Road Rage Tips

Most of us spend approximately an hour in our car every day to and from work.  We love our freedom so much that we hop in our car for weekend getaways adding additional hours spent in the confines of its cabin.  It is probable that in the estimated 365 hours on the road, we will experience somebody’s road rage in one form or another.  How we react in these situations has more of a bearing towards the outcome than we think.

If you’re a victim of road rage, don’t get aggressive towards the perpetrator.  Reacting towards their aggression can make matters escalate further.  It is best to obey all traffic laws and be in the right.  Don’t return their gestures, their poor driving habits and definitely don’t react hostile.  If somebody gives you the bird, give them a smile.   It's better to kill people with kindness than to put yourself  in harm’s way.    If they continue to act aggressively towards you, right down their license plate number, year make and model of the vehicle and call the authorities.  It might be helpful to have a passenger take a picture with their phone for reporting purposes.  Remove yourself from the situation and get to safety. 

The psychology of an aggressive driver can stem from negative events throughout their day.  People who act like monsters on the road are humans too.  They could’ve had a bad day at work or experienced some horrible news.  Whatever the case might be, they’re not thinking about their well-being and sometimes you have to think and react for yours and others’ safety.

Sometimes the cars we drive add to our stress during our commute.  If this is the case, you might want to take a look at something new and affordable like the Chevrolet Cruze.  Click here to look at our inventory: http://bit.ly/18hQ9IC

Emergency Weather Tips

Extreme weather situations can catch the best of drivers of guard and they can be caught in an unpleasant situation.  With so many reports of horrible weather situations, we thought it would be wise to post some safety tips that can assist you to safely get out of harm’s way.   Unsafe weather conditions can strike without much notice.  It is the way that we react in a dangerous situation that can help achieve a safe outcome.  

What should we do in a heavy rain situation?  For starters, be aware of your local weather reports.  It is important to know what kind of weather to expect for the day and avoid driving in questionable weather, if possible.  Sometimes there is no way around driving in heavy downpour, make sure you follow these easy steps:

- Prevention is a good policy, so check your tire pressure and windshield wipers regularly so you're not left in a bind.

- Turn on your low beams so other vehicles can see you.

- Give yourself enough distance from the car in front of you and travel at slower speeds. 

- In the event that the downpour makes driving unbearable, find a safe place to park and stay in your vehicle for safety purposes. 

- Avoid flooded roads or roads that are obstructed with down power lines.

- Be cautious while approaching intersections

- Slow down and get yourself out of harm’s way.   

The number one tool that should be utilized is your awareness.  Don’t drive unless you absolutely have to and if you’re on the road when the down pour comes, take precautionary measures for the safest of outcomes.  

If you feel like your car isn’t safe to drive in any condition, check out our inventory and we can see about getting you into something new: http://bit.ly/18hQ9IC

Positive Preparation

We know how much people dislike shopping for a car, but not every experience has to be negative. The more prepared you are, the better your shopping experience can be.  Preparation is a huge factor in your auto shopping needs, so here are some tips to assist.

Know your budget and what you would like your monthly payment to be.  There are many factors to take into consideration while you are shopping for a vehicle.  Your credit score helps the bank determine your interest rate.   Opportunities will vary based on your credit score, credit history and your income.  If you know the basic idea of your credit, there are online calculators that will ballpark a monthly payment for you.

If you are serious about purchasing a car and you are short on time, you might want to research the dealership inventory online.  Once you find something that you are looking for, pick up the phone and call the dealership to get the purchase process initiated. 

Here is a list of items to bring in your name and can help to save your day:

• Driver's license
• Proof of auto insurance
• Financial info (bank and credit card account info to fill out credit application)
• Social Security number

Depending on your credit, you may also need the following:

• References (with complete contact info)
• Proof of employment and salary (paycheck stubs, with one less than 30 days old)
• Proof of residence (mortgage document or rental lease agreement)
• Current phone bill (or other utility bill such as gas, electric or water)
• Down payment

Remember that we are here to help you and as always, feel free to surf our inventory and contact us with any questions you have:  http://bit.ly/18hQ9IC

Monday Manufacturer Maintenance

We love our cars and even if we don’t truly love them, we at least love what they do for us.   They get us from point A to point B and perhaps point C.  It is important that we care for our vehicles, so they take care of us.  One way that we can ensure that they continue to perform their best is to provide them with the care and the maintenance that your owner’s manual suggests.  

Manufacturers look for specific duration for wear and tear and they recommend the scheduled maintenance after conducting extensive tests.  Take the experts’ advice and help your car perform the extra mile.  If you’re not sure what the manufacturer recommendations are, click here to ask our service department about how to get a copy of your owner’s manual: http://bit.ly/18DYR4O