7 Things You Should Have in Your Car

Ok, as an individual who enjoys a tidy workspace, I can understand why you wouldn’t want to be compared to the vehicle equivalent of the individuals on the TV show: “Hoarders.”  We also want you to keep safe while you make your daily commute, so we’re feeling a bit conflicted.  In most cases, your vehicle is well equipped with the necessary tools to run smoothly.  In today’s blog, with help from The Simple Dollar, we provide a list of some extra essentials that could aid you daily.

1.    Owner’s manual This should naturally be in your glove compartment anyway, but you want to make sure that it is indeed in your car.

2.    Maps Keep a detailed map of the state you’re in in your car at all times – or even a current atlas if you have room. Don’t completely rely on a GPS navigation system.

3.    First aid kit (and manual) This can be vital if you’re in an accident and someone has injuries. Slowing down bleeding quickly can mean the difference between walking something off and going into shock.

4.    Flashlight (and extra batteries) Similarly, a flashlight is utterly essential at night if you need to change a tire.

5.    Bottled water This is necessary for sustenance if you get stuck somewhere and have to wait for a while.

6.    Food! Non-perishables, need we say more?

7.    Umbrella stay dry, my friends.

How A Car Engine Works

Ever wondered how an engine truly functions? Check out this animated info graphic that shows the complete running process for a gas and electrical engine.

Infographic designed by Jacob O'Neal

Keep Your Lil’ Ones Safe: Car Rules to Abide By

Remember being strapped in what resembled a parachute harness, in the abysmal backseat?  You’re next to an annoying sibling who feeds off of the pleasure he/she receives when giving you a “wet willy.”  You’re helpless because you can hardly move forward in your newly revamped booster seat, as it crushes your shoulders back into the seat.  It’s the most uncomfortable seat known to man, and at 5 years old it’s like a cage to a wild animal, but when it comes down to it, you’re safe.  Thousands of children’s lives are jeopardized in car related accidents.  In today’s blog we provide a couple tips to keeping your lil ones safe.   

1.    SUVs aren’t safer: It’s BIG, bad, and menacing, but SUVs are no safer than ordinary sedans.  They’re more likely to rollover.  The safest vehicles are low to the ground and larger (station wagons).

2.    A car does NOT have to move to be dangerous: Parked cars are also, surprisingly deadly.  As many as 220 children per year are killed in non-traffic auto accidents.  Some are strangled by a window when they’re leaning out, inadvertently leaning on the rocker-type power window switch.  Other children, when alone, release the emergency brake, setting the car in motion.  Finally, at least 30 kids die each year when their parents leave them in the car and they suffocate from overheating. "Children should never, ever be left alone in an automobile -- not even for a minute," says Terrill Struttmann, executive director of Kids in Cars, an education and advocacy organization he and his wife started after their 2-year-old son was killed by a car set in motion by two kids playing alone inside.

3.    Kids don’t need to be inside a car to be hurt by one:  nearly 400 children are killed each year when they’re hit by an automobile.  ALWAYS keep an eye on your little ones, no matter how many times you’ve warned them to stay out of the streets.  A survey conducted by Safe Kids Worldwide found that a majority of drivers speed in school zones, and that nearly a third violate stop signs in neighborhoods where there are kids.

Do you have any tips of your own?  Feel free to comment below:

A List of Favorite Automotive Blogs

“We read to know that we are not alone.”

― William Nicholson

True.  We read to share experiences, to tell others how we feel about a certain subject and to find meaning in our lives in comparison to those around us.  Car enthusiasts, like you and I, love to read about the new advancements in vehicle tech, the coolest new supercar to hit the market and to understand and develop a sense of where we fit in the world.  When you love cars, it becomes second nature to learn more about them and how they aid us in traveling around the nation.  In today’s blog, we’re providing a list, created by our own dealership, of our favorite automotive blogs.  Enjoy!

Jalopnik – http://www.jalopnik.com - is a cool, fun sister site of Gizmodo.  The auto blog provides breaking news and insight into the automotive industry in a creative and fun way. 

Autoblog – http://www.autoblog.com - The autoblog site is INTENSIVE.  There’s tons of information on specific vehicles and types as well as a handy search menu that allows users to pull up a review by the manufacturer and model.  There’s also a lot of written content and commentary from active users

Consumer Reports – http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/ - Consumer Reports does a great job of providing detailed insight on car ratings, top picks,

The Car Connection – http://www.thecarconnection.com/ - Looking to do some really detailed car research? The Car Connection provides thorough reviews of your favorite vehicles via a Meta rationg each car the best out of 10.  They also provide their LIKES and DISLIKES with each vehicle in their detailed explanation.

Carscoop – http://www.carscoops.com/ - Think you know the automotive industry?  Carscoop is a great site for emerging content.  They’re usually at the head of the pack when it comes to new content, auto shows and over-the-top vehicles.

Kicking Tires – This blog is FOR CAR BUYERS. Nuff said. Check it out for the latest and greatest!

How to Prevent Foggy Headlights

The most aggravating things to deal with is foggy headlights.  That inescapable film of condensation on your headlights that causes you to step back and examine why your beautiful car, has been somewhat tainted by blurry headlights you can’t wipe to get rid of.  At our dealership, we make it easy for our customers to come in and let us take care of their fog light woes.  In today’s blog, we’ll show you how to prevent it from happening all together.  Also, feel free to come in or call us with ANY questions you might have regarding your vehicle.

So how does it happen? Condensation gets inside your headlights when the outside temperature goes down and your headlamps cool off and cooler, moister outside air trickles into the housings.  According to popular mechanics: “The housings are vented top and bottom to allow for pressure differences, or they would quickly crack and fail. When the clear plastic lens is even a little bit cooler than the air inside the housing, droplets of moisture will condense on the inside of the lens. That’s normal. When the outside temperatures come back up in the morning, the moisture will evaporate. “

To prevent this, there are several ways to stop the condensation:

·      Park in shady, damp areas or in damp underground parking structures

·      Apply retrofit housing

·      Leave your headlights on while driving for a couple of hours

·      Remove the housing and dry it out (we can help with that!)

If you have a tip to add, feel free!