How often should you really wash your car?

Most car owners know when their car needs a wash, especially if ‘wash me’ is clearly visible through the dust. However, like routine car maintenance, regular washing may help the paint stay in good condition. Routine washing could even keep the car body from corroding, making it last longer.

Parking your car in a garage or under cover will keep it cleaner for longer than on the street. Where you live can also affect how often you wash your car. If you drive daily on unsealed roads, live near the beach or are in an area with high air contaminants such as pollen or smoke, you may need to wash your car weekly. 

Otherwise, you could get away with stretching out your car washes to every fortnight or three weeks.

How often you should wash your car comes down to a few factors

Weather

Dark colour cars can show salty spots. But, looking dirty is the least of your concerns. The salty air of Sydney’s Eastern suburbs and other areas up and down the coast can speed up corrosion and damage your car’s paint. 

Wind and smoke from backburning or bushfires can add a layer of dust on cars. While many think rain will clean the car, the droplets can mix with pollen or dust in the air, leaving dirty marks. It’s even worse for dark coloured cars.

The colour of your car

Some car colours hide the dirt better than others. That’s why some cars appear to get dirty quickly.

It’s probably no surprise that most Aussies prefer a white car, with 30 percent of us choosing this colour. But, just like anything white, it’s difficult to keep clean. Dirt and grime show up on white cars quicker than most other colours. 

But surprisingly, it’s black and dark coloured cars that look dirtier the quickest. Dirt, bird droppings, dust, pollen, and greasy substances are easily visible. Rain also leaves water marks on dark cars. To keep a dark coloured car looking clean, consider washing it weekly.

Almost 20 percent of Australians drive a silver car, which is a sensible choice for hiding dirt. Light blue is also good at looking clean for longer. 

Animals

If you live in an area with many birds or park under a nest, bird droppings can do more damage than simply looking ugly. Bird droppings and some tree saps contain acid, which eats away at paint. 

Dead bugs can leave a nasty mess on your car after a road trip. If not washed off, the sun can bake them onto the paint, making them harder to remove.

If you see signs of sap, droppings or dead insects on your car, don’t wait till your next car wash. Wash them off ASAP.

Is it possible to wash your car too much?

Overwashing may wear the paint down, giving it a dull sheen. This can also occur if you rub too vigorously on one spot. This shouldn’t occur if you use the right products.

If you’re considering purchasing a car that’s easier to keep clean, contact us. We can discuss your needs and find the right car for you.

Simca: A Forgotten Marque?

The first car I ever owned was a Simca. Before I owned it, I had never heard of the marque, and my dad, who had helped me find this set of wheels to get me to a summer job, described it as the French equivalent of a VW Beetle or a Mini.  After that summer of using the Simca to get to my holiday job, I ended up selling it and using the money to buy a fridge, which I needed for my new flat. I have never heard or seen any other Simcas since then. Needless to say, there is that part of me that, now that I have left my student days well behind me and am probably officially middle-aged, is kicking myself for selling it (the fridge is also long gone). Especially as now, it would be worth a lot more than a refrigerator, given that would have been a fairly rare classic car. The same could probably be said by most of us about our student cars.

I cannot remember the model of Simca that I owned.  However, a quick crawl through the range of images online suggests that it was probably a 1000 or 1100. Given that the engine was at the front (I remember almost ritually checking up the fluids every week on a Thursday, opening the bonnet to do so), I can therefore conclude that it was a 1100, as the 1000 had a rear engine, like a VW Beetle.

Simca 1100 – a wee trip down memory lane for me.

I have noticed blank looks similar to mine when I start talking about my first car. “Who makes that?” is quite a common question. As it would be nice to have a nice article to direct these dinner party guests to, I thought I’d put together a bit about Simca, what they made and what happened to them.

My father had called the Simca the French equivalent of the Beetle or Mini. He would have done better to say that Simca was the equivalent of the Fiat Bambina or Fiat 500.  This is because the company, originally known as “Société Industrielle de Mécanique et Carrosserie Automobile” (that’s French for “Mechanical and Automotive Body Manufacturing Company”) was founded by Fiat in 1934 so they could outsource the production of their 508 and 518 models.  Then World War 2 happened and Simca nearly went under, especially because of its Italian roots, and the Italians (under Mussolini’s Fascists) had been rather pally with the Nazis who had occupied France during the war. However, the company won a contract to repair US Army Jeeps, which put them on a sound financial footing.

For the next two or three decades, Simca grew slowly, although they were overshadowed by the better-known French marques, Renault, Citroen and Peugeot, especially Renault. However, it was successful in its home country, with the 1100 being one of the most popular cars in France by the late 1970s. Simcas were manufactured in a number of countries, including Australia, which is probably where the one I owned was made. The company also managed to take over the Talbot-Lago brand, with several Simca models also being sold with Talbot badging.

However, Simca was itself taken over, slowly and surely, by Chrysler. The American company bought a sizeable share of Simca in the late 1950s, although the company was still mostly a subsidiary of Fiat. Chrysler gradually edged Fiat out and took over the majority of shares in the 1960s. Finally, by the early 1970s, Chrysler took the company over completely and Simca’s name was changed to Chrysler France.  The old Simca badge was phased out, with the last official Simca being made in 1973, which tells me that my car was older than me. After that, the cars made in Simca’s factories all had the Chrysler badge, including the Alpine and the Horizon.

I doubt I will try hunting down another example of my old Simca (presumably) 1100. If I were to look for a classic car, it would probably be something else, even though I thoroughly enjoyed driving my Simca, despite the lack of power steering and the fact that the speedo was in mile per hour, meaning that I had to do plenty of mental arithmetic during my daily commute to ensure I kept to the speed limit. However, given that Chrysler Europe was itself taken over by the Peugeot group in the late 1970s, I started speculated what the closest modern-day equivalent would be. I had a look at the latest offerings available from Fiat-Chrysler Australia (an appropriate blend of names, given Simca’s history) and decided that the closest thing was… the Fiat 500.  Which is where Simca started, ouroboros fashion.

The Ouroboros – ending where it begins. Wouldn’t it make a great automotive logo?

Travelling with a dog these holidays? How to safely restrain your dog

 According to RSPCA, 19 percent of dog owners take their pets with them on holiday. Considering a study found that almost half of Aussies now own at least one dog, that’s a lot of dogs in cars.

However, cars are built for the safety of humans, not pets.

So if the car breaks and your dog isn’t restrained properly, it could become a 20kg projectile. In fact, 5,000 dogs each year are either injured or killed as a result of jumping from a moving car. 

In most states it’s illegal to drive with an animal on your lap, as they can distract you from driving. It’s also against the law in Australia to carry a load that’s not fastened, such as dogs on the back of a ute. So, what are the options for safely travelling with Bluey?

Safely restraining dogs in cars

Safely restraining your dog in the car depends on the size of your dog and the make of your car. 

Dog seat belt or safety harness

You may already have a harness for your dog. Dog safety harnesses work by slipping over the dog’s head, under the front legs and attaching to the back piece on the sides of its body. The anchor attaches the harness to the seat belt attachment.

The dog should be able to sit and lie down comfortably while wearing the safety harness in the car.

NRMA revealed that only two harnesses on the market passed their test, adequately restraining their crash test dummy dog. Purina Roadie harness and the Sleepypod Clickit harness passed out of the 25 tested. That’s because their webbing and buckles were stronger than the others. 

Dog transport crates

Dog crates can be made of hard plastic, metal or fabric with supports. Make sure the crate is large enough for your dog to lie down, stand, turn around and stretch. Your dog may feel anxious in the crate, so adding its favourite toy may help. The crate needs to be fixed to the car using the seat belt. If you have a ute, bolting the crate to the tray may be the safest way to go.

Cargo barriers

Station wagons and 4WD vehicles can get custom-made steel mesh bolted to the rear seat floor and up to the car’s ceiling, sectioning off the space behind the seats. This provides a separate section in the vehicle for your luggage or pet. But, if the space is too large, securing your dog with a harness could also help avoid an injury.

If you’re looking for a new car big enough for your best friend, get in touch with Private Fleet. We can discuss your needs and find the right car for you.

Top 5 safety tips for driving this Easter Long Weekend

Planning a road trip this Easter long weekend? You’re not alone. With the four day weekend coinciding with the school holidays in most states, it’s a busy time of year to travel. 

But, it’s also one of our deadliest. Last year in NSW alone, there were 7 fatalities recorded from Thursday to Easter Monday, and more than 4,500 drivers were hit with fines. An estimated 4 million Aussies travelled by air and road around the country. So, how can you stay safe on the road?

Stay alert while driving this Easter Long Weekend

1. Plan to avoid the traffic

The Easter break starts this year on the 9th of April, which is Good Friday, and runs until Monday, 10th of April. However, many travellers choose to begin their break on Thursday in a bid to beat the traffic.

While leaving the day before should be quieter on the roads, don’t make the mistake of leaving straight from work.

2. Check your car is safe

Your tyres legally must have at least 1.4mm tread depth. Incorrect tyre pressure can speed up tyre wear, so before your big trip, check your wheels. Lift the bonnet and check the oil level doesn’t need topping up and walk around the car to check the lights and blinkers work.

Fill up the tank the day before you depart and check the windscreen washer bottle and coolant is full. 

3. Stop revive survive

Plan your route with places you’d like to stop for a break. The highway may be the most direct route. But, often the time passes quicker when you plan the trip on smaller roads and through small towns. 

Every two hours, take a break from concentration and stretch your legs. If you need to stop and there isn’t a town, perhaps look out for one of the many Driver Reviver spots.

4. Put your phone away

If you’re using the GPS on your phone, make sure the phone is secured in a commercially designed holder fixed to the car. It’s against the law to touch the phone once you start driving, so enter your final destination before pulling away from the curb.

5. Store your luggage securely

Loose items can become hazardous projectiles if you brake too suddenly. If you’re carrying items on top of the car, regularly stop to check the straps are holding the items securely. Even dogs can be secured with a specially designed dog seat belt. 

If you’re thinking of purchasing a reliable car to get around the country, get in touch with us. We can discuss your needs and find the right car for you.