Everything you need to know about your first car

Everything you need
to know about your first car
First
Gear
Everything you need to know
about your first car
2 First Gear Welcome to the wonderful
world of wheels!
We know that every single person dreams of owning a car. It’s understandable: a car
epitomises independence, success, stature and mobility. The freedom to go your own way.
But we also know that the decision to purchase a car can be fraught with challenges.
What car do you buy? What can you afford? What about the servicing requirements?
What safety features should you look out for? What about safety out on the road?
These – and many other – important questions plague your mind.
First Gear aims to address all these topics – and many other essential issues associated
with car ownership. We have canvassed the opinions of the world’s leading authorities –
and this book aims to give you independent, authoritative and utterly essential advice.
We want to take the mystery and malaise out of car ownership, and replace it with easyto-follow advice and tips… so that your road to car ownership isn’t filled with potholes!
We trust that it will provide you with a stress-free introduction to the world of wheels.
Enjoy your first car; you’ve worked hard for it!
First Gear 3 Table of Contents
Chapter 1: First things first
06
Chapter 2: Choosing your ride 14
Chapter 3: Dealing with the dealer 22
Chapter 4: Signing on the dotted line
28
Chapter 5: Technology on wheels
36
Chapter 6: Safety in your car
40
Chapter 7: Safety on the road 48
Chapter 8: Avoid fuel funk
58
Chapter 9: Tech talk
66
Chapter 10: SOS
74
Chapter 11: Bling it on
80
Chapter 12: Green, green cars of home 84
First Gear
Everything you need to know about your first car
Published by Ford Communications
20th Floor, Lake Rajada Office Complex, 193/82-86 Ratchadapisek
Road, Klongtoey, Bangkok, 10110, Thailand.
Director/Publisher: Whitney Foard Small;
Managing Editor: Mia Barrett; Editor: Charleen Clarke;
Writers: PRISM Asia Pacific and Africa Content Factory;
Design: Content Factory, Europe.
A publication of Ford Communications Network for Ford Motor
Company of Southern Africa, Simon Vermooten Road, Silverton,
Pretoria, P.O. box 411, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. February 2012.
www.fordmotorcompany.co.za
4 First Gear Meet Jack and Jill
First Gear is a hands-on guide aimed at both men and women who are purchasing
their very first car. Bearing this in mind, the authors of this book chose to come up with
two fictional characters called Jack and Jill, because they represent archetypal readers.
So who are Jack and Jill? Well, we believe that they are typical first-time car buyers.
Jack is a young guy who aspires to buy an ultra-fast sports car (although maybe his
wallet won’t quite meet his aspirations).
Jill is a young lady who wants a stylish car that suits her lifestyle and her desire to be
at the height of fashion.
We’re talking two typical young people – a man and woman with hopes, aspirations
and dreams that are shared with millions of people all over the planet.
We hope that you can relate to Jack and Jill… and that you can learn from some of
their experiences at the dealership, out on the road or whenever you drive your car.
First Gear 5
6 First Gear CHAPTER 1:
First things first
Money isn’t everything but it sure does help when you
want to buy a car. So, unless a long-lost great uncle has
left you a small fortune, the first question most of us need
to ask before shopping for a new car is: “What can I afford
to drive?”
Your answer needs to take into account more than just the purchase price.
This, we’re afraid, is just the tip of the motoring iceberg. The costs of
financing, maintaining, repairing and insuring your car – along with
incidental expenses such as parking and registration fees – also need to be
factored in. As Ford Asia Pacific and Africa Director of Sales Mark Winslow
points out: “It’s not only the price of the car itself, but the cost of ownership
that impacts affordability.”
Of course, most guys – take young Jack for example – can’t wait to take
their girlfriend for a cruise in a flashy new convertible or a racy Focus RS.
After all, they do have a certain image to maintain. But, for most first-time
buyers, the more affordable Figo subcompact or the Fiesta are more
realistic choices. And the terrific news is the fact that they are still fun cars
to drive – you really don’t need to spend a small fortune in order to have a
cool, hip ride.
It all boils down to what you can afford. “Customers should not feel
too much pressure from their car payment,” notes Ford Automotive
Finance (China) Vice President of Sales and Marketing Eric Chou. “If a
customer chooses to finance a car, his monthly dispensable income
(money left over after taxes, rent or mortgage payment, and basic living
expenses are deducted) should be more than twice the amount of the
monthly payment.
First Gear 7 “Or, to put it another way, the customer’s
average bank account balance should be
at least double the amount of the car payment,” he adds.
The authoritative Consumer Guide
Automotive says it could even be a good idea
to shop for finance before going car hunting.
“Decide how much you can afford and how
much you are willing to pay before you shop
for a vehicle. If, like most consumers, you
have to borrow money, shop for a loan
before you shop for a vehicle,” it suggests.
Standard Bank of South Africa advises
prospective car buyers to carefully consider
how a car purchase will impact their
personal finances, because everyone should
aim to save at least a small portion of their
salary.
“The first question to ask is how much you
can afford to pay on a monthly basis,” says
Keith Watson, director of strategy and
business support, Standard Bank. If the car
is going to add 10 percent to your monthly
debt, that is probably manageable. As much
as guys such as Jack get a kick out of driving
the latest, sexiest set of wheels, your car
should not cost more than your house!
How much fuel your car will consume is
also an important budget consideration.
Estimate the average distance travelled
each month, and divide this by the car’s
estimated fuel mileage to figure out how
many litres of petrol it will take to get you
where you need to go. Don’t forget to allow
for future price increases at the pump – or
4.5l/100km
The fabulously low fuel consumption of the
Fiesta 1.6 TDCi, which achieved 4.5l/100km
during the Total Economy Run 2011 –
a fun but sensible buy.
8 First Gear you could ru
n out of mon
ey before yo
out of fuel!
u run
When estim
ating the co
st of owning
new car, repa
a
irs and maint
enance also
come into pl
ay. Once you’
ve chosen th
model and br
e
and that tickl
es your fanc
a good idea
y, it’s
to gauge the
reliability of
target vehicl
the
e. Informatio
n about wha
of repairs a sp
t types
ecific model
is likely to ne
over time is
ed
available on
line and with
consumer gr
oups, as wel
l as data abou
consumer co
t
mplaints an
d recalls. Fa
fan pages ex
cebook
ist for many
new vehicles
lots of helpfu
, and
l information,
from both
current owne
rs and the m
anufacturer,
be found ther
can
e.
Even the most reliable cars on the market
need periodic maintenance and repairs.
Tyres, filters, fluids and belts need to be
replaced regularly. A stray pebble on the
highway could damage the windscreen.
And, if you are unlucky and have an
accident, you could be replacing a fender
or headlight – and more.
The cost of replacement parts can vary
greatly. Imported vehicles are often the
most expensive – and take longer to repair
First Gear 9 because spare parts may need to be shipped from abroad.
Some locally manufactured vehicles have imported
components, so the same principle may apply.
The more frugal among us save up all their cents before
heading to the dealership to make their purchase. Most
car-buyers only have enough money saved for a down
payment (deposit) and will need some sort of financing
plan to complete the sale. Financing through financial
service providers is often the most convenient and
popular option.
A reputable financial services provider will sit down with
the customer and tailor make a payment plan to meet you,
individual needs, after calculating monthly income,
household expenses, mortgage payments, food and
entertainment expenditures. They can adjust the amount
you must pay each month, or the number of payments you
have to make over the lifetime of the contract, depending
on the buyer’s financial situation.
5
7 out of 10
The number of ca
which women are
Five fast buying tips
• Keep your emotions under control. Be conservative and don’t rush; you’ll have to live with this purchase for a
few years
• If you’re financing your car purchase, your monthly payment should not put a big strain on your budget. Don’t bite off more than you can chew
• Make sure you understand all the terms of your buyer’s contract, paying special attention to the interest rate and
whether there is a balloon payment required
• Figure out how much it will cost to keep the car running
before you buy. Remember: cost of ownership counts!
• Shop around for the best insurance rates
10 First Gear
ar purchases in
e involved in the UK.
First Gear 11
Keep in mind that lower monthly
payments mean you’ll be paying off the
car for a longer period of time, and more
of your hard-earned money will be going
towards the interest. Remember that
interest rates rise and fall. Rising interest
rates could affect the terms of your car
repayment, along with other debts like a
home loan or credit card. Even a small
rate hike could raise your monthly
payments across the board and bust
your budget, so it’s advisable to allow for
some wiggle room. In certain instances,
you can fix the interest rate (this means
that it will neither increase nor decrease,
so you know exactly what you will be
spending for the entire duration of the
finance plan). Chat to your financial
services provider about this possibility;
he/she will be able to explain exactly
how it works.
Before you sign on the dotted line,
make sure you can see the bigger picture
and understand all the payments that
need to be made. Some finance plans
call for what is known as a “balloon
payment”. This is the total balance
remaining on the car at the end of the
payment plan, and it usually needs to be
paid in full as a lump sum after all the
monthly payments have been made...
In some cases, refinancing of balloon
payments/residual values is permitted.
Make sure that you have the cash
available to avoid any nasty surprises. If
you don’t understand all the terms and
conditions of the contract, ask an
independent finance professional to look
12 First Gear
it over before you make any firm
commitment.
In conclusion, it’s very important not to
overreach. (You know what they say
about car sickness: it’s the feeling you
get when the monthly payment is due!)
So it’s best to be conservative when
calculating what monthly instalment you
can afford, especially if this is your first
car purchase. It’s seriously bad news to
default on a car payment; this could
affect your credit rating and thus your
ability to get a loan, buy a house, or a
second car in the future.
611 million
The predicted number of cars
in India by 2050, making it the
world’s largest car market.
If you begin to miss monthly car
payments, sometimes the finance house
can arrange a new payment schedule.
But, if you fall too far behind, you could
lose the car entirely... and all the money
you have invested thus far!
So make 100 percent sure you commit
to a monthly payment you can handle to
avoid an unpleasant visit from the Repo
Man (just in case you don’t know this
guy; he’s the chap who comes to
repossess your possessions when you
don’t pay!)
Insider insurance tips
In some countries, the law does not require
someone to have insurance when they buy a
car. However, in South Africa, financers require
all drivers to have full comprehensive vehicle
insurance if their car is under finance.
Irrespective of the rules and regulations within
your specific country, insurance is a no-brainer,
because that car of yours represents a massive
investment! As such, Ford Asia Pacific and Africa
Director of Sales Mark Winslow advises customers
to purchase comprehensive coverage to fully protect their investment. “If you can’t afford comprehensive insurance, perhaps you should consider a
less expensive car,” he says.
