How Good of a Car Parent Are You?

Mark Lichtenstein

Do you do a check before you set out to drive?

I do five.

I do the regulation three.
I do one, but I do it right.

Check? Check what?

How hard do you push it off-road?

I'm very ginger with it off road.

I stick to my training in off-roading to keep it together.
I push it hard, so hard it might even break something.

I just drive like I normally would and hope for the best.

What sort of regular checkup do you personally give your car?

I check all the fluid levels every day.

I check the engine and drive train every weekend.
I keep the oil topped up, but otherwise, I just do spot checks after use.

I don't.

How often do you take your car in to be professionally serviced?

A few times a year.

Once a year.
Twice a year: once for stock parts, once for aftermarket parts.

I don't.

Do you clean the engine regularly?

Frequently.

I do it regularly.
I do it at large intervals.

No.

How often do you vacuum the interior?

At the end of every day!

Every Friday.
Once a month or so.

Never.

How often do you use leather lotion on the seats?

Every other day.

When I'm detailing it on the weekend.
Once a year.

Never.

How often do you condition the rubber on the tires?

Every weekend.

Anytime I'm taking it to a meetup.
Once every couple years.

Never.

How often do you wash the car?

I rinse it every day.

I wash it every weekend.
I give it the full cosmetic detailing once a month.

Never.

Do you know what all the warning lights in your car mean?

No, but I worry about them all!

Yes, and I know the history behind each one.
Yes, but I work to prevent them from coming on.

Nope.

How hard do you push your car in the snow?

I don't! I'm very careful with it in the snow.

As hard as the manual says I can.
I push it as hard as it will go!

I just drive like I normally would.

Do you know how to fix things when a warning light comes on?

Yes! I know all the best methods.

No, but my mechanic does.
Yes, I know more than a mechanic about that.

No way!

How do you drive in the rain?

I slow down a lot.

I brake carefully.
I use the rain to powerslide.

I drive gingerly.

How often do you wax the car?

Every other weekend.

Anytime I'm taking it to a show.
A couple times a year.

Never.

How often do you rotate your tires?

Three times a year!

Never! I just replace them all.
Four times a year.

I don't even know what that means.

How often do you change your headlights?

As soon as they lose one lumen.

I don't! I keep it stock.
Whenever an upgrade is available.

Never.

How often do you check the tire pressure?

Every day.

Every weekend.
Every month.

Never.

Do you ever loan your car to friends?

No! Never! I don't want it to get hurt!

Only to fellow brand enthusiasts.
No, it's mine! All mine!

Sure, all the time.

How tightly would you pack your truck?

I wouldn't want to overload it.

I would fill it up to halfway.
I'd fill every square inch of storage space.

I'd bungee the trunk closed if I had to.

How diligent are you about topping up the gas tank?

I fill up nearly every time I drive.

I fill up every other day.
I fill up when I have a quarter tank.

I fill up when it's running dry.

Do you use a car cover?

Of course, I do! I have a nice one.

I have a branded one designed specifically for my car.
No, if a car can't handle a little rain and dust, then it's a waste.

No, that's just silly.

Do you have any aftermarket parts on your car?

A few.

None! Fully stock!
I have loads of them.

No, that sounds like it would cost money.

Do you take your car to gatherings of gearheads?

No, I wouldn't want people pawing at it.

All the time!
If they're into the kind of motorsport I am into.

Nope.

Do you ever track your car?

Well, I do have an app that can help me locate it in a parking lot.

A couple times a year.
All the time! Vroom, vroom!

No.

Have you ever used your car to jump someone else's car?

I've done it a couple times.

I've helped out some fellow brand enthusiasts with that, sure.
No. They should be able to fend for themselves.

No, I wouldn't know how to.

What do you call your car when it does a good job?

Good little munchkin!

Good girl!
That's my dog!

Thank you, car!

Who else is allowed to drive your car?

My spouse, and that's it.

My eldest child and my spouse.
No one!

Anyone!

Where do you store your car?

On a plinth, in a clean room.

In a garage full of extra parts and tools.
In the driveway.

On the street.

How will you bid goodbye to your car when it is time?

I will trade it in for a new one.

I'll sell it to another collector.
It'll have a Viking funeral.

I'll abandon it by the side of the road.

Have you ever bump-started someone else's car with yours?

No! It might scratch the paint!

Sure, if it's another brand enthusiast
Sure, because they wouldn't get out of the way!

No, but someone had to do that for me recently.

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Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

If you have a car, you know that it takes a lot, and we mean a lot, to care for it and keep it running. But the long-term life of your car is also heavily dependent on how well you take care of it. Can you imagine ignoring noises under the hood until the car stops moving? While that may shock you, some people do treat their vehicles badly, which has inspired us to test just how good of a car parent you really are.

Are you a great one? Do you never miss a checkup or a sign that something may be wrong? Is your car always clean and gets regular windscreen wipes or are you the opposite? Are you one of those people whose car sputters down the road? Do you patch up a tire 100 times before deciding to get a new one? Does your car get dirty enough that people are able to write in the dust on its windows?

Never fear, our quiz will let you know just what kind of car parent you are. Will you get an A for doing a good job or will you get an E for effort? Or maybe you'll walk away with a note telling you that you're OK, but that you can do better? The only way to find out is to get started on this quiz!

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