What I’m about to tell you is nothing you don’t already know. Buying a car is a “Catch 22″ meaning, you have to have one, but for the most part, they are bad investments in terms of recouping your money. Their value isn’t really based on how much you can get for it when you want to sell it, but how much you get from it you while you own it. But of course, we want a good trade value for our old stuffs. Though old and used, we surely had bought it in a good price, so we also expect a better deal.
Well, I hate to break it to you, but unless your daily commuter is a high-end sports car or luxury suv, you aren’t going to recoup all of your money. No problem, we already knew this. So, what can you do to help add some value back into your vehicle? Take a look at the video:
Have any other hints on keeping the value of your new car intact, let the Superior Auto Group know.
Everyone loves an underdog. That thing or person that might not be the biggest, or the strongest, but has enough heart and spirit to put them at the top of their game. That underdog is Hyundai.
It’s fair to sat that Hyundai had one of their best years ever and has quickly become not just a household name, but a name that carries a lot of weight when deciding to get new car. The brand that may have never even made it on the radar screen of many consumers is now up at the top of their list and their next vehicle purchase.
Why is that? Their fantastic cars? The unbeatable warranty? The reliability? The attention to detail? The thoughtfulness that goes into both design and function? It’s all of the above and more. You see, for a foreign car brand to make such amazing strides in the last couple of years, in light of the economy, is nothing short of amazing.
It truly is a Cinderella story, the ultimate underdog victory. Hyundai knows this and is well represented in on of the commercials running during this year’s Super Bowl. Check it out below.
“Flying High Now”, or as most of you know it, the Theme from “Rocky” pretty much sums up Hyundai’s recent success. Hyundai had the ability to be inventive and at the forefront of the import car section due in major part to the people who both manufacturer Hyundai as well as your Hyundai dealers.
If you want to see how far your Hyundai dealer in Cincinnati has come, swing by either Superior Hyundai location and take a test drive…Driving is Believing.
The Superior Auto Group doesn’t really make it a habit of dwelling on unfortunate or writing about stuff that literally puts our stomachs in knots, however, I couldn’t pass this up. It’s very interesting information.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has some interesting stats available to the public through their Fatality Analysis Reporting System.One of the statistics they keep is the number of crashes on each day of the year. We decided it would be interesting to see which days had the most accidents and which days had the lowest number of crashes across the country.
Without further ado, here are the fifteen days with the most accidents on average from 1999-2008 (ten years):
Most Accidents
January 1 132.1 average crashes
July 4 131.5 average crashes
July 3 126.3 average crashes
August 3 123.3 average crashes
September 2 122.7 average crashes
September 1 120.9 average crashes
August 6 120.8 average crashes
September 22 120.6 average crashes
July 2 120.4 average crashes
October 14 119.7 average crashes
August 4 119.6 average crashes
August 31 119.5 average crashes
June 30 119.2 average crashes
July 15 118.4 average crashes
August 11 118.3 average crashes
It’s no surprise to see New Years Day and the 4th of July near the top of the list, but there a few odd ones in there.
Least Accidents
January 8 81.9 average crashes
January 23 82.1 average crashes
January 29 82.6 average crashes
January 30 83.2 average crashes
January 15 83.2 average crashes
February 27 83.3 average crashes
January 24 83.4 average crashes
January 2 83.6 average crashes
March 14 85.1 average crashes
March 20 85.1 average crashes
December 25 85.2 average crashes
February 1 85.3 average crashes
February 28 85.4 average crashes
February 9 85.5 average crashes
March 22 85.7 average crashes
The winter months dominate this list which makes sense. The danger of icy roads obviously didn’t outweigh the lower amount of drivers on the road.
I admit, not one of my most exciting or joyous posts, but an important one just the same. Everyone, the Superior Auto Group wants you to stay safe out there!
