Glenelg by the water
Anzac Highway and the tram
Anzac Highway runs 8.7 km from the south-west corner of the city to the roundabout at Colley Terrace, and the tram, on a route that dates back to 1873, runs down Jetty Road to Moseley Square. If you take the tram to town, the car may sit for days, and RACT says a car left unused for long periods is likely to have its battery fail sooner.
Salt on the bay
On the shore of Gulf St Vincent, salt spray settles on cars parked near the beach, and salt makes iron rust faster. Paint chips are where body rust starts; underneath, the exhaust and the brake parts are worth a look at service time.
Boats on the Patawalonga
The Patawalonga, just to the north, is a dammed lake with a lock to the sea and a popular spot for boating. Backing a trailer into salt water is hard on its wheel bearings and brakes, so rinse the trailer and the tow car's underside afterwards.
Apartment car parks
Glenelg has hotels and high-rise apartment buildings. If your car lives in a building's car park, ask the building manager before a mobile mechanic comes, and expect a bigger job to mean moving the car to a workshop.
Short trips and diesels
A car that only goes up Jetty Road and back, or waits while you take the tram, does little driving. On a diesel, RAA says short trips can block the particulate filter, and it suggests a weekly drive of 20 to 30 minutes at highway speed. Exhaust and DPF repairs in Adelaide explains the warning light.
For a routine service, car service in Adelaide covers what should be done, and mobile mechanics in Adelaide what can be done where the car is parked.
Our take
We'd tell the mechanic the car lives by the beach and ask for a look underneath at each service. If it's a diesel that mostly potters around Glenelg, we'd give it a proper highway run every week or so.