So we’ve hit a lot of topics here. This was a new endeavor for me and I am glad to have had some of you along for the ride. Since this is my last column I thought I would do a little recap of some of the highlights from this summer. It was my intention with this column to provide automotive advice for college students. I may have missed the mark at some points, but I would like to leave you with a few nuggets that may at least get you through the rest of your college career.
Be aware of the cars around you.
I don’t just mean this in the parental warning for safe driving kind of way. I don’t expect everyone to become a car aficionado, but it pays to at least try to be familiar with makes and models.
This proved true when I was in a hit and run accident on the highway a few years back. The perpetrator side swiped me, pulled off about a half mile in front of me, checked his own car and then sped off down the highway. However, much to his chagrin, I recognized his Volkswagen Golf and was able to report the make and model to highway patrol. While I don’t usually reward the police with praise, the highway patrol was able to track him down and justice was served for once.
So when you’re walking through a parking lot or sitting in traffic just take a minute to recognize the cars around you.
Look at Your Manual and Try to Know Your Car
Ah, one of the simplest things you can do is merely to open your owner’s manual. I have a friend with an Infiniti G37 who up until a few weeks ago denied the existence of his spare tire and tools. There is a lot of helpful information inside of your owner’s manual including maybe even some perks you didn’t know your car had.
Service Your Car
This is easy enough, pay attention to when your car last had an oil change, etc. Don’t totally rely on your parents to remember or always wait until you go home. You are the captain of your own ship now. Just be a logical responsible adult. Two friends of mine who had known oil leaks were to lethargic to keep filling their cars and that resulted in two respectively blown engines. And don’t ignore your warning lights, sometimes they are just idiot lights or a sensor freaking out but always check it out. Consult your manual to see what it means exactly and proceed from there. Check the issue out to the best of your ability and then take the vehicle in for service.
Tips for buying a used car
If you’re in the market for a new-used car be wary. Apparently I am the queen of anecdotes so I’ll give you another one. A friend came to me because she needed a new-used car and a friend of hers was selling. She seemed to think it was a good deal for the car, but I was hesitant. Because it was a car I was familiar with off the top of my head I didn’t think it was a great deal. A really quick Google search proved that with search results showing newer lower mileage cars of the same make at a lower price. My advice to my friend was to tell her friend she would like the vehicle inspected by a professional and then offer her what the car was really worth. Don’t let yourself be had out of pleasantries. I know I’m probably preaching to the choir, but I just want to reinforce this. We live in a digital age where there is a plethora of information accessible to everyone. Take advantage of that when looking for a car.
I feel like dealers get a pretty bad rap. If it’s applicable, and I really don’t know a hard and fast rule for this, just take your car to the dealership. There are some things that they do for free. Just be nice and ask if there is a charge for checking something simple like a low tire out.
With summer at its close this will be my last column. I hope that it was enjoyable and maybe a little informative. Thanks for reading especially if you kept up with me all summer. I’ll officially be a graduate of UF by the end of the week and I’ll be heading off on the ride that is my life.
I leave you with a final Fast and Furious quote.
“It doesn’t matter if you win by an inch or a mile. Winning’s winning.” – Vin Diesel “The Fast and the Furious” (2001)
Erika Canfijn is a UF public relations senior. Her column appears on Thursdays.
