We Treat Our Cars Like Our Bad Exes Treated Us
Ladies, this week we’re talking about how we treat our cars. Do you have a good relationship with your vehicle? Let’s find out! Read more...
Do quarantine and stay-at-home orders have you sipping wine at noon, wearing out your socks from trips to the refrigerator to see if something magically appears, going from freaked out to totally over it in the same day? Maybe your an essential employee and going nuts trying to keep up our country going, while staying safe and telling people to wear a mask.Either way, I’m sure you are looking for something NEW to occupy your mind and time (I am). Like learning about your car? Not only will this blog get your mind off of COVID, it will save you money and time with your car. I’m writing a series of car care tips of basic knowledge every driver should know, especially women! This is the second installment. Last week’s blog can be found here.
Change the Relationship You Have With Your Car
Before we do anything with our cars we must change our relationship and how we feel about them. If we think cars and car information is just for men or just for people who like cars and understand how mechanics work, we are short-changing ourselves! We don’t have to be an expert, auto engineer or mechanic to have a car that treats us well. All we have to do is be a great friend/boyfriend/girlfriend to our cars!
We’ve all felt the frustration of a difficult relationship that doesn’t fulfill our needs. But it’s rarely a one-way street. You get what you give, and the same goes for your car: Do right by your ride and it will do right by you. That means you have to treat your car like you would want a significant other or family member to treat you. It’s time to turn your car from a frenemy into your new best friend. #friendgoalsWhat do I mean by this? Let’s explore what makes a good relationship. I like to call them the three Cs: Commitment, Communication, Consistency.Let's start with commitment. We want our partners to be committed to us and a future life we plan to build. When we marry, we say vows to seal our commitment. Well, the same rules apply for our cars. If you want your car to commit to getting you from point A to B safely, I urge you to renew the commitment with your car. Your car is your baby, and you hereby pledge to care for it, in sickness and in health. You commit to providing for your car as needed, to the best of your ability.Commitment, often, also means no cheating! Do you cheat on your car with different mechanics? Stop seeing other people! A good relationship demands loyalty, and loyalty to your car means loyalty to a quality mechanic and a high standard of care. THE BIGGEST MISTAKE WOMEN MAKE WITH THEIR CARS IS SHOP HOPPING. There’s little to be gained from hopping around from mechanic to mechanic in search of deals or for convenience’s sake. You need a PCT or a primary care technician. We'll talk more about PCTs and how to find one in the coming weeks.Poor communication is the number one relationship killer—and the same goes for your relationship with your car. Today, I’m not sure if there is anything more frustrating than a significant other who doesn’t validate our feelings. A friend/partner who ghosts us by not replying back to our calls or messages makes us feel inadequate. We are looking for some type of communication to show they care, but alas, we must assume they fell into a black hole of dating only to be found 3 months later when they really need something, like a booty call or some advice.How many of us treat our car this way? We only pay attention to it when we really need it. Our cars are constantly communicating with us through noises, smells, vibrations. Also they have a main communication center to talk to us, OUR DASHBOARD lights.Be a good listener! You hang out in your car more days than not, and sometimes for hours. You know when something feels, sounds, smells, or looks unusual. That’s your car talking to you telling you something is wrong. Don’t ignore your car when it’s communicating, whether by speaking to you directly (through the dashboard light) or by making unusual noises, emitting suspicious odors, or noticeably vibrating.Consistency is key to a lasting relationship. Inconsistency in partnerships leave us feeling scared, inadequate and we often make irrational decisions. Consistently maintaining our cars (before they break down and need expensive repairs) is our most important task as a shecanic. How do we know what consistency our cars need? BY KNOWING OUR CARS!KNOW YOUR CAR. We want our partners to like and know about us on the inside! They should know our best features, our worst ones, what we like to eat, what we like to listen to, what makes us smile and what makes us mad. We want our feelings, likes and dislikes, and quirks and idiosyncrasies to be understood and accepted. Our partners should know our LOVE LANGUAGE.
Ladies, how well do we know our cars? Do you know the year, make, and model? That may seem easy but how about your VIN? Do you know when to change the oil, how many and what type of oil your car needs? Do you know the gas your engine is designed for? When should you change your car’s filters and belts? Do you know your car's LOVE LANGUAGE.What we desire the most in our close relationships is to be known. Surely, our partners will be prepared for any craziness that comes their way! Same for our cars. If you want less unpredictable breakdowns and problems or don’t want to spend $800 when you go in for an oil change, knowing your car and what it needs not only to live but to thrive is the most important part of the relationship. These lead us to our next two blogs: Know your Car’s Credentials and Follow Your Maintenance ScheduleNext week we will learn the most important tips and tricks for knowing our cars inside and out! Trust me, no over your head car talk and terminology!Everything here can be found in my book, The Girls Auto Clinic Glove Box Guide, the perfect book to go from AUTO AIRHEAD to SHECANIC! These tips will help you
Keep your car running in great condition.
Embrace your car and the auto mechanic instead of fear them.
Feel confident about the choices you make with your car.
Save $$ and TIME on car repair.
Talk to you soon. XOXO