Your Car Should Be Your Trusted Friend, Not An Enemy

If you are buying a car, there is a lot to think about. After all, there are so many different types of vehicles that are available today. Not only do you need to consider the make and model of car you are going to go for, but you also need to think about how you are going to fund the car and how much it is going to cost you to run overall, amongst other things. So, with that being said, continue reading to find out more about the key questions you need to ask before you buy a car, no matter your financial situation. 

Is purchasing the right solution? To begin with, you need to determine whether purchasing the vehicle is actually the right option. You could save money with a car lease if you don’t have the savings spare to buy the car in one go outright. This is a financial arrangement, which is highly tax-efficient, and enables you to salary package your car. A lot of people prefer this, so they have something to show for their money. Not everyone can afford the large start-up costs associated with this option, and so leasing may be the more financially viable option. Plus, many people opt for a lease due to the tax benefits, as well as the savings on the purchase price and running costs.

Cost of the car AND the cost of running it – When buying anything you have to consider the price of it. This is clearly no different when it comes to a vehicle, especially as it represents a big expense. You don’t want to go for the cheapest car you find, as this is likely to correlate to poor levels of quality. However, you obviously want to make sure you get a good deal. Consider car parts and replacements too, such as Aldan American coilovers. Nevertheless, one of the biggest mistakes people make is making their purchase solely based on the cost of buying the machine. But, what about the running costs? This is something that needs to be carefully assessed. After all, there is no point in buying a cheap machine if it is going to cost extortionate amounts to run. All cars have different running costs based on factors like fuel efficiency and insurance, and so it is important to sit down and work out how much the car you are considering is going to cost you. 

Reviews that have been left by previous customers – The next thing you need to do is read reviews that have been left by previous customers. What have people who have already purchased the car had to say about it? Were they happy with it? Have they experienced any problems? This is the only way you will get an honest insight into whether the car is worth purchasing or not. After all, if the product is one that is not of good quality, you can be sure that plenty of people will have taken to the Internet to show their dissatisfaction and warn others from making the same mistake.

Servicing and spare parts – Last but not least, it is advisable to go for a company that offers servicing and spare parts. This is something a lot of people do not bear in mind when they are buying their vehicle. However, if you think about it now it will save you a lot of hassle in the future. Buying from a company that offers this is highly advisable, as you can be certain they will have the exact spare parts you need for your machine specifically. Moreover, they will have experience serving the vehicle you have purchased as well. It is much safer to go down this route.

If you carefully consider the four points that have been mentioned you should have no trouble buying the right car for you. Firstly, remember to assess whether it would be better to lease or purchase. Once you have done this, take into consideration the cost of purchasing and running, make sure the company has a servicing option available and read reviews that have been left by those who already have the machine. 

You may want to think about upgrading the ECU of your new car, especially if you have gone for a secondhand model

​​​​An ECU is known by several different terms. The abbreviation stands for ‘engine control unit’. Nevertheless, a lot of other people know this as the PCM – powertrain control module. But the real question is; what actually is it? In basic terms your car’s ECU is the brains of the vehicle; the computer. The computer essentially controls the engine of your car as a result. This, in turn, means that it controls an array of different components, including; ignition timing, horsepower, how much fuel to pump, the amount of carbon dioxide being exhausted, and much more. Therefore, it is quite easy to see that the ECU is an imperative component of any vehicle. 

There are lots of possibilities in terms of upgrading your ECU, no matter whether you have a Vauxhall Viva, a Nissan, or any other type of car. You merely need to think about it in terms of being a computer. Look at the wealth of different home computers available in stores today. There are some that are better than others and so you can upgrade. This is no different when it comes to your car’s engine control unit either. This is a computer that will run better if you take the time to seek a quality upgrade. But, how does an improved ECU take effect? 

Well, one of the most frequent upgrades translates to getting a computer with better control over the fuel. If your ECU is improved then it will have much better control when it comes to the air to fuel ratio in your car. In turn, this means that you will not need to fill up your vehicle as much as you usually would. Not only is this the case, but you will reap the gains of added horsepower and extra torque. This will make your car more efficient as it becomes a lot faster and more responsive to the throttle.  

In fact, similarly to normal computers once more, there are engine control units that actually have different programs available for you to run on them. For instance, there is the valet mode. This will computerize your car in order to ensure engine power is limited. Another popular mode is the anti-theft option. This great program allows you to make your car a lot more secure via implementing a password before the car can be started. This is something well worth considering, especially in areas of high crime. After all, it will make it virtually impossible to steal a vehicle with a passcode in place.

You are probably thinking that an ECU upgrade is going to cost you extortionate amounts, yet this is certainly not the case. The costs vary depending on the type of upgrade you go for and the car you have at present. Nonetheless, this is something that is likely to cost you hundreds of pounds not thousands. 

To conclude, it is quite evident to see how important your ECU is. If you upgrade your engine control unit then you can dramatically enhance the performance and the efficiency of your vehicle. Make sure you consider your options carefully before you decide on what type of upgrade you are going to go for.