Safety Tips

Tips on how to keep your car safe while you are shopping!
  
While you're having the time of your life, shopping around and looking for great deals things might be quite different on the outside. Parking lots can be quite a dangerous place for innocent cars. Edmunds has put together a great list of tips to keep you, your car and your belongings safe!

• Avoid leaving shopping bags or valuables visible

The trunk is the best place to place your goodies-filled shopping bags because it makes your items invisible from the outside which will definitely keep thieves away.
If you own a hatchback, crossover, station-wagon or SUV, you should definitely be using your Cargo Cover to keep your things safe. If you don't have one make sure you contact our Parts and Service Department, we will be glad to order one for you.

• Don't be afraid to drop-off the expensive items at home

Your home is usually a much  better alternative to your car to keep and store your gifts. Make sure you make some stops at the house to drop off those high-priced gifts for the lucky ones. Even if it's a few minutes away, you're better off stopping by than taking the risk to lose it all.

• Use your interior storage to keep your cabin clean

Don't leave accessories that will tell thieves that you own the latest smartphone, or that you have an expensive GPS. Make sure you put as much as you can away in the little storage compartments of your car. 

• Open your car safely when you're going home!

Most cars are now open with a remote, the great thing about that is that it's really convenient. But, it's important to remember that you shouldn't open your car from too far away or to open all the doors if you only need the driver's door to open. This will prevent strangers from entering your car without you seeing it.

• Stay focused on the road and your surroundings

Unfortunately, you won't be the only one shopping intensely. Make sure you use Backup camera (if available) to detect any activity behind your car as you back out of your spot. Also, take a second to make sure your phone is properly connected via Bluetooth so that you can make/receive calls while staying focused on the road.

Be sure to visit our website if you're looking for a new car or accessories for the holidays.
Also, connect with us on Facebook and Twitter for instant updates and exclusive news.

Here is our Top 5 GPS Applications for iPhone and iPad!

If you're a little lost and don't know what GPS App to get for your next road trip, keep on reading, we have some great comparisons coming up!

Everyone is going to be taking long road trips during the Thanksgiving and Christmas Season, so we figured it was the right time to compare GPS Applications for iPhone and iPad.

As we all know the great master Google has released Google Maps for iPhone about a year ago, and this was life changing due to difficulties getting somewhere using the old Native Maps (by Apple) on the iPhone. This revolutionized the use of the iPhone for road trips. 

Our number one favorite GPS app is...:

1. Google Maps


Google Maps is a voice guided turn-by-turn GPS navigation app developed by Google. Discover new places, tour cities with 360-degree street view, and sign in to locations. Save past searches and favorite places. Get live traffic updates and find public transit, biking and walking directions.

2. Apple Maps 

With Apple Maps, you get real-time traffic information to calculate your ETA. Maps gives you details on what’s causing a backup, so you can tell if there’s a major incident or just a temporary slowdown. And if traffic’s a mess, Maps offers alternative routes to save you time.

When you’re driving or walking, Maps helps you find your way to your destination with turn-by-turn spoken directions. As you approach a turn, Maps speaks directions, so you can keep your eyes on the road. And the screen turns into a 3D perspective of the road ahead. When you enter into a turn, the viewing angle changes dynamically to show you where to go. If you miss a turn, don’t worry. Maps automatically reroutes you and updates your ETA. And all along the way, large signs and arrows guide you in the right direction and let you know how long it’s going to take to get there — even if your screen is locked.

Pro Tip: A great feature on this one is that you can transfer your directions from your Mac directly to your iPhone or iPad!

3. Waze

 

Waze is a community based mapping and navigation app developed by Waze Inc. Waze features voice guided navigation, and learns your frequent destinations. Report accidents, police traps, road closures and more. Earn points each time you contribute road info and move up the ranks. Very cool feature! 

4. Mapquest

Mapquest is a voice guided turn-by-turn GPS navigation app developed by AOL Inc. Search for new restaurants, explore new places. and look for gas stations. Mapquest displays live traffic conditions, and will reroute you around traffic jams. Share your current location with friends using email, text messages, Facebook, or Twitter.


5. Scout

With Scout GPS, users can avoid getting stuck in traffic. See traffic-based commute times, street level traffic, nearby places, and more. Users can easily report traffic congestion, police, road hazards and accidents. Discover new restaurants, food, live music, movies, and more. Save your favorite routes and get personalized GPS voice guidance.

Seize The Day After Thanksgiving With These Tips

Whether you were one of the millions of Black Friday shoppers in the U.S. last year, or you are joining in for the first time, being well organized is key. A good plan will help you prioritize and check items off your list. Here are six tips to seize big savings the day after Thanksgiving:

