1st car owner tips

rjay100

rjay100

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I’m 35 and finally brought myself to buying a car. Outside of the random drive here and there, I have never owned a car.

Any tips? From safety to must-haves-in-car etc. Especially in the South African context

This my list so far:
  1. Car signal blocker pouch
  2. Small portable vacuum cleaner
  3. Anti-theft steering lock (deterrent)
  4. I have run flats (do I need a spare?)
  5. Jump starter and air compressor. Thinking of buying this: RIZZEN Jump Starter & Air Compressor with 12000mAh Powerbank

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Just the jumper pack and tinted windows. And good insurance.

Everything else on your list isn’t needed. Actually maybe the vacuum if you have small kids or like to eat pies in the car.

Congrats! What car is it?
 
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This is what I had for my first car.

- Smash and grab tint.
- Faraday pouch for blocking smart keyless entry relay attacks. Ford sells nice ones.
- Garmin Dash Cam Mini.
- USB cable for Android Auto/Carplay and charging.
- A compact Magneto LED rechargeable floodlight.
- Small Fire extinguisher. I’ve seen too many videos of small fires from a small leak or issue end up engulfing a car and it could’ve been prevented by a small fire extinguisher in the first minute.
- 12v Air compressor for pumping tyres although honestly I only take it on longer trips.
- Jumper cables but zero intention to use them, I have a battery charger at home for when the car stands unused for weeks and I monitor my battery voltage through my Netstar app.

Steering lock takes up a lot of room and I don’t bother but my one mate somehow kept a Tazz safe all over the country with one so there’s some positive aspects.
 
Physically check that your doors are locked, pull door handle to make sure. Then trundle off. The twat lounging around looking intelligent might have a signal blocker.
 
Run flats are tricky. Does the car come with the liquid and compress you fill it with when required? I had that in a GLC and it didn’t work so we needed a flatbed. I’m f you have the option of a biscuit rather take than even if it reduces boot space.
 
rjay100 said:
I have run flats (do I need a spare?)
Click to expand...
Just understand that run flats, when flat and driven on, will need to be replaced ASAP.

They don't recover from the above once patched/re-inflated.

They're great if you want the safest tyre around, but they're not economical. They don't give you a magical edge over non-RFT tyres when deflated.
 
The air compressor is a interesting idea. Must look into getting one, although the model posted by the op seems too expensive
 
Ecco said:
The air compressor is a interesting idea. Must look into getting one, although the model posted by the op seems too expensive
Click to expand...

I always keep some sticky plugs and an air compressor in my boot. If you are well-practiced at fixing a puncture, 99% of the time you can stuff a plug in and reinflate the tyre without removing it in a fraction of the time it would take to put the spare wheel on. Can be a real life saver if you get a puncture in a dodgy area.
 
Ecco said:
The air compressor is a interesting idea. Must look into getting one, although the model posted by the op seems too expensive
Click to expand...

Don't cheap out on an air compressor. It could save your life one day.
 
Skip the steering lock…the car will take care of that itself.

If it comes with run flats then there won’t be space for a spare…which is why it has run flats to start with.

Also the signal blocker pouch is really a bit extreme.

If it’s got run flats it should already have an air compressor in the boot.

And you’d only need a jump start kit if the car was ancient and dodgy. Otherwise your insurance with roadside assist will sort that out too.
 
r4nd0m said:
Just understand that run flats, when flat and driven on, will need to be replaced ASAP.

They don't recover from the above once patched/re-inflated.

They're great if you want the safest tyre around, but they're not economical. They don't give you a magical edge over non-RFT tyres when deflated.
Click to expand...

Only if they run completely flat. If they are just low on pressure or had a slow puncture it’s not much of an issue but you need to get it looked at pronto.

Also worth knowing you shouldn’t do more than 80km/h on most of them when they are under any loss of pressure.

There’s a reason they only come on cars with tire pressure monitoring so the moment you get a low pressure warning top them up otherwise they separate and cost money.
 
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