Cheaper, Better, Faster Mary Hunt - Baker Publishing Group

Cheaper, Better, FasterCrime—parking habitsmake a differenceA car that’s parked in thesame place for the sameamount of time each day andnight lets thieves know whereto look for it, and this givesthem plenty of time to figurehow much time they’d need tomake off with it.Crime—registration locationNever leave your car registrationin the glove compartment.It gives a car thief automaticproof of ownership. Keep itwith you.Dealer repairs to avoidNeed a brake job, muffler repair,or front-end alignment?Head for shops specializing inthese jobs. They offer lowerprices than dealers, and pollsshow they deliver better customersatisfaction.DeodorizerTo keep your car smellingfresh, put some of yourfavorite potpourri in a meshbag and tuck it under thefront seat. No more danglingpine trees from your rearviewmirror.Dipstick readabilitySave the guesswork whenchecking your car’s oil bymaking the dipstick easierto read. Drill tiny holes atthe lines that read “full” and“add” so they’ll never getobliterated.Driving—automatictransmission shiftingGive your automatic transmissiona little break by learninghow to help it shift. Ease upslightly on the acceleratorwhen you feel the transmissionbegin its shift. This increasesengine vacuum and helps thetransmission into a smooth,effort less shift.Driving—don’t downshiftIf your car is a stick shift,don’t downshift as a standardalternative to braking.18Mary Hunt, Cheaper, Better, FasterRevell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, © 2013. Used by permission.