Tag Archives: Driving

Great Car Features to Ease Family Travel

August 10, 2018 By in Lifestyle Tags: , , , , , , , 36 Comments

I recently got myself a new car and we are seriously loving it. I enjoy driving the car. It moves very well and it looks really nice. We have gone on many road trips with the new car already. And we have many more road trips planned before the end of the year, which is exciting. Road trips are so much fun. It is great to explore the country and beyond. And see what the rest of the world has to offer. Going on a road trip as a family is fun as we get to create memories and go on adventures. But the car we use always has to be in top shape before we can go on any trip. Going on a road trip with the kids can be stressful. But thanks to some great car features that help to ease family travel, we have managed to go on amazing trips.

 

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Great Car Features to Ease Family Travel

Here are some of the great car features that have helped us go on many road trips as a family.

CD Player

We love music in our house. Music is like food to my soul and that is the same for my husband and the kiddies. So our Car CD player is forever playing when we are on our road trips. We have all sorts of CDs, and the kids have a few favourites they like playing over and over again. I can’t imagine going on a road trip without any music.

 

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It would be so quiet and boring. And I am sure the kids would bug me a lot more. Apart from enjoying and singing aloud to good music, it also helps them drift off on long car journeys, which is so helpful.

A Good Size Boot

As a family of 4 with 2 toddlers, we never travel light. We pack all sorts and extras for unforeseen circumstances. So extra clothes, underwear, toiletries, shoes, toys, books, wipes, food, you name it, we most likely would pack it. This is why a good size boot is a great car feature to have, especially when going on road trips with the family. There is no way I would dream of buying a car with a small boot. We won’t be able to go anywhere. This is essential when seeking out a replacement car. It can be quite difficult to find the right sort of car, but a decent-sized boot is always top of the agenda. This is why vehicles such as the Vauxhall Mokka can make the list. A family vehicle with a great boot capacity. As a family, you never get to the point that you carry less stuff. Your brood may increase, and even as teenagers and beyond, you somehow still manage to pack everything including the kitchen sink. 

 

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My next car would have a bigger size boot. The size of your car boot is so important once you have a growing family.

Car Insurance

Once you have a car, you need a car insurance. That is the law. In addition to the car insurance, having a breakdown cover is also very important when you plan on going on long car trips with the family. I remember when we went on a trip many years ago before the kids, and we had a. bad accident on the motorway. It was a terrible experience I would never forget. But I am thankful we had a good car insurance cover that included a breakdown service. We were quickly rescued and taken to our destination.

Having a good insurance cover for the car is very important. Aviva has comprehensive car insurance covers that would protect you and your vehicle. For example, if f you had an accident that wasn’t your fault with an uninsured drive  (terms and conditions apply). Aviva Car Insurance also covers loss or damage to your vehicle, vehicle recovery, driving other cars, legal costs,  and many more add-on features.

 

Aviva Insurance PictureCar Insurance Cover App Picture

 

There is also the Aviva Drive App, which is super handy to have on the phone. The app monitors your driving skills and saves you money on your car insurance. It also comes with an integrated dashcam which is like an extra pair of eyes on the road. I think it is a great tool to have. You can never be too careful these days, so having a dashcam is a smart way to drive.

 

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With the Aviva Drive App, if you are ever involved in an accident, the tracking information on the app can provide valuable evidence, which can help when there are different explanations to how the accident happened. I wish we had this dash cam when we had our accident. It would have made our lives a lot easier as the accident was not our fault. It is an app you should download for sure.

Car Storage

Good car storage is very important. It helps keep bits that are needed in the car. We usually have our tablets and books in the pouch. They come in handy when the kids need other types of entertainment. Definitely a great storage to have in the car.

 

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What do you think of these features? Do you go on regular road trips with the family? What are your great car features to ease family travel? Please share them in the comments section below.

