Are you guilty of believing some of these car care myths? See below to see where you can better care for your vehicle and keep your car for running in top shape for years to come!
Myth 1: To maintain my warranty I can only have my car serviced at a dealership
Service at a dealer is not mandatory to keep your warranties in effect. Maintenance may be done by any qualified service facility or person who is skilled in automotive service. Keep all receipts as proof of completion, and have the service provider fill out the Maintenance Record.
Myth 2: Paint chips and nicks don’t affect my warranty
To keep your new vehicle paint and corrosion warranty valid, have dents, scratches and collision damaged panels inspected and repaired. New cars have a minimum five-year rust perforation warranty. Unprotected panels that cause rust will not be covered by the manufacturers warranty.
Myth 3: I can wash my vehicle with mild dish soap
More than one-third of car owners use damaging non-automotive products when washing their cars-products that could contain harmful detergents, abrasives or additives.
Myth 4: Vehicle technology today is so advanced I don’t need to worry about emissions
Keep your vehicle well maintained. A poorly maintained engine can use up to 50% more fuel and produce 50% more CO2 than one that runs properly.
Myth 5: Warm weather means less car worries
Cooling system neglect is cited as a principal reason for mechanical failure of a vehicle. In addition to the danger and inconvenience of a breakdown, the damage to the engine and transmission can add up to thousands of dollars. Discovering a leaking radiator, hose connection, a sticking thermostat or other cooling system component that's on "borrowed time" can save the life of your engine.
Myth 6: I get my vehicle serviced twice/year, so I don’t need a pre-trip vehicle inspection
Vehicles need to be properly maintained year round. But a pre-vacation inspection performed by a qualified automotive technician can avoid costly repairs and inconvenience.
Myth 7: The only fluids I need to worry about are oil and gas
Most people neglect the other fluids in their vehicle, these include:
Brake
Coolant /Anti-Freeze
Power Steering
Transmission
Washer fluid
Myth 8: The service schedule is just a way for service people to make money
Your vehicle’s service schedule was designed by automotive engineers, not service technicians. Maintaining your car according to the schedules given in your owner’s manual helps to keep your driving trouble-free while it preserves your investment.
Myth 9: I do not drive under “severe” conditions
Most Canadians drive under “severe” conditions, but believe they drive under “normal” conditions. Severe conditions include:
Cold weather.
Extensive idling or stop-and-go driving.
Driving less than 8 kms per trip, or in freezing temperatures driving less than 16 km per trip.
Driving in extremely hot (over 320 C) conditions.
Trailer towing, driving with a roof rack, or driving in mountainous conditions.
Driving on muddy, dusty, or de-iced roads.
Myth 10: If it’s not broke, don’t fix it or No news is good news
Vehicles need to be serviced even when the “Check Engine Light” isn’t on. You should be following the Maintenance Schedule as outlined in your vehicle owner’s manual.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder
Recently I was dealing with a gentleman who had his eye on a beautiful used car that we had on our lot. The car was sporty and powerful and unusual in its immaculate condition and low kilometres.
In the course of our conversation he indicated that he would like to trade in his current vehicle for this car. He proceeded to list the various features of the vehicle along with numberous accessories and upgrades that he had added over the years.
We appraised the vehicle through our normal channels, made some calls to buyers who would be interested in that particular brand and suggested that he would be better off selling the vehcile privately. With his upgrades, the vehicle was somewhat unique; a private buyer would appreciate these upgrades whereas a dealer would see these as time and money.
Accessories don't add a tremendous amount of value when you are trading in your car or truck! You may ask why this might be? Someone has paid good money to have an accessory added and yet it makes little difference in trade value. When a dealer takes a car in on trade they look to market the vehicle in such a way to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible. Many of these upgrades appeal to a niche market and would actually make the vehicle more difficult to sell. Some accesories might actully be removed before putting them out on the lot for sale. Doing this represents time and labour by the dealership which means they actually have to put more money into the vehicle before they even get to the reconditioning process.
It often happens that customers are optimistic in regards to the worth of their vehicle. Don't let the bling of shiny accessories lure you into the belief
that you will get your money out them! They are fun to have but more for the personal satisfaction than long term value!
In the course of our conversation he indicated that he would like to trade in his current vehicle for this car. He proceeded to list the various features of the vehicle along with numberous accessories and upgrades that he had added over the years.
We appraised the vehicle through our normal channels, made some calls to buyers who would be interested in that particular brand and suggested that he would be better off selling the vehcile privately. With his upgrades, the vehicle was somewhat unique; a private buyer would appreciate these upgrades whereas a dealer would see these as time and money.
