Best way to learn about cars?

Cairnsey

Cairnsey

Cairnsey

Associate
Joined
2 Jan 2007
Posts
2,305
Location
England
Chaps -

I'm useless with cars and was wondering how you guys learned as I'd like to get into it a bit more. Trouble is with PC's if you break something it's no biggy, but with a £6,000 machine its a bit different - The expense of trial and error has always put me off.

Should I buy an old banger and mess with it?
 
buy an old banger and mess with it. I did this with my clio, and now i know how to change engines, build them up etc etc. Great way of learning by jumping into the deep end and with old bangers they arent as complicated. Depending on the car it is breaks theres always second hand parts for cheap!
 
Yup, buy an old banger. If the goal is purely to learn then an early 90s Ford is probably a good choice as the parts are cheap.

(If you want to learn electrics then get something French)
 
I started on a Fiat Uno. Very simple to fix, which was just as well!
I did a short maintenance course at my local college to learn the basics and have built on it from there.
 
I'd say old and french, good mix of rust to be repair, electrical faults and everything really...
 
Just get stuck in. Thats honestly the best advice I can give. You can learn a lot from books, or the internet, but there is zero substitute for actually having a go.
 
Lopéz said:
Just get stuck in. Thats honestly the best advice I can give. You can learn a lot from books, or the internet, but there is zero substitute for actually having a go.
Click to expand...

Yup.

Use the internet and books to help you when you get stuck on the actual thing, but getting stuck in is the best way to understand it all, it'll also show you if are really interested in them, or just armchair interested. :)
 
Find out if there is a local college that does a basic car maintanence course - one round the corner does an eight week course for £60 - 1.5hrs every Thursday evening. Teach you thinks like how to change a battery, brake discs and pads, exhausts etc - by the end of it you'll be better trained than the average kwik Fit mechanic. Plus you use all there tools/old banger so there is nothing else to fork out for whilst your learning.
 
Don't buy a 'modern' banger, buy something older like a 70s or 80s rear-drive saloon. Everything's so much easier to get at and work on and parts (both new and second hand) are usually very cheap.

Consequently you won't get frustrated to hell and back just trying to do something simple.

And it's RWD :p
 
As above, buy an old banger.
At the end of the day it's easier to fix than any PC. You can at least see the faulty parts falling off / worn out. :D

It's only nuts and bolts.. Go for it

Also as above, don't buy any old banger just because it's cheap. get something with a bit of history or status attached to it, then when you have toiled over it for a number of years and got it back to it's former glory, you'll have something that you're proud of owning.
 
Indeed, there is little joy in tinkering with a Fiesta 950.

I'd get a worn out 80's hot hatch. It won't really cost any more than a cooking version and at least it will be good fun to take for a razz if you get it running/working.
 
Old Mini is cool as cucumber with a set of minilites and some wide arch spats on it in a lairy colour, engines and carb is pee easy to work on, nice easy push rod engine, can't go wrong.

Spare parts coming out of your ears for them, small, cheap etc etc...
You could probably build a complete new car there are that many spares available.

Only down side is working ON the actual ****ing thing, engine is in the bay as tight as a gnats chuff..
 
Thing is I literally don't have a clue so I'm going to look into the college route like amigafan said. Cheers for the ideas - BTW how does a Pug 205 sound?
 
nokinidea said:
Only down side is working ON the actual ****ing thing, engine is in the bay as tight as a gnats chuff..
Click to expand...

The clubman is a bit better for space, and i daresay a nail of a 1275GT could be picked up for peanuts. If thats still a bit cramped and you want something with really easy access, get hold of a Moggy Minor as the A-series looks lost in that cavernous engine bay.
 
Get a mk1/2 golf. I've learnt loads from it, and at the end your left with something quite cool. By the time your finished should be worth a a fair wack.

Garage + Tools is a must imo!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom