Cars are renowned for being a depreciating asset, with their value plummeting as soon as you drive off the dealership lot. However, there are a number of strategies you can implement during your period of ownership to minimise the depreciation of your car. This article will outline six key activities you can implement today so that when it comes time to sell your car, you are getting maximum bang for your buck.

1. Regular Servicing

The most important way to maintain a car’s resale value is by maintaining a logbook. Undertaking regular servicing and documenting this will give the prospective buyer confidence that you have cared for the car and that it will be a good long term purchase. Minor changes during service like wheel alignment, oil changes and replacing brake pads can all extend the life of your vehicle, and consequently boost its resale value.

Most manufacturers recommend a servicing schedule, so it is important to follow this. Also, if you notice a minor defect before your scheduled service, it is much more effective to address this as soon as possible before it snowballs into a bigger issue. 

2. Buy a Reputable Brand

While it can be tempting to buy a bargain priced car at a dealership, purchasing a car from a reputable manufacturer can make all the difference come resale time. It is useful to do some research before you purchase your car. You should compare a car’s new price against its second hand price to see which brands have a significant drop in resale value.

Many car manufacturers produce quality vehicles, but when the time comes for servicing, they can be very slow to source replacement parts. You can read online about people’s experiences in sourcing parts from overseas to see what brands offer the best service. So in some cases, it may be worthwhile avoiding the cheapest car manufacturer if you find that it has a poor track record of sourcing replacement parts.

3. Choose a Protected Parking Spot

For the majority of your car’s life it will be parked, so picking a good spot to park it when not in use is essential. If possible, park undercover as this will protect your car from being damaged by the elements. Also, debris can fall from trees and other plants and this can cause minor to moderate cosmetic damage. While these dings in your car may not be very noticeable to you, when a prospective buyer is looking at your car they will inspect every square inch.

4. Be Conscious of Mileage

One of the key determining factors for a car’s resale price is its odometer reading. Even if your car is older, a low odometer reading suggests to the buyer that the car is ‘like new’ and likely to have strong, ongoing reliability. While all of us buy cars to make transport easier, avoiding unnecessarily long trips may pay off for you down the line.

5. Drive Responsibly

Driving aggressively can put unneeded stress on your car’s engine. It is recommended that you gradually apply pressure to the throttle or brakes rather than doing this quickly. Doing this will help prolong the life of your car’s components. 

6. Keep It Clean

Appearance matters a lot to prospective car buyers. Keeping your car clean can be a hassle but it can pay off when it comes time to sell your car. You can easily clean your car yourself by vacuuming and removing stains or take it to a professional detailer.

These six easy steps will help you ensure that you get the optimal price when selling your vehicle. Some of these steps may incur costs now, but they are likely to pay off in the long run. 

With fuel being a significant source of the cost of ownership for car owners, it is important to implement measures to improve fuel efficiency. These tips can be easy to put into practice, so for a comprehensive guide on how to improve fuel efficiency, check out the article below. 

1. Regularly Service Your Car

Ensuring your car is regularly serviced is a great way to save on fuel. Servicing ensures that all components of your car are working together efficiently. Some servicing will require you to take your car to a repair shop and some can be done yourself, such as changing your engine oil according to the manufacturer’s requirements. 

Ensuring your tyres are adequately inflated is also an important step to ensuring your vehicle is efficient as possible. Tyres that are under-inflated generate more friction and as a result, wear out faster and increase fuel consumption. Therefore, doing something as simple as checking and maintaining your tyre pressure significantly affects how much it costs to own your car. 

2. Drive Economically

Driving smoothly by easing the throttle will help lower a car’s fuel consumption. Gradually increasing with the pressure you apply to the throttle, you are putting the engine under less stress and therefore less fuel will be required. The same can be said for easing off the accelerator once you have reached your desired speed.

A more obvious fix is to avoid peak hour periods where your engine will be idling for a significant duration. While it is not always possible to avoid travelling during these times, it can be a significant money saver.

