Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Dealership Dictionary Vol. 1



Hey Fans! There are a lot of acronyms, sayings, and verbiage used in the auto industry nowadays.  Sometimes, the savvy buyers can pinpoint exactly what they mean.  On the other hand, buyers may be confused as to what these certain words mean.  In today’s blog, we’re providing a quick list to reference before you come in to see us.  We’ll be happy to elaborate!

APR – Annual Percentage Rate: this is a ruler used in comparing the various ways of computing interest or finance charges for all loans

Cap Cost Reduction – refers to any cash the leaseholder may pay upfront, this can include a down payment, trade-in credit, or rebate.

Dealer Trade – This is when a dealer will exchange one of his cars with another dealer to meet a customer’s likes or requirements in color, or model.

Free & Clear – A customer’s trade-in, which has no liens on it.

House Financing – This is a customer’s purchase, which is financed through the dealership

MSRP – Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price of a vehicle.

These are just a few terms that we use in order to make your experience simple, easy, and effective.  For details, don’t hesitate to contact us!

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Sharing the Road with Truckers




Remember that kid in grade school who used his size and authority as a weapon for malice?  It was the snot nosed kid that bullied everyone just because he was bigger?  Yeah?  That’s how I feel sharing the road with 18-wheeler’s.  Without putting every truck driver in the proverbial box, many of them are great drivers and very courteous, but I can’t help but feel my heart rate increase when I’m sharing the highway with one.  In today’s blog, we discuss some things to avoid when sharing the road with truckers.

  1. Riding in trucker blind spots – Trucks have huge blind spots to the right, rear, and left side.  The worst thing a driver can do is chug along in the trucker's blind spot, where he cannot be seen. If you're going to pass a truck, do it and get it over with. Don't sit alongside with the cruise control set 1 mph faster than the truck is traveling.
  2. Never, ever, ever try to sneak into a small gap and then brake and make a turn.  Trucks need 3 times the distance to stop!  Always give yourself more room. No assistance in lane changes – BAD IDEA.  If a trucker is indicating he wants to change lanes, leave room for them to do so.  You can indicate your willingness by flashing your lights. According to "Sharing the Road," a booklet distributed by John Deere Transportation Insurance, the three most common types of accidents involving heavy trucks involve the following:  Crashes caused by the truck's inability to stop in time.2) Crashes caused by a motorist trying to pass a truck on the right while the truck is making a right-hand turn. Also known as the right turn squeeze.3) Crashes caused by a motorist riding in the trucker's blind spots. Use the following rule of thumb: If you cannot see the truck driver in his mirrors, he probably cannot see you.

Be careful, guys! See you soon!



Wednesday, January 16, 2013

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! 

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

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:  




Wednesday, January 2, 2013

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.


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