Chaps,
I need to make an observation. No empirical fact behind it, but it is bourne out from many years experience of owning (and tinkering with) cars. It is thus:
Cars know when they are loved.
Perhaps such a topic is appropriate for a day such as today (Valentines Day), perhaps not. But I stand by it.
I put some helicopter tape on the fog lights of my S2 last week. At the same time, I cleaned the lights carefully, washed all the grot out of the plastic trim bits on each side and filled some of the larger chips (in the back of them) with some clear epoxy resin. The lights now look a lot 'clearer' and are better protected. That's a good result.
But the car also runs a bit more smoothly. Not a lot, but slightly more. And it starts a bit better in the mornings, and I'm sure the gearshift is a smidge more precise. How is this related to tape on the foglights? Well I'm not sure, but it must be somehow as all these improvements have been as a direct result of the work done.
I last serviced it late last year. The usual; oil, filters, check pipes under the car, check gearbox oil, check brake calipers, pads and disks, wiggle the wheels and check for bearing wear, check bulbs, refill windscreen wash bottle, lubricate door catches. But, as a direct result, I am sure the radio reception improved a little, the bass output from the speakers certainly improved, and the sunroof rattle piped down a lot. How are these related to the service items? Again, I'm not sure, but the improvements were perceptible. It now needs servicing again, and I am looking forward to another round of mild improvements as a result; perhaps the seats will be a bit more comfortable, or the doors will give a more satisfying 'thunk' when they are closed, or the instruments be a bit clearer. I don't know what to expect, but I do know that it will be a better car as a result.
I know I am not the only person to have noticed this. My father remarked to me, many years ago, that clean cars work better than dirty ones. No explanation given, and no explanation needed; it's observable fact. When my car is clean, it goes better than when it is dirty. Yes, there will be less weight being hauled around as dirt is quite heavy, but the difference is more than that.
My explanation for this is that cars know when they are appreciated, and respond accordingly. Has anyone else noticed this, and if so then what is your explanation?
Answers on a postcard please. To the usual address ...
Oli.
I need to make an observation. No empirical fact behind it, but it is bourne out from many years experience of owning (and tinkering with) cars. It is thus:
Cars know when they are loved.
Perhaps such a topic is appropriate for a day such as today (Valentines Day), perhaps not. But I stand by it.
I put some helicopter tape on the fog lights of my S2 last week. At the same time, I cleaned the lights carefully, washed all the grot out of the plastic trim bits on each side and filled some of the larger chips (in the back of them) with some clear epoxy resin. The lights now look a lot 'clearer' and are better protected. That's a good result.
But the car also runs a bit more smoothly. Not a lot, but slightly more. And it starts a bit better in the mornings, and I'm sure the gearshift is a smidge more precise. How is this related to tape on the foglights? Well I'm not sure, but it must be somehow as all these improvements have been as a direct result of the work done.
I last serviced it late last year. The usual; oil, filters, check pipes under the car, check gearbox oil, check brake calipers, pads and disks, wiggle the wheels and check for bearing wear, check bulbs, refill windscreen wash bottle, lubricate door catches. But, as a direct result, I am sure the radio reception improved a little, the bass output from the speakers certainly improved, and the sunroof rattle piped down a lot. How are these related to the service items? Again, I'm not sure, but the improvements were perceptible. It now needs servicing again, and I am looking forward to another round of mild improvements as a result; perhaps the seats will be a bit more comfortable, or the doors will give a more satisfying 'thunk' when they are closed, or the instruments be a bit clearer. I don't know what to expect, but I do know that it will be a better car as a result.
I know I am not the only person to have noticed this. My father remarked to me, many years ago, that clean cars work better than dirty ones. No explanation given, and no explanation needed; it's observable fact. When my car is clean, it goes better than when it is dirty. Yes, there will be less weight being hauled around as dirt is quite heavy, but the difference is more than that.
My explanation for this is that cars know when they are appreciated, and respond accordingly. Has anyone else noticed this, and if so then what is your explanation?
Answers on a postcard please. To the usual address ...
Oli.
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