4 Things You Didn’t Know About Your Car

We all know that Americans LOVE their cars.  From the classic pickup, to the economical sedan, we all have some type of affinity toward the vehicles we drive.  It’s always good to know even a little bit about your vehicle including a few factoids we’ve laid out.  So, without further ado, here are 5 things you DIDN’T know about your vehicle:

1 – Think your car has the power of 200 horses under that hood?  Well, it’s more like 285.  Why?  It’s because the average horse can only pull about as much as 70% of the measure of one horsepower unit.

2 – Your car has a mini computer under the hood. This computer can tell technicians at our dealership of any diagnose issues you have, it can also connect wirelessly to download updates and contact the manufacturer in case of issues (on newer models).

3 – Gas in America is SUPER cheap.  Yes, so stop complaining.  In most countries, gas prices are twice as much a gallon or more.  Plus, you pay way more for other staples like coffee. A gallon of Starbucks coffee would run you almost ten times what a gallon of gas costs. If you want to trade a gallon of gas for a gallon of good coffee, head on down to your local auto shop. We’re certain they’ll take that deal in a heartbeat.

4 – Cars are a serious harm to animals.  These animals also pose a hazard to cars and drivers, causing accidents that require expensive auto repair and injuries.  In fact, car drivers kill more deer every year than hunters do, by quite a lot.

Do you have any facts that most drivers wouldn’t know of?  Feel free to comment below!

How to Change a Flat Tire

Imagine driving you car down a rural road on your way home from work.  Your favorite song is blaring on the radio, and you finally feel a sense of ease from a busy day.  At your favorite part of the song, you hear a loud pop, then the slow roll of a popped tire as you cruise to the median.  First, you make sure that you’ve steered clear of any hazards.  Then, you realize that your front left tire has become a disheveled piece of rubber.  Hands on your hips, foot tapping the ground, you take a long sigh, but not one of relief, one of frustration.  Darn! A flat tire.

Now, if you own a vehicle with run-flat tires or a low tire pressure warning system, you most likely won’t have to deal with these frustrations, if you don’t own those options, you’re in luck.  We’ve got a step-by-step guide to helping you change that tire.

1.    Get your tools – find your car’s spare tire, jack and tire iron.  The spare is usually in the trunk under the floor mat, or in a minivan mounted on the back of the tailgate or underneath the vehicle.

2.    Check air pressure- if you have an air pressure gauge check the tire’s pressure on the spare, hopefully it should be fine.

3.    Remove flat tire- MAKE SURE CAR IS IN GEAR OR PARK, and that the emergency break is set. Also, make sure your car is on a flat surface.

4.    Use the tire iron- (the L shaped bar that fits over the wheel lugs) to loosen each lug.  They are usually very tight, so use a little force, they should loosen after a couple tries.  Leave the lugs loose and move the jack under the car (shown on directions of jack).  Raise the jack until it contacts the car’s frame.  Continue to expand it.

5.    Once the tire is completely raised off the ground, remove the wheel lugs completely.

6.    Take the spare tire and line it up over the wheel studs, you’ll have to hold up the tire and try to line up the holes in the wheel. One tip is to balance the tire on your foot while you move it into position.   Once done, the lugs should screw on easily. Once each of them is snug and you can't tighten them any further by hand, use the tire iron to finish the job.

7.    Lower the jack- carefully, and then pull the jack away from the vehicle.  Once the spare tire is on, carefully lower the jack. Pull the jack away from the vehicle. The final step is to tighten down the lugs completely. The reason you tighten the lugs now is that the tire is on the ground and it won't rotate around like it would if it was still hanging in the air.  

Congrats, you’ve just changed a flat tire!!

6 Things to tell your insurance agent that could lower your bill

Recently I moved from a major city in which public transportation was my most logical means to get around.  (Perhaps you can relate?) Since I was no longer privy to public transpo.  I decided to lease one of our fine vehicles. Now, I’ll admit, insurance was the one thing I hadn’t researched before my purchase.  So needless to say two months later I realized I was getting hosed.  Has this happened to you?  Well I quickly came up with a game plan that might help to save you some money.  Read on to learn more.

1.)  Since I hadn’t been in an auto accident in over 2 years I began my negotiation there.  The agent looked at my record and gave me a discount.  I’ve become aware that insurance agents are on a “Don’t ask, don’t tell” mentality.

