5 Things Most People Forget When Spring Cleaning the Car

Spring has sprung!

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Sorry... I couldn't resist.

So the weather is finally starting to look up and if you haven’t thought about it already, then it’s time to start prepping your vehicle for the warmer months ahead. Your car took a beating over winter. Freezing temperatures, mud, salt and bad weather all take their toll on your paintwork and interior.

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It’s standard practice to reach for the chammy, bucket and vacuum around this time of the year to bring some life back into your vehicle, but there are some key steps to the vehicle spring clean that most people neglect that are really easy to address. Are you guilty of these top 5 Spring Cleaning sins?

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10 toys that fuelled our love for motors

My passion for all things motor started from a very early age and I don't think it's a coincidence that my bedroom floor was littered with tiny replicas and stray bits of kid's mechanic sets. With Christmas fast approaching I found myself reminiscing about the kind of things Santa would leave me under the tree and, although I've graduated to requesting slightly more ambitious gifts from the big guy in red (if you're reading this, Santa, you can just leave the keys to my new Aventador wrapped up under the tree, I can't imagine pulling one of those down the chimney is very practical), I would be rather pleased if someone were to play the nostalgia card and leave me one of these for me this year. Which one was your favourite?

1. Matchbox Cars & Hot Wheels

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Is it just me who used to keep these in an old margarine tub secured tightly with an elastic band? I am sure I was convinced that I would one day become a stuntman with a penchant for breaking the laws of physics because these little cars would be run over just about every surface in the house and, once they were out of road, perform gravity defying leaps through the air (with appropriate sound effects provided of course) onto the treacherous sofa or the slippery glass coffee table.

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8 Autumn Car Care Fixes You Need To Know

October's marching on. Unbelievable isn't it? Suddenly the mornings are characterized by either a commute through thick fog or dazzling sun on wet roads, the leaves seem to have leapt off the trees and are single-mindedly set on blanketing the bonnets and roofs of our motors, and is it just me that's had to have the heating on first thing when starting the car in the morning?

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As with all the changes in the seasons, they affect our cars in different ways and some steps need to be taken to prepare, protect and remedy against the new conditions you will be faced with as we plod on towards winter. So here's my top tips for making sure you and your motor are Autumn ready.

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10 best car ads from the noughties

It is my humble opinion that the noughties were some of the best years for creative car ads on our telly. Puppets, giant cakes, giant robots and very satisfying chain reactions are just some of the ways that motor markets tried to tempt us with their latest models, all appealing to our inner kid. Here's a list of some of my picks of the decade.

1. Citroen - "Transformer"

It's horrible to have to admit that a car has better moves than you do on the dance floor but let's face it, the C4bot had more than a little help from Marty Kudelka, none other than Justin Timberlake's own choreographer and a good handful of digital animation artists who combined motion capture techniques.

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10 times dogs had more fun in cars than we did

1. Nothing will ever appreciate the wind flowing through their fur quite like man's best friend.

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2. And let's face it, we would could never look this cool sticking our heads out of the window anyway...

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Rust Repair Tutorial

This week sees the launch of Granville's new Rust Repair Liquid. Now this stuff is the bee's knees, what can I say? It's easy to use, takes only 15mins to work its magic and also comes in a gel formulation for easy application on hard to reach and horizontal surfaces.

So let's take a look at how to use Granville Rust Repair Liquid and Gel...

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10 first models of car brands we love

Every great story has a beginning, here's where these famous brands took their first steps to automotive stardom:

1. Ferrari: 125 S (1947)

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The first car to bear the Ferrari name, the 125 S debuted in 1947 on the Piacenza Circuit.

2. Maserati: Tipo 26 (1926)

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The first car built by Maserati made its debut in the 1926 Targa Florio, finishing first in the Grand Prix class.

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10 vintage concept cars which were ahead of their time

Simcar Fulgar (1958)

The brain child of designer Robert Opron, the idea of this car was to show what we would be driving in the 21st century. It was to feature atomic power, voice control, radar navigation and gyroscopic wheels. Switch the atomic power for electric and I guess he wasn't far off!

Cadillac Cyclone (1959)

Designed by WW2 camouflage pioneer, Harley Earl, the Cadillac Cyclone was inspired by rocket designs of the 1950s. It featured UV protection and radar in the nose cones on the front of the vehicle. This was part of a collision avoidance system which gave audible warning about incoming vehicles - the likes of which weren't really seen on modern commercial vehicles until the 2006 Audi Q7.

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What your oil is trying to tell you about the health of your engine

Frothy Oil
A good quality engine oil should not foam up because of the anti-foaming additives that are mixed with the product. There could be several reasons why your oil has foamed up. If your oil is bubbly or foamy but not discoloured then you may have overfilled the sump. The oil is essentially being churned and aerated by the crank and can cause a lot of damage very quickly.

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If the foam is lighter in colour this could be down to water or coolant contamination. If this is the case, then there is a chance you may have a leaking gasket head or a crack in the engine block.

Solution: If you think you may have overfilled with engine oil make sure you drain it off and refill the tank. If you see evidence of light coloured foam, see a professional mechanic as soon as you can.

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What Your Car Looked Like Back In The Day

Ford Fiesta

Then

Now

The Ford Fiesta: the UK's best selling car and the long-term staple of learners and fresh passed drivers everywhere. The boxy design of it's 1976 debut model was replaced by Ford's 'New Edge' styling in 1999, characterized by the soft arcs and rounded features which are more akin to the Fiesta of today.

Vauxhall Corsa

Then

Now

Debuting in 1982, it started out life as the Opel Corsa before becoming the Vauxhall Nova in the UK and later the Corsa again, reviving the name in the early 90's. Major facelifts feature in the late 90's when the rounded bumper which was becoming vogue in the industry was adopted. Later changes include the 'Eagle eye' headlamps and new grill style which looks awfully happy from the right angle.

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