Womens_HealthAustralia-February_2017

WH

C a r

Talk

Safety first

Big ticks for the Blind Spot

Monitoring, rear back-up

camera, forward collision

and lane departure

warnings. I tested the

500X on a really rainy

day and it handled well

on the wet roads. The

rain-sensing wipers and

automatic headlights also

came in handy. Clever! WH

HOT WHEELS

Get the ultimate summer body – for your car!

WH

ROAD

TEST

It’s not just your skin that needs

protection from summer rays – your

car does, too. Yep, just like your

complexion, you need to look after

your car’s paintwork – the sun

can fade it and cause interior

materials to crack. Oh.

SMART PARKING

Here’s your sun-protection plan:

store your vehicle in a garage or

carport to limit exposure, and avoid

parking under trees where sap and

bird droppings can hit your car.

If birds do take a crap, get rid of it,

ASAP, says WH Motoring Expert

Stephen Corby. “As lacquer warms

in harsh Aussie sunlight, it softens

and expands, while the heat dries

and hardens the droppings,” he

explains. “Then when the lacquer

cools overnight, it contracts and

moulds itself around the crap.” The

result: etchings in the paintwork.

“Use a moist cloth, and if it’s dried or

won’t come off easily, leave the cloth

on it for 10 minutes and try again.”

While they may seem daggy,

reflective shades keep interior

temps down while preventing sun

damage. Got spare cash? Invest in

tinted windows to protect leather

finishes and stop fabric seats from

fading. Your car will be cooler, too.

WASH AND WEAR

Washing your car once a week

will help to reduce the build-up of

corrosive dirt, chemicals and dried

bird poo. But step away from the

household detergents! They strip

the paint’s protective layers and

could result in you having to respray

your car. Use a car-specific product.

Then, dry with a chamois and finish

with a microfibre cloth to bring out

the shine. Also, avoid automatic car

washes. “You’ll get swirls, scratches,

smears and a car that doesn’t really

look that clean. Don’t do it,” says

Corby. “If you don’t have the time

or energy, take it to a detailer and

get the cheapest handwash you

can find. It will still be better.”

Remember, keeping your car’s

body in top shape will mean max

resale when it’s time to trade in.

Room to move

I like the 500X – it’s like a

sexy SUV with a small-car

feel. Yep, the Fiat 500X

has gone to the gym and

bulked up, big time. This

car felt super roomy – and

I’m almost 182cm. There’s

also a surprising amount

of space in the boot for

all of your stuff.

Tech time

I drove the Lounge model,

which has a BeatsAudio

Premium Sound System

with a subwoofer and eight

speakers. Ideal for blasting

Beyoncé on my trip (sorry,

passengers). The Uconnect

system is also useful – it

delivers entertainment and

info via a big touchscreen.

I liked the media hub with

ports for my devices, too.

Fiat 500X,

from $26,000

Driven by: Anthea England,

WH Features Writer

C o l o u r

me happy

White cars stay cooler in the

sun – and they also make resale

easier. “The most popular

new-car colour is white, so

it makes sense second-hand

buyers will have the same

desires,” says WH motoring

expert Stephen Corby.

FEBRUARY 2017 womenshealth.com.au 65

Life etc car smarts

WORDS: HAILEY PHILANDER & ANTHEA ENGLAND. PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES