Looking for advice on teaching women about cars - FFCars.com : Factory Five Racing Discussion Forum

wildswing · 10-19-2012, 03:33 PM

Ok, aside form the "you just can't" type tounge-in-cheek replies, which by the way are also welcome (I always enjoy a good laugh), I'm looking for some advice on teaching my daughter (25), who lives in another city, about her brand new car and how to take care of it. I want her to educate herself about her car.

A while back a mechanic advised her that her old car's rear drum brakes required cleaning ... for $300!!!! I told her to go back and ask, face to face, if that price included free inspection of the muffler bearing and blinker fluid? After explaining a little more, she agreed. She said they got the best "deer in the headlights" look, and then backpeddled. LOL!

She's visiting this weekend, so we've set aside Saturday afternoon as father-daughter "learn about the new car" car time.

Of course I plan to go over the basics like:

Read & understand your owners manual, cover to cover
how & why to check & top up fluids
how & why to check & top up tire pressure
cleaning & appearance care
changing a bulb
basic paint chip touch up
changing a tire [even though she has 3 yr roadside assistance, I want her to understand how]

We'll also be going to the auto parts store to pick up a bag full of basic car care goodies.

I'm going to recommend she check her local community college to see if they run any "cars for girls" night courses, although she'd probably have a hard time committing to something like that because she works evenings a lot.

Since she's financed it for 7 years, I've got her thinking about long term maintenance and care. Part of that will be a yearly visit to her local Krown Rust Control center for an oil spray, which I'll be paying for.

Any other suggestions? How about books or websites designed specifically to teach women about cars? I've googled but not a lot comes up.

watermoccasin · 10-19-2012, 04:06 PM

You might be starting 20 years late but you can certainly teach a lot even now.
Some questions they might consider asking are:
"Why"
"What will happen if I don't do that?"
"Is there a less expensive alternative?"

I used to own a boat dealership and it equipped my daughters to work with dealerships as they hung out and watched the mechanics and customers interact. Generally they do pretty well when their cars need service-- good thing as neither of their husbands are car guys.

Another help was 15 years of a Saturday date listening to Car Talk. They picked up a ton of info listening to that show.

BS · 10-19-2012, 04:22 PM

I think your list is pretty good already for good start on the basics. I would be careful not to try to give her too much information in one afternoon or it will all be for naught. Let her absorb that for awhile and when she starts asking questions about other things is the time to get a little more involved in the learning process.

One thing to teach her for sure, as you already have, is to watch for scams like the "brake cleaning". My wife went to a mechanic she thought was great until she came home one day and told me he mentioned her car (95 Blazer) needed a power steering fluid flush. After our discussion about that one, she found a new mechanic. Dealers are probably the worst, especially when it comes to women coming in for service so a little warning now goes a long way.

Bob

AC Bill · 10-19-2012, 04:37 PM

Hmm..a "brand new" car. Unfortunately the modern car has gotten to the point where even your average/good "car guy", can't do much work on them any more. Need a computer to tell you whats wrong with it.. Start poking around, and you might set off any one of it's eight air bags..

I think the basics you list on covering with her, are about right.
Women, (and in fairness, some guys), are often terrible at getting regular routine maintenance done, and at the correct mileage, and/or time intervals. This could also affect warranty. Warn her not to skip an oil change, just because it isn't convenient.

You might also want to show her how to properly hand wash, and wax a car (and at what intervals waxing should be done).
That alone could really help her re-sale down the road. So many people find it convenient to just go through a drive-thru car wash, which is tough on a finish.
Compare the same cars, one regularly hand washed and waxed, vs the drive-thru wash, in seven years. Want to bet which would look better to a prospective buyer, and garner the higher price?

mcmustang · 10-19-2012, 10:21 PM

While you are at the auto parts store, show her how they can diagnose a check engine light with their code reader. That alone could save her hundreds.

SloW8 · 10-20-2012, 02:51 AM

Teach her how to put the car in neutral while it is in motion. Tell her if it ever accelerates out of control to apply brakes as firmly as possible and don't let off till it stops and then put in neutral. Sounds dumb but that info would have saved several lives lately.

dv/dt · 10-20-2012, 03:48 AM

Park smart - saves on door dings/paint chips.

Before you try to teach her how to change a bulb try it yourself. Some of the new cars require you pull a lot of stuff others are pretty straight forward.

The panic button on the key fob doesn't do you any good in your purse or pocket.

Show her these videos:

TAC Campaign - 20 year Anniversary retrospective montage "Everybody Hurts" music by REM TV ad - YouTube

PSA Texting while Driving U.K. Ad [HD] - YouTube

MPTech · 10-20-2012, 04:47 AM

If she's going to take it back to the dealer or a dedicated oil service, find out what they check.
I've taken all of my cars and my kids cars (mine too) to Valvoline for service for many years, and they will check tires and fluids for you and top most off for nothing. They'll also change other fluids, trans, rear-end, coolant, etc. And most of the filters too. They'll also change most bulbs (turn signals, running, brakes, etc). These places can be reasonable and convenient.

Also, Autozone / NAPA / O'Rileys are good for replacing some items too. Windshield wipers and batteries, to name a couple items.

If you do teach her to change a flat, tell her not to attempt to stop on the highway! or stop and get clear of the car if it's parked on the shoulder. Too many idiots not paying attention and plow into parked cars!! (I taught my son and his Cub Scout pack to change a flat, when I was a leader. Would you believe he had a flat when he was heading to Florida for Spring Break and he was the only one in the car that knew how to change it!!?? I asked where he learned that and he said "Gee dad, you taught us in scouts. I was listening!!)

yankabilly · 10-20-2012, 10:40 AM

All good advice, especially MPTech. But to change the subject YOU could and IMHO should have taught her about smart finance. She has made two big mistakes for a young buyer. First never buy new. And never finance past 50% of the trade in value or 48 months. Even at the best rates I've seen (2.99apr) she'll pay for her new car two and one thirds (2.339 if math is right) times. I been told but not convinced that might be OK for some higher end cars like M3, A6, 400SLC, Avalon, but if She bought "just a car" like a Focus or a Cruze She'll be paying in year 6 and 7 for a car she can't sell for what she owes.

I'm not trying to be mean, I watched a nephew do the same thing about two years ago. Life at that age can change FAST, now He has a girlfriend/fiance a car that neither on of them like, no money for a house, and five more years to pay.

SORRY FOR THE RANT, Hoping your daughter the best.

dv/dt · 10-20-2012, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yankabilly

All good advice, especially MPTech. But to change the subject YOU could and IMHO should have taught her about smart finance. She has made two big mistakes for a young buyer. First never buy new. And never finance past 50% of the trade in value or 48 months. Even at the best rates I've seen (2.99apr) she'll pay for her new car two and one thirds (2.339 if math is right) times. I been told but not convinced that might be OK for some higher end cars like M3, A6, 400SLC, Avalon, but if She bought "just a car" like a Focus or a Cruze She'll be paying in year 6 and 7 for a car she can't sell for what she owes.

I'm not trying to be mean, I watched a nephew do the same thing about two years ago. Life at that age can change FAST, now He has a girlfriend/fiance a car that neither on of them like, no money for a house, and five more years to pay.

SORRY FOR THE RANT, Hoping your daughter the best.

The Ford Fiesta and Focus currently have 0% for 72 months. So there is a chance that whatever she bought had similar financing. You do lose as soon as you drive off the lot but the warranty/roadside assistance is worth some peace of mind.

Doug Meldrum · 10-20-2012, 07:54 PM

Remember, sometimes it doesn't stick.

I taught my kids the basics when i realized none of them inherited "The Knack" from me. Growing up, I thought it was just common sense the everyone knew how things went together...
Anyway, I get a call from my son after he did an "oil change" on his car. His question was, "when will it stop smoking"? Aaaaah!

After having him walk me through what he did i helped him realize you have to drain the old oil before you put 4 new quarts back in... I retrained him on the fine art of changing your oil and went over the basics again.

Cobra Cory · 10-21-2012, 01:29 PM

Some of the Vocational schools have a class designed just for women to learn about taking care of cars. Look up night classes.....

wildswing · 10-21-2012, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dv/dt

The Ford Fiesta and Focus currently have 0% for 72 months. So there is a chance that whatever she bought had similar financing.

Yes. It was a Mazda 3. About $22k CAD all in. 0% for 84 months.

Thanks for all the feedback fellas.

yankabilly · 10-22-2012, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dv/dt

The Ford Fiesta and Focus currently have 0% for 72 months. So there is a chance that whatever she bought had similar financing. You do lose as soon as you drive off the lot but the warranty/roadside assistance is worth some peace of mind.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildswing

Yes. It was a Mazda 3. About $22k CAD all in. 0% for 84 months.

Thanks for all the feedback fellas.

I stand corrected. I might even jump on a deal like that on the right SUV.

Genghis · 10-23-2012, 03:07 AM

If you have AAA, they might do something like this in your locality:

AAA Tidewater Virginia Offers FREE Car Care Seminars Especially for Women.

Girl's Garage is designed to acquaint participants with a vehicle's maintenance needs and how to perform basic checks on specific systems such as tires, brakes, fluids and lights. AAA Tidewater Virginia wants women to understand more about their cars, the benefits of having them properly maintained, and the warning signs of compromised systems and components. A well-maintained vehicle is both safer and more dependable.

Women attending the event will receive a thank-you bag that includes tire and depth gauges, a bottle of windshield washer fluid, coupons for service, assorted brochures and additional items with a total value of over $35.

Although the seminar is free, participants must pre-register

crash · 10-23-2012, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SloW8

Teach her how to put the car in neutral while it is in motion. Tell her if it ever accelerates out of control to apply brakes as firmly as possible and don't let off till it stops and then put in neutral. Sounds dumb but that info would have saved several lives lately.

Not that it is bad advice, but if you are refering to the Toyota incident here in San Diego that killed a CHP officer and his family then you are incorrect as both those manuvuers were attempted, or so I understand, and failed to stop the vehicle. It is far better to understand and practice in your head how to turn the engine off. I have done this twice with sticking throttles. It is no fun, and takes going over it before hand so that you are prepared when/if it happens, but it WILL stop the vehicle.

crash · 10-23-2012, 03:18 PM

MP-VERY good advice. I have a good friend that was nearly permanently paralyzed from stopping by the side of the road to check a load on his trailer. He was struck by a drunk driver in a truck going 80 MPH. He is lucky to be alive. Always ALWAYS drive off the highway and to a safe location, like a side street, gas station, or even an on ramp in a pinch, in order to work on your vehicle if at all possible. You may destroy a rim if you have a flat tire, but is that rim worth your life? It sure isn't to me.

I was just recently driving with someone cross country and she stopped to switch drivers on the gore point of an off ramp. I bit my tongue on that one, but, really, I could not think of a WORSE place to stop on the highway. Way too many idiots that try to make it to those off ramps at the last second. There IS a reason it is referred to as a "gore point".

QSL · 10-23-2012, 09:01 PM

easy, i just built a FF roadster with her. She is now the master!

dallas_ · 10-23-2012, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildswing

Of course I plan to go over the basics like:

Read & understand your owners manual, cover to cover

That may be the single best thing you can do. It's amazing how much information is in there and the vast majority of people never read it at all.

What's the saying, if all else fails, RTFM!