 

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Autumn Road Trips

September 6, 2017 By in Lifestyle Tags: , , , , , , , , , 40 Comments

The weather is gradually getting colder, especially in the mornings. Autumn is around the corner and I am kind of looking forward to it. Summer has been amazing. We made the most of it with various trips and activities. I am looking forward to the relaxing Autumn season. I have been thinking of our Autumn Holiday plans. What to do over the mid-term break and all. We have a few road trips planned before the end of the year, and I am also looking forward to that.

I enjoy road trips a lot more now that the kids are older. We don’t have to stop as many times as we used to before and they seem to enjoy the long car rides.

A lot of planning goes into our road trips. There are a couple of checks we have to make before we start our journey. Luckily we have a Kwik Fit centre very close to us. Which means we can pop into the centre quickly if we need to sort out anything car-wise. We also have to ensure we have all we need for the journey, depending on how long it is.

 

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Here are the top 5 checks we make on our car before embarking on a long journey.

 

Check the Tyres

We check all the tyres before we set off on a road trip. Long road trips usually cause the tyres to wear out so it is best to ensure the tyres are in good condition before starting the journey. You can check your tyres with a penny or a tread gauge.

Make sure you have at least 1/16th” or 1.6mm tread left. If the tread is less than 1/12″ or 2.5mm, you should consider replacing your tyres before embarking on a road trip.

 

Give the Car a Wash

Washing your car before embarking on a long journey would ensure your windscreens have great visibility. It would also ensure your plate numbers are visible. You should also check the condition of your wiper blades and replace them if required.

 

Check all Lights & Signals

You should check to make sure all lights and signals are working as they should, and replace what needs replacing before setting off. You can also take with you spare bulbs for each light.

 

 

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Change the Oil

You should get the oil changed before you go on your road trip, if it’s almost time for an oil change. The oil change will get rid of sludge from old used oil, and keep the car working efficiently. Also have the oil filter changed when you change the oil.

 

Check the Fluids in the Car

Before starting a long journey, it is wise to check all fluids in the car. So apart from the oil, you also need to check the coolant, brake fluid, windscreen wash levels, clutch fluid and power steering fluids, if fitted.

 

What do you check before going on a long trip? Do you do any of these? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Thanks for reading.

 

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What Would you do with a Self Driving Car

June 23, 2017 By in Lifestyle Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , 21 Comments

As some of you may know by now, I am yet to pass my UK driving test. I have been learning to drive on and off for over 6 years now, and it has been an exhausting experience. I had to move from learning to drive a Manuel car to an Automatic car, but still no joy.

I gave up on it some years ago, but I am ready to start my driving lessons and pass my driving theory and practical tests quickly, so I can get the car of my dreams. This Transport of the Future Around the World infographic by Aceparts below has left me wishing I didn’t have to take a driving test to drive a car legally. Just stop and imagine that for a second. Everyone being able to drive once you are of age, and the car literally driving itself. That would be so cool!

 

Transport of the future around the world picture

 

I have been following The Lutz Pathfinder project closely and I am really looking forward to seeing it on the roads. For someone who has struggled to pass her driving test for so many years, having a car drive itself would be the best thing ever! I just hope it comes in a great size for car seats, buggies, bags and the rest. The current size I see looks way too small for busy families like ours, but I guess the development team is still testing the waters with this LUTZ pods.

For those who have never heard of these self-driving car development; The Lutz Pathfinder Project, which began developing autonomous technology in 2014, is all about having cars drive automatically without a driver controlling the car. It is the most highly anticipated technology and I can’t to see what these cars can do.

I know what I would if I had a self driving car.

  1. I would be able to drive everywhere I need to, which would be amazing.
  2. I would be able to apply my makeup on the go, which would mean I would never be late anywhere again.
  3. I would be able to go out more, and see more of my city, which would be fun.
  4. I would be able to save my money and time from learning to drive, which would be great.

 

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Do you like driving? What would you do if you had a self-driving car? Would you miss driving a car too much? Please share your thoughts below in the comments section.

Thanks for reading and commenting as always. Have a lovely weekend.

 

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