14 products that your car can’t go without
23.10.2018
Translation: Eva Francis
Turn the music up and cruise off – driving can be so much fun. But your smooth cruising can quickly turn into an annoying ride if you don’t have compulsory or handy accessories with you.
I turn the music up and head west. It's a feeling of freedom and independence. I lower the window a little to feel the wind in my hair, which is always tied back. The sky clears, the sun comes through, the first rays of sun warm my skin and ««ahh»», I'm being blinded by the sun. Of course I don't have any sunglasses at hand and therefore have to squint during the whole ride. My bad.
That happens to me a lot. I get angry every time and still I don't change anything. As soon as I leave the car, I forget about it. Out of sight, out of mind. But today, I'm finally putting an end to it. After all, sunglasses are by no means the only item that you should keep handy in your car at any time – be it for practical or legal reasons.
Compulsory
Warning triangle
Every car owner knows that it's compulsory to keep a warning triangle in your car. In the case of a breakdown or an accident, place it 50 metres in front of the accident site to make sure no car hits you. Speaking of which, it's better to place your warning triangle under the passenger seat than in the trunk, so that you can still get at it in the case of a rear-end collision.
First aid kit
This is voluntary in Switzerland, but compulsory in some other countries. In any case, having a few plasters, aspirin and bandages with you won't do any harm. Just remember to replace medication on a regular basis – if it says «best by 1974» on the package, it's probably not effective anymore.
CH sticker
This is voluntary in Switzerland, but compulsory in all other countries. If you don't want to have this sticker on your car permanently, go for a magnetic one.
High visibility vest
Again, this isn't compulsory in Switzerland, but in other countries, Italy for instance, you risk being fined if you don't have a high visibility vest with you. By the way, one isn’t enough; the law requires you to have one for each passenger.
Handy helpers
Parking disk
It's good to be prepared. You never know when you'll have to park in a blue zone again. After you've spent minutes manoeuvring into the sideways parking lot, it would be a shame not to have a parking disk with you. The following one isn't only a parking disk, it's also ice scraper. It's two-in-one!
Windscreen cleaning cloth
Fingerprints, saliva from attaching the GPS navigation system and indefinable streaks on your windscreen? Not if you keep a cloth in your glove compartment from now on. The next time you're caught in a traffic jam or waiting at traffic lights, simply wipe over your windscreen and you'll have a clear view again.
Jump starter
After my car didn't start twice last winter and I had to call my parents for help, I now have a jump starter. This thing is invaluable if you're stranded somewhere all on your own. You can also recharge your mobile phone with it, which also comes in handy.
Jump starters
only 85 of 100 remaining
CHF115.–
Swaytronic All in One Jump Starter 2.0
600 A, 18000 mAh
Spare bulbs
If your lights suddenly stop working, you're in trouble. This is dangerous for you and for others. Replacing the lights by hand can be a bit tedious, but should be possible with most cars.
Torch
If your car breaks down at night and you have to wait for the Touring Club Suisse, you'll be glad to have a torch at hand.
Seasonal
Ice scraper
You get up extra early to be the first one at work, but the frosty temperatures thwart your plans. There's no ice scraper to be found far and wide. You have no other choice than to put the heating on full power and wait... and wait... and wait.
Coolant
For you, it's a cool beer on a hot summer day – for the engine, it's coolant. It's always worth having this in stock.
Antifreeze
If you want to use liquid windscreen wiper fluid even in the deepest winter, there's no way around antifreeze. This stuff also comes in handy if the concentration of antifreeze in the coolant is too low.
Gloves
If you don't have a garage and have to leave your car outside all year round, you'll be happy to have a pair of gloves at hand in your car. The steering wheel can get so cold in winter that your fingers may not survive it without.
Sunglasses
I’ve already described this scenario in detail. Keep a pair of sunglasses in your car and you'll never be squinting again.
My life in a nutshell? On a quest to broaden my horizon. I love discovering and learning new skills and I see a chance to experience something new in everything – be it travelling, reading, cooking, movies or DIY.
