Where to Compare and Find MPG

Getting great MPG is a perfect way to save money on a weekly basis.  With gas prices going down steadily, it’s still an effective way to save at the pump, keeping your money for something a tad more…fun.  MPG is an important factor in car buying.  Many of you come into our dealership looking for a vehicle that gets great MPG, but is still comfortable and fun to drive.  We get that.  So, in today’s blog, we’re providing some ways to find out and compare MPG to find the best fit for your budget, and your pockets.

Window Sticker

When you come into the dealerships, check out the EPA label with three combined numbers:

•  City
• Highway
• Combined MPG

City MPG factors traffic, stop and go, and city streets.  Highway reflects an open road number, and a certain speed. The combined mpg rating is the most realistic whether than highway or city, because it’s a more realistic driving standard.   As of 2013, a new label that makes the combined MPG more prominent will be displayed with more information regarding annual fuel costs. 

Fuel Economy.gov

The U.S. Department of Energy has one of the best tools for looking up and comparing MPG, allowing consumers to search all the way back to 1984.  The website also allows you to make comparisons between vehicles, as well as customized driving data for more accurate results. According to Edmunds:

“Clicking on the "Personalize" button takes you to a screen where you can input your annual mileage, the price of fuel in your area and the percentage of miles you drive in stop-and-go traffic. The "Fuel Economics" section of the page then shows you a variety of results, such as how much it will cost to fill the tank, the cost to drive 25 miles, fuel used to drive 25 miles, the average miles on a tank, the size of the tank and estimated annual fuel costs.”

What MPG do you look for?  


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The Life Cycle of a Car (INFOGRAPHIC)

Have you ever wondered what happens to all of the old cars on the road? Check out this cool infographic from drivesteady.com on the lifecycle of a vehicle:

Source:How Much of Your Car is Recyclable

A Real Life Flying Car, Introducing the PAL-V

The Jetsons.  That’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a flying car.  I imagine a hovercraft vehicle that soars through the air at super fast speeds with a quiet cabin and a protective windshield in the shape of a bubble for aerodynamic buoyancy.  Gone are the days of four-wheel vehicles that can only travel a measly 220 MPH.  Well, folks, the future might be closer than we think.  Introducing, the PAL-V, your answer to traffic.  Lo and behold:

A Dutch company called PAL-V (Personal Air and Land) wants to create a personal vehicle that a user could drive on the street and then take to the sky when they deemed it necessary. Sound strange? Well PAL-V has already achieved flight and is in the process of production.  Picture driving down the road and hitting traffic, with the hit of a button, the rotor begins to unfold and the tail of the vehicle extends.  Then, using the advanced gyrocopter technology, the PAL-V takes to the skies.  Taking flight in a PAL-V is similar to flying a gyrocopter, using the safest form of flight available.  Soaring above the street at speeds up to 110 mph toward your destination is more convenient than pulling your hair out in traffic.

The PAL-V also drives well with speeds up to 110 mph, two person seating, a tricycle-like undercarriage with large wheels for comfortable travel, and a unique feel that’s similar to a motorcycle, improving the overall handling and precision. 

The PAL-V took a huge step after having their first successful flight during their maiden flight, but are looking for more investors for the cause.  Purchasing on of these will not be a viable option for everyone, as they are expected to carry a price tag of around £185,500, that’s $287,545 in USD. 

What would you do with your PAL-V?

Steps to Buying GREAT Auto Insurance

We’re car people.  From the accents and contours of a vehicle, to the drive and adrenaline of a fast car, we have a certain appreciation for the automotive machine.  As our passion, we’re great at finding a perfect fit for our customers.  When it comes to auto insurance, you want to be covered in the case you get into a fender bender.  So, in an effort to ease the burden, we’re providing 5 tips for finding the right coverage at the right price.  By doing some comparison shopping, you could save hundreds a year.   

Find the Right Coverage

Your first step should be to find a list of what is required in the state.  You can visit this link to find out: http://www.edmunds.com/auto-insurance/how-much-car-insurance-do-you-need.html this will provide the minimum of what is required. Once you have that, you should decide what insurance premium you need.  Your decision depends on your degree of comfort and a certain level of risk.  According to Edmunds:

“Experts recommend that if you have a lot of assets, you should get enough liability coverage to protect them. Let's say you have $50,000 of bodily injury liability coverage but $100,000 in personal assets. If you're at fault in an accident, attorneys for the other party could go after you for the $50,000 in medical bills that aren't covered by your policy.”

Also, you don’t have to buy collision and comprehensive damage, especially if your vehicle is older than 2000.