Sports cars are generally more expensive to insure,
and young drivers often pay higher monthly premiums than older, more experienced drivers with
an established safety record.
For smaller monthly payments drivers can opt to
pay a larger “excess”, or deductible, in case of an
accident. This is the amount the car owner must
pay before the insurance company will reimburse him/her. A higher excess/deductible
means lower payments, and vice-versa.
For example
Jack visited his local insurance salesman to
see how much it would cost to insure a new
Ford Focus. Since the down payment on the
car was going to wipe out his savings, he
was looking for the lowest monthly payment plan possible. He didn’t want to
spend more than R15 000 per year for
comprehensive coverage.
The salesman, after factoring in Jack’s
driving record, age, marital status and
vehicle model, offered Jack a plan
that fitted his budget:
R700 per month would pay for comprehensive
coverage of the new Focus. Jack was thrilled;
this was a price he could afford.
But, after reading the policy closely, Jack
was confused.
“What’s this bit about a R6000 ‘excess’?”
he asked.
The salesman explained to Jack that, if he had
an accident, he’d be responsible for any repairs
that cost less than R6000. If the car needed
two new doors and a fender, and the body
shop charges R6300 for the job, Jack would
have to pay R6000, while the insurance company would pay R300.
“Wait a minute!” Jack told the insurance
agent. “I can’t afford to pay R6000. After I
buy this car, I won’t have any savings left!”
The salesman crunched the numbers again,
and came up with another plan for Jack,
which provided the smallest “excess”
possible, R2000. But this time, the monthly
payment came out to more than R1500
per month.
“That’s more than twice as much!” Jack
protested. “I can’t afford that!”
“I’m very sorry, sir,” the salesman replied.
“But this is how insurance works. The
more you pay up front, the less you will
have to pay for any damages later. If you
want to pay the minimum premium
possible, that’s fine. But further on down
the road, it could cost you a lot more.”*
Source: OUTsurance South Africa.
*This statement is a guideline only, and
not advice that should be relied upon.
Insurance advice must be sought from
an accredited financial services provider.
First Gear 13
14 First Gear CHAPTER 2:
Choosing
your ride
First Gear 15 As the Wisebuyer’s Guide notes: “Buying a
car requires commitment. The two of you
are going to be seeing a lot of each other,
so it’s best if you’re happy. There’s a lot of
money at stake, so you don’t want to be
disappointed.”
So where do you start? How do you pick
the vehicle that’s absolutely perfect for
you? Should it be something practical and
sensible or something wild and wicked?
And how do you know you haven’t selected
a complete lemon? Follow our ten-point
guide and chances are excellent that you
will meet your dream date (in terms of
wheels that is).
1. Decide what type of vehicle you want
There are so many different kinds of
vehicles on the market, and your choice –
a sedan, hatchback, coupe, 4x4, pickup,
“green” vehicle, sports car or SUV – will be
defined by your motoring requirements.
Ultimately, there is no right or wrong
choice: the type of vehicle you select is
dependent entirely on your individual
needs and budget.
2. New or used?
We all dream of buying a brand new set of
wheels, complete with that incredible new
car smell but in reality used cars often offer
a good value for money proposition.
If you cannot afford a new car, invest in a
low mileage used car instead. But make
sure you buy a car with a full service history
(a service history is a record of all the
mechanical work that has been done to
the car). And only buy from a reputable
organisation. Resist that unbelievable
bargain at all costs; remember… if the deal
appears too good to be true, it probably is.
Do you want something that’s especially
versatile, and can be all things to all people?
Maybe a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) could be the answer.
Do you want something
practical with a boot?
A sedan will work for you.
16 First Gear
7
Prefer something a little sportier?
Then consider a hatchback or a coupe.
hours
The average length of time that three quarters of car buyers
spent online when making a new vehicle purchase in 2008,
according to J.D. Power and Associates.
3. Evaluate the value adds
All cars come with extra bits and pieces.
We’re not talking about dangling dice and
fluffy seats; we’re referring to value-adds
such as service plans and warranties.
These can vary significantly from car to car
and, when things go wrong, they can make
a huge difference. A warranty generally
covers all the major mechanical items on
the car – ideally, you want a warranty that
is available for as many years and
kilometres as possible. The same can be
said of a service or maintenance plan – you
want it to be valid for as long as possible,
so that you have peace of mind and know
that you won’t have any unexpected
motoring expenses that will blow your
monthly budget out of the water.
4. Search the Net
The Internet is a wonderful source of
information on your potential car. Google
whatever cars interest you and see what
pops up. If that car is unreliable, you will
find loads of motorists complaining about
it on consumer sites. You will be able to
read reviews by independent motoring
journalists too, which could steer you in the
right direction (if you will excuse the pun).
First Gear 17
How about something
that’s dead sexy?
Hello sports car…
Fancy the idea of
heading off-road?
A 4x4 could be the ideal vehicle for
you, or maybe even a pickup (if you
fancy the notion of being able to
toss stuff in the load box).
5. Consider colour
Colour is important due to resale values.
Cars in popular colours may be easier to sell
and boast better resale value. When
deciding on colour, also bear in mind that
certain colours are more popular in certain
markets than others.
6. Fuel consumption to the fore Before you sign on the dotted line, you need
to investigate the facts and the figures. It
costs an arm and a leg to fill a fuel tank – so
how economical is your potential car? A
sports car may accelerate faster than a
rocket, but remember that it may gulp down
18 First Gear
fuel just as fast. Similarly, a vehicle such as a
large saloon or SUV will typically be thirstier
than a small hatchback or sedan. That’s
because bigger cars are generally a bit
heavier, so while they do offer sensational
versatility and practicality, there is a price to
pay at the fuel pump. There may also be a
price to pay in terms of CO2 emissions.
7. Safety features are important
We have a whole chapter devoted to the
vital issue of safety. Decide which safety
features are the most important to you and
ensure that your new car has these features
before you make your purchase.
Do you really
need a bigger
engine?
8. Pick a brand
Now that you have decided what type of
vehicle you’d like, and whether you’re going
the new or used route, it’s time to nail your
colours to the brand mast of your choice.
This can be a tough one: you may be
tempted by the bargain basement pricing
options of some lesser known brands or the
glamour of an exotic one. It’s very important
to be sensible in this regard though. Deal
with a company with a proud heritage, one
that has been around for a while and has an
excellent reputation for delivering quality
products. You’re making a substantial
investment, so only deal with a company
Common errors
when buying a car
Rushing into a decision
Buying with your heart only
Blowing your budget
Only considering the
purchase price
Purchasing a cheap,
unknown brand
First Gear 19
that is ethical. Take Ford Motor Company,
for instance. It has been recognised as one
of the world’s most ethical companies by
the Ethisphere Institute, an international
business ethics think tank. This is quite
some honour; thousands of companies in
more than 100 countries and 36 industries
were evaluated and Ford was the one
and only automaker to receive this honour
in 2010.
9. The test drive (and pay attention)
Once you’ve decided on a short list of
vehicles, you need to take each one for a
test drive. The single most important
question you need to ask yourself is this:
would I be comfortable and happy in this
vehicle each and every day for the next few
years? It’s a good idea to test drive the car
on roads that you will typically drive on
once you have purchased a vehicle. If, for
instance, you spend most of your time in
the city, ensure that your test route includes
driving on busy city roads.
Are you looking to save money?
A vehicle with great fuel economy could be
what you’re looking for.
20 First Gear Ideally, you want a warranty that is available
for as many years and kilometres as possible.
10. Finally... pick a ride
So you have made your decision. You have
decided which car to buy. The last factor you
need to take into consideration is the
specific model. Cars are generally available
in a range – models within that range will
differ in terms of engine capacity and
specification level. Carefully compare the
models within the range. Do you really need
a bigger (and often thirstier) engine? Do you
need the luxury specification level? Are
electric windows really necessary at the
back of the car (will you use the back seat)?
What safety features are on offer with each
specific model? Remember: the bigger the
engine and the more luxurious the car, the
higher its price tag.
First Gear 21
CHAPTER 3:
Dealing
with the
dealer
Walking into a big, shiny car dealership
showroom for the first time can be
really exciting – and often intimidating.
But don’t be scared. Remember,
at every step of the way, the sales team
is there to serve you. The customer is
king – or queen – of the showroom!
22 First Gear
First Gear 23
Keep in mind that a car is just
like a girlfriend or boyfriend:
Looks are not
a guarantee
to happiness.
Choosing a dealer that’s right for you
Start by looking at dealer outlets that are
close to your home or workplace. “You can
build a lasting relationship and get better
24 First Gear
follow-up service if you stick to your
hometown or where you work,” advises
Joseph Cueter, operations manager for
Ford’s Customer Service Division, Asia
Pacific and Africa.
“Your local dealer should be what we at
Ford like to call a ‘hometown hero’,” he says.
“They should be engaged with the local
community – supporting local schools,
sponsoring sports programmes.”
Dealers that advertise in smaller, local
newspapers and support education, sport,
health and environmental initiatives in the
community are more likely to form a longterm relationship with customers. “Look for
anything that indicates they are not just
looking for a one-time sale,” adds Cueter.
Of course, you may be able to get the car
you want at a cheaper price from a
dealership in a neighbouring province or city.
But any discounts you find may not be
worth it in the long run. It’s inconvenient and
costly to travel a long way to bring your car
in for service or repairs.
Since dealers are generally the best
source for warranty-covered repairs and
maintenance, take a close look at the
service centre. Ask around: have your
neighbours or colleagues been satisfied
with the service provided by the dealership?
It’s also a good idea to look for certifications
that prove the repair shop meets
international standards. Ask to see the
qualifications of the technical staff and
service advisors. Certificates from the
Society of Automotive Engineers, for
example, are good professional credentials.
So are factory certifications from Fordauthorised dealerships that show the
mechanics have been specifically trained
to work on certain components.
Communication is key
Dealership sales staff should be friendly
and helpful, but not pushy. You should be
warmly welcomed when you enter the
showroom. The salesperson ought to ask
First Gear 25
how they can be of service and offer some
general information about the dealership
before trying to steer you towards any
particular vehicle or promotion. To avoid
the hard sell, you may want to tell the
salesperson that you won’t be making a
purchase today, and are only visiting to
gather information.
“You want a salesperson who listens to
you and asks meaningful questions about
your transportation needs,” says Cueter.
You also want a salesperson who treats
you with respect; someone who truly has
your best interests at heart.