2.)  I am definitely over 25, so I was under the impression that I shouldn’t be paying more than when I first started driving.  The agent told me that policies go up and down as we age.  I pressed a little and was able to persuade the agent that I should be rewarded for the fact that I have never had a car accident in the entire 31 years I’d been driving and that my maturity shouldn’t be a benefit.  Moral: A little sniveling and groveling can put a little extra money in your back pocket!

3.)  Since I was leasing the car; I was allotted 12K miles per year.  I was a perfect candidate for a lease since I only drove to work and back less than 10 miles each day.    I asked again if there were any special rates for someone driving with that mileage that low.  The agent took off another chunk of money.  Moral: Getting lower insurance rates could be fun!

4.)  He asked if I had airbags all over the car and an alarm system.  I replied well most cars are built with airbags aren’t’ they?  I’m sure that my sarcasm was far from welcome. However,  I did purchase LoJack, which eliminated that hit.  Pow! Take that Insurer!

5.)  Next I asked if I was being charged for my credit?  The insurance agent explained that I was being charged additional fees for not having insurance for the past 2 years.  When I explained to him that I didn’t own a car for two years I was told that didn’t matter.  (Apparently you should buy insurance for invisible cars or insure air?).  I pleaded my case and explained that I had good credit and felt that this was unacceptable treatment.  Cha Ch’ing! They lowered my rate once again.

6.)  Last but not least; a big pet peeve of mine is drinking and driving.  Since I have never and I mean NEVER, gotten busted for DUI I politely asked the rep if I could get rewarded for having never gotten one of these offenses.   After the harps stopped playing and I took off my halo, the agent came back with a new payment that was $185 cheaper per month! 

Last moral: Ask and Ye shall receive.  I could have saved myself $688 had I done my research first.  While we don’t endorse insurance companies I am hoping that this might help save you some serious cash.  It never hurts to try!

For more information on Automotive Issues contact us at: 720-746-2697

Top Automotive Myths

Movies, water cooler discussions and urban legends have created a lot of myths when it comes to the automotive industry.  In today’s blog, we debunk (we love that word) a lot of these automotive follies in our newest post. Enjoy!

Myth - Engine oil should be changed every 3000 miles.  -  The newest engines perform at optimal performance for an extended period of time.  Consult your owners’ manual and trust the engineers who designed the engines, not the fast-lube industry marketing folks who advocate 3000-mile changes.

Myth – Placing a potato into the exhaust pipe will stop the engine – a potato pressed into the exhaust pip will shoot out wen the engine starts running!

Myth – Sugar in the gas tank will ruin the engine – False!  Sugar doesn’t dissolve in gasoline nor does does it mix I added as a liquid.  It just sits at the bottom of the gas tank.  If a ton of sugar was poured into the gas tank then it would eventually clog the fuel lines or filters, thus stopping the engine but it could take compressed air to blow it out.

Myth - Aftermarket oil and fuel additives work well and are worth the money - Reality: No, they don’t work well, and they’re not worth the money. TV and magazine ads demonstrating dramatic results fail to mention that the conditions shown in the ads don’t exist in every-day engine operation.

These are just a few myths from the automotive industry.  What’s one you’ve heard recently?

How to buy a car like a celebritaunt

When it comes to celebrities and their automobiles one would assume that the only vehicles that your favorite movie star drives, would be a Bentley or Rolls Royce.  It might fascinate you to know that our “celebutantes” like Katy Perry and guys like Robert Downey Jr, and Mark Zuckerberg drive the cool and practical vehicles just like you.  So what are their buying patterns?  What would make them choose vehicles in this category?  Do you think that these individuals lease or pay cash for their cars? Are celebs as concerned with insuring their vehicles as you might be? In this blog, you might discover some points on how and why celebrities make their choices.

One of the choices a celeb makes is to buy or lease their cars.  One reason they might choose leasing over buying is tax deductions.  They have huge incomes and need the write-offs.  So what better way to get a tax deduction than to lease your car?  Besides the idea that they have very busy schedules, and not much time for servicing their cars, they are able to write off a large portion of the vehicle. The other aspect is the warranties on leased vehicles.    With leasing programs vehicles are never out of warranty. This is one less thing for them to be concerned with.   If you haven’t leased a car yet, you might want to find out how to never pay for scheduled service again by leasing your car.  Celebs are very smart on leasing or purchasing their cars, or so it seems.

