The car is one of the most useful inventions in the history of mankind. While some find the car to be a most valuable personal piece of property or asset, others would only use public transport, avoiding the attendant difficulties in owning and maintaining a car or automobile.

Are you one of those who only know how to start a car, drives it and then park it - not knowing how it works or how to maintain it in perfect condition?

Can we really afford not to pay attention to this modern invention of convenience, and learn how to own it and hold it as a prized possession?

Consider the level of your knowledge on cars and its upkeep.

Do you know how much it takes to get a brand new car or a used car to become road worthy before it can hit the roads?

Do you know you need to have adequate car insurance cover, and where can you source for it?

Can you perform the rudimentary checking of your car engine, the engine oil level, spark plug change, oil change, windscreen wiper change?

Do you know what to do to ensure car safety during the winter months?

If your answers to all these questions are in the negative, then it is important for you to start to take action and to learn.

Motor mechanics will be able to tell you that periodic checks and routine maintenance can add years to the life of your car, and ensure many years of smooth, trouble-free running of your car.

Assuming you wish to learn, here are some topics for you to research and to start off with:

1. How to buy a new car

2. How to buy a used car, and not be scamed.

3. How to compute your road insurance, and where to source cheap insurance cover.

4. How to prepare a plan of routine maintenance on your car.

5. How to perform rudimentary checks on your car.

6. How to change a car tire ( You'll be surprised many do not know what tools are suitable and how to actually change the tires!)

7. How to know the car battery is flat and when to replace it?

8. How to drive safely.

9. How to preserve the car color and extend its sheen.

10. How to extract the best mileage for your car and economise on the gas.

11. How and where to sell your car when changing to a new one.

Challenge yourself to pick up new skills and new knowledge on car ownership and maintenance, and begin to enjoy the use of your car. By understanding your car and how to use it and maintain it, you will find a new appreciation and value of this modern convenience, and be glad that someone in the past invented the combustion engine so that you can now enjoy the fruits of their labor.

You will also find that the costs of owning and operating a car will come down, and the level of your enjoyment of the use of the car to increase.

Peter Lim is a Certified Financial Planner. His 1979 model of the Volvo 244 GLM, which makes it a 26 years old car, still runs on the road and provides the comfort and conveniences of a modern new car. Get the best car ownership and maintenance tips at his website "Car Ownership and Car Care" at http://www.online-guides.info/cars/Car-Maintenance.html