arm himself with a piece of kitchen towel and wipe the rear number plate... The windscreen needed replacement because a wiper frame had worn a groove into it. The pièce de résistance however was underneath. Rear anti roll bushings had literally fallen out, and one bracket had to be replaced and up front, a ball joint had worn so much that a few belts of a hammer dislodged the socket. It had been brought to us because it was hard to start for about two months, was getting very hard on diesel and a fault light had "just" come on. And not because of the continuous grinding in the rear caused by metal to metal brakes.. The fuel filter was half full with water, the rest was a brown clunge with lots and lots of rusty metal all round. Oddly enough though, all the lights worked. I simply couldnt help giving out to the man, I know its none of my business but with two child seats in the back...

Anyway, thats a more extreme case. Extreme to the, point of disbelief so I expect your scepticism. Christ even I still wonder if it was a bad dream...

But poor car care is still completely endemic. Crap tyres, crap fuel, delaying servicing until your car either doesnt start or doesnt stop. Its practicality our motoring culture. Though in a weird way, I can sort of see why.. Mabye if the family motor didnt cost 7/800 a year to tax and fuel prices werent more than doubled through taxes mabye Irish motorists could spare some funds for car maintenance.

dgt

MuppetCheck wrote: »

In my book looking after a car means:

Keeping the it serviced office or before the schedule and keeping the receipts and get the book stamped. I don't buy this Irish cars aren't serviced lark.

Keep it clean.

Keep an eye on tyres etc, I make sure to know in advance how much is left and try to have the tyres held for me before they wear rather than buying whatever is available when they are too bald. I learned this through being caught out.

Check the oil, bulbs and fluids once a week. It takes a minute. Tyre pressures every second fill.

Make sure consumables aren't replaced with cheap crap.

Get issues addressed in a timely fashion.

Leave it warm up and the turbo to cool properly.

Park ignorantly but ding free. You don't like it? You're probably the kind of fcuktard that hits your door off things.

If I know I can't do the above bring another car to the shops:pac:

It's people like you who restore my faith in the Irish motorist. Why can't all people just do this?

Probably shot down by clueless assholes saying this is "excessive" and "unnecessary" because they don't see it necessary/do the mileage etc forcing those opinions on others would be a huge culprit....

Anyways, I am sick and tired of having to repair the mess other people create. Sure it only needed tyres and a service, nothing else, NCT said so. I have wanted to physically harm people for saying this. That attitude has no place in the modern motorist

Mycroft H

I resent the fact that just because I've not sure washed my car since August means its not mechanically looked after. Not true in my case

Renegade Mechanic

dgt wrote: »

It's people like you who restore my faith in the Irish motorist. Why can't all people just do this?

Probably shot down by clueless assholes saying this is "excessive" and "unnecessary" because they don't see it necessary/do the mileage etc forcing those opinions on others would be a huge culprit....

Anyways, I am sick and tired of having to repair the mess other people create. Sure it only needed tyres and a service, nothing else, NCT said so. I have wanted to physically harm people for saying this. That attitude has no place in the modern motorist

"Sure it passed the NCT six months ago!“
Yes but youve done 15,000 km since. Im sorry but you just need brakes and a tie-rod....

"Ah here, what sort of sh*t tyres are ye selling? I only got them off ye two services ago!"
Well you specifically requested cheap tyres and while 30k is indeed unacceptably short lived, mabye if you kept more than 10psi in them, they would have lasted longer

Oh, I could go on and on....

challengemaster

Mycroft H wrote: »

I resent the fact that just because I've not sure washed my car since August means its not mechanically looked after. Not true in my case

I don't think anyone specifically said the two are intrinsically linked. Similarly just because a car is detailed within an inch of its life, it doesn't mean its mechanically sound.

There are two sides to looking after a car: mechanically and aesthetically. Ultimately the Irish fail at looking after either. Cars usually have pretty poor paintwork by the time they're 5-10 years old.

