DELAWARE & PENNSYLVANIA AUTO REPAIR

Hybrid cars are a money-saver for consumers. It has been advertised as such, and thus many users buy it for that reason. Do hybrid cars actually save you money? Before we do that, we must understand why hybrid cars are money savers. It uses less gas to go the same distance. Gas fluctuates from expensive to inexpensive, so that’s more money in your pocket. Regular cars use more gas to go the same distance and therefore labeled as “gas guzzlers.” These gas-guzzling vehicles contribute to pollution while hybrid cars preserve the air. Reverting to the question, the answer is yes. Hybrid cars save consumers money. The real question to ask is at what cost. Consider the following. The price of buying a hybrid. Hybrid cars cost more than regular cars, yet it drives farther using the same tank of gasoline. Hybrid cars also offer tax incentives and rebates to offset their higher cost. How often you ride. The phrase “save 10 gallons of gas” for many peo ... read more

Now that warmer weather is here, you may be planning a road trip. Enjoying your road trip will be much easier to do if you take some necessary precautions to prevent breakdowns. Preparing your car for a long road trip may take a little bit of time, but will be well worth the effort in the long run. Here is a checklist you can use to make sure nothing is overlooked. Check your Owner’s Manual Check your owner’s manual to see if your vehicle is due for any routine maintenance. If there’s a chance your vehicle could become due for service during your trip, go ahead and get it done before you leave. You should also check your owner’s manual to see if the manufacturer recommends any particular service be performed prior to an extended road trip. Visual Inspection You should perform a visual inspection underneath the hood. Some things to check include: Condition of battery terminals ... read more

This list of car service tips that will increase gas mileage will make your car more efficient. Take out heavy items in your automobile. Heavy items weigh your car down. The additional weight forces the car to use more gas to travel to the destination. Removing the weight improves gas mileage. Taking away 100 pounds of heavy items in your car improves it by 2%. Keep your tires properly inflated. Properly inflated tires last longer. Inflating tires to the proper pressure increases gas mileage by 3.3%. Replace your dirty air filter. Dirty air filters blow into the engine, The dirt and particles reduce the engine’s gas mileage. Changing it improves car performance and acceleration. Select the right kind of motor oil. No motor oil is the same, and the incorrect kind of oil affects gas mileage. Read the manufacturer’s handbook for their suggestion of grade motor ... read more

Do you have fond memories of your Dad’s (or maybe Grandpa’s) old car and some of its features? We do, and we sure miss some of those old cars’ great features, so we’ve compiled a list of some our favorites we’d like to share. Good visibility Yes, we know cars are safer now with airbags, reinforced frames and all of the other safety features which come standard on all new cars. But it seems that the more safety features are added, the less visibility we have to actually see where we’re driving! Blind spots have gone from a sliver to a gaping chasm on some newer models. We miss the old cars with their wide expanses of windows and good visibility! Wing windows We miss those little triangular windows set in the corner of the front doors next to the dash. They were great for letting in plenty of fresh air without having it blow directly on the people sitting in the front seat. They could easily be adjusted to the perf ... read more

When President Obama made his State of the Union speech in the year 2011 he stated his administration wanted to put one million electric vehicles on U.S. roads by the year 2015. However, according to Time, there are no more than a few hundred thousand of these vehicles in the U.S. at present. While that represents a tiny fraction of total vehicles used by U.S. drivers, there are some statements being made on the impact of electric cars on the automotive industry. The Impact of Electric Cars on the Automotive Industry In terms of raw sales electric vehicles are sluggish, but there is growth in popularity. 2014 saw 30,000 sales of the Nissan Leaf, which is an industry leader in terms of electric vehicles. That number might sound small, but it has increased every year as the technology becomes more common and more reliable. There’s still a long way to go between where we are a ... read more

Looking for a new (or used) car? Then be sure to keep your brain in gear with the friendly car salesman who greets you on the lot. Remember he’s professionally trained to alter your mind-set. Understand there are many things he doesn’t want you to know when buying your car. Here are five of the most important ones: He’s not there to help you. The salesman meets, greets and works to put you in a compliant mood. He won’t, however, help you buy the car you want at the price you want to pay. He carries all information and negotiation offers to another person, usually a sales manager, who works behind the scenes and makes the decisions. Rest assured those decisions help the business, not you. 2. Use your smart phone. Your smart phone or computer provides access to everything the salesman knows, and some things he doesn’t. Web sites furnish information such as the difference between the dealer’s cost and the mark-up, where the dealer bought th ... read more

Flat tires are something every automobile owner dreads. Changing a tire isn’t always possible, and flat tires also tend to happen in inconvenient locations. To make having a flat tire less cumbersome, many manufactures are now providing new car buyers with run-flat tires that will allow them to drive as far as 100 miles before changing them. While run-flat tires are convenient, they do have a few disadvantages. Are run flat tires worth it? Here are some things to consider. Advantages Aside from making it more convenient to fix a flat tire, there are several other advantages to run-flat tires such as: Providing better stability in the event of a blowout, since run-flat tires automatically have more support built into them Being standard equipment on up to 12% of new cars, so buying an upgrade is not needed. Allowing extra trunk room, since owners do not need to carry a spare or jack Lowering the weight of the v ... read more

Does complaining about technology changes mean that you’re getting old? Or are there valid objective reasons behind not liking everything that product market research throws your way? In the case of cars, many technological changes truly are improvements. The motor starter for example, was quite innovative in its time. Not having to stand outside in the rain while turning an engine hand crank must have been greatly appreciated. But not every car “innovation” makes driving more safe, convenient, or fun. Here are 5 new car issues that many experienced car owners take exception to: Touch Screens Touch screens are great on our smart phones and other mobile devices. Anyone who’s experienced sticking keys on old laptops will appreciate touch screen keyboards. However, many people take issue with them being used on car dashboards. The problem is that you get no tactile feedback when using them. Unless you take your eyes off the road and look ... read more

Buying a used car doesn’t have to be a disastrous occasion. Taking a few cautionary steps before driving off the lot will benefit you and prevent the purchase of a ‘lemon’. Below are five tips that everyone who is in the market to buy a used car should consider. Know Your Budget Knowing your budget and financial limits should seem obvious, but that has never stopped some buyers from exceeding their spending limit to only cause financial despair later. Often consumers make purchases with their hearts instead of their heads. Knowing what you can afford is the crucial first step when shopping for a used car. Also consider insurance, fuel costs and any repairs before purchasing your car. Check the Vehicle History Report Once you’ve found the car that suits your budget, don’t hesitate to ask the car salesman for the vehicle history report. This report will list the type of completed mechanical work and preventative ma ... read more

Winter is one of the roughest times on your car. That’s why it pays to make sure you’re going into the coldest months of the year with a vehicle that’s been fully prepared to take everything the season can throw at it, and then some. If you want to make sure you and your car both make it through the winter season, here are some tips you should take to heart. Tips to Get Your Car Ready For Winter #1: Flush and Re-Fill Your Coolant Your engine coolant is typically a 50/50 mix of water and coolant, but when winter comes along it’s a good idea to flush it out, and replace it with fresh coolant. Instructions for this are in your owner’s manual if you’re a do-it-yourself kind of car owner, but it’s always a good idea to leave jobs like this to the professionals. #2: Check Your Battery Nothing is worst than slogging through the snow, cleaning off your car, and then having nothing happen when you turn your key. If you want to make sure your car sta ... read more