The winter is a dangerous time for driving. Black ice, snow drifts and slush create a veritable gauntlet of hazards to face as we do even the most everyday driving. Even assistance from local authorities like road salt to make our way clear and safe can have some unpleasant side effects on our cars. Accidents in winter are often serious, and that means a large repair bill from your dealership. If you wish to avoid expensive winter repairs, then here are a few suggestions from Chrysler of Culperer to help you along.

1. Invest in winter tires

If you live in New England, the Midwest or anywhere along the border with Canada, your winters are long and harsh. Mountains of snow are a common sight in the cold season, and conditions on the roads are treacherous. Winter tires are an extra expense, but there’s nothing better to maintain proper traction and keep your car (and yourself) safely on the road.

2. Check your brakes, suspension and transmission Continue reading →

The name “all-season tire” can create some confusion. Despite its name, it actually isn’t well-suited to the harsher winters of the Northeast or Midwest. Some companies now even distinguish between “all-season” and “three-season” tires, with the winter always being the exception. If you live in southern California, or Texas, Florida, Alabama, Georgia — the warmer states — then all-season tires will suit you down to a tee. Residents of Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and other states with colder winters must consider an alternative when Jack Frost comes to visit.

Below you’ll find a list from Cross Point Motor Cars we’ll explore the main differences between these tire types. Continue reading →

You might think that getting your car ready for the winter is simply a question of warming it up longer in the morning before you set off and then driving a bit more slowly with an extra sweater on the back seat. There’s actually quite a lot more to preparing your car for the colder months than you might think. We’ve prepared a handy checklist from Pearson Honda  that can help make you a winter driving pro.

Item 1 – Emergency Kit

Pack a first-aid kit, extra winter clothes, blankets, water and non-perishable snacks, a flashlight, small shovel, cellphone charger and ice scraper. All these things are important to have on hand just in case you do actually run into trouble while you are out on the road.

Item 2 – Mechanic’s Check on Key Systems

Before winter hits, make sure a mechanic has checked and green lighted your car’s brakes, suspension, transmission and battery. The brakes, suspension and transmission are all more important than ever for keeping control while driving on wintry roads. The battery can lose capacity and endure damage in cold temperatures, so a mechanic’s professional eye should be able to make sure that it’s all okay, and how well your battery will last in the cold weather. Continue reading →

Owning a car isn’t a cheap deal. There always seem to be costs popping up here and there. There are, however, some great ways you can use to cut your driving costs and save money. It takes some commitment on your part, but when you’re counting the extra money in your wallet, we’re pretty sure you’ll agree that it was worth it. Here are our top ten money-saving driving tips from Bedford Jeep.

1. Preventative Car Maintenance

Yes, we know. This one seems a counter-intuitive way to save money, but this one is a long-term saver. If you spend a little money regularly to keep your car in good working order, then you can prevent larger (and more expensive) problems from happening later.

2. Market Research Continue reading →

Did you ever skip a bit of maintenance for your car, or push it to next month? You may have thought to yourself, “Yes! Saved some money there.” You should know that you may think you’ve saved money this time, but in fact that decision could come back and bite you in the…well, somewhere bad. When it comes to car maintenance, you need to think long term. In this article, Buhler Bitter will tell you in three big reasons why keeping up with regular maintenance saves you money over time.

1. Preventative measures save you from having to fix worse problems

Let’s use the example of brake pads to illustrate this. When your brake pads are down to about an eighth of an inch in thickness, that’s when it’s time to replace them. You may think you can wait longer, get more use of them, right? Wrong. If you don’t get them fixed around that time, not only are you putting you and your passengers’ lives at risk by having brakes near the end of their shelf life, but you also will face a bigger repair bill, possibly $400 or more, because your worn brake pad will leave marks on the brake rotor.  Continue reading →

Winter is coming — not just the words of a character in a famous TV show, but also a meaningful statement of fact. Whatever car you’re driving, there are steps you can take to make it more ready for the harsh winter months. In this article, we’ll share some of the best ones with you from Fullerton.

1. Winter tires

This one is a bit controversial for some because it does mean an extra big expense, plus the need for a storage solution on your other tires. Hear us out. If you live in a place where the winters are both long and harsh, with snowfall and regular ice on the roads, then you really do need winter tires to maximize safety. All-season tires are good for temperate zones, but are not designed for any extreme, including winter. Consider winter tires and keep you and your family safe. Continue reading →

A lot of people dread driving in the winter, not just because the conditions are more dangerous, but also because of the potentially huge cost of any repairs needed due to winter-inspired damage or accidents. There are several things you can do to minimize the risks to your budget and dodge the exorbitant costs of repairs. Here are a few ideas from Claremont Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. Let’s look closer:

1. Preventative maintenance throughout the year

Yes, smaller regular maintenance jobs like oil and filter changes, tire rotation and proper inflation, brake checks and fluid checks will save you from more expensive repairs later on. A regular check means you spot small problems before they turn into big ones, and fix minor damage before it grows into insurance-inducing damage. Continue reading →

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You might be enjoying the fall colors right now, speeding along letting your thoughts drown in that romantic autumn foliage. Winter, however, is right around the corner, so it’s time to start thinking about how best to deal with this most difficult of driving seasons. Have you ever considered doing a carpool? If not, then you should, and it just so happens that winter is the best time to start. Here are the best reasons why from Victorville Motors:

It cuts out the morning warm up

On a dark and cold winter’s morning, there’s nothing worse than also getting into a freezing car. If you’re carpooling, the driver will have the car warmed up and ready by the time they pick you up at home. You get into a toasty and comfortable car to escape the nippy winter air. Perfect. Continue reading →

Don’t get too complacent looking at the foliage and enjoying the mild fall weather. Winter is just around the corner and that means you need to do some importance maintenance and preparation for your car. The cold season has a marked impact on your vehicle, just as the summer does. We need to do everything we can to protect it from the extremes. Here are some must-do items from Fullerton Ford: Continue reading →

Buying a new car is a big deal – it has a huge impact on our daily lives. That could be why it scares us so much. We’re all terrified that we’ll say the wrong thing, or get flustered by the details in the car’s specifications. If this sounds like you, then fear not! We’ve prepared some handy tips to make car buying a breeze from Mathews Hargreaves.

Continue reading →