What you need to know about Buying a Car for your Teenager

Not so long ago, your child was just a toddler, reaching out their pudgy little hand for you to hold as they crossed the road. It seems that no time at all has gone by and now they’re suddenly old enough to not only cross the road by themselves, but to actually drive a car!

Our parental instincts stay with us regardless of the age of our children so when it comes to your teenager’s first car, it’s no wonder that safety is at the top of the list of priorities. If you’re buying a car for your child, here are the top considerations to ensure you make the right choice:

• What will the car be used for? Sounds like a silly question, but will they be driving younger siblings around? If so, consider suitability for car seats and for youngsters to safely get in and out of the car.

• Brand new or second hand? Cost will probably come into the equation for this one, but take into consideration the cost of any repairs on an older vehicle that may outweigh the upfront cost of having a new car warranty.

• Not all new cars are created equal! Be sure to research and compare safety ratings and features of new vehicles. Look closely at items such as airbags, brake systems, crash test results, reversing camera, electronic stability control.

• If buying a second hand car, have a professional mechanic do a pre-purchase inspection. Although it’s not a guarantee that the car is in perfect condition, it will point out any weaknesses that need to be addressed and give you a realistic view of the condition of the car.  You can come and see us at any of our service centres for a pre-purchase inspection.

• Once you’re happy with the car you’d like to purchase, make sure it is clear who is responsible for the upkeep. Who will pay for petrol, insurance, repairs, service and general maintenance?

In their eagerness to get on the road (and look cool), your teenager may be pushing for a little red vintage convertible, but when push comes to shove, you can always pull out the ‘parent card’ and remind them just who is paying for it. J

A Tasmanian champion of car design

A Tasmanian has designed one of the showcase cars at the recent Detroit Motor Show – the new Ford GT.   This was one of three headline grabbing cars revealed at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this month which were designed by Australians.

While Holden’s design studio in Port Melbourne was responsible for the design and construction of two of General Motors’ showpieces, over at Ford, the creation of its stunning GT supercar was overseen  by Tasmanian Todd Willing. 

The 'Tasmanian designed' Ford GT, unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show

Hobart born and bred, Willing managed a team of just six designers under a shroud of secrecy to create the mid-engined Ford GT in a secret location in the US.  He was reportedly not permitted to tell his family or friends what he was working on for more than 14 months!   

Willing told reporters at the car show ‘It’s every designer’s dream to work on a car like this.  A once-in-a-career opportunity.’

The car has special significance to Ford as the original Ford GT40 won the LeMans 24-hour race four consecutive times from 1966-69 after being defeated by Ferrari in the previous six years.

This new car controversially runs on a twin-turbo V6 engine rather than a V8, but Ford says it makes more power than its predecessor without burning as much fuel.

Willing has heard and seen the car being tested but as yet has not driven it.  And although it’s a ‘global car’ it will be manufactured only in left-hand drive and not sold in Australia.

Having managed the top-secret supercar project he has now returned to Australia as the head of Ford’s Asia-Pacific design studio in Broadmeadows.

It is the first time Australian designers have played such a significant role on the world stage and shows that we can still have some input into the worldwide automotive industry while the local manufacturing industry comes to an end. 

And it just goes to show the talent that comes out of Tasmania!

What is sick car syndrome?

If you’re in Hobart then you’ll have noticed the Bridgewater Jerry in the mornings covering us all in its mist. The colder the morning the longer it stays around to add to the humidity in the air and create more moisture both inside and outside your car.

In fact humidity will fog your windows even faster in the winter. And on colder winter days here in Tasmania, that moisture can even freeze. While it may seem a little odd, having the air conditioning on will remove moisture from the air inside your car so making it more comfortable. And the heating will still work just fine. Just beware of any odour that comes out of it when you turn it on.

A car's air conditioning system can be a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, microorganisms, mould and fungi. This generally not only results in an unpleasant smell, but can be a serious health concern, especially for young children and sufferers of asthma and allergies. It’s so common that it’s been given a name: sick car syndrome.   Symptoms of sick car syndrome include:

How to spot a sick car!

 - Headaches - Running nose - Drowsiness - Itchy and/or watery eyes - Flu like symptoms

While filters in a modern car’s air conditioning system are proven to reduce pollutants entering your car, if the heating and cooling system is not properly maintained it acts as an ideal breeding ground for mould and micro-organisms that we’d rather not see on the scene.

The condensation that gathers on the evaporator coil design in most systems is partly to blame. It has been suggested that running your defroster for a few minutes after you’ve used it will dry out the evaporator.  Once the bacteria has grown, the air passes over the evaporator picking up particles of this waste before entering the inside of the car through the air conditioning vents. You’ll smell it before you see it.

Watch out for the odours that you won't see.

 The smell is generally strongest after a period of resting the system and can seem to lessen after a few minutes of use. You should be aware this is generally due to the occupants getting used to the smell, not that  the smell is subsiding. The bacteria would still very much be in the air.

But don’t worry, there are ways to prevent bacteria and mould from building up in your air conditioning system. By using your air conditioning weekly (for at least 10 minutes), running the defrost setting after long periods of use and most importantly, having the system serviced regularly.

If you have a strange smell coming from your air conditioner, or if you think it could do with a service, Cooper Automotive can help. 

Call us today.