It’s a stereotype that all men know a lot about cars; some men do, some men don’t, and some men just aren’t interested in vehicles at all. However, as a person in society—not just as a stereotypical man—you should spend more time learning about how cars work, and if you already have that knowledge, spreading the information to your friends and family members. There are significant benefits to knowing more about vehicles, so consider making the time to learn and teach more on the subject.
Benefits of Vehicle Knowledge
What does it matter how much you know about cars as long as you can get them from point A to point B? There are actually several distinct benefits:
- Understanding the value of cars. Car knowledge helps you understand what vehicles are worth. While there are online calculators that can help you establish the value of your used car, you’ll still need some intuitive understanding of car value if you want to buy a used car affordably, or price a junker that you’re selling for parts. The more you understand here, the better deals you’ll be able to get.
- Making your own repairs. You’ll need to cover several points of routine maintenance on your own car to keep it in working order, including rotating the tires, changing the oil, and replacing low fluids and windshield wipers. Knowing how to do these things can save you significant money (and can maximize the life of your vehicle). It may also come in handy if your car breaks down and you need to figure out what’s wrong.
- Knowing how much repairs should cost. Studies show that customers who appear to know less about car repairs tend to receive higher quotes from auto mechanics than people who know a great deal. Knowing the approximate value of auto repairs gives you negotiating leverage, and helps you get your car fixed for less money.
- Driving safer. Knowing how a car works will help you drive safer, reducing your risk of an accident and improving the lifespan of your vehicle. For example, if you know how brakes wear down over time, you can catch signs of wear earlier and get them replaced before you increase your risk of brake failure.
- Satisfying your curiosity. Once you learn the mechanics behind vehicles’ operations, you’ll develop a deeper appreciation for these machines; you’ll grow to see them less as a singular object designed for one purpose, and more of a complex network of interdependent parts. Even if you’re not interested in cars right now, you may grow more interested and more curious as you learn more.
How to Learn
If you aren’t familiar with cars in your adulthood, it may seem like it’s too late to start learning—but you’ll be surprised how simple the basics of car functionality really are. You can begin your path of learning using the following strategies:
- Consult web authorities. Dozens of websites, including How a Car Works, exist almost exclusively to explain the functionality of vehicles, dissecting engines and other components to explain how our cars work. Starting here can give you a baseline understanding for the role of your vehicle’s most important parts, and a vocabulary to use in a practical setting.
- Talk to mechanics. If you know a mechanic, or go out of your way to meet one, they’ll probably be happy to share some stories and perspectives with you. From mechanics, you’ll quickly learn about the most common vehicle repairs they make, how much they charge for different jobs, and how they value different makes and models of cars.
- Look under your own hood. Don’t be shy—once you have a basic understanding of car parts, you should be able to locate them in your own vehicle. This will help cement your understanding and give you a more practical visual library to work with when explaining these parts to others.
How to Teach
Once you start developing some expertise for yourself, the next step is to share that knowledge with the other people in your life. Strike up casual conversations about what you’ve been learning, walk through the repairs you’re making with your spouse, and teach your kids the basics of car functionality. This will reinforce what you’ve already learned, but will more importantly help the other people in your life be safer, save money, and appreciate their own vehicles.
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