Prepare a list of the top ten features that
you require in your new vehicle; this will
Fast facts
Find a dealer near your workplace
or home who you can trust and
with whom you can build a lasting
relationship
Make a checklist of what features
you need to be a satisfied owner
and bring it to the dealer
Look for a salesperson who listens
to you and is focused on your
needs. Avoid the hard sell
26 First Gear
help the salesperson direct you to the right
model. If you live in a tropical climate, you
may need air conditioning. If you drive a
vast distance to work every day, you’ll need
a car that cruises well and has excellent
fuel economy. If you have a big family, a
roomy interior will be a requirement.
“Make a checklist of what you need to be
a satisfied owner,” advises Cueter. “If the car
meets all of these requirements, performs
well on the road and appeals to you
visually, you’ll be in good shape.”
The test drive
Ensure that you test drive and carefully
inspect a car before buying it. You wouldn’t
buy a R1000 jacket without trying it on first.
So why should you buy a R130 000 car that
you have never driven?
Do your research – on the Internet
and with consumer groups and
magazines – before negotiating
a purchase price
It’s a good idea to test drive the
car before you buy
As you do a
360-degree stroll
around it, check
the seams
between body
panels and doors;
are they evenly spaced,
without gaps or
irregularities? Does
the colour look good?
Is the paint smooth, with
mirror like reflections?
If you are an inexperienced or unlicensed
driver, bring a qualified driver along who can
evaluate the vehicle’s driving dynamics:
handling, acceleration, braking performance,
etc. If you haven’t driven much, you may not
be able to realistically compare the car’s
features or performance to competing
models.
Check the exterior carefully, with an eye
for details. Open the boot to see if there’s
enough storage space. Is there a full-sized
spare tyre?
Consumer Reports, a U.S. magazine and
website published by a non-profit consumer
advocacy group, recommends walking in a
circle around the car to perform an overall
quality check.
Keep in mind, however, that a car is just
like a girlfriend or boyfriend: looks are not a
guarantee to happiness. And while it’s great
to have a sexy car, you and your passengers
will be travelling inside the vehicle. So
make sure the seats are comfortable and
that the controls are easy to reach. The
speedometer, fuel gauge, and other
instruments should be clearly visible. The
driver should be able to glance at the
instruments and adjust the controls without
taking his/her attention off the road.
100
The number of new dealerships
that Ford plans to establish in
China to meet demand.
First Gear 27
28 First Gear CHAPTER 4:
Signing on the
dotted line
meets your
d a vehicle that
fin
to
ed
ag
an
Once you’ve m
s time to start
y dealership, it’
th
or
tw
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tr
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needs at
to the salesper
at
ch
ld
ou
sh
u
financial
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r to protect your
de
or
in
s
an
pl
e
rvic
paper work
warranty and se
ed to get all the
ne
u
yo
ll,
he
ts
interest. In a nu
in order.
We all know that you’re dying to get behind
the wheel and head out on the road – but
it’s very important to focus on all the
details.
Knowledge is power
First things first: you need to agree on a
price. The more you know, the more you
can save. If you learn how much others are
paying for the car you want, you’ll know
immediately if the price you’re being
quoted is competitive.
“Do your research,” recommends Joseph
Cueter, operations manager for Ford’s
Customer Service Division, Asia Pacific and
Africa. “By visiting chat rooms and reading
First Gear 29 u are
s and blogs, yo
online car forum
ying
pa
t people are
going to see wha
range.”
and find a price
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th
be offering
the dealers may
ng to
illi
w
be
erson may
staff, the salesp
.
ies
or
ss
ce
or add ac
lower the price
ve
ha
s
ay
w
al
s staff
Remember, sale
and
need to achieve…
ey
th
at
th
targets
e
t to achieve thos
they will do a lo
targets.
“Ask what kind of wiggle room is
available,” Cueter advises. “Ask the
dealer: ‘What can you do today to make
me buy this vehicle?’”
Keep in mind that car sales operate in
cycles: there are high and low seasons.
For example, sales in South Africa
traditionally drop during Christmas. This
is the time dealers may be even more
motivated than usual to make a sale.
There are other times when sales
staff might be more willing to give
customers a better deal. For example,
at the end of the month, when
dealerships are trying to meet sales
quotas and companies are eager to
post record monthly sales figures, you
may have more leverage to negotiate.
If you see lots of promotions and
rebates being offered for a particular
model, that’s a good indication that the
salesperson might accept a lower price.
30 First Gear
R40 000
The amount you
should budget for
car maintenance
over five years of
ownership (if you
won’t have a service
or maintenance plan).
Likewise, when car companies roll out
new models, dealers will often be
motivated to clear out existing
inventory to make room for the latest
product line-up.
As Jill discovered when she went car
shopping, there is nothing wrong with
buying what is known as a “previous
generation model”, especially if you can
get it at a great price. When car
companies launch so-called “new”
models, they are generally one of two
things: a completely new car boasting
all sorts of fabulous new features
– known as a “new generation model”
– or a “face-lifted model”, which has
had moderate changes. In the case of
the latter, they do not offer huge
benefits over the models they are
replacing (much like many movie stars,
they have just had a nip and a tuck
here and there).
5
Fast facts
Do your research
For more bargaining power, buy at
the end of the year or month
Read the fine print: don’t pay for
accessories or services you don’t
need
Make sure there are no out-ofpocket expenses for warrantycovered repairs
Compare the warranties offered
with different models
First Gear 31 Jill opted for an older model when she
decided to invest in a nippy hatchback
because it had all the safety and
technology benefits of the face-lifted
model, but the exterior and interior styling
was slightly different. However, this did not
bother Jill one bit until she discovered that
she could knock 10 percent off the sticker
price.
If you want to be the first one in your
town to drive a new model, you will pay for
the privilege, and Jill decided that this
simply was not worthwhile. So, do as Jill
did, and buy a previous generation car.
After you’ve agreed on a price with the
salesperson, check the invoice carefully for
hidden costs. Make sure you’re not paying
for accessories or additional services that
you don’t want, need or order. Don’t be
afraid to query any items on the invoice.
32 First Gear
Remember: you are the one with
the power!
Protect your investment
Now that you’ve successfully negotiated
a purchase price, it’s time to think about
how best to protect your investment. All
reputable manufacturers offer a warranty
with new car purchases.
A good warranty offers complete
coverage and easy repairs at any dealership
with no out-of-pocket expenses for
warranty-covered repairs. Read the fine
print carefully, as you would with any
warranty, to understand the terms and
conditions exactly.
“When you take your vehicle in for a
warranty repair, will the dealer just hand
you an invoice explaining what was fixed
and tell you the repair is free of charge?
Or do you have to fill out a pile of
paperwork when you go in, pay for the
repair out of your own pocket and then
submit a claim to be reimbursed under
the warranty? Some companies out there
make you do that,” explains Cueter.
“When you bring your vehicle into a Ford
dealership for a warranty-covered repair
– and if the component you’re after is
covered – you don’t have to pay anything
up front and you don’t have to fill out lots
of paperwork to get the service you’re
entitled to.”
The warranty period can be extended for
an additional fee. Warranty extensions do
not have to be bought at the time of
purchase but, in most markets, you must
purchase the extension before the initial
time period runs out.
The terms and prices of the warranty
agreements generally cannot be
negotiated. But, you can shop around and
compare the different warranty options
offered for a variety of new vehicles.
Consider the following example: one
vehicle has a sticker price of R100 000, and
comes with a one-year bumper-to-bumper
manufacturer’s warranty. The dealership
will sell a three-year warranty extension for
R15 000. Another vehicle has a sticker price
First Gear 33 The sticker price that’s adorning
the window of showroom
vehicles may be negotiable.
R110 000 and it comes with a five-year
warranty. Even though the first car boasts a
cheaper purchase price, the second vehicle
may be a better value for money
proposition when you factor in the warranty
coverage. So weigh up all these factors
before deciding which vehicle to buy.
Remember, for your warranty to remain
valid, you must maintain your vehicle and
adhere to the servicing recommendations
of the manufacturer. For instance, the oil
must be changed regularly, and all hoses,
34 First Gear belts and filters must be replaced on
schedule. You don’t need to fret about this;
just take your car to a franchised dealer
when its service is due – the professionals
in the workshop will know exactly what
to do.
The only snag, of course, is that it can be
expensive to service a car. One way to
negate this expense is to sign up for a
maintenance or service plan that will
ensure that all the necessary work is
performed at a manufacturer-authorised
dealership free of charge.
This is a great way of ensuring that your
car is constantly in tip-top condition while
never having to stress about breaking the
bank or cutting back on your entertainment
budget. “It’s just like buying insurance,”
Cueter says. “Pay a little today to avoid a
big hurt later on.”
In addition to meeting warranty
requirements, there are other benefits to
buying a service plan up front. For instance,
you can avoid future price increases in
parts and lubricants.
“If you buy a new car and intend to keep
it for five years, you can buy a scheduled
maintenance plan and lock in service at
today’s prices for parts and labour. This
protects you from fluctuations in the cost
of oil and raw materials that could drive up
the price of components,” explains Cueter.
First Gear 35 36 First Gear CHAPTER 5
Technology 0n wheels
Gone are the days w
hen your car was jus
t a mechanical
contraption with four
wheels that got you
from point A to
B. These days, it is m
ore like a computer on
wheels, with
possibly more than 10
0 mini computer syst
ems controlling
ever ything from the
door locks and brakes
to
the starter
and ignition system.
First Gear 37 Car of the future
What do you think cars will look like in the next 10 to 20 years? That was the question we posed to
J Mays, group vice president of design and chief creative officer, Ford Motor Company. Here’s what
the designer behind Ford’s personality-driven Start concept car has to say…
“From an exterior standpoint, it’s going to
be more of the same. Exterior design is
always going to be the thing that
characterises first and foremost, what
the car should represent in the
customer’s mind. But over the last
10 years, interior design has become
more and more important because
that’s where people spend all of
their driving time.”
Cars are becoming more and more
high-tech as automakers work towards
making safer vehicles that are also easier
and more enjoyable to drive. There is
loads of car technology out there (some
technology is more useful than the
others!). Here are some of the most
useful and fun features you should
consider having in your car.
Music on wheels
CD’s … what are they?
Cassette tapes … never heard of them!
You can now test the acoustics in your
car and turn it into your personal rock
concert by playing music from your MP3
player, USB stick or phone. You don’t
even have to worry about battery power
on long journeys – the system charges
your device as you play it.
38 First Gear Look Ma, no hands
One of the funkiest yet affordable
features of new cars today is Bluetooth®
with Voice Control. This allows you to
operate your mobile phone, climate
control and audio system using voiceactivated commands – all wirelessly.
Practically, this leaves you free to keep
your eyes on the road and your hands on
the wheel. This feature helps Jack to
drive safely, even as he chats with his
buddies.
Over 100
The number of mini computers
in the average car
To activate the microphone that
detects your voice command, Jill simply
presses a button next to the steering
wheel and speaks her command. If she
wants to access her climate control
system, for instance, she just says
“Climate”. Or, for the phone, she says
“Phone” and so on. The system allows
Jill to receive and make phone calls, and
also access her mobile phone book and
calling history… all hands free.
Bluetooth® is a trademark of Bluetooth SIG Inc.,
and is used under licence.
At one with your car
The new thing that is probably going to
dominate car design in the next 10 years
is going to be the human-machine
interface, where all the navigation takes
place inside the car. The humanmachine interface will become
increasingly sophisticated with voice
activation and multi touch-screen
technology. Cars are becoming more
like rolling computers and that’s going
to transform the way people drive. It’s
also going to transform the way we
design automobiles.
First Gear 39 40 First Gear
CHAPTER 6:
Safety
In Your Car
So here’s the
thing, guys a
nd gals: whe
new (or pre-l
n you buy a
oved) set of
w
heels, the sin
important th
gle-most
ing is not ho
w good the c
sounds. Yes
a
r
looks or
, a hot colou
r, flashy inte
beneath the
rior and wha
hood is impo
t's
rtant. Never
the safety fe
forget: it’s
atures that c
ould mean th
between life
e difference
and death.
Today’s cars come with a bunch of
sci-fi stuff, with all sorts of weird
acronyms. And so we’re often clueless as
to what they mean. ABS, EBD and ESP...?
Go figure…
These weird and wonderful
contraptions all play a vital role, as Jamie
McCullough, cross carline feature and
technology manager, Ford Asia Pacific
and Africa, points out: “Beyond the
vehicle’s structure and design, there are
an increasing number of safety features
available which at either an individual
or combined level of offering, serve in
contributing towards enhancing a
vehicle’s ‘accident avoidance’ and/or
First Gear 41
‘occupant protection’ performance.
Ford is a safety leader; you can see it in
our innovations that help customers
avoid crashes or protect them if one is
unavoidable.”
So, it’s important to buy a car that
has as many of these features as
possible… not that all young drivers
remember to prioritise. Picture Jack
in the showroom, or used car lot, inspecting the gleaming array of fine
machinery. And there’s the salesman
trying to sell him that cool hotrod, which
is chromed to the hilt and emits a firebreathing roar when you step on the gas.
42 First Gear Wise Jill, who’s often sharper than
Jack’s buddies realise, asks how safe
it is.
“Well, it’s got seatbelts,” the
salesman announces proudly. That is a
good thing: according to the National
Highway Transportation Safety
Administration (NHTSA), seatbelts
reduce the risk of fatality and serious
injury by 50 percent when used by
drivers and front-seat passengers.
“Seat belts are your first line of defence
against injuries or death,” declares
David L. Strickland, administrator,
NHTSA.
Zen and the art of crash testing
New cars must pass certain safety
tests before being sold. Most have a
Euro NCAP safety rating (European
New Car Assessment Rating). Or, if it’s
Australian, an ANCAP (Australian
New Car Assessment Program) rating.
For cars tested before 2009, Euro
NCAP has three ratings: adult protection, child occupant and pedestrian
protection. These ratings are achieved
from three impact tests: frontal, side
and pole test. Separate pedestrian
tests will score the pedestrian rating.
Euro NCAP also rewards cars with
intelligent seatbelt reminders.
Since 2009, Euro NCAP has released
only one overall star rating for each
car, with a maximum of five stars.
This comprises the scores in adult,
child and pedestrian protection, and
safety assist. The tests are identical
to pre-2009 ones, with the addition
50
of a test for whiplash neck injury
protection in rear impact. Also,
Euro NCAP rewards not only seatbelt
reminders, but also speed limiters
and standard fitment of Electronic
Stability Control..
So how do they do crash tests?
The frontal impact test takes place at
64 km/h, and readings taken from the
test dummies assess the protection
given to adult front occupants.
Contact between the occupant and
intruding parts of the passenger
ties
ich fatali
h
w
y
uced
b
ge
n be red
a
c
Percenta
s
ie
r
us inju
and serio atbelt usage.
o se
thanks t
compartment is the main cause of
serious/fatal injuries for buckled-in
adult occupants. The 64 km/h test
speed represents a car-to-car collision
with each car doing about 55 km/h.
Steering wheel-mounted airbags
are quite critical, and Euro NCAP
encourages seatbelt pretensioners,
load limiters and dual stage airbags.
So essentially, the more stars out
of five your car has, the better.
Drive a superstar and your chances of
surviving the roads are better.
First Gear 43
But, of course, seatbelts are a given
today. The salesman shouldn’t be so
proud. It’s actually an old car: truth be
told, it’s a bone-rattler of note.
Jill shakes her head. Uh-uh. She prods
Jack in the ribs, and points to a newer,
bigger, but infinitely less flashy vehicle.
How about that one, she asks. And with
Strapped for cash?
Here are the most
important safety features
in any car:
• Seat belts: With all of the technological
advances, seat belts are still the top life-saving device in cars today
• Anti-lock braking system (ABS): it prevents the wheels from locking during braking;
you have far more control over your vehicle as
a result
• Electronic Stability Programme (ESP):
this is a very clever electronic system that
steps in if your vehicle is about to skid out of
control; it takes over by selectively applying
the brakes and helps prevent things from
going pear-shaped
• Crumple zones: this is a structural feature
of your car; it compresses during an accident,
thereby absorbing the energy and minimising
the impact of the accident on people sitting
in the car
• Airbags: these are, quite literally, bags of air
that inflate in milli-seconds if you have an
accident; they help prevent you from knocking your head on the dash, for instance
• A well trained driver: you can never ever
have too much training; it needs to be coupled with the right attitude out on the road
44 First Gear
relief, “Honest” Bob (as he’s known) lists
the car’s safety features.
There’s ABS, he says, or an anti-lock
braking system. This helps prevent the
wheels from locking during sudden
braking, like when you slam on anchors
when a driver in front of you stops
unexpectedly. By allowing the car to
slow in a more controlled manner, ABS
helps maintain steering control. Some
ABS systems include brake assist, which
senses emergency braking by detecting
the speed or force at which you press
the brake, boosting the power as
needed. Under certain conditions, brake
assist can reach the braking force
needed to activate the ABS faster, and
help reduce stopping distance by
eliminating the delay caused by not
braking hard/soon enough.
He says the car also has ESP, or an
Electronic Stability Programme, which
means drivers are better able to control
the car in intense steering manoeuvres.
Times to take extra care
Venture out onto the road and you’re taking
your life into your own hands: we all know that.
But there are high-risk periods, when you really
should be extra careful. According to the
Automobile Association of South Africa, this
is when accidents are statistically the most
likely to occur:
• Between dusk and dawn
• During morning and evening peak traffic
• At “closing time” for bars and clubs
• Late in the week and at weekends when
the use of alcohol increases
• On public holidays and weekends when
many motorists are paying more attention to
sightseeing than to proper driving
First Gear 45
ESP helps prevent a car from spinning
out by constantly monitoring and
applying braking force to one or more
wheels as needed.
It has crumple zones. This means that,
in the event of an accident, the car’s
body parts are designed to absorb the
energy from a crash’s impact. As a
result, the passenger compartment is
not as badly damaged, which means the
driver and passengers are less likely to
be injured.
It also boasts a high amount of ultra
high strength boron steel in its door
intrusion beams, which helps protect
occupants in side-impact collisions.
Boron steel is very good news for road
safety – because it delivers a rigid, yet
lightweight passenger cell, providing
greater side and frontal impact
protection. “I read an article about this
steel,” Jill tells Jack proudly. “The use of
high-strength steel has helped Ford
perform extremely well in crash tests,
earning five-star safety rating in certain
cars.”
46 First Gear There’s also a host of airbags that
help protect you in the event of an
accident. Depending on the impact,
speed and the stiffness of the object
struck, front airbags inflate to help
reduce the risk of occupants hitting the
dashboard, steering wheel and
windshield. Side airbags reduce the risk
of you hitting the door or objects
crashing through it. Some cars have
head airbags, which deploy in side
impacts, while some deploy during
rollovers. Both provide additional
protection to help reduce head injuries.
Then there’s AWD, or all-wheel-drive,
which distributes power to both the
front and rear wheels to maximise
traction. This means that you’re less
likely to go barrelling off the road.
Jack and Jill decide it’s a no-brainer.
The cool hotrod is rejected in favour of
the far more sensible vehicle. Honest
Bob has done it again: Jack and Jill are
sold. So’s the safety conscious car!
First Gear 47 48 First Gear
Everyone thinks it won’t
happen to them. Especially
young drivers – they believe
that they’re invincible. But the
reality is that anyone can have
an accident while driving – even
professional racing drivers!
Even if it’s not your fault, you
can still lose your life or limb
because of some other road
user’s silly mistakes.
Can you avoid accidents?
Sure – not just by piloting a safer car,
but by being aware of potential pitfalls,
and exercising more caution.
Speed kills
As for Jill, she drives way too fast for her
own good. This is, of course, quite
common behaviour for someone like Jill.
As the Royal Society for the Prevention
of Accidents in England points out:
“Young drivers are more likely to see
speed as exciting. They are particularly
prone to approaching bends too fast
and to dangerous overtaking.”
Jill, of course, thinks this is all
nonsense. Hey, her hot hatchback was
designed for speed, so why not?
:
7
R
E
T
CHAP
Safety oad
r
e
h
t
n
o
Besides, she knows what she’s doing…
or so she believes.
Actually, she doesn’t.
Well, not all the time, anyway, as Jack
regularly points out. For starters, this
too cool for school young lady has a
bad habit of going flat out and then
standing on the brakes as she’s
cornering. Generally speaking, she
drives way too fast (even keeping
within the speed limit can be unsafe, for
example on wet or icy roads or on
narrow, winding rural roads).
She tailgates trucks too… and other
cars. So she has to keep crossing into
the oncoming lane to see what’s ahead
and if it’s safe to overtake. Jill has had
many close calls, but hasn’t learned.
First Gear 49
When is it safe to overtake?
The experts say:
•W
hen travelling along a single lane road behind
another vehicle, ask yourself if you intend to
overtake it
• If not, leave a gap ahead that’s long enough to
allow overtaking by other cars. This allows
other road users to overtake you, slot safely
into the gap you’ve left, and await an opportunity to overtake the next vehicle
•V
ehicles travelling close together create a very
long vehicle that’s more difficult to overtake,
increasing the risk of an accident
• E ven if no one’s behind you, leaving a large gap
increases your line of sight and safety margin
Consider the conditions
Bad weather? Well that’s another story.
When the roads are wet, it’s not rocket
science that the tar is slippery and you
need to reduce speed. Not Jill. She goes full
steam ahead, with absolutely no thought to
the consequences.
The other day in a seriously crummy
thunderstorm, she floored the accelerator
even though visibility was nil and driving
conditions were so scary that there were
hardly any another vehicles on the road.
She miscalculated her abilities, and spun
four times before stopping – with a
resounding crunch – against a street pole.
That cost her a fortune in repair bills.
She’s lucky she’s alive.
50 First Gear
Here are some pointers when you hit
the road (someone pass these on to
Jill, please):
•• The U.S. Transportation Department
says more than 450,000 crashes
occur annually in adverse weather
conditions or on slick roads. To help
avoid a crash, keep your tyres inflated
to the right pressure and make sure
they have enough tread
•• Turn on your lights in bad weather or
low light
•• Avoid puddles: they could be
camouflaging potholes
•• If you start aquaplaning (also known
as “hydroplaning”, this happens when
there is water between the tyres of the
vehicle and road surface, leading to
the loss of traction), don’t brake or
steer. Stop accelerating until you feel
your tyres make contact with the road
•• If you’re driving in fog, switch on your
low-beam headlights, slow down
before you reach a patch of fog, and
turn on your defroster and windshield
wipers
•• Increase your following distance in bad
weather, such as monsoons
•• Dry your feet before getting into the
car; wet feet can easily slip off the
pedals
More than
450,000
The number of crashes that occur
annually in adverse weather
conditions or on slick roads.
First Gear 51
Of course, there
are several basic
rules
that should be
second nature
to
gir
ls like
Jill and guys like
Jack. Just like ou
r
ad
vice
in good or bad
weather conditi
ons,
always stay thre
e cars’ lengths
from the
car in front of yo
u. This means th
at, if
Demon drivers
According to the Automobile Association
of South Africa, there are also some
vehicles that you should be especially
wary of while out on the road.
•• Any vehicle in which the driver’s range
of vision is limited – such as a fully
laden truck with no side mirrors
•• A vehicle that “wanders” about the
road – it could be a faulty steering or
suspension, or the driver may be drunk
or sleepy
•• Any vehicle that is dirty, rusty, missing
body parts or with a badly smoking
exhaust – it is probably in poor overall
mechanical condition
52 First Gear
you’re hit from
behind, there’s
time and
space to steer aw
ay from the vehi
cle in
front. Always ch
eck your blind sp
ot
s
before changin
g lanes. A mom
en
ta
ry
peek can be all
you need to avoi
d an
accident.
•• A truck with a badly packed or
unsecured load, or a car with a bulky
load on the roof rack – the load, or
part of it, may come adrift
•• A car containing active children and
pets – the driver may not be
concentrating on the road
•• A car with stickers on the windows,
piles of luggage, or a large number of
passengers – the driver’s vision is
probably obscured
•• A vehicle with a driver who does not
appear to be giving his full
attention to the road
Remember, if you cannot see the
mirrors of the vehicle in front of you,
that driver can’t see you!
the first line Defence is of at tack
e” driver when it
Always be a “defensiv
lists, and aggrescomes to children, cyc
unexpected. Plan
the
t
sive drivers: expec
t yourself and them
a “defence” to protec
they present.
against the dangers
for every single
It is vitally important
me older ones too!)
young driver (and so
ed driver training
to invest in an advanc
programme.
ssful Driving Skills
Ford’s globally succe
is a great option; it
for Life programme
d practical training
mixes classroom an
awareness of safe
to help increase the
d it won’t only
driving techniques. An
e driver; it will also
teach you to be a saf
l efficiency (think
help you improve fue
to your wallet) and
big time advantages
ions.
lower your CO2 emiss
guys and girls
for
rd
wo
e
on
Finally,
d then drive: No.
who love to party an
wer, and the stats
Your reactions are slo
alities resulting
show far too many fat
nvince us
co
to
from drunk driving
speeding. It
for
es
go
otherwise. Same
as simple as that.
kills. Don’t do it. It’s
ues
Avoid holiday bl
en planning a long
Wh
ay?
lid
ho
on
Going
fatigue. Turning
trip, be aware of driver
opening the
or
up the sound system
First Gear 53
window won’t work. Rather, get plenty of shut-eye. If
you feel drowsy, pull over for a nap, some fresh air or
physical activity (walk around the car several times).
Everyone knows that booze is a complete no-no and
that it must be avoided if you plan to spend time
behind the wheel. But bear in mind the fact that
over-the-counter drugs such as allergy pills and
muscle relaxants could also make you drowsy.
The Institute of Advanced Motorists
in the United Kingdom also offers
some other handy practical tips:
• Pack belongings securely – loose objects can be
distracting and, if the driver needs to brake
sharply, unsecured items could fly forward and
hit those sitting in front
• Where possible pack heavy items in the boot
• Don’t load your car until it’s ready to burst;
you will almost certainly obscure visibility.
You need to have a clear view of the road all the
time
• The driving seat should be adjusted to a safe
upright position and the heating/air-conditioning set to a cool – not cold – temperature
• Keep an eye on the fuel level to make sure you
don’t run dry. Running out of fuel on a motorway puts your safety at risk, and it will be very
expensive to call out help to top you up
• Check tyre pressures before setting off.
Tyres on a full and heavy car usually require
higher pressure
• Driving on unfamiliar roads can be unnerving.
Satellite navigation systems can help and enable the driver to re-route quickly and relatively
easily, but they can be expensive. It’s always
best to plan the journey before hitting the road,
using a map or online journey planner
54 First Gear
Remember:
• Do regular visual checks
• Lumps/bumps could mean internal
damage: remove and have an
expert check it
Rubber alert
Never under-estimate the importance of your tyres:
they are what keep you stuck to the road.
Always check the air pressure when the tyres are
cold – never during or immediately after a journey.
Check every two weeks and adjust when necessary.
The right pressures prevent unnecessary wear,
minimise excess fuel consumption and help avoid
potentially dangerous blow-outs.
• Tyres deteriorate with age. If
cracked, the rubber could be
perished. Remove and get
expert advice
• Keep your spare pumped and
primed for action. Check its
pressure regularly, especially
before long journeys
First Gear 55
50%
The percentage by which
road fatalities is expected to
rise in low and middle income
countries by 2020.
Cheap is not always best!
It’s sometimes tempting to buy counterfeit
or non-factory parts, because the
perception exists that they’re cheap. And
that’s sometimes true – they may be
cheaper than “the genuine thing”. But,
according to scientific studies (we’re not
just talking marketing puffery here), you
could end up endangering your life by
fitting one of these substandard
components to your car.
Ford Motor Company recently conducted
a series of low-speed crash tests, and
these revealed that aftermarket copy
structural parts absorb less crash energy
than genuine Ford structural parts and can
also result in unintended airbag
deployments. These fake parts are also
not properly crash tested by the seller of
the parts – so, in the event of an accident,
56 First Gear
you don’t know if they’re actually going to
work properly.
“Not all replacement vehicle parts are
created equal when it comes to safety,”
warns Paul Massie, Ford powertrain and
collision product marketing manager. “All
drivers should be aware that copy parts
can compromise the safety of their
vehicles.”
Copy aftermarket parts can end up
costing you big bucks if they result in
engine failure, or a mechanical breakdown.
But what is the actual difference
between a genuine part and a
counterfeit or non-factory component?
Unless you’re an expert in this field,
it’s hard to tell them apart –
because, to the naked eye, they
sometimes look fairly similar.
However, as Jill discovered when
she dated a drop-dead gorgeous
5
5
Five fast life-saving tips
• Take it easy at night. Young drivers have a high proportion of their
crashes at night
• Don’t drink and drive. And don’t accept a lift from someone who
has been drinking or might have taken drugs. Remember, some
over-the-counter medicines can also cause drowsiness
• Always use a hands free kit when talking on the phone while driving. And don’t text or surf the net. U.S. government research shows
the most dangerous distractions are those that take your eyes off
the road and hands from the wheel for an extended period of time
• Loud music, eating, drinking and smoking can distract you while
you’re driving
• Buckle up. Always. And get your passengers to do the same
man who turned out to be a complete
disappointment, looks can be deceiving.
“Aftermarket copy parts are often constructed
with substandard materials in order to be
marketed as a cheaper alternative to
authorised replacement parts,” explains Massie.
Sadly, counterfeit parts are rampant in the
aftermarket industry… so how do you avoid
using them inadvertently? “Always ask for and
insist on the installation of original equipment
factory parts. Your best chance to get ‘genuine’
factory parts is to have the vehicle serviced at a
factory dealer,” suggests Joseph Cueter,
operations manager for Ford’s Customer
Service Division, Asia Pacific and Africa.
Whatever you do, don’t take a chance… the
single most important thing is remaining safe
on the road.
First Gear 57 58 First Gear
CHAPTER 8:
Avoid fuel funk
First Gear 59
at it
news is th ve
d
o
o
g
e
h
till ha
ews. T
ive and s he bad
nd bad n
r
a
d
d
u
o
o
o
y
g
s
e
ear. T
save a
We hav
ssible to
d of the y
o
n
nly
p
e
y
e
ll
h
t
a
u
t
t
u would o
ay a
o
is ac
d
y
li
If
o
.
h
s
a
it
r
ft fo
g hab
d
money le
our drivin g about real Ran
y
d
n
a
–
ou
talkin
news is y
its, you’re
b
a
h
e
s
o
tweak th
ents.
not just c
savings,
Given the price of fuel these days, there are
tips galore on how to drive more fuelefficiently. But which ones really work and
how much can you save? Jamie
McCullough, cross carline feature and
technology manager, Ford Asia Pacific and
Africa, reveals the top ten winners.
1. Watch the aggression
Sudden acceleration and hard braking can
increase fuel consumption
by as much as 40 percent while toxic
emissions can be more than five times
higher. Studies have also shown that
changing lanes doesn’t result in
significantly reduced travel times, so stick
to your lane, and decrease fuel
consumption – and your blood
pressure.