3. Adjust Your Car’s Weight

Many of us have driven our cars with something heavy in the boot that we are not currently intending on using. If possible, remove these bulky items from your vehicle as they are very detrimental to a car’s fuel economy.

Similarly, evidence suggests that it is more economical to only half fill up your car when visiting the petrol station. However, this strategy is only likely to be effective for those cars with very large fuel tanks, like Landcruisers. 

4. Use the Fuel Price Cycle to Your Advantage

While not strictly related to efficiency, you can get more bang for your buck by monitoring petrol price cycles online. Petrol retailers in Australia are known to adjust their prices based on a long term cycle where prices can sharply increase and then gradually decrease over a longer period of time. These price cycles are most prominent in capital cities, where there is a large consumer base and high levels of competition. Typically these price cycles last for over 30 days. You can monitor the pricing trends of your city and decide when is the best time to buy by looking at the ACCC’s website. 

5. Turn off the Air Conditioner

Research suggests that air conditioners are highly detrimental to a car’s fuel efficiency. This is especially evident in older cars, but whatever car you drive, you should avoid using the air conditioner where possible. It is much more efficient to open your windows and the beginning of your journey to cool your car. Even though this can impact a car’s aerodynamics, it is a quick and effective method of cooling your vehicle without putting strain on the engine. 

Servicing your car is an essential first step in ensuring your car is operating efficiently. At Moranbah Discount Tyre and Mechanical, we can ensure your car is performing at its best so you can lower your long-term cost of ownership. So get in touch with us today to see how we can help you. 

Do you know what the Safe-T-Stop System is? Why do you even need it? 

This is a service which Moranbah Discount Tyres & Mechanical offers. This is a vital test to undertake if you want to ensure your car is as safe as it can possibly be. 

What is the Safe-T-Stop system?

The Safe-T-Stop system is a test undertaken by mechanics on your vehicle to test vital aspects of your car including brake imbalances, wheel alignment, ride quality and corner weight. 

Brake imbalances

The Safe-T-Stop system will analyse your car to detect if you have any side-to-side and front-to-rear brake imbalances. 

If your car has any of these imbalances, you may have difficulty driving and experience your vehicle spinning out of control. 

Wheel alignment

Are you wheels aligned? 

When you get a Safe-T-Stop system check, the wheel alignment on both the front and rear axles will be checked. 

This will help to guarantee maximum tyre performance. Having wheels that are not aligned can cause the tyres to wear quicker, or will wear unevenly. You may even experience the car pulling in one direction, which can be dangerous, especially when driving in difficult conditions. 

Ride quality

The Safe-T-Stop system will measure ride quality. This means the rebound of each shock absorber will be tested and noted if it is firm or soft. 

If your shock absorber is worn, they will need to be replaced. 

How can you tell if your shock absorber is worn out?

• Handling problems: you may notice vibrations in the suspension, or the car leaning or rolling more when it goes around a corner
• Leaking shocks: shock absorbers are full of oil, so when your shock absorber is worn out, it may start to seep oil and will no longer work functionally. 
• Noise: noticing any rattling or banging sounds, especially when you go over bumps? Your shock may be loose, or has lost its oil and is rattling. 
• Bouncing: is your car bouncing more than usual when you hit a bump? The shock absorbers are supposed to help with this, however, this will not happen if they are worn out. 

Corner weight

Finally, the Safe-T-Stop system check will also measure corner weight. This involves shifting the weight carried by each wheel, so each wheel will approach optimal values. This process involves adjusting the suspension spring height. 

If your car is not properly corner balanced, you will experience difficulty handling left and right turns evenly. 

After the Safe-T-Stop System

Once the Safe-T-Stop System check has taken place, we will provide you wiith an accurate printout of the vehicle’s performance and photo proof that the test has been carried out o your vehicle. 

You can have peace-of-mind knowing that your car will be safe and you will be able to provide documentation of this. 

