What to Ask When Buying a Car

Buying a car is a big decision that requires much consideration. We want our customers to feel informed and confident when purchasing a vehicle from our dealership. Below are some questions you should ask when you come in to buy a car.

What is the term (length) of the loan and what is my interest rate?

What mandatory fees do I have to pay?

Does this car make me happy?

Can I have a test drive?

Has the car been damaged?

What's the warranty coverage? Are there any perks like free maintenance?

How much is the car after fees and licensing?

Are there any aftermarket parts or alarms on the car?

How many miles are on the car?

Can you deliver the car? (internet shoppers)

Car Seat Safety Recommendations

Protecting our children is a parent's number one concern. There are many types of car seats to choose from that fit many different cars in different ways. How do you know which to pick? Above is a graphic from safercar.gov depicting the recommended type of car seat by age. For more detailed information, click this link and learn about how to find the safest car seat for your child: http://1.usa.gov/1nw1cEl

Car Jargon Everyone Should Know

ABS

An Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) is a safety feature that helps you to avoid skidding when braking suddenly. An ABS prevents your wheels from locking, allowing you to maintain control of the car.

Alloy Wheels

A generic term used to describe any non-steel road wheel. The most common alloy wheels are cast aluminum. Technically, an alloy is a mixture of two or more metals. These wheels are known for their light weight and strength.
 

Chassis

The chassis is the metal frame that holds all the main parts of car together.

Differential

The gear assembly connected to the drive shaft that permits the wheels to turn at different speeds when going around a corner, while transmitting power from the drive shaft to the wheel axles.
 

Four-wheel drive

A four-wheel drive system allows the engine to power all four wheels simultaneously, instead of the standard two wheels.

Hybrid engine

A hybrid engine is a combination of a traditional petrol engine and a zero-emission electric engine. The car runs off the electric engine at low speeds and when extra power is needed.

RPM

RPM stands for Revs per minute, and measures how hard your engine is working. If your RPM is high, you know your engine is working hard.

Spoiler

An aerodynamic device, normally on the rear of the vehicle, that changes the direction ofairflow in order to reduce lift aerodynamic drag. A spoiler either reduces drag or create a downward force on the car. It is called a spoiler because it "spoils" the normal air flow over the car.

Suspension

A car’s suspension is a system of springs and other parts that sits between the wheels and the frame, allowing the wheels to move independently and absorb the shock of any bumps or unevenness in the road.

Torque

In technical terms, torque is defined as a force used to turn or rotate things. In a car, torque is a measurement of the turning power of the vehicle.

Transmission

The transmission in a car is the gearbox and other mechanical parts that drive the wheels and allow the engine to accelerate through a wide range of different speeds.

Tread

Tread refers to the patterns cut into the rubber on your car’s tyres. Tread helps provide grip on the road, particularly in wet weather.

Diesel Basics: What You Should Know

Diesel is more than 33% more efficient than gasoline is when it comes to your fuel mileage. However, diesel fuel does cost more than gasoline, although it is usually within around 20 cents of the price of regular gasoline.

Diesel needs to be run through a diesel engine, and diesel engines offer more torque than a gasoline engine. Torque allows for great acceleration, which also accounts for the great fuel economy numbers.

Diesel engines are typically louder than gasoline engines, although technologies have been developed that have helped to limit this as much as possible. 

Diesel produces less carbon dioxide, but has been shown to produce carcinogens, which can be just as harmful to the environment. 

The diesel fuel and engine combination can produce better engine performance, although this is lessened when the diesel use is bio-diesel, or other forms of enhanced fuel such as black diesel.

The Worst Things You Can Do To Your Car

 

1. Ignore the Check Engine Light - If the check engine light is on, that means SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH YOUR CAR. Go get it checked out before it costs you thousands of dollars to repair damages! 
2.  Neglect Regular Maintenance - Want your car to last longer? Take care of it.


3. Have Improper Tire Pressure - Improper tire pressure decreases fuel efficiency and speeds up the wear on the tire - both which cost you more money!


4. Let Vehicle Run Low on Fluids - These can be easily checked during scheduled maintenance, are a task that you can do at home, can be checked by professional mechanics, and may be covered under a car's warranty.


5. Using Generic Replacement Parts - Cars are designed to function with the quality parts that they were originally built with.


6. Ignore Transmission Issues - One of the most expensive mistakes you can make. Regular flushing of the transmission fluid lengthens its life and prevents emergencies caused by ignoring transmission maintenance.


7. Not Changing the Oil - Oil lubricates the engine, lengthening its life and preventing damaging build up. It is part of a scheduled maintenance plan and is easy to change.


8. Leaving a Dirty Air Filter - Doesn't cost much to replace in comparison to how much it will if you don't. Both the oxygen sensor and catalytic converter can become damaged if this filter is not replaced.


9. Using Unqualified Mechanic - Though work by an unqualified mechanic may be cheaper, repairs that are not completed properly can be immensely dangerous. Not only can they cause malfunctions but they may result in accidents that can put drivers and passengers at risk of injury.


10. Driving Overheated - Continuing to drive while overheated can eventually cause a crack in the engine block or a blown gasket. Either of these scenarios will costs thousands to repair.

Never Get Another Speeding Ticket!

This FREE app will save you hundreds of dollars in speeding tickets! With Trapster, you can scan your area for any known speed traps, police hang outs, speed cameras or even stop-light cameras. The app uses your iPhone's Wi-Fi location capabilities (think GPS tracking) and you can set it up to give you voice alerts of approaching speed traps. Trapster currently has a network of over 330,000 users world-wide and has reported over 5 million speed traps.

How do I find out the right tire pressure for my car?

Having the correct tire pressure saves you money. It will give you the best gas mileage and most life out of your tires. But how do you know figure out what the right tire pressure is for your car?

On newer cars, you can find the recommended tire pressure listed on a sticker inside the driver’s door. If there’s no sticker on the door, you can usually find the specs in the owner’s manual. Most passenger cars will recommend 32 to 35 psi in the tires when they’re cold. 

Do not inflate your tires to the pressure listed on the tire itself. That number is the maximum pressure the tire can hold, not the recommended pressure for the vehicle.

When you need new tires, come to our dealership and we will set you up the best and right tires for you!