Jack loves to accelerate
right up to the red light –
but is this really
necessary? Why not
ease off the
60 First Gear
accelerator from a distance? Were Jack to
use the car’s momentum to glide until it’s
green and accelerate moderately again, he
would save petrol – and brake pads.
consumption only minimally.
Don’t sweat it, but if it’s cool enough,
switch off the air conditioning, and possibly
save yet another 10 percent on fuel.
2. Slow and steady wins the race
Taking your speed down to 90 km/h from
105 km/h can improve your fuel
consumption by 10 to 15 percent, according
to the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency. Drive at low engine speeds, ideally
at 1,500 to 2,500 rpm to maximise fuel
economy. Why waste all that fuel – and
risk your safety and getting a ticket – just
to get there five minutes faster?
3. Use natural air conditioning
The verdict’s still out on this one as some
studies have found that turning the air
conditioning off may reduce fuel
First Gear 61
Slow down Jack!
Sudden acceleration and
hard braking increase fuel
consumption by five times!
4. Inflate your tyres
Under-inflated tyres increase resistance
and make it more difficult for the engine to
move the car along the road. These undernourished tyres can consume more fuel by
up to six percent. Check your owner’s
manual for optimal “pounds per square
inch” or PSI ratings. The U.S. Department
of Energy says that for every one PSI you
are under the optimal rate, you take 0.4
percent off your fuel economy.
5. Think light
You don’t need to store all 300 pairs of
your shoes in the boot! Clear out all the
magazines, shoes, golf clubs and clothes
that are in your car and you’re off to a
slimmer fuel bill. Remember, an extra 48
kg of weight can add two percent to your
62 First Gear
fuel consumption. As greenyour.com notes:
“Lightening your car’s load may take a
chunk out of your day, but you’ll be saving
money – and the environment – in the long
run.” So adopt a minimalistic approach and
get rid of all the junk and clutter.
Remember: a light car equates to a happy,
less thirsty car.
6. Oxygen needed
Cars do not run on just fuel. They need
oxygen too. If air flow is restricted by a
clogged air filter (and your engine cannot
breath as a result), the car’s performance
and fuel economy will suffer. It’s been
estimated that you can save eight percent
each time you fill up your tank by replacing
a bad air filter.
7. Get tuned in
An improperly tuned engine hurts fuel
consumption by an average of 4.1 percent,
according to U.S. government studies. A
properly working oxygen sensor is most
important to fuel economy and can
increase or decrease your efficiency by as
much as 40 percent.
8. Regular’s good
Unless your vehicle is specifically tailored
to take advantage of the higher octane
level in the premium fuel, you’re potentially
wasting money. Go by what is
recommended in your owner’s manual.
40%
Your fuel bill can rise by this percentage
if your car doesn’t have a properly
working oxygen sensor.
Regular or premium?
Save money by using the type of fuel recommended in your
owner’s manual. The difference between regular and premium, other than the price, is the octane rating. Now, the rating doesn’t indicate how much power the fuel delivers. But
a higher octane rating means the fuel is less likely to cause
your engine to knock.
Knock, or detonation, happens when part of the fuel-air
mixture in one or more of your car’s cylinders ignites spontaneously due to compression, independent of the combustion initiated by the spark plug. Instead of a controlled burn,
you get the equivalent of an explosion – certainly not good
for your engine. To avoid this, high-octane gas is formulated
to burn slower than regular.
First Gear 63
9. Training pays dividends
Still not sure how to change your driving
habits? Then what about enrolling in Ford’s
Driving Skills for Life programme? The
training combines classroom teaching and
practical driving sessions to help you be a
safer and more eco-friendly driver.
10. Buy a greener car
And, if after all that, you’re still unwilling or
unable to change your driving habits, there
is still one more option left – buy a fuelefficient car. This may or may not be a
hybrid; there are now lots of regular cars on
our roads that boast terrific fuel economy.
Saving money at the pump is not rocket
science; it just takes making small changes
to the way you drive. Look at all the tips,
pick one, and go save the world.
There are lots of ways
that cars are becoming
more economical.
So, if you want to cut your fuel bill, look out
for these features:
Smart gearboxes
We all know that a manual gearbox is
generally (but not always) less thirsty than
an automatic transmission. But what if
there’s a way of mating the best of both
64 First Gear
worlds? Ford’s PowerShift technology
essentially does that with its six-speed
double-clutch gearbox and cuts fuel
consumption by as much as nine percent.
Green tyres
Tyre manufacturers are developing low
rolling resistance tyres – which means a
I don’t need
to carry that much.
Save energy!
lower fuel bill at the end of the day. Put
simply, with these tyres, there is less
friction. In other words, they roll down the
road more easily. This is a very big deal;
energy is wasted all the time thanks to a
build-up of heat between tyres and the
road.
Improved powertrains
Globally, Ford is making an unprecedented
investment in new engine and transmission components – all because it seeks
to improve fuel economy. By 2015, for
instance, it plans to increase car and truck
fuel economy by more than 35 percent
thanks to powertrain advancements.
Small is big
Car manufacturers the world over are
downsizing – and Ford is no exception.
“We’re changing from a company focused
mainly on trucks and SUV’s to a company
with a balanced product line-up that
includes even more high-quality, fuelefficient small cars, hybrids and all-electric
vehicles,” says Mark Fields, Ford’s President
of The Americas. “As customers move to
more fuel-efficient vehicles, we’ll be there
with more of the products they really
want.”
First Gear 65
66 First Gear
:
9
R
E
T
P
A
CH
Tech talk
You don’t need to be a mechanic or a
mechanical engineer in order to keep your
hot hatch or snazzy sedan in tip-top
running condition. But you do need to
understand a couple of technical basics…
The first is this: you simply must have
your car serviced regularly – much like
your scheduled dental appointment; it’s
silly to allow your car to miss a service.
Your car is a big investment and it makes
sense to treat it with tender loving care.
So check the owner’s manual, which will
specify servicing intervals – and then
stick to them. Remember, it’s also much
cheaper in the long run to maintain your
car properly rather than to wait for it to
break, and then fix it.
While your car is under warranty, you
must take it to an authorised dealer.
Taking it elsewhere is just plain nuts.
Which you don’t want. It’s also a good
idea to go to an authorised dealer
because they have all the necessary
equipment to work on your car.
Jill learnt this the hard way: she
spotted a bargain basement deal on a
service – what a nightmare that turned
out to be. Yes, the service cost next to
nothing – but she ended up having
endless hassles with her car because the
workmanship was substandard.
In days gone by, cars were very simple
and no complex equipment was needed.
That couldn’t be further from the truth
today. For example, your car’s engine is
quite likely controlled by an Electronic
Control Unit (or ECU) and, if the engine is
First Gear 67
If you run an engine without oil,
it can seize – which, in
non-technical terms, means it
literally curls up and dies!
not running optimally, the dealer may
need to hook up sophisticated diagnostics equipment and run specialised
software in order to fix the problem.
It makes sense to service via an
authorised dealer as this will boost the
value of your car when the time comes
to sell. It is common knowledge that the
resale value of your car can be improved
if you have it serviced at an authorised
dealer and your service book is stamped.
Remember to check that the dealer has
not forgotten to stamp your book!
68 First Gear
Also, when you do business with an
authorised dealer, you know that certain
standards are maintained. Notes Joseph
Cueter, operations manager for Ford’s
Customer Service Division, Asia Pacific
and Africa: “Ford factory trained
technicians know your Ford vehicle best
and can advise you on how to protect
and care for your car with regularly
scheduled maintenance.”
But you cannot relinquish all
responsibility to the dealer. You need to
take charge of some basic bits and pieces
too: there are some rudimentary duties
that you can perform to ensure that your
car operates efficiently.
Engine
Popping open the bonnet or hood will
often tell you… exactly nothing! That’s
because, with many modern cars, the
engine is obscured by plastic covers
which prevent you from tampering with
technical components.
First Gear 69 ?
But
there
are some
things you
should check,
and the two most important items are
oil and water levels. Your car’s engine
simply cannot survive without these
two liquids. It’s also a good idea to
check the level of windscreen washer
fluid as well as the brake and power
steering fluid. Don’t know where to find
these? All is revealed in your owner’s
manual. If you read the manual and
you’re still clueless as to their location,
stick your pride in your pocket and pop
over to the dealer, who will explain all.
But firstly the all-important oil. The
Department of Transport in South
70 First Gear
Africa recommends that you check the
oil level while your car is parked on a
level surface. Start the engine, let it run
for a short while, and then turn it off.
While your engine’s still warm, remove
the dipstick, and wipe it clean with a
lint-free rag. The dipstick is normally
pretty easy to find. It’s that long, flexible
rod normally near the front of the
engine compartment – and it often has
an orange hoop at the top. Be careful
to reinsert the dipstick fully, otherwise
you’ll get a false reading.
Remove the dipstick again and check
the oil level. If it’s reading low, top up
your oil using the correct grade as
recommended by the vehicle
manufacturer. Very important: if no oil
shows on the dipstick, do NOT run your
engine! If you run an engine without oil,
it can seize – which, in non-technical
terms, means it literally curls up and
dies!
Check the radiator coolant level in the
plastic reservoir – it should be between
the high and low marks. Never ever
check your coolant level when the
radiator is hot (this could lead to nasty
burns). This is one of the most common
vehicle-related accidents; it happens
around the world almost on a daily
basis, simply because car owners are
unaware of the associated dangers. It is
vitally important that you heed this
advice.
5
Tyres
Don’t forget those bits of black rubber!
The tyres on your car are safety critical
items. So it’s really important to keep
them in peak condition.
This means sticking to the correct tyre
pressures and, once again, this will be
stipulated in the owner’s manual and/or
on the inside of the door. Look for uneven
tyre wear and nails in the tread. Inspect
the sidewall for cuts and bubbles.
In the tyre tread you will find places
where there is a small rubber bridge
– this is called a tyre tread indicator.
When this segment of rubber is the
same depth as the tread you should
replace the tyre.
Some age-old snippets of advice are nothing
more than maintenance myths. Here are five
common fallacies:
• You should change your car’s oil every
three months. This isn’t necessary. Synthetic
oils don’t break down so rapidly. Check your
owner’s manual and be guided by its
recommendations
• You need to let your vehicle engine warm
up in cold weather. Not true. The engine
warms up while you drive. Running your car any
longer beforehand is just a waste of fuel
• Premium fuel is a treat for your car. Wrong!
