Driving Tips

There are a lot of pro’s and con’s to each option. Put simply, if you love driving, love being involved in driving, and like to work out both legs – then a manual is for you. If you like to get in your car, turn the key, put it in drive and then switch off […]

There was a time in my life when driving around with the fuel light on with fairly common practice. Looking back now, I feel it was probably more an indication of my priorities at the time, of which keeping my car in good nick was pretty low on the list in those student days. There’s […]

If you’re towing a trailer or caravan, one of the worst things that can happen is for your trailer to wobble precariously back and forth, eventually falling on one side and dragging your vehicle down with it. Trailer sway can be a major problem for many trailer owners, especially with New Zealand’s winding roads, and […]

Whether you’re heading away on a road trip or just heading out for a summer cruise, it’s safe to say the time is right to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. If you’re of the nomadic persuasion, you’ll no doubt know the allure of New Zealand’s many camping grounds and all the good times […]

As a parent, knowing your children are safe behind the wheel shouldn’t just stop at thinking about the sorts of driving situations they might find themselves in. In fact, it’s almost impossible to pre-empt any situation these days. With plenty of wild driving tactics being portrayed (by professional stunt people, mind you!) in action movies, […]

Oh, so you don’t use your mobile phone in the car?  Like, ever?  Well, you, dear reader, are one of the slight minority, by my estimation. Despite all of the ads, posters and even legislation, it would appear that many New Zealanders are willing to shirk the law in the name of convenience. Frankly, it’s […]

Whoever came up with the term “fur baby” knew exactly what they were on about. Okay, maybe not that guy up there – but he’s someone’s angel! As a pet owner, I know the guilty feeling that occurs when you need to leave your pet at home.  In our case, it’s our French Bulldog, Sydney, […]

At My Auto Shop, we like to keep it real and relatable.  We also like to do what we can to make things as stress free as possible, from the workshop to the wheel.  But what about those driven-related moments that don’t place in the actual vicinity of your vehicle?  Say, like, looking for your […]

One of the exciting things about heading out on a road trip is the idea of being in uncharted territory, responding to the conditions and circumstances as they arise.  Part of being a smart driver is having your bases covered if anything goes awry.   You wouldn’t be the first person to be caught out in […]

With technology featuring in almost every corner of our lives, from making our love lives easier to getting takeouts, our smartphones are always there to help guide us our decision-making. If you’ve ever been out on the road and found that your phone battery was on red and quickly dwindling in its charge, you’ll no […]

Without a doubt, everyone has their own special brand when it comes to driving.  From the pedantic to the problematic, we’ve seen it all here at My Auto Shop.   Whether you’re riding the clutch, resting your hand on the gearstick or overloading your vehicle, there’s a limit to how much we can put our cars […]

Your car needs a certain kind of fuel to run smoothly. If your car requires premium fuel, that usually means above 95 octane. If it needs diesel then it needs, well, diesel. What it doesn’t need is petrol when it runs on diesel. That is not an ideal situation to be in. DO NOT PUT […]

With summer on the horizon, I’ve been starting to think about investing in a vehicle and hitting the open roads.  Scanning the online car listings, you soon get an idea of what’s important, and I reckon having a reliable, working air conditioning unit is key to a comfortable ride, no matter what season you’re in. […]

Seinfeld’s famous “Serenity now!” skit was always a favourite in my family, and goes some way to setting the general tone of our family car trips growing up.  We all seem to be searching for ways to access our inner peace these days, and I’m just going to go ahead and say this, but it […]

That dismal feeling that sets in when you’ve realised your car battery has gone kaput isn’t one that is recalled fondly! If you haven’t had the misfortune of this happening to you (yet!), now’s your chance to turn the tide on one of those fails that seems to catch every driver out at least once […]

So, you’re thinking about buying an electric vehicle (EV), or you already own one.  Nice.  We thought it’d be useful to give you a bit of a guide about where to charge it. Sure, most EV drivers will find charging at home or in a carpark at work can be convenient, but there comes that […]

For many of us, our big annual break comes around at the end of one year, and the beginning of another.  Even if you’re working through the period, you’re no doubt scrambling to get out the door and out to a holiday destination. Sure enough, the roads are busier, bottlenecks more frequent and we daresay […]

Expert’s guide to summer car maintenance Woohoo!  As I write this article, New Zealand’s famous sun is pouring in through the windows and I’m reminded of everything wonderful about living in this country.  Not least the idea of hitting the road and getting out to a beach after months spent in lockdown! If you’re anything […]

We’ve all been there.  It’s the end of the day, you’re cruising homeward, and suddenly everything comes to a grinding halt.  While the team at My Auto Shop love to spend their time making it easy for you to find and book a mechanic, we know it’s not always the solution to every challenge you […]

If you’re keeping the automotive dream alive and driving a manual, you’ll be familiar with your clutch pedal. Most people know the signs that their clutch is going bad. The burning smell under load is hard to miss. Clutches engage and disengage the gearbox to the engine, as such they wear out. They ensure that […]

We’ve probably all had that moment out on the roads.  We all try to avoid road rage, but sometimes its hard.  You know, that moment when a spicy thought or phrase enters your head and, with any luck, leaves again with a deep breath.   Let’s face it, driving while under the influence of high emotion […]

If you’re a true automotive fan, then you’re no stranger to the magnetic power of a manual transmission.  We all know it’s more efficient, and the thrill-factor far exceeds anything on offer in the world of automatic transmission vehicles. But where manual transmissions are, bad habits abound.  In a country where automatic vehicles vastly outnumber […]

Getting tired while driving? I can relate. My first car was a 1999 Nissan Pulsar, and I bought it from my cousin, who had just got his truck drivers licence and was going to start on regular long haul trips.  I was so excited when I picked it up from Wellington and drove it straight […]

Driving in the rain presents different challenges to driving in the dry. You’ll need to follow a different approach when it’s drizzling compared to when it’s raining heavily. Strong winds can play a big factor too. Some drivers hate driving in rain and a few others actually enjoy it the most. The difference comes down […]