Accessories don't add a tremendous amount of value when you are trading in your car or truck! You may ask why this might be? Someone has paid good money to have an accessory added and yet it makes little difference in trade value. When a dealer takes a car in on trade they look to market the vehicle in such a way to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible. Many of these upgrades appeal to a niche market and would actually make the vehicle more difficult to sell. Some accesories might actully be removed before putting them out on the lot for sale. Doing this represents time and labour by the dealership which means they actually have to put more money into the vehicle before they even get to the reconditioning process.
It often happens that customers are optimistic in regards to the worth of their vehicle. Don't let the bling of shiny accessories lure you into the belief
that you will get your money out them! They are fun to have but more for the personal satisfaction than long term value!
Monday, June 20, 2011
Civic Ride n' Drive
Recently I had the opportunity to participate in a training event put on by Honda Canada that gave salespeople the opportunity to test drive a 2012 Civic through a closed course with a professional driver. I have never done anything like this before and it was a fantastic experience. Not only did I drive the Civic but I had the opportunity to compare it to some competitors. We also drove the VW Jetta, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra and the Mazda 3.
We stomped on the gas, slammed on brakes, drove through pot holes, bumps and around pylons and most interesting of all we tested the vehicle stability assist on each car through a skid pad that emulated black ice.
The Honda VSA system was remarkable! It allowed me as a driver to handle a serious loss of control with ease. I thought I was a great driver until we tried the skid pad without the VSA engaged. It made a huge difference and I realized how much the VSA mattered as I spun around 360 degrees! The Civic has had great steering, responsive pickup and was smooth through potholes and bumps.
Couple this with attention to detail, such as wiper blades designed to handle Canadian winters, well sealed windows and doors, quality interior materials and components, you have a well-put together vehicle that you know will last through many years!
Some people may ask, why do I have to worry about buying a Civic when I'm never going to drive like you did on that course? Its a great question and the reason is that you want to know how you car will handle when you do need it. Of course most of the time we are in regular everyday driving situations, but when the time comes and you have perform special maneuvres to avoid accidents, you know that your car can do what it needs to when necessary!
The moral of the story...when you are on a test drive next, don't be afraid to test the handling of the vehicle. You don't need to be reckless, but you should know how it responds on rough surfaces, through bumps and potholes, how it brakes. It is better to try it on the test drive and know, than to wait
until the time comes when you might find out on the road!
We stomped on the gas, slammed on brakes, drove through pot holes, bumps and around pylons and most interesting of all we tested the vehicle stability assist on each car through a skid pad that emulated black ice.
The Honda VSA system was remarkable! It allowed me as a driver to handle a serious loss of control with ease. I thought I was a great driver until we tried the skid pad without the VSA engaged. It made a huge difference and I realized how much the VSA mattered as I spun around 360 degrees! The Civic has had great steering, responsive pickup and was smooth through potholes and bumps.
Couple this with attention to detail, such as wiper blades designed to handle Canadian winters, well sealed windows and doors, quality interior materials and components, you have a well-put together vehicle that you know will last through many years!
Some people may ask, why do I have to worry about buying a Civic when I'm never going to drive like you did on that course? Its a great question and the reason is that you want to know how you car will handle when you do need it. Of course most of the time we are in regular everyday driving situations, but when the time comes and you have perform special maneuvres to avoid accidents, you know that your car can do what it needs to when necessary!
The moral of the story...when you are on a test drive next, don't be afraid to test the handling of the vehicle. You don't need to be reckless, but you should know how it responds on rough surfaces, through bumps and potholes, how it brakes. It is better to try it on the test drive and know, than to wait
until the time comes when you might find out on the road!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Staying in Touch
Does your salesperson stay in touch? While many may think its not of great consequence if they don't, perhaps its worth noting what it says when a salesperson does stay in touch.
A salesperson who stays in touch shows that they care about their customer. If a customer has questions or concerns about their purchase the salesperson can easily be approached if they are in the habit of keeping in contact. This also likely means that any issues that could arise will be dealt with promptly and to the satisfaction of the customer.
A salesperson who stays in contact from time to time understands that earning the customer's business is as important as keeping it and using various methods to show that the customer is important can go a long way to bring the customer back the next time. And at the end of the day we all want to feel like we matter.
A salesperson who stays in touch is also likely providing useful information from time to time that the customer may find useful and can help them maximize the use of their product. This can actually help the customer get more life out of the product and therefore get more value for their money.