Unless your vehicle is specifically tailored to
take advantage of the higher octane level in
the fuel, you’re wasting your money. Use what
is recommended in your owner’s manual
• The number listed on the sidewall of your
tyre is the recommended tyre pressure.
False! In most cases, this is actually the maximum pressure allowed for that tyre. The recommended pressure is usually listed on the
inside door panel – check your owner’s manual
to be sure
• Buy fuel in the morning and you’ll save
money. When someone tells you to fill up in
the morning when fuel is coolest and most
dense (because fuel is sold by volume), just tell
them they’re talking nonsense. The belief was
you would get more fuel for your buck. But fuel
is housed in underground, non-metallic tanks
and they aren’t that sensitive to sunlight
First Gear 71
Legal requirements differ from
country to country but, according to the
Automobile Association (AA) a minimum
tread depth of 1.6 mm is required. It
recommends a minimum of 2 mm for
road safety reasons. It is extremely
important to have enough tread on your
tyres: without enough tread, tyres cannot
do their jobs.
Remember to always check the inflation of your spare tyre. We recommend
that you keep an emergency tyre sealant
– it’s often referred to as a “tyre bomb”
canister – in your boot. This handy tyre
sealant inflator re-inflates a flat tyre in a
minute or two. It cannot be used for a
sidewall puncture (this is a puncture in
the side of the tyre).
If your tyres show uneven wear patterns, get the wheel alignment checked.
Lights
Check that all your lights work properly.
Get a friend to stand outside your car
and help you check your park lights, high
and low beams, indicators, brake lights
and fog lights. Unless you have some
mechanical ability, do not attempt to
replace faulty globes or bulbs (it’s a
tricky job; you could end up damaging
the expensive plastic clips that form part
of the lights).
Windscreen and wiper blades
If your windscreen is chipped – do not
leave it. It’s very important that you have
maximum visibility on the road.
Clean the wiper blades with a rag
dipped in household detergent regularly.
It’s not vitally important to use fancy
windshield washer fluid – a few drops of
dishwasher detergent mixed with water
will do the job perfectly. If, in wet
weather, your wiper blades leave lines
and do not clean the windscreen
properly, this means it’s time to change
them. These are readily available from
your local spares shop. They will most
probably even help you fit them – it’s a
five-minute job. So you don’t need to go
to the dealer and pay for this service.
Brakes
The brakes are seriously important
components! That’s because they can
keep you from becoming another road
statistic! So, if you suspect you may have
a problem with your brakes, attend to
this immediately.
72 First Gear
There are many things that impact on
good braking, and firstly you need to
understand what is wrong. Is the brake
pedal spongy (this means the brake
pedal is not solid when depressed, but
bounces softly)? Does the car tend to
pull to one side under braking? Can you
hear an unusual grinding sound?
If the answer to any of these questions
is yes, go to the dealer or an approved
brake fitment centre. And ask them to
sort it out now!
Shock absorbers
These nifty devices (which you cannot
see unless you look under the wheel
arch) are part of the suspension. They
work in conjunction with the wheel
spring. They are responsible for the road
holding and handling characteristics of
your car so they’re also pretty important
to your car’s (and your) wellbeing.
You cannot replace or repair the
shocks yourself; this must be done by
the dealer. But you can certainly check if
they’re functioning optimally. The best
way of doing this is by getting a strong
person to push down independently on
each corner of the car and then suddenly
release the downward pressure. The car
should lift to its normal ride height
position at a uniform rate – if it bobs up
and down a few times, chances are good
that your shocks are faulty.
First Gear 73 CHAPTER 10:
SOS
Much like having a best friend, owning a car is
a fun experience – generally speaking. Alas,
things can go wrong. You and your friend can
have an argument. With your car, things can
easily be as traumatic: you can break down
and end up stranded on the side of the road.
You can have an accident. Or your car could be
hijacked or get stolen. But follow our trusty
survival guide and you stand a good chance of
avoiding those motoring nightmares.
74 First Gear
Scenario number one: The breakdown
We’ve all heard horror stories about
people breaking down and it always
happens in the dead of night on a
quiet road. In reality, a breakdown
isn’t normally that stressful; there is
often a knight in shining armour to
lend a helping hand (or, failing that
romantic prospect, an auto club).
But it’s still a traumatic affair – so
there are a couple of steps that you
can take to prevent this happening
in the first place.
The first is keeping your vehicle in
tip-top running condition. Your
owner’s manual will stipulate
precisely how often your car needs
to be serviced. Don’t ignore these
guidelines; cars are like relationships
– they need attention. You must
adhere to those service intervals
anyway, because if you fail to do so,
your car’s warranty may not cover
any subsequent repairs.
Secondly, get to know your car –
and especially those pesky lights on
the dashboard. If they do light
up, you need to know what they
stand for. Once again, all this
information will be in your owner’s
manual. So read it!
First Gear 75
Two of the major causes of breakdowns
are fuel (a lack thereof) and a burst tyre.
Never ever allow your fuel to run to below a
quarter tank. And always ensure that your
tyres are in good condition and properly
inflated. “Wear and tear are the main
culprits behind flat tyres and blowouts.
When you fill up with fuel get into the habit
of checking your tyre pressure and tread at
the same time, and look to see if there is
anything, such as a nail or piece of glass,
which is sticking in the tread but hasn’t
punctured the tyre yet,” Green Flag, a British
provider of breakdown cover, advises. Oh
and don’t forget to check the spare!
Check the oil and tyre pressures on your
car every time you refuel. Wash your car
yourself once a month – and, while you’re at
it, do a visual check on the general condition
of your tyres and lights.
Of course, even if you adhere to these
precautions, you could still break down – a
76 First Gear
mechanical item on your car could fail. You
need to be properly prepared, so consider
keeping some essential items in your car,
including:
•• Charger for your mobile telephone
•• Blanket
•• Bottle of water
•• First aid kit
•• Torch
•• Map
•• Matches
•• Energy bars
•• Wet wipes
•• Money (a secret stash of cash in the
boot)
•• Fire extinguisher
•• Reflective triangles
•• Jumper cables
•• Notebook and pen
•• Tyre bomb (tyre sealant canister)
Two of the major causes of
breakdowns are fuel (a lack
thereof) and a burst tyre.
Scenario number two: The accident
You may think you’re the world’s
greatest driver (and maybe you are).
Despite this, chances are good that you
will meet someone “by accident” one
day. So, what do you do if this happens?
Specific legislation varies from
country to country, but there are a
couple of “rules of thumb” that apply
the world over. If you do have an
accident, your first priority is to check to
see if anyone has been hurt. Then, you
need to exchange your details with the
driver of the other vehicle. “On a
practical level being involved in an
accident is a traumatic event. It is quite
easy to forget your responsibilities and
to act out of character,” comments Gary
Ronald, public affairs manager,
Automobile Association (AA) South
Africa. “However it is very important to
make sure that as the driver you obtain
as much information from the driver of
the other vehicle. Typically you would
need the other driver’s name and
address, identity number, make of
vehicle as well as the vehicle
registration number.”
Always keep a notebook and pen in
your glove box, in order to record these
details. Your mobile telephone is a really
handy tool: you can use it to
photograph the actual crash site. If you
don’t have a camera, a simple sketch
plan of the accident could prove to be
invaluable – especially if a court case
results from the collision.
An important word of advice: while
chatting to the other driver, stay calm
(shouting or boxing never helps the
situation). Always report the accident to
police within 24 hours.
The AA suggests that, if your vehicle
needs to be towed to a panel beater or
body repair shop, you should contact
your insurer and be guided by them as
to who to call to do the recovery and
where to take the vehicle. Always obtain
a reference number.
First Gear 77
78 First Gear Scenario number three
: The theft
It happens every single day som
ewhere
in the world: a car is stolen. It’s
a
horrible feeling: emerging from
the mall
only to find our much-loved set
of
wheels gone. But you can ado
pt some
preventative measures to min
imise the
chances of your car going mis
sing.
The first tip is the most obvious
: lock
your car! Incredibly, lots of peo
ple still
don’t do this… with disastrous
consequences! For instance, Prin
cess
Beatrice of England had her car
stolen
after she left the keys in the igni
tion.
Locking your car won’t only min
imise
the chances of it being stolen;
it will
also reduce the chance of som
eone
hiding in the back seat when you
return.
It’s a sad fact of life that, in Sou
th
Africa, vehicle theft is common
place.
Bearing this mind, we asked the
South
African Police Service for som
e tips to
help minimise vehicle theft. The
men
and women in uniform suggest
the
following:
•• Park in well-lit areas
•• Lock all the doors and make
sure the
windows are all closed
•• Fit an alarm and immobiliser
if your
car doesn’t already have one
•• Fit locks to your wheels so they
can’t
be stolen
•• Leave nothing visible in your
car
•• Be aware of your surrounding
s at all
times
•• Avoid stopping in remote area
s
If you live in a country where veh
icle
theft is commonplace, a tracking
device
is a good idea.
is more
from the car. Your life
r: ou
mber f
ssessions
nu
po
Scenario
valuable than your
lift
ng
a
rs
cki
The hija
•• Never give strange
t of vehicle
ec
sp
pro
ur route
the
yo
is
h
r
wit
rie
r
Even sca
•• Become familia
n involve
ca
s
thi
e
us
trip
ca
be
,
the
rt
ng
hijacki
before you sta
ain, we turned to
in your hand as
personal risk. Once ag
Have your keys ready
•
•
in
ls
gir
d
an
ys
bo
r, especially if
the South African
you approach your ca
at
wh
is
s
thi
d
an
e,
d in your
uniform for advic
they are difficult to fin
:
nd
to buy a leash,
they recomme
handbag. It’s possible
to work and
vel
tra
u
yo
ur handbag
te
yo
rou
to
•• Vary the
which is attached
ble
ssi
ate your keys
po
is
loc
s
to
thi
sy
if
back,
and makes it ea
at
or
ar
ne
tering
rking attendants
•• If strangers are loi
•• Parking lots with pa
rt
ale
d
an
st
pa
st
your driveway, drive
or supervision are be
y or police
leave enough
ays
alw
,
hts
your security compan
lig
•• At traffic
y
ma
s
ist
ion
ort
ext
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•• Car hijackers or
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Leave everything be
First Gear 79 80 First Gear
CHAPTER 11:
Bling it on
Jill’s not happy. Jack is fixated about
customising his new (pre-loved) car.