I ran across a video recently that I couldn’t believe. If you think that seeing one child behind your new Cincinnati car, truck or SUV was hard, I’m sure you’d have no problem seeing 60 children? Of course you can! Right?
Wrong! Even with your mirrors properly set, it is virtually impossible to see, not just directly behind your vehicle, but almost 15 ft in some cases depending on the height of your vehicle.
Watch the video below and you’ll understand.
It’s OK, I’ll let you change your answer.
Please be 110% aware of all of your surroundings. It is your responsibility. It is your requirement. It is your duty to be as safe a driver as you can. Yes, accidents do happen, but they usually happen when we aren’t paying attention.
Now…watch the video again.
All of us here at the Superior Automotive Group would like to ask that you please please re-post this as many places as you can.
There’s a game here at Superior called, “What’s in the glovebox?” Here’s a hint, it’s usually not gloves. Even now, as we are rolling into the electronic age, I’ll bet your glove box is filled with receipts from oil changes, tune-ups, tire rotations and who else knows what. Or even better, you cram them in a cardboard box in your garage. Let’s face it, it’s probably about time to get rid of your maintenance receipt receptacle in lieu of something a little more organized and up to date.
I’ll be the first to admit that keeping records of automotive repair and maintenance is a chore few of us relish, but keeping organized files can save you and your mechanic time and grief down the road. Essentially, these records are your car’s medical records; it’s important to be able to present these to your auto technician, so they know how to diagnose and “treat” your vehicle! Especially if you are changing workshops. Whether they’re oil change records or transmission repair receipts, it’s a good idea to keep all these records together. Things like having a record of the last timing belt replacement can save you unnecessary maintenance costs, but they can also save you from breakdowns due to overdue maintenance.
Of course, this is a modern age and you’ll probably find it easier to have everything at hand on your computer. In fact, there are many software programs you can get to keep track of your car’s maintenance and repair schedules. I’ve read that Lonewolf Software is one good option, and so is MTCPro. Even working off of a simple Excel spreadsheet will be a lot easier than pulling your latest maintenance reports apart because of the gum you left in your glove box.
Want to keep all your papers together in the glove box? Take a look at the video:
The bottom line is, here at Superior, we believe the better the records you keep the better your car can be serviced whereby making you a much happier driver.
Insurance. If you own a car, you must have it…but how do you choose?
After short-listing your potential car insurance providers, check out car insurance quite sites online where you can fill out your details once and have the site submit your information to your chosen car insurance providers. Let THEM do the work of getting your business!
Work on a having a good driving history. Insurance companies are taking a risk on your driving habits. As such, if you have a good driving track record, then chances of you getting in a road accident (and ergo chances of the insurance company needing to make a payout) are slim. So, good driving record = better car insurance rates.
Know your credit score. Your credit score is one of the things an insurer takes into consideration when figuring out the auto insurance quote to give you. If your credit score is bad this means your finances are not good, which means you’re a big risk for the insurance company, which in turn means you get a high car insurance rate.
What a lot of people don’t realize is that there are often mistakes in one’s credit score! The best thing to do here is for you to know your credit score NOW and fix any erroneous entries by getting in touch with credit report companies to get these mistakes out and thus improve your credit score. In the end, a good credit score = better car insurance rates!
Read auto insurance reviews online and learn from other people’s experience! With your good driving record history and better credit score in hand it’s time to seek the best car insurance providers. The best way to find these providers is to learn from the experience of others. A great place to be better informed is to visit AutoInsuranceReviewer.com (AIR). AIR is third-party site where thousands of people just like you sign up and post their own personal reviews of car insurance providers they’ve dealt with. The review criteria for each vehicle insurance company are: Extent of Coverage, Claims, Customer Service, and Car Insurance Cost.
Take higher deductibles. If you can afford it, opt to pay a higher deductible (the amount you need to pay the insurance company before they pay any claims) than normal. It may be steep at the start but this means paying lower monthly premiums too, which in the long run means more savings for you.
Go ahead… ask for a discount! Nowadays, there are plenty of discounts that can be had on car insurance (e.g., low mileage drivers, presence of anti-theft gadgets in the car, car-poolers, etc.) but in many cases you do have to ask for them! So go ahead and ask! Hey, it’s your money, right?
There are many great resources you can follow-up with on the internet if you have any further questions. It’s always good to do your research, so you know you will be getting the best coverage for the better rates. Then come and see the Superior Auto Group a pick out your new car!
The Superior Auto Group knows that picking out a car can be a lengthy, frustrating experience for some. But, it doesn’t have it be! There’s a car out there for everybody and it only takes a little time and patience to find the perfect fit for you. Allow me to give you a few helpful pointers to get you started finding your 4-wheeled soul mate:
First, get out a piece of paper and start jotting down a few questions:
Which makes/models do I like?
How often will I be driving?
Which safety features are important to me?
Will I often have several passengers?
How much cargo space will I need?
Do I want an automatic or manual transmission?
These are just a few questions to get you going in the right direction, and feel free to change them up or add more.
Your soul mate is out there
Now is a good time to decide if you would like to lease or buy your new car. Leasing can offer lower payments with less money down, while buying can require more money upfront with higher monthly payments. This can vary from dealer to dealer and be dependent on monthly incentives.
Along with deciding whether to lease or buy, you should crunch some numbers so you know your budget while shopping around. According to Edmunds, a good rule of thumb to follow is that your payments shouldn’t exceed 20% of your monthly income.
Another good site to use to compare ratings and reliability is Kelley Blue Book’s site.
Once you have everything written down and figured out, make sure you take all of that information to the dealerships you visit. Now that you have a few car models in mind, make sure you test drive them – both on the freeway and on the street. If you can, try driving around in areas that are familiar to you, and try and go up and down hills and areas with several turns so you can get a good feel for the acceleration and handling.
If you have any questions at all, feel free to post them here or visit any Superior Auto Group location.
You’ve made the ultimate decision. You are getting a new car from Superior, and that means it’s finally time to give up that faithful old car that has no doubt been both your best friend, and at times, your worst enemy. What do you do with it? You’ve got 3 choices: Sell it, Donate it or Scrap it.
Selling Your Used Car:
If you’ve decided to not trade in your used car and planned on selling it yourself, there are a couple of things you might want to know first. Is your car going to be easy to sell? Is it a hot commodity? Or will you have to drop your price and search out additional avenues to sell it?
Here are a few general rules to answer these questions:
Family sedans, while unexciting to many, are in constant demand by people needing basic, inexpensive transportation.
The sale of convertibles and sports cars is seasonal. Sunny weather brings out the buyers. Fall and winter months will be slow.
Trucks and vans, used for work, are steady sellers and command competitive prices. Don’t underestimate their value.
Collector cars will take longer to sell and are often difficult to price. However, these cars can have unexpected value if you find the right buyer.
What about donating it?
If you know anything about us, then you know that we give as much back to the Greater Cincinnati community as we can. In fact, we’re really a big advocates of donating a reliable vehicle in good condition. A donated car is an invaluable tool for those who have difficulty affording one on their own. Although donation can be a laborious process, the benefits far outweigh the minimal amount of time and effort it takes to donate. To make things even easier, look below for a few time saving tips:
1. Avoid middlemen. Numerous for-profit intermediary organizations advertise aggressively on TV, billboards and elsewhere, offering to help you donate your vehicle to charity. Here’s the catch: These organizations typically keep about 50 percent to 90 percent of the vehicle’s value for themselves, and the charities don’t get what they could have gotten.
2. Find a worthy charity. If the charities you normally support aren’t equipped to accept such donations, do some homework until you find a reputable charity that is. You can research charities’ track records online at this Better Business Bureau site and through Charity Navigator.
3. Check the math. If you still feel compelled to use an intermediary organization – possibly because you’re busy – at least ask the organization how much of the car will go to charity. If the organization simply gives charities flat fees — say, $100 for a used vehicle regardless of its value, or $2,000 a month — your donation may not be eligible for a tax deduction.
4. Know the status of your recipient. In order for you to qualify for a deduction, the charity that gets your donation must be an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) organization. Your church, synagogue, mosque or temple likely qualifies. (Check first just to make sure.)
5. Do the delivery yourself. Once you’ve identified a worthy charity, recognize that it will have to pay someone to pick up your car for you. To help the charity maximize the benefit of your donation, drop the car or boat off yourself.
6. Transfer the vehicle with care. Formally re-title the vehicle to the charity, and report the transfer to your state’s department of motor vehicles or licensing. Never agree to leave the ownership space on the charity donation papers blank.
7. Be detail-oriented. This paper trail may seem cumbersome, but think about it: This may be one of the biggest charitable donations you ever make. By taking the time to dot the i’s, you can make sure that the charity gets the most benefit and you get the biggest possible deduction.
Scrapping your Used Car:
I don’t have to explain this one. No one wants to inherit, or buy garbage. Be honest. If it’s junk, it belongs in the junk yard.
Who’s had experience donating a car before? Can anyone offer the Superior Auto Group more advice?
The safety, security, and performance of your new car Superior Auto Group car is crucial if you desire to travel without fault. In order to ensure that each of these elements are at their highest quality you must ensure that you are constantly maintaining every element of your new car or truck.
The problem is that many people will neglect to follow up on common vehicle problems unless these problems hinder the operation of their vehicle. This is the worse thing you can do. A problem which may seem small right now could erupt into an even larger scale problem that could ultimately cost you a great deal more money than if you would have corrected the issue when it first was revealed.
One problem that many people attempt to avoid dealing with is issues with their vehicles air intake system. If you remember one thing about this article it should be this:
“The air intake mechanism in your vehicle can’t be ignored! Ignoring this element could cause additional damage to your vehicle and could also render it useless.”
What Can Happen If I Don’t Repair Or Replace My Damaged Air Intake System?
Deposits can accumulate on air intake valves, fuel injectors, and combustion chambers. When this happens, your vehicle could lose power and be rendered useless. You could also experience a misfire, knocking, or a rough idle. Finally, you may have avery hard time starting your car.
What Do I Do If I Am Experiencing Issues With My Air Intake System?
If you are experiencing issues with your vehicles air intake system you should immediately stop driving the vehicle and should immediately correct the issue. You can attempt to clean the air intake mechanism on your own or you can take your vehicle to a trained specialist who can repair and clean or replace your vehicles air intake mechanism for you.
The good news is that a new air intake system is inexpensive and can generally be replaced with little effort. Even if you choose to carry out this task on your own, you will quickly discover that it is a very simplistic process. Additionally, you will quickly be pleased with the manner in which your vehicle will operate once you have cleaned, repaired, or replaced your damage system.
Here’s a fun little video to show you how easy it is to clean your new car’s air intake system: (Yes, I know the steering wheel is on the wrong side of the car.)
If you have any more questions or need a little assistance, just see any Superior Auto Group location.
Now we haven’t really been hit with any extreme snows just yet, but you know as well as Superior knows that a Wither storm can pop up almost without warning. I expect many of you would appreciate hearing some winter driving tips. Take a look at this video from Michelin, which talks about:
Exiting a tight turn
Traction
High-speed cornering
Four winter tires in winter
I know the roads in the Tri-State area haven’t been great, have you had any troubles driving your vehicle so far this winter? Can you give Superior any advice you’ve learned while driving in Winter weather?
The Superior Automotive Group and Mike Albert Direct have been serving Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky since 1928. We care about you, your cars, your safety, and our community.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask and any suggestions are always welcome at SuperiorAutomotiveGroup@gmail.com
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