How is it that they are so smart? Most of these individuals have accountants and financial planners and although money may not seem like an issue and we would guess that then can purchase whatever they want.  However, the fact is their entourage of executives supporting their careers maintains their financial status. They do this by saving them as much money as they can.  We can learn a lot about the auto world by following the famous or their CPA’s.   These braziliant peeps pay cash for used vehicles too.  If you were researching a vehicle for your boss,  “The Biebs” you might learn that a vehicle depreciates in value by 20%.  So your advice to the teen heartthrob would be possibly paying cash. Bieber might give you a raise if you were still trying to save him money. However, advising him on insuring his car is equally important?

When it comes to insuring a car, high achievers have to follow the same rules as well as the rest of us. Just because they have star power doesn’t mean they get away with breaking the law. But what you may not have known is they often have to pay higher insurance rates because of their famous status.  Besides people like Lindsay and her many car accidents, these individuals are often chased by paparazzi making them high risk motorists. On the other hand, these wealthy individuals often pay higher premiums due to auto theft.  Auto theft is more prominent in this demographic.

So not only are these normal individuals, they have the same types of concerns and issues as you do when it comes to purchasing, leasing, and insuring a vehicle.

Here is a list of some celebs and their smart not stuffy auto’s. Perhaps your brand is included?

Mark Zuckerberg can often be seen in his wife’s Acura TSX

Katy Perry drives an Audi A5

Skater Rob Dyrdek just gave away his “Urban Assault Vehicle” Chevy Tahoe

Sarah Jessica Parker drives her children around in a Honda Odyssey.

Jeff Bridges is the Spokesperson for Hyundai

Transformers Josh Duhamel tools around in his GMC Sierra truck.

Angela Lansbury likes to shop in her Kia Soul

Robert Downey Jr. gets serious with the Nissan GT-R

Andy Garci was just on the British show Top Gear for test driving a Suzuki Aerio

Julia Roberts enjoys trips in her Toyota Prius

As flamboyant as these famous people can be, they are also savvy, smart, and practical just like you! 

Watch for our blog next week and don’t forget to like us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. 

Tips For Extending Your Vehicle Life

In 2013, keeping your vehicle in tip-top shape is a breeze with our services at the dealership.  You’re taken care of in a way that’s almost uncanny to someone who’s not used to our all –star treatment.  We’ll wash your car, maintain it during routine work and take care of you every step of the way.  We love our drivers, and as consumers we make it as effortless as possible to make sure you’re getting the best service.  In today’s blog, we’re discussing some cool tips for your daily routine.  When you’re not at the dealership, we’re providing quick and effective ways to stay above the status quo.  Check them out: 

Read your Owner’s Manual – This is a crucial, fan! Mark down your mile markers when you need to make checkups on your car (or check out your scheduled maintenance).  

Windshield Wipers – Simply buy them and follow the instructions to install them.  If you need help, we’re only a couple miles away ☺

Keep Tires Inflated – Having all four of your tires inflated properly can increase your mileage up to 3.3 % according to the U.S. Department of Energy. 

Changing Your Oil – Having scheduled oil changes at our automotive dealership is crucial to the health of your vehicle.  This is one type of preventative maintenance that can do wonders to extend the life of your car.  Oil changes greatly reduce the risk of engine problems down the road.  

Check Your Headlights – It’s easy to overlook a burned out headlight.  Enlist the help of a friend to walk around your vehicle to look for any light bulbs that aren’t burning brightly. 

Air Filter – Replace your air filter at least twice a year.  This is preventative car maintenance keeps you running smoothly and quietly.

Battery Check - In the winter, corrosion can build up quickly in your car’s battery.  Each spring or summer, check the battery’s posts and cables so that your car will start quickly for you every time you use it.

Be sure to come into our Automotive Dealership, we’ll be happy to assist you! 

Our Favorite Instagram Photos of All-Time

Once in a while, a photo comes along that defines our brand, our goals and our automotive tenacity to the tee.  

For those not familiar with Instagram, Instagram is an online photo-sharing and social networking service that enables its users to take a picture, apply a digital filter to it, and share it on a variety of social networking services, including its own. A distinctive feature is that it confines photos to a square shape, similar to Kodak Instamatic and Polaroid images, in contrast to the 4:3 aspect ratio typically used by mobile device cameras.

By December 2010, Instagram had 1 million registered users.[50] In June 2011 Instagram announced it had 5 million users[51] and it passed ten million in September of the same year.[52] In April 2012, it was announced that over 30 million accounts were set up on Instagram.

In today’s blog, we’re providing our choice for the TOP Instagram photos of all time: