Great Ways To Learn More About Cars

Watch Top Gear

When it aired live, Top Gearwas the most viewed television show in the world. The entertainment factor was through the roof. Even if the average viewer did not care a thing about cars, there was something for everyone. The chemistry between the three hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May could not have been more spot-on. The intended audience was for fellow gearheads, but the cast also relied heavily on British humor, impossible missions, and fun races to get every viewer excited about cars. Reruns are now available on Netflix.

Wheeler Dealers

Wheeler Dealers is another vehicle show about a pair of British guys named Edd China and Mike Brewer who fix up both older and modern cars that are a bit on the trashed side in hopes of turning a profit. It is an excellent show to explain the workings of a car and learn how to repair one. Television show host Edd is confident most of the projects can be done at home, but he is also honest about recommending which jobs are best left to the professionals. Viewers who learn best with visual navigation can pick up a lot of tips about cars when watching this show.

Check Out A Car Forum

Reading up about cars does not have to be as tedious as picking up a textbook. Many online forums are available on the internet to discuss nothing but cars. Look into one that talks about a particularly interesting make and model to learn more about it. Most forums build up a friendly community that is eager to extend their expertise to newcomers. Expect to find everything from maintenance tips to learning about the best tire choices for a particular car. Before posting a commonly asked question, search the forum to see if it has been asked before to save time and some public humiliation.

Use The Public Library

The public library has many different sources that can be used to learn about cars, such as books, videos, and magazines. Hop on a computer and do an internet search to read up on anything interesting or find out how to perform general maintenance on a vehicle. The library also offers car manuals that can be checked out and brought home for further step-by-step instructions. Check out the library database for ChiltonLibrary, which has the most accurate and recent car information available.

Attend A Local Car Meeting

Get social and sit in on a local car meeting to talk shop with other car enthusiasts. Chatting among other gearheads will help any novice pick up on some car slang or tips. If confidence levels are low in the topic of interest, stay quiet and let everyone else talk. Chime in by asking questions or asking for opinions. Car meetings are perfect for learning about customizing or modifying a car and not just maintaining it.

Take A Class

The best way to learn about cars is to dive right in and get hands-on. Check out a local community college and find a class offered for beginners. It will be refreshing to be surrounded by others just as eager to learn, and there should be no embarrassment issues if everyone there is just starting out. Car classes should come with a certified specialist to answer any questions and guide the class through the basics of maintaining or customizing a car.

Get Experience

Experience is the best teacher. If it is financially possible, invest in a cheap car with an engine problem that should be easy to work through with a manual. Be sure not to buy a car with a complicated engine problem that will spoil the learning process. For obvious reasons, do not experiment on any vehicle needed for daily driving. Borrow some tools or buy them according to what the manual recommends, invest in a good pair of latex or nitrile gloves, and go to work. Expect to hit a few bumps in the road but continue to work through them until the car parts become familiar.

Fall In Love With A Car

Being in love feels a bit like being insane, and anyone who is in love with a car will be sure to spend a lot of time obsessing over it. Find a dream car and spend time reading about it, visiting it at car shows or lots, or even look into purchasing one. Making a big purchase requires doing lots of homework, which will come in handy when it comes to learning more about cars. After a while, learning about cars will become a regular part of daily life.

Locate The Shop Manual

A driver who has been operating his vehicle for many years knows it like the back of his hand, even if he has never taken it apart before. Locate the vehicle’s service manual, which is the manual that licensed repair shops use and not the one found in the glove box, and read up about the car. It will be easier to link parts of the car if it has been a part of someone’s daily life for years. Check online for cheap versions or borrow one from the library for free.

YouTube

YouTube might be the greatest thing since sliced bread when it comes to learning. It contains everything anyone ever needs to know about cars, including easy step-by-step videos on how to fix one. Type in a search for a particular model on YouTube and prepare to be overwhelmed with choices from professionals. Most fundamental questions can be answered on YouTube, such as how to change a car’s oil or how to replace brake pads. More difficult questions may require a professional opinion.