Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Jimmie Johnson won the 2013 Daytona 500 this weekend behind the wheel of the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet SS.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013
Check out our current monthly specials on Facebook!
It's that time of the month again, fans! Make sure to check out our current monthly specials by visiting our “offers” tab on Facebook before they expire! http://on.fb.me/W9hb3w
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Find New Roads Anthem: The newest Chevy Commercial
Monday, February 11, 2013
Maintenance Tip Monday: When Rubber Meets the Winter Road- Can Your Tires Meet the Challange?
Does your vehicle slide around icy corners? Does it stop quickly on slick roads when the brakes are applied? Does it feel like its gliding over the surface of a wet road?
"A tire is a complex composite structure with fabric and steel components,” said Jim Davis, spokesperson for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. “There are countless variations as these many components are tweaked, depending upon the intended performance features to emphasize in each product.”
Tires are one of the hardest working integral parts of your vehicle. They must support heavy loads under extreme conditions such as heat, cold, sudden braking, cornering—while providing a smooth, quiet ride.
“All of this has to happen in many different weather conditions, temperatures, loads, speeds and on a variety of road surfaces,” Davis said. “Tire manufacturers have to balance product design with a ‘performance triangle’—rolling resistance, tread wear and traction.”
Increasing one aspect of the performance triangle can affect the other two.
“It is a constant tradeoff to expand the triangle and minimize design compromises,” Davis said.
What does that mean for drivers?
Choosing the right tire for your car and driving conditions is paramount. Drivers who live in upper state New York may need “winter tires” with tread that contains traction grooves for better grip on snowy roads and rubber that remains somewhat pliable in freezing temperatures.
Drivers in temperate climates such as Southern California can use “all weather” tires that have tread patterns for rain yet offer a smooth ride. All weather tires have tread that tends to last longer than the soft rubber compounds found in winter tires.
Tire tread often shows “siping,” small slits that help improve traction and handling. Some service centers offer tire siping services, but altering the tire could void its warranty and reduce tread life.
"Tread design dramatically influences the way your vehicle performs in different environments,” Davis said. “For instance, increasing how much rubber touches the road can help determine the level of grip the tires provide for a vehicle. Additionally, tread designs and rubber compounds can affect fuel economy”
Davis offered the following advice for drivers looking to purchase the right tire to meet their specific environment and driving habits:
- Do you travel often in the snow? Look for tires with tread design that provides good traction on snow and ice-covered roads.
- Live in a mild climate? Consider a general “all weather” tire designed for long tread life and comfortable riding.
- Tire tread design influences fuel economy. For passenger vehicles, fuel-efficient tires can boost a vehicle's fuel economy by 5% or more.
- Drivers of high performance or sports cars should consider tires with race-inspired tread compounds and innovative tread designs, good enough to handle a day at the track.
- Whatever vehicle is being driven--from a work truck to an exotic sports car--remember the importance of proper tire pressure. Properly inflated tires will benefit the vehicle's performance, provide even wearing tires for longer tread life, and help improve fuel efficiency.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Who Buys the Chevrolet Spark?
The bow-tie brand's smallest car is gaining a big following with the in crowd. According to GM, the new Spark is attracting every automaker's dream demographic: young buyers new to the Chevy brand.
The subcompact hatchback has been on sale since summer of 2012 and Chevy says that 29% of its customers are younger than 35 and 51% of Sparks are purchased by women — the highest percentage of all the brand's cars.
More important is where the buyers are coming from. GM says around 54% of Spark buyers are new to the brand and more than one in five are decamping from import makers' vehicles.
According to the automaker, the two main reasons owners list for buying a Spark are price and fuel economy; Cars.com agrees that those are two of Spark's strongest points. In his review, Managing Editor David Thomas said that the Spark is "a well-rounded, affordable and shockingly roomy microcar with top-flight technology." It's one of the most affordable cars on the market. It delivers the MPGs too: Manual models are EPA rated at 32/38 mpg city/highway and automatics at 28/37 mpg.
What Spark shoppers aren't drawn to, however, is pink. Cars.com's test car was Techno Pink, which Bluhm told us only "accounts for 10% of all Spark's sold — and they are not all to ladies, either!"
So far, the Spark is available in only 18 states, but GM says it'll be on sale in all 50 states later this year.
-Courtesy of Edmunds' Kicking Tires
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Chevy Truck Month is finally back!
Monday, February 4, 2013
Make sure your vehicle battery weathers the winter cold
When you turn the key, the only sound you may hear is a “click click” indicating a nearly dead battery. Cold weather marks the beginning of "jump start" season as vehicle batteries struggle to start frigid engines.
“Emergency starts are one of the top reasons for the emergency assistance," said Jennifer Mack at the American Automobile Association.
Mack suggested letting a trained tech handle the problem because issues like a frozen battery, cracked battery case and low electrolytes can lead to injury or even explosion.
Once the vehicle is running, be aware that it can take hours to fully recharge, especially in winter. Today’s feature-laden vehicles draw heavily on the battery and can leave it almost entirely depleted. A slow or trickle-charge may be the answer for a severely-depleted battery.
Portable charging units and a reliable set of cables can help get your vehicle juiced up again. Consider the following tips for keeping your battery operating in peak condition this winter:
- Inspect your battery for corrosion, which resembles a whitish material growing around the terminals. Alert your service advisor since corrosion can permanently damage your battery and must be removed with caution.
- Check for anticorrosion paste on the terminals. The gooey substance also helps improve the cable connection.
- Look for loose cables that prevent your vehicle’s battery from charging properly. Overtightening or undertightening terminal connectors can damage a battery.
- Confirm whether your vehicle's battery has a removable vent cap. If so, fluid levels need to be checked regularly and topped off. Ask your service advisor to inspect fluid levels when you bring your vehicle for service or if you are going on a road trip.
- Refer to your owner's manual or ask your service advisor before adding fluid to your battery. Using tap water can shorten battery life since it often contains chemicals and minerals. Also, the acid in battery fluid can damage clothing, skin and eyes.
- Use extra precaution if you have never jump started your vehicle or recharged a battery before. Check your owner’s manual for directions or ask you service advisor for assistance.
- Don't jump start or "trickle" charge a frozen battery. Likewise, don’t jump start or charge a battery that is low on electrolyte fluid. Battery rupture or explosion could result.
***Courtesy of Chevyworld.com
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