Tag Archive for Ireland

Winter Car Care Guide

13th November 2015 / / No comments
Winter Car Care
Oh, hello Abigail. Power cuts, schools closed and ferries cancelled. We think it’s safe to say, that after a good run, winter has finally arrived. And with it comes the need to run through the routine winter checks to ensure you keep motoring safely over the winter months.

Winter Checks

When conducting your winter check, pay attention to:

Tyres: Up to 25% off Selected Tyres

A complete new set of winter tyres (where the rubber is optimized to stay flexible during cold snaps as opposed to regular tyres which turn hard and slippery) might sound expensive. However, in reality, if you spend a lot of time on the road during the winter months it’s a worthwhile investment. And besides, while you’re driving around on the winter tyres, the regular set isn’t being used and worn down. Even if you don’t require winter tyres, it might be worth considering changing your tyres if you haven’t done so for a few years.

Battery: Up to 30% off Batteries

While it’s always advisable to have a professional check your battery, there are a few ways even a novice can carry out a routine check and maintenance. Look out for corrosion on posts and cable connections and scrape away where necessary. Give the surfaces a clean and re-tighten all connections. If you can remove the battery caps check the fluid level monthly. If you haven’t replaced the battery in the last three years, you should consider doing so.

Wiper Blades: Up to 20% off Wiper Blades

Rubber-cladded wiper blades are best suited for scraping ice from the windscreen. In addition to this, ensure you have refilled your windshield washer reservoir with wiper solvent and keep plenty on hand. You can really go through it in large quantities during the winter months.

Replenish Fluid Levels: 

Be rigorous about changing your car’s fluids and filters during the winter months. Your car’s older engine will thank you for it! Remember to change the oil and oil filter every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. Use the recommended oil viscosity range for winter. 5W-30 motor oil flows quicker in cold weather than 20W-50. Most vehicle manufacturers recommend 5W-30 oil for year-round protection.

Tyre and Snow Sock Guide


Fitting your snow socks is easy, once you have the correct size. To calculate your snow sock size, you will need the width, profile and diameter of your tyres. On the side of each tyre, you will see a sting of letters and numbers as above. Simply note the width, profile and size.

Our snow socks are sold in four sizes – S, M, L and XL.
S size
M size
L size
XL size

Category: Car Articles, Motoring Tips, Safety / Tags: , , , , , ,

Ireland’s Best Driving Routes

17th April 2015 / / No comments
ring-of-kerry11

We have a climate that can best be described as the very epitome of indecisive. And that might often scupper plans for say, barbeques, or even holidays here. But we’re on a good run recently!

But, regardless of the weather, there’s no doubt that the Irish landscape is a thing of rare beauty. Whether it’s the rugged coastline to the west, hewn from the relentless march of the Atlantic Ocean, or the outstretched carpet of rolling green that dominates much of our landscape, Ireland has more than its fair share of breathtaking driving routes.

Here is just a small selection of some of our favorite routes for road-trips in Ireland.

 

The Burren, County Clare

Experience Ireland’s rugged Atlantic coast in all its glory with a north to south route along Clare’s shoreline. Drive along the world renowned Cliffs of Moher, some of the highest (and most spectacular) sea cliffs in Western Europe. From here, enjoy the panoramic view of the Aran Island. To explore more mountainous terrains, beautiful sea views and unspoilt valleys, drive through the Burren, a natural rock garden known for its exceptional fauna and flora.

theburren1

 

The Causeway Coastal Route

The Causeway Coastal Route follows the shoreline between two historical cities, Belfast and Londonderry. Drive through some of the most spectacular scenery in Ireland via the Glens of Antrim, an ancient volcanic area which has wrought the landscape with beautiful forest highlands and awesome sea cliffs.

Then, visit the Giant’s Causeway. With its iconic 40,000 basalt columns, it is a world famous site where one the most famous Irish myths of all has its roots. Drive inland through the village of Bushmills to visit the oldest working distillery in Ireland, before heading back towards the coast for a stop at Dunluce Caslte, with its spectacular location just above the sea cliffs.

 

Slieve Gullion Forest Park, County Armagh

The 10km drive around the slopes of Slieve Gullion offers visitors spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. Take a rest in this beautifully preserved nature spot in the middle of an old volcanic area. At the top of the drive, visitors can hike to the summit of Slieve Gullion, the highest point in County Armagh, topped by two early Bronze Age cairns and a tiny lake

 

Ring of Kerry, County Kerry

The 179km Ring of Kerry is world-famous for its stunning lakes, mountains, seaside villages and incredible views. The road, which starts in Killarney, follows the contour of the land, offering spectacular and unforgettable panoramic views.  Stop off at Derrynane, one of Ireland most beautiful beaches, before moving onto Waterville, a quiet seaside village halfway round the Ring.

From deep forests with impressive waterfalls and beautiful lakes to the crashing waters of the Atlantic, the road contains one majestic landscape after another. A paradise for photographers and a must-see route for anyone visiting Ireland.

ring-of-kerry11

 

Sky Road, Clifden

Starting from Clifden, the capital of Connemara, the Sky Road is an 11km long circular route which takes visitors out west from Clifden. Drive along the Sky Road to follow one of the most beautiful rugged coastlines in Ireland and stop at the highest point of the road to enjoy a panoramic view of Clifden bay and its many islands.

 

Glendalough, County Wicklow

County Wicklow, known as the “Garden of Ireland”, shelters one the country’s most visited beauty spots, the Glendalough Valley. The “valley of the two lakes” is located in the Wicklow Mountains National Park and is renowned for its spectacular scenic lakes, green-valleys and abundance of wildlife. The place is also known for its archaeology and rich history, especially the world famous Monastic Site with Round Tower.

glendalough

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Rejuvenating Your Car (Part 1)

9th April 2015 / / No comments
Spring Cleaning

Statistics might show that sales of new cars in Ireland are up an impressive 28% on this time last year, but there’s still plenty of people out there that don’t have the disposable income to splash out on a new motor.

And given that the comparatively low sales of new cars during the last number of years has resulted in a shortage of competitively priced second hand cars on the market at present, many of us won’t be getting a motoring upgrade anytime soon.

But here’s the thing – many cars built in the last 10 – 15 years can now go 200,000 to 300,000 miles if they are properly cared for. Your vehicle might feel old and run down, but if she’s still running there’s plenty of cost-effective ways you can utilise to galvanize the old motor.

 

Clean It

Wash Me

First things first, CLEAN YOUR Car! And, I’m not just talking about a half-hearted hovering of the interior either. Get rid of the accumulated clutter and rubbish, and then get yourself some shampoo / cleaning products for the carpet, upholstery and dashboard. There’s also a wide range of products available for giving your wheels a clean sheen.

Leather Care Cream

All Purpose Cleaner

Dashboard

Disinfectant

 

Interior Styling

So, you bought the cleaning products and applied some much needed elbow grease. The car is already looking much improved. But cleaning will only go so far. It’s only natural that after years on the road the interior is also feeling the effects of wear and tear. Thankfully, it’s not going to cost an arm and a leg to revitalise that drab interior.

Floor Mats

Steering Wheel Cover

Gear Knob

Seat Covers

 

Accessories

Just because your car doesn’t have the fancy mod-cons that are commonplace in a lot of mid-range vehicles today doesn’t mean you can’t install them in your aging motor. Start streaming your extensive music collection on Spotify through your phone with a Bluetooth enabled stereo system. Avoid penalty points with a hand-free kit. These additions don’t exactly transform your vehicle into a smart-car, but they do make practical improvements and enhance your driving experience.

Car Stereo System

Hands-free Kit

 

Exterior

So, you have the interior spruced up. You have some new accessories on-board. Now it’s time to turn your attention to the exterior. Start by giving your headlamps a proper scrub, before moving onto the paint job. You’d be amazed what a difference this can make with some basic products and a little know how. If you have a little cash left over you could look at getting some new mud flaps or wheel trims.

Headlight

Make Your Headlamps Shine Like New

Polish Your Car Like A Pro

Wheel Cleaning Product

Wheel Trims

Mud Flaps

Category: Car Articles, Cleaning, Headlamps, Motoring Tips / Tags: , , , , ,

Winter Driving Safety Tips

26th November 2014 / / No comments

Winter-car

Baton down the hatches because it’s about to get chilly! Forecasters have warned that Ireland is facing its coldest winter in years, with sub-zero temperatures, polar gales and heavy snowfall expected to sweep across the country over December, January and February.

That’s obviously going to impact on driving conditions and your car. With that in mind it’s worth asking yourself whether you’re prepared for any winter emergencies. We’ve prepared a checklist for both practical and essential items to have in your car should the winter conditions get the best of your vehicle.

 

Winter Driving Safety  – Practicals

 

Blanket / Gloves: Should your car break down in the back of beyond, you might want to conserve fuel and battery power (if you still have any that is). Keep a blanket and gloves tucked away in the boot and stay warm while you wait for help to arrive.

Shovel: Even a small folding shovel will do the trick if you get wedged in by snow.

Wind-up phone charger: If the battery in your car and phone is dead, and you’re stranded in the middle of nowhere, a wind-up charger might just turn out to be one of the soundest purchases you ever made.

 

Winter Driving Safety  – Essentials

 

Warning Lights: Poor visibility during the winter months make road-side break downs that bit more hazardous. A Warning Triangle at least increases your visibility when pulled over.

Snow Socks: Give your car extra grip in snow and ice. Light and easy to fit. Can be kept in the car when not in use. Available in 5 sizes, these snow socks fit hundreds of different tyres. Fits on the cars drive wheels.

De-Icer: Essential and self-explanatory. Can also be used in emergencies to de-frost frozen car parts.

Ice Scraper: Stating the obvious…

Jump Leads: Battery failure is the most common cause of breakdowns and the likelihood of that happening increases during the winter months. Be prepared.

Hi-Vis Vest: In a scenario where you might be required to carry out some road-side repairs having a Hi-Vis vest is essential, especially when doing so in difficult-to-see winter conditions.

Torch: Essential if you need to get under the hood in the dark.

Screen Wash: As well as removing dirt, grime and insect deposits, Screen Wash also helps prevent freezing.

 

Improving Your Cars Winter Performance

 

winter_car

Winter Tyres: A complete new set of winter tyres (where the rubber is optimized to stay flexible during cold snaps as opposed to regular tyres which turn hard and slippery) might sound expensive. However, in reality, if you spend a lot of time on the road during the winter months it’s a worthwhile investment. And besides, while you’re driving around on the winter tyres, the regular set isn’t being used and worn down.

 

Check your battery: While it’s always advisable to have a professional check your battery, there are a few ways even a novice can carry out a routine check and maintenance. Look out for corrosion on posts and cable connections and scrape away where necessary. Give the surfaces a clean and retighten all connections. If you can remove the battery caps check the fluid level monthly.

 

Wiper Blades / Fluid Levels: Rubber cladded wiper blades are best suited for scraping ice from the windscreen. In addition to this, ensure you have refilled your windshield washer reservoir with wiper solvent and keep plenty on hand. You can really go through it in large quantities during the winter months.

 

Bulbs / Lighting:  Replace any fading or burnt out bulbs while also regularly removing grime from the lenses.

 

Brakes: Finally, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, check your brakes.

 

Category: Car Articles, Motoring Tips / Tags: , , ,
 
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