If you own a truck, then that means that you are now the unofficial moving company for all of your friends and family. While you probably didn’t sign up for this duty when you bought your truck, at some point you are probably going to be asked to help a buddy move furniture and other large objects. While you may think that the most important part of helping someone move is how they will pay you back, it is actually knowing how to properly tie down your load. There is more that goes into moving than throwing everything haphazardly into your truck bed.
The first thing you should do is balance your load. You want to put your heavier and bigger items closer to the cab of your truck than in the back towards the gate. This will help give you better handling when driving. Also, if you have lighter stuff in the front of your bed, they may get crushed or broken due to the weight the may slide onto while moving. Also, try to fill as much space as possible. Think of your truck bed as a giant game of Tetris, and remember that the less open space there is the less chance for movement will occur.
Once you have your truck bed filled it is time to tie everything down. All trucks have anchor points along the sides of the bed, and some even have floor anchors. The optimal tie down angle is forty five degrees, and make sure that your bungee cords and tie down strips aren’t rubbing against any sharp objects to prevent your straps getting cut. If you need to create a tighter hold, then use the back of your truck bed as an anchor point. Before you drive off, be sure to give your load a firm shake and make sure that nothing will be loose or moving.
When driving, go slowly and don’t take hard turns or sudden stops and you and your load will arrive safely at your destination. If you are looking for a new truck, then be sure to come into Superior Cars.
If you are a hunting enthusiast, then no doubt you probably have a hunting trip planned in the near future. While there is no feeling like taking down a large buck with a bow or rifle, there is also no feeling like taking one down with your car. There have been over one million accidents involving deer in America from July 1, 2010 to July 1, 2011. It is not a rare occurrence for this to happen if you are driving through rural or mountainous areas. No one wants to injure a deer on the road, and no one wants their car to be destroyed by a large buck.
Here’s a hint for those who don’t know the behavioral habits of deer. While hitting a deer can happen at anytime, you need to be more vigilant around dawn and between six and nine o’clock at night. This is when they are more active. If you are in an area with lots of deer, you’ll want to be sure to drive slower during these hours. If you are driving through areas with Deer Crossing signs or heavily wooded areas, then be sure to keep your eyes open. If you do see deer grazing on the side of the road, be sure to slow down if possible and if you are in these wooded areas, be sure to use your high beams whenever possible. Even if you only see one, I can virtually guarantee you that there are more around that you do not see.
Now here’s the tough part. If a deer does come into the road, brake, but don’t swerve. Swerving may cause you to lose control and hit something else, or the animal may move in the direction you are swerving and you may hit it anyways. It’s a terrible thing to think about, but your only option is to brake hard and hit the deer.
Now this might be something you may not know. If you do hit an animal, be sure to pull over to the side of the road and call the police immediately. They’ll be able to call animal control to come out and check the situation. In fact, that deer may not have died in vain as the meat may be salvageable and even donated….maybe. While your car may be bigger than a deer, a lot of damage can still occur, so be sure that you are always wearing your seat belt to avoid injury.
Hitting a large animal on the road can do some serious damage to your car, we’ve seen it before and we’ll see it again. If you ever have the misfortune of this happening to you, bring your car into and Superior Automotive location, we’ll know what to do to get you back on the road.
There is a great chance that somewhere along the life of your car that you will have to take it into a mechanic’s shop to get work done that you just can’t do at home. For many people, this can be a nervous proposition. There is the stereotype out there that most mechanics only want to take your money and not do quality work to fix your car. We’ve all seen the 20/20 specials in these unfortunate cases, but you should know that this happens very rarely. If you are weary about finding the right mechanic for you, then the best thing you can do is research.
The video below does a great job in showing you the things to look for and the questions to ask when finding the right mechanic for you and your car.
Of course, if you bought your car from Superior Cars, you can rest easy in the fact that we have some of the best and most trustworthy mechanics that specialize in your car. If you are looking for a new car, then be sure to come into Superior Cars.
The economy has been in a big crunch over the past few years, so buying a new car may have seemed like a far away possibility. You may be tired of your old car, and think it is time to get some new wheels, but think that there is no way that you can get a great deal for a new car. Well, you may be surprised that the trade in value for your old car has increased due to the growing market for people who are looking at buying used.
With a growing contingent of the population wanting to buy used instead of new, the prices that dealerships are looking to give you for your trade in may make buying a new model car a lot easier to buy. One of the reasons that this has happened is due to the Cash for Clunkers program a few years. When they program took place, a lot of old used cars came into dealerships, and soon flew off of the lots. This huge injection of used cars into the market has created a need for car dealers to keep their used car lots full due to the rising demand for them.
