I’m a bit of cliché when it comes to driving. I have always hated the concept of “women drivers”, those who are too busy talking to watch the road, or fixing their make up when they drive. I’ve never really been able to understand poor driving generally to be honest. That said, I’m a little guilty of being a bad driver myself – especially when it comes to car maintenance.
When I was 17, I had no interest in learning to drive. At the age of 15, my 17 year old cousin died in a car crash, when he was a learner driver, with his mum and brother in the car. This not only scared me, but completely put me off learning myself. Luckily for me, my mum and dad persuaded me to visit driving-news.co.uk and start taking driving lessons, I really didn’t have much reason to argue. I learnt for several months, took my test and failed. I gave up then for another year, until my mum and dad persuaded me to try again. Though I didn’t pass immediately even then, I did pass at the age of 19 and I’ve been glad to be driving ever since. For the first year or so I was a little reckless, even getting myself into quite a serious car crash, but it worked out for the best and made me a much safer driver.
My first car was a Vauxhall Nova. It was blue and old but I loved it because it was my first. We nicknamed it Shitty Shitty Bang Bang and to this day, my friends still refer to it as that when we’re reminiscing. Since then I have had a handful of other cars, all pretty rubbish, until my Ford Focus – I loved that car, until it was stolen from outside my house! I currently drive a Citroen C5 and I have to admit it’s a lovely car. The length is probably the longest I’ve owned and at times I feel like I’m driving a tank. However I’ve always prided myself on not being a “women driver” in that sense, not fearing car parking spots, reversing, spacial awareness etc. This car does make me doubt myself at times, but otherwise I’ve fairly confident that I’m a good driver.
What I’m not good at, is being a good car owner. I top up my oil – when the oil light comes on. I put screen wash in – when my light comes on. I check my tyres – when I get a puncture. I know, I know… simple checks take a few minutes and will make my car live longer, but I just forget or don’t really care to bother. The last time I took my tyres to get changed, I waited for an appointment, only to find they didn’t have my tyres in stock, having to come back again the next day instead.
However a company called Point S, now offers tyres online. You type in the tyres you’re looking for and once you find them, you can even reserve them at a centre near you and book an appointment to get them fitted. I personally think this is a great idea as I don’t have the time to waste, ringing around the places nearby me, checking if they have my tyre and then trying to find an appointment to fit.
Sadly not everything to do with cars can be done online. I wish it could, seriously, as I might actually get it done (if it’s not on the net, it’s likely I won’t do it!). In an ideal world, mobile garages would exist, that come to my house (like Autoglass do) and check my car. They see if my tyres are legal, if my brakes are in tact, if my oil is filled and all the other essentials. They only ask me for £5 (…I know, but I can dream) and most importantly I can book my appointment online!
The chances of those things happening are as slim as me winning the lottery. However just like how I’ll get a maid to do all my cleaning, if I do win… I’ll also get a mechanic to look after my brand new Ferrari for me.