A Jump Start to Motoring Basics

I recently had a really entertaining conversation with a colleague who didn’t have the slightest idea of what those sparkly, chromed numbers on the back of cars related to. My statement that they indicated the engine size was met with wide-eyed wonder that left me smirking but also got me thinking.

As car enthusiasts, we often take for granted that our basic knowledge of cars falls under the category of “general knowledge” when in fact, it does not. There are masses of drivers out there piloting pieces of exotica without the slightest concept of what they’re driving beyond what the badge on the leather-bound steering wheel says. For example, I am fairly certain that the 40-plus female with an old-school bob hairdo that I often drive alongside in the mornings has no idea that the BMW Z4 M she cruises in has a 3,2-litre masterpiece under the bonnet. A masterpiece that must wonder why on earth it never exceeds 60 km/h when it was designed to blast way past that velocity before one has to change gear.

Granted, there is no real need for her to know this. But part and parcel of what makes many of us enjoy driving so much is having a basic knowledge of the machine that we’re operating.

Another friend of mine recently bought herself a second-hand car but didn’t know how important it was to find one that came with a full service history, almost always abbreviated as “FSH” in adverts. Again, a basic piece of information to me but a complete unknown to her.

There is now of course the inevitable question of what my point is. Well, like a Blu-Ray DVD player or the latest BlackBerry, cars are far more easily enjoyed, appreciated and safer to operate if one understands the basics that make the vehicle what it is.

Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be writing a few “car basics” articles for the automotively-challenged individuals out there. These will be for everyone, especially the girls and (a few) guys who know only the colour of their cars, who change gears too early or too late or who think that stability control is what acrobats employ while negotiating their way across a tight rope.

Keep following me on Twitter where I’ll be posting updates of these articles as they’re posted.

CAR Magazine article: October 2010

I had the fantastic opportunity recently to spend some time at the offices of CAR Magazine and find out how the leading motoring publication in the country is put together.

In addition to meeting the talented and inspiring team of journalists, art directors and road test engineers who put together the magazine, I also wrote a few articles which were posted on the magazine’s website (www.carmag.co.za).

Below is one of these articles which was later published in the October 2010 edition of the magazine. It is a piece on the return of the Lancia Stratos. You can still pick up a copy of the October issue which will remain on sale until the end of next week.