When you combine the high value that your car is demanding at trade in with the low prices of many new cars, such as the Kia Soul which starts out at under $14,000 a new car may be more of a reality than you think. If you are thinking about trading in your old car, that dramatically cuts that price even further. After the recession hit its lowest point in 2008, you may have thought that there was no way you would be able to get into a new car anytime soon, but these high trade-in values may make it possible.
So if you are thinking about getting a new car, but think you may experience sticker shock, stop by Superior Cars to see how affordable a new car may be for you.
Buying new tires for your car is one of those expenditures that you have to have. All tires will wear down over time, and if you don’t change them then you will surely have a blow out to deal with on the side of the road. The problem with buying new tires is that it usually means spending a few hundred dollars. Not only are you going to have to spend the money, but there are so many different types of tires for a lot of different driving types that there may be a kind of tire for you that lasts longer, or shorter, than a normal tire.
Consumer Reports has 5 great tips that will help you get the most out of your tires and help cut your yearly tire budget.
Here are a few money-saving tips:
Keep up the pressure. Rolling resistance increases with underinflated tires, which can reduce fuel mileage by one mpg or more. Low pressure also makes tires wear out faster, and it can lead to tires overheating, risking a dangerous failure at speed. It takes only a couple minutes every month to check your tire pressure. And don’t forget to check the spare; you don’t want to wait until you get a flat to find out it needs air, too.
Rotate for long life. Front tires have to work harder than rear tires on front-wheel drive cars, the most common type on the road today. These tires have to deal with steering, driving and braking forces, and the weight of the engine. All that means the front tires often wear out faster. Have your tires rotated according to the schedule in your owner’s manual, and you’ll avoid spending hundreds of dollars sooner than you should for a new set. It will also ensure balanced wear at all four corners and consequently, balanced handling and braking.
Pass on the nitrogen. Many car dealers and tire retailers will tell you adding nitrogen to your tires in place of plain-old air will help maintain the proper pressure longer. That may be true but whether you use nitrogen or air, check your tire pressure routinely. Our tests showed that tires will lose pressure whether filled with nitrogen or air. If nitrogen filling is free, there is no harm in using it, but why pay for it? Bottom line: there is no substitute for doing proper pressure checks.
Snow removal. If you live in a snowy climate, you should use four winter tires for the best traction and safety. But their compounds often wear much faster than conventional tires, and dry handling isn’t as good on cleared roads. To maximize wear and usefulness of your snow tires, don’t put them on until snow is likely in your area, and take them off promptly in spring.
Shop around. When it is time to replace tires, replace all four for best traction, emergency handling, and all-around performance. And check around for the best price. Online retailers make it easy to compare prices, and some make it easier to find the right tires for your car just by keying in the make and model). See our ratings for the best tires that suit your needs.
So be sure to closely monitor your tires whenever you are fueling up or cleaning your car and avoid going through tires faster than you have to. If you are looking for a new car, then be sure to come into Superior Cars.
One of those forgotten things in your car that you need to take of is your car’s windows. It is easy to forget to properly clean and maintain your windows because the only time you notice them is when something is wrong. Like other parts of your car, your windows have a lot of moving parts, and if one thing starts to wear down then you can be forced to spend a few hundred bucks having it fixed. The best thing that you can do to make sure that your windows will work properly for years to come is proper cleaning.
The video below shows how easy it is to stop future window problems, and how those problems occur.
So be sure to clean out all parts of your window once a month or so to stop any damage before it happens. It is very easy and will save you money in the long run. If you are looking for a new car, then be sure to come into Superior Cars.
If you have been driving over the past 4 or 5 years, then you have probably noticed that cars seem to be getting smaller and smaller. I remember the first time that I saw a Smart Car drive by me on the highway thinking, “Wow, that’s a fast golf cart!” These super-compact cars have been seen on the roads of Europe and India for years, but they are becoming more and more popular in the U.S. The reasons seem simple enough, they provide good gas mileage and are also very easy on the pocket book. Well, one family has turned an Indian super-compact to anything but a penny saver.
The Tata family owns stores that deals with gold, so as a nod to their normal business venture they bought a Nano, which is an Indian car that would run for less than $7,000 if it were sold in the United States. That would be a great thrifty buy for someone who has billions of dollars. Of course, they couldn’t stop there. The covered the car in more than 175 pounds of 22 carat gold, 30 pounds of silver, and more precious gems than your local Zale’s store probably has. The result? A car that is now worth $4.6 million dollars.
While accessorizing and making your car unique has become a part of car ownership, this car seems to go a little bit too far. You have to be pretty out there to think that you want to get a new paint job on your car and instead encase the entire body in precious metals and stones. While this clearly isn’t for everyone, it still is a sight to behold, even if the sight is a gaudy one.
If you are looking for a reasonably priced car that will make you feel like a million bucks, then be sure to come into Superior Cars.
