We know a lot about cars. We’ve inspected them from every angle, pulled them apart and put them back together again (perfectly). But we believe there’s always more to learn about humanity’s most marvellous invention, so we spent a little time finding a few things we didn’t know, and we’d like to share them with you!

1. Making history.

The world’s first car accident happened in France in 1769. The vehicle was steam powered and carried an enormous fuel tank in front of it, which no doubt contributed to its role in smash repairs history.

2. Easily amused.

Initially people were satisfied with the thrill of being propelled along the ground at great speed in a machine powered by modern science and petrochemicals. It wasn’t until 1929 that we got bored with the whole thing and invented car radios to pass the time.

3. Hooray for WA.

At the time of writing this, there are 1205 Likes on the ‘Perth drivers need to learn how to merge’ Facebook page. This does not appear to be an isolated minority. The Office of Road Safety WA has recently posted ‘Street Smarts’ videos online specifically to show WA drivers how to merge and how to navigate a roundabout properly.

4. Think of the insurance.

The Most expensive Car ever sold is the 1931 Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe, with a price tag of $87,000,000.

5. Step away from the vehicle.

South African BMWs can be equipped with flamethrowers to discourage car-jackings, presumably because it worked for James Bond. The ‘Blaster’ aims jets of flame at an attacker’s face from beneath the doors, and while prohibitively expensive, is perfectly legal under the country’s self-defence laws.

6. Sweet music.

90% of drivers sing in the car. The other 10% are busy operating the flamethrower.

7. In a jam?

In China (which consistently produces to the world’s longest traffic jams) you can pay someone to get you out of traffic. For about $75 you can hire a driver to withstand the tedium of guiding your car through the jam, while their sidekick takes you to wherever you’d rather be on a motorbike.

8. The finest.

The world’s largest speeding fine was issued to a man in Sweden, clocked at 180mph. This was a serious infringement, and Swedish motorists are fined according to their income. He paid $1,000,000.

9. Faster than a speeding airbag.

An airbag takes less than 40 milliseconds to inflate after an accident. It will also pack a punch. While there’s no denying their effectiveness in saving lives, and newer models are much kinder, airbags deploy with enough force to break the bones in your arms or face if you’re too close. But it’s still softer than the windshield, and wearing a seatbelt will keep you at a safe distance in most cases.

10. Production line.

Every day, an average of 165,000 cars are produced globally. That’s slightly less than half the number of babies born every day.

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If you’re like most people, your car is the second biggest investment you’ll make in your life (after your house). And if you’re like most people, you also know next to nothing about cars or what you should look for when buying one. We’ve seen the results of just about every worst-case scenario and ill-advised purchase, and we’ve put together a few things everyone should think about before they part with their money.

Before you start looking

1. Be practical. Your car should be functional. Think about what sort of use your car will see, how many people it will be carrying and whether it will be driving primarily in the city or going off-road. Do you need a ute, a people-mover or a zippy hatchback? Do you need room for child safety seats or work equipment? Above all other considerations, you should be asking, what do I need my car to do for me?

2. Be aware of related costs. You don’t stop paying for a car when you take it home, and there are several factors which contribute to the ongoing costs of owning a vehicle. Larger and more powerful cars will have greater fuel expenses. Imported vehicles, high-performance vehicles and modified vehicles can all add a significant amount to your insurance premium. Older cars will become increasingly expensive to service and maintain. And that’s before you even look at the interest you’ll be paying on any car finance. Always be aware of the real costs of the sort of vehicle you’re considering, not just the ticket price.

Buying a new car

1. Choose your add-ons wisely. Car dealers don’t make a lot of money from selling a new car, and will usually try to ‘up sell’ some extras to make a healthier profit. Some of these are superfluous and should be avoided, and some can actually add value to your car and enhance your driving experience. If they don’t come standard, the following are worth considering:

• Safety features like additional airbags, electronic stability, parking sensors and reversing cameras.

• Comfort and convenience features like sat nav, cruise control and Bluetooth

• Re-sale winners like automatic transmission, alloy wheels, auto lights and washers.

Add-ons not worth the expense are:

• ‘Protection’ and ‘proofing’ features like rust-proofing, paint protection and fabric protection. Most of these have been superseded by new production materials and processes, and none would replace regular care and maintenance.

2. Be smart with your insurance. Be prepared with everything you need to insure your new car immediately by phone before you get behind the wheel. Any modifications you make to your car’s original specification must also be disclosed to your insurance company, as they may affect the safety rating or performance of your vehicle.

3. Research your warranty. You will almost always be offered an extended warranty by the dealer, and it’s worth checking what else is available and what surprises are hidden in the fine print before you agree to buy it.

Buying a second-hand car

1. Know what you’re getting into. Private car sales can be attractive to you as a buyer because they often have a lower price tag and can seem to involve less fuss and no pushy sales talk. But be aware that they’re also attractive to certain kinds of sellers – those who don’t want their vehicle examined too closely. Make sure you look over the logbook and registration papers, as well as the seller’s driver’s licence. If you’re not comfortable for any reason, or if it seems too good to be true, don’t buy it.

