Preventing the Back to School Auto Blues With the busy summer driving season coming to a close and kids gearing up to go back to school, most family vehicles have likely weathered some road trip stress. As we prepare to transition from vacations to hectic go-go-go of back-to-school, now is the time to make sure both the family and the family vehicle are ready. “Kids going back to school means stop-and-go driving for the vehicles transporting them to and from school and activities,” says AskPatty.com CEO Jody DeVere. “That type of driving can take its toll on a vehicle and have a negative impact on fuel economy.” With vehicles often being the second largest investment for most families, it’s imperative to make sure vehicles are well-maintained and running smoothly. Skipping maintenance can cost motorists extra money both at the gas pump and potentially expensive repairs farther down the road in.
Here are a couple of tips to give the family “shuttle” some extra love and potentially some extra miles per gallon while school is back in session.
Lighten the Junk in Your Trunk
Has the back of vehicle become a storage unit for summer fun stuff? With gas prices still causing grief for motorists, cutting out extra weight in your vehicle like extra strollers, playpens, toys, beach gear, sporting equipment and gardening gear can save on fuel costs. The inside of your vehicle might also be teeming with junk that could probably be left at home, which not only adds weight, but can also end up becoming a safety hazard if not secured properly.
“Flying items in your car are never a good story – imagine a visit to the emergency room after being clobbered by a portable DVD player during an emergency stop — 14 stitches – - Ouch!,” says Jody.
If you have seats that you don’t use and can be removed, take them out. Less junk in the trunk and inside your vehicle equals better safety and of course, less weight equals better gas mileage.
How much junk is in your trunk? An extra 50 pounds in your trunk can really cost you. By removing thirty to fifty pounds of weight from your vehicle can net you a one percent savings in gas mileage. It might not sound like much, but it really adds up.
Use High-Quality Motor Oil
Improve your vehicle’s fuel economy and overall health after a summer of driving by checking your motor oil. Always go for high-quality motor oil…using it in the proper weight and grade can actually help maximize fuel efficiency. According to the U.S. EPA, you can improve your fuel economy by 1-2 percent by doing so.
Driving in severe conditions can also negatively impact the vehicle; using high-quality motor oil can help minimize the potential of an engine-oil-related failure.
“Check your owner’s manual for specifics, many manufacturers consider stop-and-go driving and driving that includes many short trips to be ‘severe service’ for a vehicle, requiring a shorter amount of time between oil changes,” adds Jody. “Your choice of motor oils matters, so be sure to purchase a high-quality motor oil and ask for it by name – its ‘cheap peace of mind.’”
High-quality oils back up the performance of their products with an extended lubrication limited warranty. Watch for inflation
Proper tire inflation is essential for increased automotive safety, optimum driving performance and significant cost savings, including better fuel mileage. Tires should be inflated to the vehicle manufacturer recommendations printed on the vehicle door placard or in the owner’s manual and should be checked monthly. Over-inflation can lead to premature or irregular tire wear and according to the U.S. Department of Energy, under-inflation reduces a vehicle’s fuel efficiency by an average of 3.3 percent.
Get tuned in
Before packing the kids up for that first day of school, visit a trusted automotive outlet and make sure your car is properly tuned. Regular vehicle maintenance can improve gas mileage by an average of 4.1 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
SCHEDULE YOUR SERVICE APPOINTMENT NOW.
Share on Facebook
Tweet This Post
OnStar subscribers requested more than 2 million routes in July, a monthly record of direction-seeking blue button pushes. And what was the most often sought destination?
The nearest Wal-Mart.
In fact, nearly 40,000 navigation requests routed subscribers to the retailer across the United States and Canada.
“Whether we route our subscribers to their favorite store or to a new restaurant to meet up with a friend, we are committed to providing drivers with useful and convenient services that make the driving experience a simple, safe and efficient one,” said Scott Kubicki, vice president of subscriber services, OnStar.
“During this summer’s busy travel season, our live advisors provided navigation service in record numbers and we expect to see a steady climb in navigation volume,” Kubicki said.
With more than 13 million points of interest from which to choose, the top 10 most-requested destinations in July were:
OnStar’s Turn-by-Turn Navigation connects subscribers to a live advisor who finds the destination being sought and sends audio directions to the vehicle that are played through the stereo. Turn-by-Turn Navigation allows subscribers to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road as they safely reach their destination.
OnStar eNav makes it easy to pre-plan travel. Subscribers can visit Google Maps or MapQuest to plan a trip and have destinations sent to their OnStar system. Once in the car, subscribers simply press their vehicle’s OnStar phone button to access voice-guided commands to select their pre-planned route. Turn-by-Turn Navigation or the subscriber’s navigation screen then takes over to guide the way.
Subscribers driving a GM vehicle with a screen-based navigation system have access to OnStar Destination Download through which directions are remotely downloaded to the navigation screen. With Destination Download, there is no need to pull over and enter a specific destination. In fact, if a subscriber doesn’t know the address, advisors can look it up and help subscribers safely navigate to their destination.
Yesterday, the National Safety Council announced its support for National Stop on Red Week August 1st – 7th, an event organized by the National Campaign to Stop Red Light Running. NSC believes talking on handheld and hands-free cell phones while driving is a contributing factor to red-light running.
Drivers using hands-free or handheld cell phones experience a form of cognitive distraction called inattention blindness, meaning they “look at” but do not “see” up to 50 percent of the information in their driving environment. These drivers miss visual cues critical to safety and navigation. They tend to miss exits and go through red lights and stop signs.
“Our brains aren’t designed to perform two cognitively complex tasks at the same time, such as driving while having a cell phone conversation,” said Janet Froetscher, NSC president and CEO. “The brain shifts between tasks and, in doing so, filters information out because it is too overwhelmed. As a result, drivers can’t take corrective action. That’s why you hear of people getting into car crashes who were using their cell phones. Their brains didn’t process critical driving cues. When a driver fails to notice events in the driving environment, it’s impossible to execute a safe response – such as stopping for a red light.”
“This week provides us with the opportunity to remind all motorists that their first responsibility while driving is safety – theirs, their passengers and other motorists. I encourage everyone to make this the week they decide to stop using their handheld and hands-free cell phones while driving. It’s just not safe for anyone,” continued Froetscher.
For more information on “Understanding the Distracted Brain: Why driving while using hands-free cell phones is risky behavior,” a white paper written by the National Safety Council about the dangers of cell phone use while driving, please visit: thebrain.nsc.org.
The National Safety Council saves lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the roads, through leadership, research, education and advocacy.
Please remember to drive safely, even after National Stop on Red Week.
Chevy Volt - Release Dec. 2010
So get excited, and don’t forget to stop in to Rossi come December to check out our first Volt!!!
We strongly believe that a GM vehicle would make for a much better song… but it’s still pretty cool!
Are you working on Sunday instead of spending quality time with your family?
If so, then you are working in the wrong business. Come join the Rossi of Washington family. A real five day work week and the hottest products on the market today. We have two positions available for experienced high energy sales professionals. Apply today at Rossi of Washington. Contact Executive Director of Sales, Rob Grow at (908)399-6427, for a confidential interview.
Car of the Month – Chevrolet Equinox
A Best Car Buy winner by NADAguides.com is now Car of the Month for May; The Chevrolet Equinox is this month’s top choice.
In March 2010, Equinox sales were up 194 percent over the previous year.
Officials praised the 2010 model for its “sharp new styling, improved engine choices, impressive fuel economy and five-star safety rating.” The latest Equinox has an “equally striking” interior and exterior, something NADAguides.com said its predecessor did not have. It also provides a ride that is “smooth and quiet,” and is priced affordably, editors shared.
The Chevrolet Equinox is available in four trim levels: LS, 1LT, 2LT and LTZ. NADAguides.com praises the Car of the Month choice: “Small families or anyone looking to downsize from a cumbersome, inefficient SUV will find tremendous value in the 2010 Equinox and its many amenities.”
2.4-liter four-cylinder in LS Trim:
3-liter six-cylinder in 1LT, 2LT and LTZ trim lines:
Notable features:
Safest vehicle in its category – by NADAguides.com:
From Bloomberg by: David Welch on April 20, 2010
GM CEO Ed Whitacre is scheduled to be at the company’s Fairfax, Kan., plant tomorrow to announce that his company has paid the debt portion of the government’s assistance back early. Sources briefed on his plan say that he will announce that GM has paid the remaining $5.8 billion back to the U.S. Treasury Department and Canada and Ontario governments by the time he addresses the press at the plant. It’s a big step, but don’t expect a Lee Iacocca moment.
Back in 1983, Chrysler paid off a $1.5 billion rescue loan—which was backed by the U.S. government—and the company settled the account early. Iacocca made the most of the moment, saying, “We at Chrysler borrow money the old-fashioned way. We pay it back.” That was vintage Lido. He never missed an opportunity to make a sales pitch or take over a room with his personality.
GM’s situation is different. Paying off its government debt early is, no doubt, an impressive feat. But GM’s can’t declare a big victory yet. The government invested about $50 billion in GM. The loan portion from the U.S. and Canada was $8.4 billion. The rest of the investment came in equity. That’s why the U.S. owns 61% of GM. The taxpayers will only get all of their money back once GM launches an initial public stock offering and if the Feds can eventually sell the stock at a price fat enough to recoup the rest of the investment. Whether that happens depends on many factors, like GM’s progress in fixing its woeful European business, how fast the economy and car sales improve and—not to be discounted—fuel prices. If gasoline prices soar, sales of profitable SUVs can take a hit. Crude oil prices are up 81% during the past year.
There’s another reason this won’t be a Iacocca moment. Whitacre is no Iacocca. He was an unqualified success at AT&T and has gotten traction at GM. He is certainly a CEO with some chops. But he is also a man of few words. Whitacre may have starred in GM’s ads, but he does not ham it up for the cameras the way Iacocca did. Besides Bob Lutz, what car executive really does? A source close to Whitacre says his message will be that the loans are paid back in full, with interest and ahead of schedule. That’s Whitacre’s style. Short, to the point and without a lot of ballyhoo. Besides, he can’t go Lido until delivers big profits and a doll of a stock offering.
For the fourth time in the history of the Camaro, GM will sell a replica of a Camaro Indianapolis 500 Pace Car. The last time Chevy offered a replica of the pace car was in 1993. Fittingly, Chevrolet plans to build a total of 500 units with up to 200 of those to be made available through 187 of the top-selling Camaro dealers based on 2009 retail sales.
“We set out to build a collectible vehicle that will appeal to the die-hard Camaro and Indianapolis 500 fan,” said Jim Campbell, U.S. Vice President, Chevrolet Marketing. “We believe we’ve done just that with the 2010 Chevy Camaro Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Limited Edition.”
The limited production replica is based on the Camaro 2SS model with the RS appearance package and a 400HP V8 paired to a six-speed automatic transmission, but adds some extra features unique to the actual pace car to be driven by Robin Roberts, anchor of “Good Morning America,” during the this year’s Indianapolis 500.
Available exclusively in ‘Inferno Orange’ with full body white pearl decal rally stripes, the replica comes with 20-inch polished aluminum wheels, an Inferno Orange heritage front grille and engine cover, special floor mats with accent colors and 2010 Indianapolis 500 event logos on the front fenders, the door panels and embroidered on driver and passenger headrests.
According to GM, the manufacturer suggested retail price of the Camaro pace car replica is $41,950 (includes $850 Destination Freight Charge).
2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible
General Motors has opted to unleash the first official pictures of the production-ready 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible on the pony car’s dedicated Facebook page.
No specific details were released but we do know that the soft-top version of the new Camaro is pegged to enter production at GM’s Oshawa plant in Canada during the first quarter of 2011, with sales set to start around April.
GM has also confirmed that the both the Coupe and Convertible variants of the Camaro will make their way over to Europe in the second quarter of 2011.
The Camaro Convertible will be offered with the same 3.6-liter V6 (re-rated for the 2011MY) and 6.2-liter V8 powertrains as the coupe model.
