New Owner Driver Advice?

D5T

D5T

D5T

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13 Feb 2009
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Location
Surrey
New Owner Driver - tips/suggestions/advice?

Recently bought my first car (that I don't have to share) & thought I'd pop my head in the Motors Forum 'door' & ask for some advice? It's an estate so plenty of storage space.

Any recommendations for what to keep in my car at all times?
Any general tips for me now I'm an owner of a vehicle?

One thing I've wondered is does anybody keep an envelope in the glove box containing useful numbers, paperwork to exchange, procedure to follow in the event of an accident (God forbid!). If so what is in it?

Any suggestions welcome & appreciated.
 
First aid kit, disposable camera (became part of a standard kit with Tescos home delivery drivers (at my suggestion)), maybe a high vis waistcoat thingy, fuel can and I also keep some screenwash as that can run out at a fair rate if you're on the motorways in grotty weather for a fair distance.
I'm sure that's more than the average driver thinks to have on board but all have uses.

oh and a wind-up torch can be handy if you don't fancy those multiple use emergency torch/hazard light things.
 
Spare wheel, mobile phone and all my docs are in a wallet tucked into the sun visor. I don't like having a spare wheel in the boot well because I have a ridiculously irrational fear of being rear ended, the boot caving in and the impact causing the tyre to explode and shrapnel to blow out every window in the car and cleave my head off so that it falls into my lap so that when the emergency services arrive it looks comically like I'm "attending" to myself.
 
Brian8bit said:
Spare wheel, mobile phone and all my docs are in a wallet tucked into the sun visor. I don't like having a spare wheel in the boot well because I have a ridiculously irrational fear of being rear ended, the boot caving in and the impact causing the tyre to explode and shrapnel to blow out every window in the car and cleave my head off so that it falls into my lap so that when the emergency services arrive it looks comically like I'm "attending" to myself.
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:eek: I'd never considered that possibility before! :eek:


*rushes out to remove spare wheel and slot it behind passenger sun visor*
 
Do weekly checks, check all tyres and tyre pressures, check oil, water and windscreen washer fluid etc.

Get breakdown recovery, keep a blanket/big coat in the car during winter as already mentioned. I would never keep my documents in the car.

Brian8bit said:
Spare wheel, mobile phone and all my docs are in a wallet tucked into the sun visor. I don't like having a spare wheel in the boot well because I have a ridiculously irrational fear of being rear ended, the boot caving in and the impact causing the tyre to explode and shrapnel to blow out every window in the car and cleave my head off so that it falls into my lap so that when the emergency services arrive it looks comically like I'm "attending" to myself.
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Surely the spare wheel will actually help you by absorbing some of the impact?

Shrapnel from rubber?
 
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As above but I tend to keep a few extra tools in mine (spanners etc) as well as a bottle of water and small bottle of oil. The oil is mainly because I live on a hill and have an uneven driveway which makes checking my oil difficult. Having the oil in my boot means that if I'm out and parked up for a few hours on the flat (long enough for my engine and oil temp to cool down) I can check my oil and top up if need be.

May also be worth having a couple of spare clean rags to wipe your hands on in there, just in case something does happen and you don't phone the breakdown company (changing a wheel maybe?)
 
Get into the habit of checking over your car weekly: checking fluids, signs of damage, rust, tyre tread etc.

I have the following in my boot: mechanical torch, blanket, spare shoes, spare wheel, locking wheel nut, screwdrivers, de-icer, ice-scraper, WD-40.
 
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Check that both your rear tyres are the same make & type, and that both of the front are too.

Ideally you want all 4 to be the same.

Check what brand they all are tbh
 
Brian8bit said:
Spare wheel, mobile phone and all my docs are in a wallet tucked into the sun visor. I don't like having a spare wheel in the boot well because I have a ridiculously irrational fear of being rear ended, the boot caving in and the impact causing the tyre to explode and shrapnel to blow out every window in the car and cleave my head off so that it falls into my lap so that when the emergency services arrive it looks comically like I'm "attending" to myself.
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I like having the spare wheel in place, it adds an extra bit of crumple zone to the rear of the car!
 
Some ID, insurance details and repair any faults that you feel inhabit your driving. That's about it really. Breakdown cover is handy and knowing how to change the spare wheel.

Other than that just make double sure you are legal at all times as the cops take no prisoners nowadays.
 
Many thanks for all your replies, some good suggestions. Exactly what I was after.
In terms of service history etc I bought it just after it had it's 10k service done.
 
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