In the world of smart phones and wi-fi hot spots, it is more and more common to stay connected than ever before. This has extended from laptops and other digital devices into your car. Gone are the days of staying up all night before a road trip planning out the fastest route with a highlighter and a road atlas. Now, all it takes are a few pushes of a button and you can get anywhere. Driving through new areas doesn’t mean that you have to search in futility for a radio station that plays the music you want to hear. Well, until now these kinds of things meant several different devices. One company called Parrot has decided to change all of that.
Parrot has created a new after market stereo that has all the functionality of a GPS system, internet radio, and more in one simple compact device. It will allow drivers to use online maps, plan road trips, tell you weather forecasts, compose text messages or emails by voice, and give you access to over 50,000 internet radio stations. This all in one unit will not only get all of the clutter off of your dash, but it will also make your driving life easier. The best part about the Parrot stereo is that it will also interface with many Android phone apps.
Coming out in October, this will make a perfect Christmas gift this holiday season for the person who spends a lot of time behind the wheel and on the road. Getting around in your car is becoming easier with these new internet and satellite connected devices, and this product puts them all in one sleek looking passage. If you are looking for the perfect all-in-one then this device may be for you, and if you are also looking for a new car be sure to come into Superior Cars.
Accessorizing your car is a great way of showing off your unique personality to anyone else on the road. From custom paint graphics to after market wheels and rims, you have the right to transform any car you buy into its own unique snowflake. But sometimes it can get a bit out of hand, and your car or truck passes from cool and unique to just plain weird. While of course all of this is subjective, there are some accessories out there that will make you scratch your head and wonder, “Who would spend money on that?”
So what are these outrageous add-ons that are looking for your unnecessary dollar? Here’s a selection from a top ten list that carinsurancequotes.net compiled.
Fake Bullet Holes: Plastering fake bullet holes all over your hoopty is pretty gangsta, and may even prevent you from encountering more road rage incidents — who wants to mess with someone who’s already apparently survived multiple gun fights? But, if you’re driving a car that you actually care about, one that you might even drive to work, then why would you sacrifice its appearance for a few laughs (which are, by the way, at you)? The other extreme is those personalized decals that represent each member of your family that are on every other minivan or SUV.
French Fry Holder: Sixteen years ago, no state had an obesity rate higher than 20%. Today, all but one state have surpassed that benchmark — Colorado, is teetering on the edge at 19.8%. It’s safe to say that items such as the car French fry holder, akin to the cup holder, haven’t helped. The inconvenience of driving no longer has to limit your gluttony, and you can eat at a much more efficient rate. Gone are the days of using your cup holder or legs to hold them in check, which, in all honesty, is good for road safety. We’ll never stop people from eating while driving.
Scented Tires: After miles upon miles of pounding the pavement and coming into contact with things such as bloated animal carcasses, your tires tend to accumulate a not-so-pleasant smell — one that you’d never notice unless you got on all fours and put your nose against the rubber. To most people, this is a non issue. To others who never skip the details, it’s something that must be addressed. In 2008, Kumho Tires, a company based in South Korea, released a lavender-scented tire called the Ecsta DX Aroma. Priced at $81, it blended synthetic oils into the rubber compound, maximizing viscoelasticity. Perfect for your Challenger or Camaro SS.
So feel free to add or modify your car however you see fit. Just remember, car accessories can become addicting, and before you know it you are buying expensive aromatic tires. If you are looking for a new car to accessorize, then be sure to come into Superior Cars.
With summer winding down, now is the best time to give your car a thorough waxing while the weather is warm enough to work outside. The purpose of waxing your car is to give it a layer of protection from the sun and rain to keep your paint and clear coat strong. Choosing the right kind of wax sounds easier that it is. With new high performance waxes, liquids, pastes, and everything else on the market, it may make you second guess what you need for your car. So which one is the best?
Well, the first thing you should know is that a higher price does not always mean higher quality or protection. Consumer Reports just tested a batch of waxes and wax agents for cars and they found out the the lower priced waxes perform just as well as the ones that are described as maximum performance. If you are unsure about what kind of wax will best protect your car, you may generally looking for a higher price and think that it is a higher quality, but just remember that is not always the case.
With new liquid waxes on the market, the ease of use makes people think that it is not doing as good of a job protecting your car. Well here’s some more good news. In the tests, the liquid waxes had a negligible difference between the pastes that take more work to apply and use. In fact, if you are an owner of a car with a darker paint job, you may do more damage with paste based waxes because it may cause micro scratches in your paint while application. So what it all comes down to is ease of application and a better price. Both of these things well not make much of a difference in the amount of protection they provide.
Waxing your car before the long fall and winter months will really help keep your car looking good all year long. If you are looking for a new car that already looks great, then come into Superior Cars.
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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