In my experience when a salesperson does not remain in contact it tells me that they're not really interested in my life, how I use my product or whether or not I ever plan to shop with them again. I certainly resent it when the only time I hear from them is when it's time to replace the product.
Having said all of this, your saleperson shouldn't be obtrusive. Regular contact is good but constant contact is a bit much unless you invite it in by using thier facebook page or twitter.
Its certainly something to consider next time you make your next big purchase!
A salesperson who stays in touch shows that they care about their customer. If a customer has questions or concerns about their purchase the salesperson can easily be approached if they are in the habit of keeping in contact. This also likely means that any issues that could arise will be dealt with promptly and to the satisfaction of the customer.
A salesperson who stays in contact from time to time understands that earning the customer's business is as important as keeping it and using various methods to show that the customer is important can go a long way to bring the customer back the next time. And at the end of the day we all want to feel like we matter.
A salesperson who stays in touch is also likely providing useful information from time to time that the customer may find useful and can help them maximize the use of their product. This can actually help the customer get more life out of the product and therefore get more value for their money.
In my experience when a salesperson does not remain in contact it tells me that they're not really interested in my life, how I use my product or whether or not I ever plan to shop with them again. I certainly resent it when the only time I hear from them is when it's time to replace the product.
Having said all of this, your saleperson shouldn't be obtrusive. Regular contact is good but constant contact is a bit much unless you invite it in by using thier facebook page or twitter.
Its certainly something to consider next time you make your next big purchase!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
The Great Debate - Manual vs. Automatic
The debate whether or not to drive a manual transmission versus an automatic transmission is one that I see every day. It is an innocuous car buying question and yet people for the most part folks have rigid preferences and are not willing to veer from that preference.
Its a daily occurence, often when couples come to the dealership, one has to defer to the preference of the other. While many women insist on having automatic I have seen my fair share of couples where the lady of the house would rather drive the stick shift but must settle for the automatic because Mr. won't or can't drive one! I have sold cars to men who have never driven a stick and don't know how and I have also sold cars to women who wouldn't buy certain trims because the manual wasn't available.
One thing is for certain, those who drive manual are usually passionate about it! They are proud drivers who would never settle for the 'lazy man's car' and love the control and awareness that comes with the activity of driving a stick shift.
Those who drive automatic, the majority, are usually looking for transportation, be it luxurious or otherwise, and don't want the added responsibility of moving through the gears.
At the end of the day, it really does boil down to personal preference. I understand that there are far more standard shift drivers in Quebec and far more still in Europe. It makes sense, since these vehicle are usually a little less expensive to buy and if you're not driving around like a newly-licensed 16 year old, the gas mileage is better too.
What is my preference? Well I learned to drive a stick shift only about 5 years ago. Now it is my own preference. I like the control, I like the handling in the winter when conditions force me to slow down, it keeps me in touch with the operation of my car.
Now if only I could get into a sexier man. trans. I would be all set!
So which option to do you prefer?
Its a daily occurence, often when couples come to the dealership, one has to defer to the preference of the other. While many women insist on having automatic I have seen my fair share of couples where the lady of the house would rather drive the stick shift but must settle for the automatic because Mr. won't or can't drive one! I have sold cars to men who have never driven a stick and don't know how and I have also sold cars to women who wouldn't buy certain trims because the manual wasn't available.
One thing is for certain, those who drive manual are usually passionate about it! They are proud drivers who would never settle for the 'lazy man's car' and love the control and awareness that comes with the activity of driving a stick shift.
Those who drive automatic, the majority, are usually looking for transportation, be it luxurious or otherwise, and don't want the added responsibility of moving through the gears.
At the end of the day, it really does boil down to personal preference. I understand that there are far more standard shift drivers in Quebec and far more still in Europe. It makes sense, since these vehicle are usually a little less expensive to buy and if you're not driving around like a newly-licensed 16 year old, the gas mileage is better too.
What is my preference? Well I learned to drive a stick shift only about 5 years ago. Now it is my own preference. I like the control, I like the handling in the winter when conditions force me to slow down, it keeps me in touch with the operation of my car.
Now if only I could get into a sexier man. trans. I would be all set!
So which option to do you prefer?
Monday, May 9, 2011
Colours!
You've been shopping for a vehicle, taking test drives, talking to salepeople of wide ranging calibre and you have finally decided what you want to drive home.
What colour do you choose? This is just one of the areas where car buying can get emotional. Its all about looks and feel. How will I look behind the wheel of this 'red' (or insert favourite colour here) car or how will I feel about this 'silver' car?