Check Your Driving Record

How many tickets have you had recently? By checking your state’s department of motor vehicles, you can have a better idea of how you stack up.  For example, if points you earned on your license are about to disappear, this will improve your driving record.  So, we would recommend you wait until that happens before you receive quotes.

Solicit Competitive Quotes

You will need:

o   Current Policy

o   License Number

o   Vehicle Registration

Check out insurance company websites and receive a quote.  It’s easy to type in your information and build a list of companies for comparative quotes.  Each quote takes about 15 minutes to complete, but shopping around can save you hundreds.  Think about the annual and monthly rates for different types of coverage, note the 800 number so you can get more direct answers, and pay close attention to the insurance company payment policy. 

These are just a few tips to get you started.  For more info visit your favorite insurance company website for details.

The Most Scenic Routes in America: Summer Edition

Sometimes, you need to get away.  Work is exhausting, your favorite TV sitcoms have gone off the air, and it’s time to break the mold.  Imagine breathing in the cool breeze of an ocean, or the soothing heat of a morning sun while taking a trip down the countryside.  Road trips are a great way to embrace the open road to view what our beautiful country has to offer.  So, you have the keys, a bag of snacks, and a couple days to check out your surroundings, but where do you go?  In today’s blog, we’re discussing some great scenic places to visit while you travel. 

Overseas Highway – Florida Keys

A highway that spans 113 miles, composed of roads and bridges from the Florida mainland to the country’s most southern point, the Overseas Highway is a beautiful place to drive.  There’s blue ocean, ships, boats, fisherman and tourists at every turn.  As an added fact, the Florida East Coast Railway was converted into this awesome highway.

Finger Lakes Region – New York

The Finger Lakes are a chain of lakes in central New York State shaped like…well, uh…fingers with the lakes formed by glaciers.  The lake extends 75 miles from Syracuse to Rochester.  There’s farmland, quaint towns and hundreds of wineries.  An Autumn trip adds an accentuating foliage to a beautiful drive year around. 

Pacific Coast Highway – California

This is known as one of the most scenic views in the world.  Hugging cliffs, and coastlines line a 123 mile stretch in a blissful five hour dream of beauty and saltwater scents.  However, this is not for the faint at heart.  The PCH offers some hairpin turns, narrow shoulders and steep drop-offs so BE ALERT. Honestly, take some time to pull over in safe places to really enjoy the vista. 

San Juan Skyway – Colorado

This scenic 233-mile drive through San Juan National Forest, Grand Mesa, is known as the “road to the sky” because of its mountains, quaint towns and ancient Native American pueblo ruins.  The drive features steep cliffs, alpine forests, campgrounds and plenty of outdoor activities.  

How on Earth Does Car Tire Tread Work?

You’re a driver.  You spend countless hours on the road to and from work, soccer practice, weekend events and everything in between.  You want to know for a FACT that your vehicle is safe to drive and chauffer in accordingly.  At our dealership, we’re adamant about safety, taking into account all of the features that give you piece of mind when you’re on the open, or in some cases, crowded road.  In today’s blog, we explain the importance of good tires and what tire tread actually does to protect you during your daily routine.  So, buckle up (pun intended) as we provide a quick guide to understanding tire tread. 

Tread patterns, the grooves and contours on a tire that give the wheel its grip and traction, allow performance capabilities. Lugs are the elevated portions of the tire that make contact with the road, while voids explain the space between the lugs that channels water through the tire to avoid slippage.  Common types are:

Symmetric Tread – this is the most common.  There are continuous tread blocks where inboard and outboard sides match

Asymmetric Tread – these are effective in dry and slick driving because the groove pattern varies to accommodate turns, deflecting water and gripping snow.  Common in all-season tires.

Directional Tread – have lateral grooves that form a v shape across a tire’s center.  It reduces hydroplaning potential.  The deeper the grooves, the more efficient a tire is at handling wetter conditions.

Tread works by maintaining grip and decreasing rolling resistance.  Rolling resistance is the physical force that taxes a vehicle to produce more energy.  The tire friction that occurs between the tire and surface also affects fuel consumption, so optimal tire tread patterns can maintain safety and performance while limiting the resistance. 

So, you might be asking: Why do I need to replace my tires?  Two main reasons are safety and mileage. Turning on wet surfaces is safer with the right type of tread and can shorten the braking distance you need for coming to a complete stop.  All vehicles offer different types of tread based on your style.  Visit our dealership by clicking here: http://www.audicoralsprings.com/index.htm