Maximus Alexander

To be fair, most people aren't car enthusiasts and just see their car as a tool. If it's working, it's working, if it breaks, get it fixed. I can understand why people think this way. For a lot of people a car is like a washing machine.

Cee-Jay-Cee

Tie hubcaps with zip ties. The amount if people I see driving about with one hub cap half off and wobbling back and forth on the wheel is unreal. They obviously never look their cars over or check tyre pressure otherwise they'd spot it and simply put their foot to it to secure it properly.

MidlandsM

Ring ring.....


Me; Hello, I'm ringing you about the car you have advertised.

Them: Yes

Me; Can you tell me about the full service history?

Them; Yes.

Me; So, it have a fully stamped up service book, and/ or lots of invoices?

Them; Ermmmmmmmmm, no, a fella down the road changed the oil in it.

Me; Ok, so have you invoices or receipts from him?

Them; ermm, no, he was paid cash, gave no receipts.

Me; ok, right, but your Ad states full service history?

Them; Ahhhh, yeah, it has........




HANG UP...................

Senecio

We could stop driving wheels into curbs. Every car I see has massive chunks taken out of the wheels.

visual

I DIY so do a lot of preventable maintenance along with services before due time as well as any repairs.

But if I was using a garage I just couldn't afford them guessing and farting around at my expense and basically doing the absolute min for maxium price.

We dont in most cases have a good working relationships with our mechanics that have our long term interest at heart. The trust isnt there as it ends up being focused purely on cost to either get the car moving or pass a test.

ABajaninCork

I think with the new NCT rules for cars 10 years and over, people might start maintaining them better. If they know the car has to go in every year, hopefully, it will wake people up.

UK cars tend to be better looked after IMO as people know the car has to be MoT'd every year after 3 years. So we tend to service the car at the correct intervals, change the oil, check the lights and brakes and all that good stuff.

I sold a 10 YO Peugeot that I imported here. I had all the receipts, copies of old MoT's, and FSH. Took me a while to sell (I think people didn't believe just how low the mileage was for the car) The eventual buyer nearly had my hand off for the car!

Noccy_Mondy

One thing I hate is people applying after market alloys, hub caps, radios and the lot which stand out like a sore thumb. If you look on UK websites for example, nearly every car, even those over 10 years old, have all the original features in them. So many molested cars here

Eric Cartman

every sunday : check the oil and coolant levels, look to check theres no cracks or damage to belts, check lights, check tyres for damage or bulges and give it a good hoovering. it takes 20-25 minutes and is super simple to do.

visual

I DIY so do a lot of preventable maintenance along with services before due time as well as any repairs.

But if I was using a garage I just couldn't afford them guessing and farting around at my expense and basically doing the absolute min for maxium price.

We dont in most cases have a good working relationships with our mechanics that have our long term interest at heart. The trust isnt there as it ends up being focused purely on cost to either get the car moving or pass a test.

donvito99

Cars used to be polished, and were only brought to a mechanic as a last resort. That was a sort of pride.

moonship

-Get those rubbish out of the car and bin it, then clean and hoover inside.
-dont keep rubbish on the dashboard by the windscreen, noticed specially in vans, its disgusting and filthy
-learn basics about the cars to know cars need service and therefore service them regularly. Neglecting them by keeping them filthy and not serviced doesnt show you are smart, shows your lack of knowledge and makes people think you are the same in private life an home, dirty filthy and neglecting

-again, keep them clean inside and dont accumulate rubbish on the floor and dashboard, honestly how can you spend your time in those filthy cars full of bacterias and fungi breathing filthy air? A LOT Irish cars looks like belongs to hoarders, I mean IRISH and i have comparision to many other nations

challengemaster

moonship wrote: »

honestly how can you spend your time in those filthy cars full of bacterias and fungi breathing filthy air?

Please, do find somewhere on earth that isn't a sterile environment without bacteria present.

As comments go, that's a ridiculous one. Don't like filthy cars? fine - don't exaggerate with nonsense about bacteria.

visual

Valeting a car and having it properly mechanical maintained is not the same.

How many who polish there 2 or 3 year old car would even know the condision of the unside of it or if there is nick in the inner sidewall of tyre

None I would say.

dollybird2

I am anal about servicing, getting my service book stamped, using the recommended oil, changing tyres, buying good tyres, checking lights and keeping an eye on oil/coolant levels. I put a lot of mileage on my car so I need to keep it maintained and serviceable.

I am not so good at keeping my car waxed & polished.. I won't put it through a car wash at a garage as I don't want scratches from the brush or the dirt & grime built up in the brush. I would say the GoSafe vans would have a hard time reading my numberplate at the minute. During the Summer months I have my car sparkling but it is hard during wet weather to keep a car clean when doing high mileage, as it inevitably ends up covered in grime.

It can be my 2014 resolution to keep the exterior clean!

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

Sheldons Brain

Some good comments here.
I wonder do those paragons of virtue who do everything here also clean their oven, have their boiler serviced, defrag their hard disk?

ABajaninCork

Sheldons Brain wrote: »

Some good comments here.
I wonder do those paragons of virtue who do everything here also clean their oven, have their boiler serviced, defrag their hard disk?

Yes to ALL of the above! I take care of my stuff. Neither do I treat my car as a moving skip as so many seem to do...

Satanta

I remember pre NCT days. There would be guys boasting about how good the car was. "never have to put a spanner to her". Until you realise of course that every bush, drop link, brake disk were shot to sh1t. Oil would only be needed when/if the oil light went on. My brother in law used to only ever send the car to the garage if it broke.

The NCT has improved those things of course, but the majority if that mentality still exists. I took my car to get bushes replaced because I hate that feeling you get while riving when they are worn. He tried to tell me there was no need to do them unless it failed the test. He thought she'd get through as they weren't bad enough. Thanks I said. And went to someone else.

LiamoSail

I think an issue is that people, in calculating the cost of motoring, budget only for the price of the car, the tax,the insurance and fuel. Additional costs such as the NCT fixes are seen as a nuisance, services or preventive maintenance costs as unnecessary.

While I don't necessarily subscribe to the notion that Irish people are any lazier or careless then our European counterparts, I don't think foreign police are as lenient with regards to lights,tyres etc, and so in the absence of consequence, people let it slide

JohnBoy26

MidlandsM wrote: »

Ring ring.....


Me; Hello, I'm ringing you about the car you have advertised.

Them: Yes

Me; Can you tell me about the full service history?

Them; Yes.

Me; So, it have a fully stamped up service book, and/ or lots of invoices?

Them; Ermmmmmmmmm, no, a fella down the road changed the oil in it.

Me; Ok, so have you invoices or receipts from him?

Them; ermm, no, he was paid cash, gave no receipts.

Me; ok, right, but your Ad states full service history?

Them; Ahhhh, yeah, it has........




HANG UP...................

does every car you sell have a full service history?

Slutmonkey57b

A much simpler answer is the cost of getting anything done to a car over here.

Even if you're doing it yourself and buying parts, the difference in price between the uk and here is stupid.

Mister Man

I like to keep my cars cleaned, and have everything fixed/serviced at all times. I only drive a little MG ZR. Not the most desirable car in the world, but I've paid for it myself, without anyone's help. I'm proud to own my own car. (CarS actually)

Apparently, a lot of my mates think I'm "very good to my car" - I see it as only doing the basic's, but they see it as me treating a car well.

One of them hasn't services his car in well over a year, and has done some big miles in that time. Car is falling apart under him. Ripped the side apart the other day, uses the cheapest tyres possible, always low on fuel, bulbs gone for a long period of time, alignment is off, exhaust is blowing, inside is covered in rubbish, and muck. NCT has been out for over a year.
I asked him the other day how much he thinks he could sell it for, and the figure he gave me, made me laugh! If anyone gave him half the price he said, he should take their arm and all!

The problem is people just don't car. "If it's not broke, don't fix it" seems to be the mind set a lot of people are in. If it starts and moves, nothing needs to be done until the NCT tells them otherwise.