2. Get a second opinion. Whether you’re buying through a dealership or a private sale, you should always get the vehicle inspected by a professional, either your regular, trusted mechanic or an RAC vehicle inspector. The small extra cost could save you thousands in servicing and repairs for problems you wouldn’t pick up by yourself. If the seller resists having the car inspected, they’re likely trying to hide something.

3. Test drive. Always take the car out for a test drive. Drive it on different surfaces and at different speeds – many problems won’t be apparent until the vehicle is tested on a steep incline or sudden stop.

4. Check the paper trail. You should always check the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) to make sure the car isn’t listed as stolen or written-off and that it doesn’t have any outstanding finance (you can do this by entering the VIN at ppsr.gov.au). This will ensure you don’t pay for a vehicle which can’t be insured, or which is due to be repossessed by debt collectors.

For more information, or to see what else we’re up to, please follow us on Twitter or check our Facebook page.

We believe that most people, given the choice, would prefer to have their car repaired at a workshop which meets international industry benchmarks of quality and safety. They’d choose experienced, highly qualified technicians who are able to assess and fix any mechanical damage and will ensure their car is repaired to the manufacturer’s standard. Prompt, honest service and follow-up would be essential, including a three-year guarantee on workmanship. This is why Como Panel & Paint are Motor Trade Association (MTA) members with ICAR Platinum-certified technicians – in a very competitive industry, we are constantly striving to be the sort of repairer people would want to come to, given the choice.

And that’s why we believe it’s incredibly important that people are in fact given the choice! Choice of repairer is one of the most common things people query about their car insurance, and with good reason. Your repairer is responsible for all of the things that matter to you, not to your insurer:

• the quality of the repairs
• how conveniently located they are for you
• how long they will take
• vehicle safety

Without the freedom to choose your repairer, you’ll be left with your insurance company’s preferred smash repairer, who is normally selected based purely on price. While this is a logical business model for insurers, it can leave you in the position of having to settle for inconvenient, slow or sub-standard repairs – just to save your insurance company a few hundred dollars.

So when deciding on your car insurance you should always make sure you’re choosing an insurer who gives you choice. The insurers below will allow you to choose your own repairer when making a claim:

• Allianz Insurance
• Calliden Insurance
• CGU Insurance
• Dawes Insurance
• Lumley Insurance
• Lumley Special Vehicle
• MB Insurance
• RAA Insurance
• Shannons Insurance
• Youi Insurance
• Zurich Insurance
• HBF Insurance
• RAC Insurance
• Vero Insurance
• Wesfarmers Insurance
• Other insurers will allow you to choose your own repairer, but may request a second quote if you decide not to go with their preferred repairer:
• Ansvar Insurance
• Budget Direct Insurance
• Coles Insurance
• Comminsure
• NRMA
• Real Insurance
• SGIC
• Toyota Insurance
• Virgin Money Insurance

Then there are those who will not allow you to choose at all. These insurers will often offer cheaper, no-frills policies, but in our experience the trade-off is seldom worth it. When you’re dealing with the stressful, frustrating reality of trying to get your car fixed at a cheap workshop on the other side of town, you won’t be thankful for the tiny amount you saved on your premium!

For more information, or to see what else we’re up to, please follow us on Twitter or check our Facebook page.

When a vehicle gets written off, it’s generally assumed that it’s not worth much anymore. The cost of repairing the damage would be more than the cost of replacing the car, and not much thought is given to what happens to the damaged vehicle afterwards. It will usually be sold to a wrecker by the insurer, with the understandable aim of getting some return, however small, on the claim payout. If the car isn’t insured, the owner may try to sell it as a ‘student car’, or just leave it to fall apart at the back of the garage.

But an option most people don’t consider is donating the car to the people who really need it – our Emergency Services workers.

Every year, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services rescues hundreds of people who have become trapped in their cars after an accident. It’s a vital emergency service, and to do it properly, our firefighters need to practise – while the jaws of life are not a precision instrument, most people would rather be cut out of their car by someone with a little experience!

DFES need about 500 cars a year for training purposes. Road crash rescue simulations need to cover as many different scenarios as possible, and every scenario requires a practice vehicle for every trainee, so it’s not surprising that it’s often difficult for them to source the cars they need. This is especially true of Emergency Services workers in remote, rural and regional areas, who handle a lot of rescues but can have very limited access to resources.

There are a few key requirements for a donated vehicle. The car must be unregistered and have:

• A steering wheel
• Seats
• Door panels still attached
• Glass windows and windscreen intact
• All four wheels
• Proof of ownership
• An engine is a bonus, but not necessary.

We wanted to post about this after we saw the recent appeals by DFES for more practice vehicles. We work with damaged vehicles all day long and we see a lot of eligible write-offs sent to the wreckers for a few hundred dollars without a second thought. If just a small percentage of the thousands of cars written off every year were donated for road crash rescue training, it would be a significant contribution towards the skills and resources of our Emergency Services workers.

So if you’re considering sending a car to the wreckers, please consider our firefighters first! If it meets the requirements, they’ll come and collect it for free and you’ll be contributing to a vital service that saves lives on our roads.

For more information, or to see what else we’re up to, please follow us on Twitter or check our Facebook page.