Also this year we bring you together with our partner KUNGS through the winter time.
This year it's even a little more detailed than in previous years, so look forward to tips and tricks on the topics of “car care in autumn”, “car care in winter”, “winter check for the car”, “car accessories” and today we'll shed light on them just take a quick look at the ice scraper market.
Our media partner KUNGS provided us with the evaluation of a forsa survey and an info graphic to get us started. In October 2018, exactly 1.013 drivers in Germany were surveyed on behalf of the manufacturer from Finland on the topic of “driving in winter”.
Brrrrr, that's cold!
Who doesn't know it, you're already late in the morning anyway, you run to the car and spot a vehicle that you first have to clear of snow and ice. The mood can sometimes sink and 21% of those surveyed admit that they sometimes find themselves in a time crunch. Nevertheless: Scrape the windows properly, take the 5-10 minutes of “winter work” early in the morning and keep an overview.
Engine running in the state?
Leaving the engine running while stationary is bad for the environment and the engine. It feels like everyone has done it before, 59% of those surveyed even admitted it. In this case, we are talking about environmental pollution, higher levels of pollutants and noise pollution. It is not permitted to “unnecessarily operate” engines that produce noise or exhaust gases.
No joke: “Leaving the engine running” is a crime, it can be punished with a fine, it damages the engine and does not have the desired effect.
Sure, you want to have it warm up quickly, but for the engine it is better to start directly after starting the engine, but you have to scrape the discs free and you need the right ice scraper for that.
“Hey man, where’s my ice scraper?”
If you don't drive your ice scraper in your car all year round, you'll probably have asked yourself the question "Where's my ice scraper" when winter arrives? We come from the generation when “cassette cases” or “CD cases” were used temporarily and briefly as ice scrapers. Let's face it: it doesn't work in the long term, takes far too long and leaves nasty scratches.
We actually recommend putting a decent ice scraper in the vehicle “before it’s too late”. Ice scrapers from KUNGS can be found in well-stocked specialist shops, in hardware stores or in larger supermarkets.
Nine out of ten car drivers put the ice scraper into their car, the 10, even before the onset of winter. do we get that too, right?
Ice scraper or disc deicer?
By the way, we expressly recommend scraping the windows free. Spray-on window de-icers tend to form streaks and re-ice up. Especially in the dark, this poses risks that it is better not to take. We don't want to spread the myth that window de-icers are bad for car paint; all currently available window de-icers have already been tested for this. But re-icing and the formation of streaks are such serious “defects” in de-icing that we recommend using a classic ice scraper if there is no auxiliary heater or garage available.
“I don’t want to be cold in the morning!”
Who wants to scratch windows in the morning, in the cold, in the dark? Probably hardly anyone has this “fetish”, but it has to be done, even if it means your clothes get wet and maybe even a little dirty. The cars get very dirty in winter, unfortunately that doesn't happen, but we have a tip to combat the cold:
Ice scraper with glove against the cold!
KUNGS has the ARCTIS-IS ice scraper with glove in the range, this one has a 10 cm wide scraper edge with ice teeth. The glove is waterproof and has an extra warm and soft lining.
An ice scraper with a glove does not freeze you from scratching in the morning, as 51% of respondents say that they get cold hands quickly in the morning and one in four disturbs the cold in the car itself.
The speed must also fit!
But not only the cold is annoying. 76% of the surveyed drivers are annoyed about the non-adapted speed of the other road users and we would like to give you some advice:
Adjust your speed! Even if good winter tires and a possible all-wheel drive give you the feeling of safety: You also have to be able to brake the vehicle again. Especially in winter there are dangers around every corner and top. Black ice, snow, frozen moisture or road users who have only scratched a peephole and overlook you. On slippery roads, the braking distance is extended many times, driving ahead and an adjusted speed is the be-all and end-all - by the way not only in winter.
Peephole goodbye!
19% of respondents have admittedly even scratched a peephole. Again, we do not give you the well-intentioned advice this to do. Always scratch all the windows clean, with our own ice scraper test we recommend to use a scraper with a broom to sweep snow and ice from the windows. As the cars get bigger, longer, and taller, you'll be able to get the best out of your ice scrapers with style (and broom).
By law, it is obligated to completely clear the windows of snow and ice, which also applies to the roof and the entire lighting device. Here threaten next to the danger also fine. So get up a few minutes earlier in winter.
The right ice scraper for every vehicle!
In the trade, there is a suitable ice scraper for (almost) every vehicle. The perfect ice scraper should, as the forsa survey, which was commissioned by the Finnish car accessory manufacturer KUNGS, fulfill the following points: The perfect ice scraper should efficiently, completely and gently remove ice from the car / car windows without removing the paint or to damage the car windows. In addition, the perfect ice scraper should be unbreakable and durable. A long shelf life is also required for a perfect ice scraper, and 39% of respondents said that manufacturing under environmentally friendly conditions is also a plus. The design was / is considered secondary.
Big cars need longer ice scrapers
In our opinion, the ice scraper must also fit the car, with larger cars such as SUVs or vans we definitely recommend an ice scraper with telescopic pole and an ice scraper with broom, so you can quickly rid the windows and roof from the ice / snow.
We continue…
The condition of the vehicle is also important in winter, which is why in the next posts we will give you tips and tricks on the topics of “car care in autumn”, “car care in winter”, “winter check for the car” and then We will introduce you to “car accessories” that you can use in winter.