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?

10 Surprising Car Facts (2013 Edition)

We’re car nerds. We can’t help it.  The new car smell entices our senses, we love long drives to nowhere and we sporadically wince at the occasional fender bender. When your passion for cars extends past your daily commute, you know you have a problem.  Since you’re reading today’s blog, you also have a love for these giant hunks of medal.  Well, don’t worry; we ‘ve packed some awesome facts about the car industry in today’s blog to take care of that itch.  And by itch, we mean that insatiable appetite for everything automotive related.  Enjoy!  

• Did you know the priciest city to park your car is in London?  Parking in central London can cost up to £578.87 per month (that’s about $900 American!). Plus you’ll have to pay the congestion charge just to get there. WOW
•  On average, every American will spend about two entire weeks of their lifetime stopped at red lights. 
• The first speeding ticket ever issued was in 1902, when most cars could barely reach 45mph.  Talk about speed demons!
• The most expensive car ever sold was the 1931 Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe, which sold in 1987 for a huge $8,700,000.
• The largest speeding fine ever given was $1,000,000 to a Swedish man who was clocked doing 180mph in Switzerland. Unfortunately for him Switzerland has no fixed penalties for speeding; instead the pricing of a ticket is based on the speed and the salary of the driver in question. Jeez.
• In 1972 the average speed driven by cars in Los Angeles was 60mph. By 1982 that number has now dropped to 17mph. Wow.
• Do you use gas to fill up your vehicle?  Next time, try cappuccino!  The ‘Car-Purccino’ costs around 50 times more to run than the standard fuel powered cars, and uses up around 56 espressos per mile!
• Don’t forget to check out our quality new and used cars as well as service!

Are you a fan of car trivia? Here are some awesome trivia tidbits for tomorrow’s water cooler!

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:  

App of the Week: Vlingo

The daily commute can put a damper on your attitude.  Lets face it, sometimes traffic is the worst thing in your existence.  To make life easier, there’s an app for that.  No it doesn’t fly you over traffic in a hovercraft vehicle equipped with back massager, but it does act as your personal assistant.  According to Vlingo: “Tell your phone what to do!  The Vlingo Virtual Assistant turns your words into action.  Vlingo combines voice to text technology with its "intent engine" to help you quickly complete your desired action.   Simply speak to your phone or type a command through the ActionBar to get just about anything done while on the go.

Looking for directions to a restaurant?  Need to do a quick mobile search for information on bee allergies?  Can’t find the number for a plumber?  Want to update your social status to tell everyone about your new puppy?  Maybe you need to send a quick text to a colleague because you’re running late for a meeting?  Or perhaps you’re looking for a safer alternative to texting while driving?  Vlingo can do all of these things for you, and so much more!  

Vlingo has accurate voice recognition technology, speed and intelligence to help you stay connected with the people, businesses and activities that are important to you. “

The best part?  The app is free.  It’s a safe alternative for getting info while on the road while keeping your family and yourself safe.  Check it out right here: http://www.vlingo.com/.  Vlingo is available on iOS, Android Blackberry, Nokia, and Windows smartphone platforms.

#

Automotive Advertising

Safe Driving Tips for the Holidays

It’s an exciting and hectic time.  If you’ve been running around frantically, searching for the best gift, buying decorations, or trying to balance work and home life lately, you’re not alone.  The holidays are a time of love, compassion and the occasional MAYHEM.  While you’re out and about this time of year, take precaution.  Traffic is heavy this time of year and its important to still keep your driving skills up to par.  Here are some tips on maintaining your safety this holiday season.

Vehicle Maintenance

Get a tune up and make sure your car is prepared for travel if you’re taking a road trip.  This is CRUCIAL, especially regarding winter driving conditions.

Restrain Yourself Properly

This should be the norm.  Remember, the rear seat is the safest place for any children to ride.

Stay Alert and Energized

Take plenty of breaks and don’t push to meet unrealistic schedules like finishing all of your holiday shopping in a few hours.  If you feel yourself getting tired, pull over into a rest area or business, and get out and stretch.  If that doesn’t work, find a place to rest.  These crashes most often occur during the late night/early morning hours and the late afternoon hours to drivers who are sleepy.

Keep Speed Down

Hey, Ricky Bobby, give yourself plenty of time and distance to react to the traffic around you.  Let impatient and aggressive drivers pass you.

Choose a Designated Driver

There will be tons of intoxicated drivers on the roadways.  If you absolutely have to drive during this time of year always have a designated driver.

So, do you have any tips?  Feel free to comment below!

Drive safely this holiday season with our blog tips!

Top Reasons Drivers Are Pulled Over

Picture driving down the interstate with your top down while the wind is hitting you at a perfect angle, throwing a soothing, cool air through your flowing hair. Then, out of the blue, you hear a clearly distinct cop car sound-off behind you, causing you to jump out of your comfort zone into an all out panic.  You’ve been here before; you sift into low gear and head for the median, realizing you were going over the speed limit.  It’s happened to ALL of us.  Yes, including us at the dealership.  In today’s blog, we're discussing the top reasons why people are pulled over by the cops.  Feel free to share your comments below.

1. Speeding – this entry is the most predictable, and the most common.  The faster you drive, the shorter your reaction time and control.  Braking distances also increase as speed builds, and it takes about 120 feet for a vehicle to stop when it’s traveling 60 mph.  Our advice? STOP driving so fast!

2. Illegal Phone Use – Talking and texting on the phone while you’re driving is extremely dangerous to your safety and the safety of those around you. Although just a couple of states have banned phone use in the car, more than 30 have banned texting behind the wheel.  “I’ll just send a quick text.” Is the usual response, but individuals should drive as if their life depends on it.  "The really horrific stories about texting make the news," a traffic expert says, "But we see accidents and even just fender-benders from it every day."

3. Hazardous Driving – these practices include stop sign and stoplight violations, illegal U-turn’s improper lane changes, failures to yield and unsafe speeds.  This also includes shaving, eating and even changing clothes.  We can’t imagine trying to pull off a shirt while having one foot on the gas pedal!

4. Equipment Violations – Individuals who have heavily tinted windows, burned-out headlights, broken windshields, expired tags and loud exhaust modifications are prone to the bait of State police officers.  Always check your equipment to make sure that it meets road standards.

5. Following Too Closely/Improper Lane Changes – Police are on high alert for these current violations.  On the freeway especially, it’s important to keep a safe distance behind the vehicle in front of you.  Add this to cellphone use and you’re brewing a recipe for disaster.  Driving too close equates to a slower reaction time.  So keep at least three car lengths away, that should give you more than enough time to react

An improper lane change is another phrase for “cutting someone off” by changing lanes without looking or indicating.  A failure to signal can add fuel to the fire, but it won’t initiate a traffic stop—just because the failure to signal is SO common.  However, speedily changing lanes without indication that you’re doing so can result in an accident and subsequent ticket.

So, Fans please practice safe driving habits and feel free to Comment below!