Do you need a Safe-T-Stop System check? Book in your appointment today with Moranbah Discount Tyres & Mechanical. 

Have you recently been in a car accident? Haven’t got your car serviced in a while? Your car may have suspension problems and you won’t even know. 

So what are the signs that your car has suspension problems? 

1. Steering difficulty

You’re a good driver, you’re not driving at a high speed, but you still seem to be having difficulty with steering. This can be a sign that there are either difficulties with your steering or suspension system. 

You may notice the car feels like it is pulling to the side even when you are driving straight. You may even have problems turning. 

If you notice any steering difficulties, we recommend visiting your local mechanic to get the problem fixed as soon as possible. 

2. Feeling bumps while driving

Have you noticed that your car trips suddenly feel a lot more bumpy than usual? This can be a big indicator that your car has suspension problems. 

If you have suspension problems, you may notice it feels like your car is swaying after going over bumps in the road. Your car may even make audible noises when it hits bumps. 

3. One side of the car sitting low

Does it look like one corner of your car is sitting lower than the rest? It may not be just your imagination – you may have a damaged spring. 

Double-check your tyres – are they all equally inflated? If you notice a side that is sitting lower, you can push your weight down on the boot of the car. Does the suspension make a creaking or squeaking sound? If it does, you need to book an appointment with your mechanic to check your suspension. 

4. Diving, rolling or squatting

Have you noticed your car leans forward (nose dives), leans side to side (rolls) or leans backward (squats)? 

If you have noticed at least one of these, you may have a problem with the shock absorbers. 

You can test this by undertaking the bounce test. To do the bounce test, push your entire body weight on the car’s bonnet. When you release your weight, count the number of time the car bounces. If it bounces more than three times, you have a problem with your shock absorbers or struts. 

If you notice any of these warning signs, it is important to take your car to a mechanic as soon as possible. It is dangerous to drive while you have suspension problems. 

Have you noticed your car suspension problems? Book an appointment with Moranbah Discount Mechanic & Tyres today. 

When you are thinking about servicing your car, most people first think about maintaining the wheels or the engine. What is often overlooked is your car’s air conditioning system. 

So why do you need to get your car air conditioner serviced, and what are the signs you should look out for? 

Why you need to get your car air conditioner serviced

1. It’s hot year-round

When you live in Queensland, it is essential to have working air conditioning in your car all year round. If you don’t get your air conditioner serviced, you may find yourself driving without a working air conditioner on a 40-degree day. Nobody wants that! 

2. Remove coal dust

Do you know how much coal dust your car air conditioner is collecting? For many people, their air conditioner collecting coal dust is an afterthought, or something that has never been thought about at all. 

To avoid risking your health, we recommend getting your car air conditioner serviced. 

3. Stay COVID-safe

When servicing your car’s air conditioner, Moranbah Discount Mechanic & Tyres also offers a full sanitisation option. This ensures that you as well as your family and friends stay COVID safe.

4. Longer life span of the air conditioner

Servicing an air conditioner may seem like a cost that you don’t want to pay. However, maintaining your car’s air conditioner will be a cost that pays off in the long run. Servicing will help you to expand the longevity of your car’s air conditioning system. It will also help ensure it runs at peak efficiency. 

If you wait to get your air conditioner serviced once it has stopped cooling completely, it may have already incurred damage. Don’t wait – as soon as you notice your air conditioner not working as efficiently as before, it may be time to book a service. 

What are the signs you need your car’s air conditioner serviced?

1. Weaker air flow

Does it seem like your air conditioner is struggling to cool down the car? Sometimes it can be difficult to tell, especially on those extremely hot days. However, chances are it isn’t just your imagination – your air conditioner needs a service. 

2. Rattling and other noises

Hearing strange noises coming from your air conditioner system? This isn’t a good sign. Before your air conditioner gets damaged too badly, it is best to get a service. 