To be honest, apart from the costs,
she’s worried he’ll go completely over
the top and she’ll have to endure the
embarrassment of driving around in
a bling-mobile.
He’s been looking at wild and wonderful
options, ranging from a mild engine
modification and some chroming here and
there, to outrageous ideas like spinners on
purple ostrich-skin styled wheels to
coloured body foils – with 150 colour
choices, from gloss and matte finishes to
glitter, chrome and metallic. Seeing Jack is
pretty much colour-blind, it’s a given, thinks
Jill, that the end result will be quite
terrifying.
The reason for his insane desire? His
buddy’s just come back from a trip to
Dubai, where OTT (over-the-top) is the
order of the day. Also, Jill’s convinced that
once he’s changed the look of the car,
despite spending a whole heap of money
on it, the resale value will drop.
She’s dug out some ammunition for her
argument, quoting Wissam Azhari, founder
and owner of the Foil-a-car concept in the
Middle East and Europe. He had said the
First Gear 81
colour foils (which Jack wanted) are a
better choice than paint. “The biggest
advantage is they can be very easily
removed. As most clients change their
colour as a fashion statement, this is a
good option. With a paint job you will lose
on the resale value and to repaint will cost
you twice as much. In fact, with high-end
super cars, the second you start playing
with original paint finishing you lose about
20 to 35 percent of the car.” He added that
customising a car might be a nice option
for when you sell, but it didn’t always
increase the value. And while auto-styling
could add value, it often boils down to
taste. “If you do something that’s pretty far
out, it’s a matter of taste and is worth
whatever someone wants to pay for it.”
Incidentally, always remember the laws
for customising your car vary from country
to country. This even applies to issues such
as how dark you can tint your windows.
Being a typical guy, Jack did endless
research on what he could do to his car
and what other guys who have done it
Top Tip
Don’t ever accessorise your car in
such a way that you impact on road
safety. For instance, don’t mess with
the tail lights by fitting tail light
guards. It is vitally important that
your car’s tail lights are visible to
fellow road users – otherwise they
won’t know when you plan to slam
on the anchors. If ever in doubt, go
and have a chat with your car dealer.
82 First Gear
Fast facts
Don’t ever mess with the electrics of
the vehicle
Check that accessories don’t impact
on the warranty of your car
Chat to your dealer and ask for
independent advice before fitting
something weird and/or wonderful
Don’t even consider an accessory that
impacts on safety
Always consider resale value when
accessorising your car
have to say. In the end, he decided maybe
he’d just put a subtle colour foil on the car,
fit fat 20-inch rims, chrome some fittings,
drop the suspension, slap on a rear spoiler,
order a custom built exhaust, and fit a
racing steering wheel. “Why stop there?”
asked Jill grumpily. “Why not stick TV sets
in the headrests and put fur on the
dashboard as well…”
Actually, she’d had no idea of the choices
available to “pimp your ride”. From chrome
beading to boot spoilers to bonnet scoops
– even chromed skull cup holders! And
tailpipes and mufflers and woofers and
sub-woofers and performance dumpvalves and goodness knows what else.
So she devised a plan: Jack should sit
down, make a list of what he wanted – and
another of what he could afford.
After much deliberation, it was agreed
he’d save bucks by buying sticker decals
20 to 30?
The percentage by which
the value of your car can
decline if you mess with the
original paint finishing.
and asking a buddy to help him fit a supersized stereo system and some sub woofers;
if she paid half for the new tailpipe (his
birthday was coming up), and his brother
threw in some cash for (lightly) tinted
windows as a birthday gift.
Peace reigned once again in the house of
Jack and Jill.
First Gear 83
84 First Gear
CHAPTER
Green, green
cars of home
First Gear 85
Caring for the environment is no longer just a hip thing to
do – it’s become a necessary duty. While one of the best
ways to fulfil our responsibility is to make sure we drive
more fuel-efficiently, the easier way out might just be to
buy a “green car”.
Now, a green car might evoke images of an
ugly battery-operated toy car. But actually,
a vehicle is “green” as long as it uses less
fossil fuel and produces fewer carbon
dioxide emissions than the average car.
With innovative technology, conventional
petrol or diesel autos, hybrid vehicles,
electric vehicles, or cars that use biofuels
can all carry the “green” label.
So which vehicle is best for you if you
want to do your part for the planet? Read
on…
Petrol lifts its game
Automakers have gone the extra mile to
make conventional petrol vehicles more
fuel-efficient than before. They have made
the car body lighter and used technologies
such as turbocharging to deliver the same
amount of power with fewer cylinders.
The good: Such vehicles are readily available
and don’t cost more.
The bad: Petrol engines generally emit
around 10 per cent more carbon dioxide than
diesel.
Modern diesel
Think diesel, and the first thing that springs
to mind might be the sputtering old bus
spewing black fumes across town. But
many modern diesel engines come with a
particulate trap to help prevent emissions of
sooty particulates. Diesel engines are also
often more economical than petrol engines;
that’s why they emit less CO2. And new
“common rail” diesel motors consistently
top fuel economy rankings.
The good: In some countries, diesel is
cheaper than petrol so you save at the pump.
The bad: A diesel vehicle is usually more
expensive than the petrol version of the
same model. They can sometimes be more
costly to maintain too.
Petrol-electric hybrids
A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) runs on a
combination of a conventional petrol engine
and an electric motor powered by batteries.
It works on the principle that the electric
motor provides the power at low speeds
such as urban driving but switches to petrol
86 First Gear
for driving at higher speeds.
The batteries are recharged while driving.
Hybrids also use regenerative braking,
where the vehicle’s kinetic energy is
converted and put back into the battery,
instead of being wasted as heat energy
as in conventional brakes.
Many HEVs also reduce idle emissions
by shutting down the petrol engine at idle
and restarting it when needed. This is
known as a Start/Stop system. With all
these technologies, hybrids boast
impressive fuel-efficiency figures as well as
big reductions in CO2 emissions. However,
they only really achieve maximum economy
benefits in built-up areas where they run
primarily on electric rather than petrol.
The good: Running costs can be two-thirds
that of equivalent petrol vehicles.
The bad: The price tag can be very high.
First Gear 87
Battery-electric vehicles
BEVs, as they are called, use a battery and
electric motor to power the vehicle, so they
have no emissions at the point of use. Due
to the capacity of the battery, their range is
normally limited to less than 100 km
between charges, which means they are
really suitable only for city-dwellers.
Top five ways to go
green… without
breaking the bank
Choose a car that has
better-than-average fuel economy
Go for a car that emits less CO2
Pick a car that can run on biofuel
Consider the content. Automakers
are increasingly using eco-friendly
materials in the interiors
Buy a car that is built by an
automaker which is truly committed
to the environment
88 First Gear
Electric vehicles can be recharged by
plugging them into an existing electrical
socket. However, they are only truly “green”
if they are recharged with electricity from
renewable sources such as wind farms or
the sun. Moreover, if the batteries are lead
or cadmium-based, there will be a serious
pollution problem if they are not properly
disposed of at the end of their life.
The good: No tailpipe emissions
The bad: Limited range and a lack of a
public infrastructure for charging can mean
you get stranded out on the roads.
Once you have a good idea of which
green vehicle is most suitable for you,
the other thing to look out for is the
automaker’s commitment to the
environment. In the same way that you
probably won’t buy a pair of shoes
because it’s made in some sweat shop
using child labour, you wouldn’t want to
invest in a vehicle that is built by
automakers that don’t care two hoots
about the planet.
First Gear 89
uestions
Here are some q you pick
s
to think about a
the automaker:
has it made to
• What promises
ficiency, lower
increase fuel ef
l
prove operationa
emissions and im
sustainability?
has it been in
• How successful
e promises?
keeping to thos
s “green”?
• Are its factorie
sustainas been publishing a
For example, Ford ha
nual report
an
ch
past 11 years. Ea
bility report for the
de in five
ma
s
ha
y
the compan
details the progress
mobility,
ange, fuel economy,
key areas: climate ch
refl
o ects a
human rights. It als
vehicle safety and
earlier
in
de
promises ma
commitment to fulfil
reports.
a better
siness and building
“Creating a strong bu
essential
are
ey
icting goals – th
world are not confl
e
Su
ys
sa
”
ss,
term succe
ingredients for longbility,
ina
sta
Su
,
nt
ide
es
Pr
Vice
ion
Cischke, Ford Group
vis
ur
“O
fety Engineering.
Environment and Sa
is
at
th
n
tio
rta
ble transpo
,
is to provide sustaina
lly
cia
so
–
rd
wo
e
sense of th
affordable in every
d economically.”
environmentally an
90 First Gear
What is a plug-in hybrid?
What do you get when you cross a HEV and a BEV?
You get a PHEV, or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.
Think of it as a conventional hybrid electric vehicle
with the ability to recharge its batteries by plugging
into an electric socket. Plug-ins run on the stored
energy for the days’ driving and when the charge is
used up, they automatically keep running on the
fuel in the fuel tank. A person whose daily driving
distance is shorter than the car’s electric range
would never have to dip into the fuel tank. At the
same time, the petrol engine is a safety blanket for
those who are anxious over the lack of charging
stations on long drives.
Pick a company that cares
When buying a new car, consider the manufacturer
and its approach to the environment. Some companies really do care; others purely focus on profits and
turnover.
For instance, Ford has long adopted a leading role
in this regard. As Derrick Kuzak, Group Vice President
of Product Development, Ford Motor Company,
notes: “Ford is determined to take a leadership
position on fuel consumption and CO2 emissions,
and optimising efficiency has been an absolute
priority. By making new technologies like our Ford
EcoBoost engines and Ford Auto-Start-Stop widely
available, we are making a significant step forward
in reducing the environmental impact of our
products.”
Top up with algae?
All around the world scientists are working on using
biomass to produce future biofuels… and Ford’s
scientists are eyeing algae in this regard. “Algae
have some very desirable characteristics as a
potential biofuel feedstock and Ford wants to
show its support of any efforts that could lead to a
viable, commercial-scale application of this technology,” says Sherry Mueller, research scientist,
Ford Motor Company.
Ford is very supportive of the increased availability
of biofuels and biofuel blends from diverse and
sustainable sources. “We recognise the important
contribution that biofuels could make toward a
more sustainable future and improved energy
security,” says Jim Anderson, technical expert, Ford
Motor Company.
First Gear 91
Notes
92 First Gear
UL TOOL FOR ANY CAR
THE SINGLE MOST USEF
a car as a minefield
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Enter First Gear, the single
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BUYER
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First Gear •
Everything you need to know about your first car