1. Do your homework -  Jot down your gift list so you know what you need to purchase. Then take the very important step of determining your budget. Get a jump on sales by signing up for email alerts at your favorite retailers and liking their Facebook pages.
2. Compare prices, products and deals - Research the normal retail price of the items you want, the best sale price to date, then the best Black Friday advertised price at each store in your shopping area. Keep in mind the best deal isn’t always on Black Friday.
3. Make a game-day plan - By making the list, you can determine where each item you want will be the cheapest and what time the stores are planning to open. Then, you can map out the most practical travel route.
4. Avoid crowds if you can - Many department stores have limited-time offers, or items only available until they are sold out. If your list includes those items, you may feel the need to be at the store early. However, that’s not always necessary. If you don’t have a particular need for hot-ticket items, arrive at the store a few hours after opening to avoid the morning rush. To avoid crowds altogether, shop online. Some big-name stores have specials that will take place online at the same time as they do at the actual stores.
5. Use your smartphone - Instead of carrying lists and advertising flyers for each store, simply install checklist apps. You’ll have all your gift lists and prices in one convenient place. Upload flyers when needed to double-check or dispute prices.
6. Stick to your plan - Be sure not to let the frenzy of the day affect your judgment. Don't buy on impulse or under pressure and decide in advance what you want and what you can afford. No matter how big a bargain something may seem, once you’ve spent your budgeted amount, put the credit card away.

Keep Your Community Safe With These Halloween Driving Tips

Help protect trick-or-treaters by following these driving safety tips on Halloween, or on the night your community hosts Halloween activities. Be especially careful between 4 and 8 p.m., when most severe vehicle/young pedestrian collisions happen.

• Drive slowly, and don't pass stopped vehicles. The driver might be dropping off children.
   
• Park your mobile phone. Avoid distractions by waiting until you've stopped to call, text, or surf. Get more mobile phone safety tips.
   
• Watch for children darting into the street. Kids can cross the street anywhere, and most young pedestrian deaths happen at spots other than intersections.
   
• Yield to young pedestrians. Children might not stop, either because they don't see your vehicle approaching or don't know how to safely cross the street.

• Communicate with other drivers. Always use your turn signals. And if you have to pull over to drop off or pick up your kids, turn on your hazard lights.

And, to keep your own trick-or-treaters safe:

• Teach them how to safely cross streets. They should look both ways and cross only at corners and crosswalks.
   
• Consider indoor community Halloween programs for younger kids. Some communities also offer to help you inspect your kids' treats to make sure they're safe to eat.
   
• Brighten them up. Give them flashlights and glow sticks, and/or use reflective tape on their costumes, so drivers can see them.

2013-2014's Safest Cars: 2013 Kia Optima

Kia's affordable midsize sedan is impressing consumers all over the country, and now Kia will tout the Optima's IIHS Top Safety Pick+ recognition. The Optima scores an "acceptable" rating in the small overlap frontal crash results and "good" ratings in all other categories, thanks to its reinforced body with side-impact protection beams, active head restraints and seatbelt pre-tensioners.

October is Fall Car Care Month!

Whether you do it yourself or take your car to a professional service technician, the Car Care Council recommends these four proactive steps to make sure your car is ready for winter driving.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/10/01/5784448/five-tips-for-fall-car-care-month.html#storylink=cpy

1. Battery – Keep the battery connections clean, tight and corrosion-free. Cold weather is hard on batteries, so it's wise to check the battery and charging system. Because batteries don't always give warning signs before they fail, it is advisable to replace batteries that are more than three years old.  
2. Heater, Defrosters and Wiper Blades – Check that the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system are working properly as heating and cooling performance is critical for interior comfort and for safety reasons, such as defrosting. Wiper blades that are torn, cracked or don't properly clean your windshield should be replaced. As a general rule, wiper blades should be replaced every six months. When changing the blades, be sure to also check the fluid level in the windshield washer reservoir.
3. Tires – Check the tires, including the tire pressure and tread depth. Uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment. Tires should also be checked for bulges and bald spots. If snow and ice are a problem in your area, consider special tires designed to grip slick roads. During winter, tire pressure should be checked weekly as tires lose pressure when temperatures drop.
4. Brakes – Have the brake system checked, including brake linings, rotors and drums. Brakes are critical to vehicle safety and particularly important when driving on icy or snow-covered roads.

Use These Easy Tips To Ensure Your New Car Keeps Running Like Brand New

Being car considerate shouldn’t stop after the break-in. Drive with care every day and your car will reward you with longer intervals without repair.

• Do not race your car’s engine during start-up.This is a quick way to add years of wear to your engine, especially if it’s cold outside.
• Accelerate slowly when you begin your drive.The most wear to the engine and drive train occurs in the first ten to twenty minutes of operation.
• Warming the engine by letting it idle in the driveway is not a smart idea.The engine doesn’t operate at its peak temperature, resulting in incomplete fuel combustion, soot deposits on cylinder walls, oil contamination, and ultimately damaged components.
• Put less strain on your engine and automatic transmission by shifting to neutral at red lights. Otherwise, the engine is still working to push the car even while it’s stopped.
• Avoid driving at high speeds and accelerating quickly, especially when it’s very hot or very cold outside. Such driving behavior will result in more frequent repairs.
• Extend the life of your tires with careful driving. Observe posted speed limits. Avoid fast starts, stops, and turns. Avoid potholes and objects on the road. Don’t run over curbs or hit the tire against the curb when parking. And, of course, don’t burn rubber.
• When turning your steering wheel, don’t hold it in an extreme right or left position for more than a few seconds. Doing so can damage the power-steering pump.
• Consolidate your short driving trips. Most of the wear and tear — as well as the pollution your car generates — takes place in the first few minutes of driving. Doing several errands at once, during low traffic hours if possible, will keep your engine happier longer.