3. Blowing warm air

If your car starts by blowing cool air, but then starts to blow warm air, it is a sign there is something wrong. This could be numerous problems, including a clogged expansion valve or a blown fuse. Before these problems cause larger problems, go get your car serviced. 

4. Leaking water

If you can see water, it may be a sign that your dashboard is leaking. This may not be directly a problem with your air conditioning system, however, leaking water can cause damage to other areas of the car. Avoid having to pay thousands of extra dollars; get your car serviced when you first notice the problem. 

5. Unpleasant odors

When your air conditioner is on, does it smell unpleasant? This may be a problem with your air conditioner filter. However, the problem will vary depending on what type of smell there is. If you can smell burning, this may be a problem with the wiring, which will need to be replaced as soon as possible. 

As soon as you notice any small problem with your air conditioning unit, make sure to take your car for a service. If you put off the service, you may find yourself driving a car with more damage, and leaving the mechanic with a much larger bill. 

Do you need your air conditioner serviced? Contact Moranbah Discount Mechanic & Tyres today. 

Is your car ready for its regular maintenance or are you having an issue that needs to be looked at? We have compiled a list of things for you to expect when visiting a mechanic. It’s best to be informed to avoid any mishaps, or poor service. So what should you do before you visit a mechanic, and what should you expect on the day?

Before heading to a mechanic for your car repairs you should consider the following:

1. Mechanical Trade Certificates

Firstly, you are going to want to check the Mechanics carrying out the repairs have their Mechanical Trade Certificates. To do this you can ask the service centre carrying out the repairs at the time of booking.

You can rest assured that all our Mechanics at Moranbah Discount Tyres and Mechanical hold their Mechanical Trade Certificates. 

2. Go to a Regular Mechanic Shop

We suggest establishing a relationship with the one mechanic shop to do all your repairs. You then know what to expect each time, and can trust the level of service you will receive. Circumstances sometimes permit this from occurring, and in that case, do your research!

3. Shop Around and Don’t Settle

Check out each mechanic shop in your area, do not settle on the first shop you see as it may not be the best! Your friends and family may have suggestions on a mechanic they visited and had a good experience. You may also look for online review, keeping in mind that these sometimes are not the most factual representation of a service. Something else to consider is different mechanics may specialise in certain types of cars. For example, Moranbah Discount Tyres and Mechanical is a certified Isuzu Service Centre, so this would be the best option for you if you own an Isuzu. A crucial part of shopping around is comparing prices, and ensuring you get your estimate in writing! Your estimate should be an itemised list of each part required and service fees. 

So you have now picked the mechanic shop you would like to carry out your repairs, based on their reputation, price, and services available for your vehicle, what should you expect to happen on the day? 

1. Set Realistic Expectations

Setting realistic expectations can relate to the price of the repairs, and also the time frame in which they can be achieved. Expect to pay the going rate in your area for your parts, and labour. Keeping in mind that cheap and quick, doesn’t necessarily mean good. It’s a good idea to ask up front when dropping your car off how long it is expected to take. Even if it seems like a quick repair to you, there may be several other cars ahead of yours in the queue for that day. 

2. Communicate Properly

The better you can communicate the issues with your vehicle to your mechanic, the easier it will be to diagnose and fix the problem. A good tip is to write down ahead of time, everything you have been noticing with your vehicle to avoid forgetting to mention anything on the day. Note down specific sounds, leaks and smells, shudders, shakes, and when and how these are occuring. Record how the vehicle was performing right before and after the issues, the day before, the day after. All of this information can help with a quicker and more efficient diagnosis on the day.

3. Make Yourself Available

Be sure to leave your direct phone number, and have it on you throughout the day. The mechanic may need to phone you at any time to discuss the repairs being carried out and ask for approvals before continuing work. If you cannot be reached, this will hold up the repairs and blow out the time frame that was originally set. 

Do you need to visit a mechanic? Contact Moranbah Discount Tyres & Mechanical today!