Roadside Assistance Tips

The road can be a dangerous place.  We all take the necessary precautions to create a safe vessel for our daily commute, but in some cases, things are unavoidable.  If you have been the victim of a flat tire, or mechanical mishap, then you’ve experienced that lonely feeling.  You’re stuck on the side of the road, all of your contacts are either busy or too far away for contact, and you feel stranded. Alone.  Roadside assistance has created a safe haven for daily commuters.  It’s a great service that provides assistance to motorists whose vehicles have suffered a mechanical failure that is significant enough to leave them stranded.  In today’s blog, we provide some tips for getting through it.

The first thing you should do is call and establish with the operator what the problem is.  The call is then relayed to the tow driver or emergency officials.  By popping the hood to see what’s wrong or getting out and checking the damage, you can survey the problem.  This gives the officials a general idea of what to expect.  Please, take caution, if you feel as if you’re taking a chance, stay in your vehicle!!

The next thing to do is describe your location.  According to eHow: “Tell the operator where exactly you were driving and where you think you may be on the road. This will help the operator call the closest tow truck company or emergency medical services so that they can get to you as quickly as possible. Turning on your flashers or your headlights and, if you feel safe doing so, put out reflective triangles behind your car to help the tow truck driver find you in a shorter amount of time.”

Information!  Information!  Information! Always keep a copy of all the info you would need for roadside assistance.  One should be in your wallet or purse, while the other should be easily accessible in your vehicle.  This should include the numbers that you would need for the operator, expiration date, and other details.

These are just a few tips for you guys to check out…feel free to comment!

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Automotive Advertising

The DeLorean is Back From the Future…and it’s ELECTRIC!

“McFly!” The phrase is well known in American society.  A quip that has been instilled in us since the eighties by a burly young man known by one syllable: Biff.  This man, Marty McFly’s arch-nemesis, made his life a living hell in the Back to the Future films by berating him with comments, abuse, and the fondling of his future mom (i.e. see film).  It’s an American classic.  Marty’s vehicle of choice for transcending the time space continuum was a 981 DeLorean DMC-12, a futuristic vehicle with gullwing doors and a fictional “flux capacitor”, the main cog in initiating time travel.  Now, in 2011, the manufacturers over at DeLorean have decided to bring this classic back…as an electric vehicle!  Check it out below:

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Driving Cautiously in a Downpour

Rain is essential.  It helps vegetation flourish, provides nutrients to soil, and is an overall integral part of life here on Earth.  But when it’s hitting your windshield and the pitter-patter of raindrops causes you to clench your teeth, it’s time to take precaution.  Rain can be attributed to thousands of car accidents a year.  Accidents can be preventable by drivers who weather (pun intended) the conditions of the road, using their intuition and defensive driving skills to stay safe during their commute.  When the road is wet, a film is created on the asphalt, causing your tires to lose traction.  Another problem during a downpour is your perception.  You can’t see as far into the distance as normal, so this decreases visibility of other cars and the road itself.

In today’s blog, we discuss some options to driving safely when the roads are wet.

Be careful when it rains after a dry spell.  Engine and oil grease cake up on asphalt over time.  When this is mixed with rainwater, it can cause the road to be extremely slick. 

Allot more time for your commute.  This allows for a steady drive to your destination.  The last thing you want to do is rush, it also compensates for delays, flooding, and unexpected accidents.

No Cruise control!  If you go into a hydroplane, there’s a slight chance your car could accelerate.  Reaction time is crucial and you’ll need your foot close to the pedal at all times.

Turn on your headlights.  This helps you see the road, and also lets motorists see you.  Blasting your high beams however can prove detrimental.  It can obscure your view further, reflecting water droplets in the air. 

Hydroplaning.  The first rule to avoiding the dreaded hydroplane is to avoid braking suddenly or turning the wheel, which can cause your car to spin or skid off of the road.  According to Edmunds: “Release the gas pedal slowly and steer straight until the car regains traction. If you must brake, tap the brake pedal (unless you have antilock brakes, in which case you can put your foot down).”

Defog your windows.  Rain causes your windshield to fog up fairly quickly.  Turn on your defrosters and make sure you're A/C is turned on.  Most vehicles climate control systems will automatically engage the A/C when the windshields defrost is selected. 

Do you have any tips for us?  Feel free to provide them below, we love your feedback!

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Automotive Advertising

Awesome New Automotive Technology

When I close my eyes and picture the future of the automobile, several things come to mind.  Maybe a vessel that moves like a flying saucer that only George Jetson could maneuver, or a hovercraft that can traverse both land and sea? The state of vehicle technology has amazed me with each passing day.  In today’s blog, we discuss the future of car technology and how it will affect the way we roll. 

Emergency Steer Assist

To begin, this system does not take over and steer for you, it’s designed to compliment emergency braking systems.  According to Popular Mechanics: “ESA works with your electric steering rack to vary the torque by direction, thus very convincingly "suggesting" the proper steering wheel motion. Suppose you need to swerve left—the torque in the clockwise motion is greatly increased (resistance), but it's ridiculously easy to turn the wheel counterclockwise. Similarly, during the maneuver recovery phase (you may know this as the tank slapper), the inverse is true, the steering working in tandem with ESC (electronic stability control, mandatory on all cars in 2011) to control the aftereffects of the swerve.

Adaptive Cruise Control

ACC is only available on a few select vehicles, but by utilizing radar sensors on the front of a vehicle, adaptive cruise control can tell when an object is in front of it and if that object is moving and how quickly.  Thus, maintaining a constant speed, but also maintaining a set distance between it and the car in front.  Brilliant!

Self Parking Cars

Advance parking Guidance Systems use sensors all around the car to guide it into a parallel parking space.  So, if you’re in the drivers seat, and you remove your hands from the steering wheel and your feet from the gas pedal…viola! There are a couple stipulations, however.  One, the spot has to be at least 6 feet long, and you have to position the vehicle and tell it where to go, but still…this is something you would expect to see in a sci-fi movie! Thumbs up!  There are countless other new devices in the market!!  Feel free to add any that you’ve seen.

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Automotive Advertising

Finding the Right Vehicle…For You

Your palms are sweaty, your eyes are burning, and you’re nervously tapping your foot against the floor. “Click” the sound of your mouse causes you to sweat as you feverishly look for an ew car online.  It shouldn’t be THIS difficult! Having trouble deciding on what vehicle to purchase next? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back!  Choosing your next vehicle is a big investment that starts ahead with careful planning.  We can help.  Come in to see us any time for your questions and concerns, we’ll be happy to help you.  Until then, take a look at this brief video to help you decide what type of vehicle is right for you, then come in for great assistance from our sales team. 

 

Do you want a manual or automatic transmission?

Do you really need four-wheel drive? Or all-wheel drive?

What safety features do you want?

Do you require a lot of cargo capacity?

Will you be doing any towing?

Do you have a bad back and need flexible seating positions?

Will the car easily fit in your garage or parking space?

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