It makes buying a second hand car a nightmare. People claim it's perfect, but when you go to have a look, oil is pissing out of every place possible, tyres bald, covered in dirt and rubbish, rattles and shakes everywhere, etc. I went to see several cars when buying, and each got worse and worse!

gammygils

I actually take better care of my car than I take care of myself

I have never been waxed (unfortunately!)

I have never gotten €200 worth of a service (unfortunately!)

I don't get checked every year!

And I don't get hoovered every couple of weeks. Maybe I should because right now my emissions aren't good :pac:

sawdoubters

or their women

as soon as women get married the double in weightn

obezyana

I hate having a dirty car inside and out altho with the weather being as random as it is it's hard to keep the outside clean. I enjoy cleaning my car that's why it's clean.

Regarding the mechanics side of things I feel it's better to do preventative maintenece then wait for something to go wrong as it could prove to be more costly in the long run if something does fail.

Irishcrx

I have a fear of mechanics in this country , I worked as an apprentice menchanic when I was younger and it was the best thing I ever done as I ran a mile away from that idea. Finding a good mechanic in Ireland is very difficult , a lot of them are rude , un-helpfull and really couldn't give a crap about you or your car they just want you in and out and as much money from your back pocket as they can manage to wrangle out.

I'd only bring a car to a mechanic if it had a major issue and I mean something like a snapped timing belt, people are too quick to jump to a mechanic with a simple issue and I've learned this the hard way. Changing bulbs , oil , coolant and basic servicing is at home Sunday afternooc job and anyone can do it with a bit of study and patience and save themselves a few quid.

I bought a car last summer on the cheap that hadn't been very well maintained and had tan engine issue, decided to take a chance on it the car was jumping up and down through the revs and your man had brought it to a garage, they said it was the fuel injectors...or was it throttle body...or was it the etc...I fixed it in an hour the next day it was a torn air intake pipe €15 from a scrap yard , changed oil and filter and all fluids, cleaned throttle body + 4 hours. Car has driven a year with no hassle and been maintained it's a 2000 as well.

Taylor365

I find it hard to justify 4 hours of washing/waxing/polishing when every time i do it rains 5 minutes later.....

dr.fuzzenstein

Irishcrx wrote: »

I have a fear of mechanics in this country , I worked as an apprentice menchanic when I was younger and it was the best thing I ever done as I ran a mile away from that idea. Finding a good mechanic in Ireland is very difficult , a lot of them are rude , un-helpfull and really couldn't give a crap about you or your car they just want you in and out and as much money from your back pocket as they can manage to wrangle out.

I'd only bring a car to a mechanic if it had a major issue and I mean something like a snapped timing belt, people are too quick to jump to a mechanic with a simple issue and I've learned this the hard way. Changing bulbs , oil , coolant and basic servicing is at home Sunday afternooc job and anyone can do it with a bit of study and patience and save themselves a few quid.

I bought a car last summer on the cheap that hadn't been very well maintained and had tan engine issue, decided to take a chance on it the car was jumping up and down through the revs and your man had brought it to a garage, they said it was the fuel injectors...or was it throttle body...or was it the etc...I fixed it in an hour the next day it was a torn air intake pipe €15 from a scrap yard , changed oil and filter and all fluids, cleaned throttle body + 4 hours. Car has driven a year with no hassle and been maintained it's a 2000 as well.

You do have a point, and I think most garages will follow a troubleshooting procedure, i.e. check tank, check fuel line, check pump, check injectors, check engine, when that doesn't work start easter-egging, i.e randomly changing parts in the hope to accidentally change the right one or tell owner it's fcuked and scrap it.
What the average DIY mechanic will do is to do logical fault finding, because we haven't go the money and time to do the above.
The problem with fault finding procedures is that an ape can follow them and that is usually the case, they are for people who cannot use their own head in finding the fault.

keithclancy

There definitely a comparative level of clean with regard to cars.

I think my car is dirty on the inside, until I get into someones car that has kids

Fookin hell .. gone off milk, chocolate, random bits of toys, crumbs and other miscellaneous smells that makes me kind of glad my sense of smell isn't great due to smoking

My friend had a strop because I wouldn't let her kid eat a chocolate ice cream in the back. We waited for him to eat it and he ended up destroyed and covered in chocolate all over his pants and dropped it on the floor by accident :rolleyes:

Mainly its not just about keeping the car clean but also about not treating the car like a bin (I hate it when people leave papers and crap in the side pockets)

Tea 1000

challengemaster wrote: »

I don't think anyone specifically said the two are intrinsically linked. Similarly just because a car is detailed within an inch of its life, it doesn't mean its mechanically sound.

There are two sides to looking after a car: mechanically and aesthetically. Ultimately the Irish fail at looking after either. Cars usually have pretty poor paintwork by the time they're 5-10 years old.

This is very true. You can't often tell a lot from pictures in car ads, but you can regularly see the car that has been cleaned because it's for sale versus the one that was regularly enough cleaned. There's a kind of artificial "sheen" for want of a better word from a car that hasn't been minded.

visual wrote: »

Valeting a car and having it properly mechanical maintained is not the same.

How many who polish there 2 or 3 year old car would even know the condision of the unside of it or if there is nick in the inner sidewall of tyre

None I would say.

Maybe, maybe not. I think polishing a car is one of the best ways to get to know it when you buy one! You go over almost every square inch of the car, and I'd certainly notice a tyre problem, inside or not!

Sheldons Brain wrote: »

Some good comments here.
I wonder do those paragons of virtue who do everything here also clean their oven, have their boiler serviced, defrag their hard disk?

I do. If something needs tending to, then tend to it!

Taylor365 wrote: »

I find it hard to justify 4 hours of washing/waxing/polishing when every time i do it rains 5 minutes later.....

Rain on fresh polish is the best! It beads up nicely, and the car still looks well!
Shouldn't take you 4 hours....

keithclancy wrote: »

There definitely a comparative level of clean with regard to cars.

I think my car is dirty on the inside, until I get into someones car that has kids

Fookin hell .. gone off milk, chocolate, random bits of toys, crumbs and other miscellaneous smells that makes me kind of glad my sense of smell isn't great due to smoking

My friend had a strop because I wouldn't let her kid eat a chocolate ice cream in the back. We waited for him to eat it and he ended up destroyed and covered in chocolate all over his pants and dropped it on the floor by accident :rolleyes:

Mainly its not just about keeping the car clean but also about not treating the car like a bin (I hate it when people leave papers and crap in the side pockets)

I have a child and my car isn't manky inside (although it does need a clean). I don't let him eat in the car. If he ever has done, it would be with a towel on his lap! The worst though which is unpreventable is the dirt on the back of the passenger seat from his shoes! Nowt can be done really, only elbow grease with a damp cloth.

I think if Irish people are looking after their car they're either an enthusiast or have a fairly new one and spent a lot of money on it. If it goes over a certain age, they can't see why you'd spend money on it. Folk in the UK are more likely to keep maintaining a car regardless of value.
"Sure that car isn't worth spending €400 on, it's bearly worth that". That is stupid mentality. "Sell it and buy another one" they say, so what happens? You buy a car for €1500 instead of fixing one for €400 and you get a car that someone has sold because it needed around €400 to fix it!
Tractors are a prime example of Irish attitude towards stuff in general. By and large they are in horrific condition. Contrast that with stuff for sale anywhere else in the world. Everything is in good condition even 25 years later. If a mirror breaks off, they'll buy a new one. That happens on a tractor here and you'd be lucky if it got picked up off the ground.
Cheap is the name of the game in Ireland! "You paid how much for those tyres?" "Sure diesel is half that price in Joe Bloggs garage!" "My mechanic only charges me €20 for a service!" and best of all, said with the utmost pride : "I only wash my car every 2 years for the NCT!!"