Some people are quite pragmatic about this, they are more likely to see their vehicle are pure transportation. Many of us however have more intense feelings about our rides. After all, whether you swap your vehicles every couple of years or until it sputters into the dealership 15 years later (maybe alot sooner if you're not driving a Honda!), you have to be able to live with your choice of colour and model for some time.
In our cold climate, people often choose a colour based on how well it hides dirt. In January, when we are in the depths of winter, our cars are often unwashed and covered in salt, grime and snow. If you ask my opinion, all vehicles look grimy in the dead of winter no matter what colour you choose.
I did ask my colleague his opinion about colour and what he felt hid the dirt and scratches best. After 16+ years in the auto business he ought to know and he said without hesitation "silver". White is good too or light colours. He said black showed every scatch, every splotch.
There are alot of silver cars on the road so I guess its not all vanity!
What colour do you choose? This is just one of the areas where car buying can get emotional. Its all about looks and feel. How will I look behind the wheel of this 'red' (or insert favourite colour here) car or how will I feel about this 'silver' car?
Some people are quite pragmatic about this, they are more likely to see their vehicle are pure transportation. Many of us however have more intense feelings about our rides. After all, whether you swap your vehicles every couple of years or until it sputters into the dealership 15 years later (maybe alot sooner if you're not driving a Honda!), you have to be able to live with your choice of colour and model for some time.
In our cold climate, people often choose a colour based on how well it hides dirt. In January, when we are in the depths of winter, our cars are often unwashed and covered in salt, grime and snow. If you ask my opinion, all vehicles look grimy in the dead of winter no matter what colour you choose.
I did ask my colleague his opinion about colour and what he felt hid the dirt and scratches best. After 16+ years in the auto business he ought to know and he said without hesitation "silver". White is good too or light colours. He said black showed every scatch, every splotch.
There are alot of silver cars on the road so I guess its not all vanity!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Spring Cleaning
I know I posted a little while ago about Free Car Wash Day and we have had plenty of those days with the poor spring weather we've all grown
accustomed to by now.
But! Its May and we've had some glimmers of hope! So enough of 'Free Car Wash Day' I'm ready to get out the cleaning supplies and baby my car! After a long winter with lots of snow and salt she deserves it!
There are a couple of things to keep in mind though when washing your car if you are at all interested in keeping the exterior finish nice.
1. Don't use common dish detergent! They can be harmful to your vehicle's exterior! Look for a wash specifically designed for vehicles, available in any automotive department of your favourite store!
2. Wash your vehicle in the shade or in cooler temperatures, like early morning or later in the day.
3. Use warm water.
4. Use a soft terrycloth towel or wash mitt.
5. Spray the vehicle often with water.
6. Try to complete one section at a time, rinsing often to prevent soap drying on the paint.
7. Use soft terrycloth or a scratch-free fabric to dry the vehicle.
Keep in mind if this all sounds daunting you can hire your kids who are always looking to make a buck and you can oversee from the lawn chair with a cold beverage to ensure they follow steps 1 through to 7.
Of course if you're too type A to sit back and watch it is a great way to spend time with someone you car about or clear your head or get some exercise.
So no matter how you look at it, your car will look great and you'll feel good too! Have fun!
accustomed to by now.
But! Its May and we've had some glimmers of hope! So enough of 'Free Car Wash Day' I'm ready to get out the cleaning supplies and baby my car! After a long winter with lots of snow and salt she deserves it!
There are a couple of things to keep in mind though when washing your car if you are at all interested in keeping the exterior finish nice.
1. Don't use common dish detergent! They can be harmful to your vehicle's exterior! Look for a wash specifically designed for vehicles, available in any automotive department of your favourite store!
2. Wash your vehicle in the shade or in cooler temperatures, like early morning or later in the day.
3. Use warm water.
4. Use a soft terrycloth towel or wash mitt.
5. Spray the vehicle often with water.
6. Try to complete one section at a time, rinsing often to prevent soap drying on the paint.
7. Use soft terrycloth or a scratch-free fabric to dry the vehicle.
Keep in mind if this all sounds daunting you can hire your kids who are always looking to make a buck and you can oversee from the lawn chair with a cold beverage to ensure they follow steps 1 through to 7.
Of course if you're too type A to sit back and watch it is a great way to spend time with someone you car about or clear your head or get some exercise.
So no matter how you look at it, your car will look great and you'll feel good too! Have fun!
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