Between the constant construction and endless traffic in Cincinnati, there are many angry drivers out there, all of us at the Superior Auto Group have seen them. Maybe you have too. Maybe you are one of them! Do you get overly angered when someone cuts you off or takes “your” parking spot? Maybe you’re late for school or work, pass in and out of traffic without signaling, or use your horn to make a car or SUV in front of you drive more quickly. If you do any of these things, you might be an aggressive driver.
According to AAA, angry or aggressive drivers are in a high percentage of traffic accidents, often leading to death or serious injury. Take a look at this angry driver who was pulled over for speeding.
I’ve seen many aggressive drivers, but I can’t believe that driver was so angry towards that police officer. If you are ever confronted by an aggressive driver, here are some tips:
1) Don’t make eye contact with aggressive drivers.
2) Get out of the way of an aggressive driver. That might mean letting them pass.
3) Don’t confront or challenge them.
4) Avoid tailgating.
5) Use the horn for safety only, not to express your annoyance with the aggressive driver.
6) Obey the speed limit
These simple tips will help you avoid confrontation with aggressive drivers, and help make our Cincinnati roads safer. If you’re on Route 66 in Neptune, and want to share some additional tips for avoiding aggressive drivers, just stop by any Cincinnati car dealership, The Superior Auto Group, of course, and say hello.
How many of you in Cincinnati ignore the instrument cluster in your car? By count of some of the cars that this Cincinnati Car dealer has seen come through our service department lately, a lot of you ignore the warning lights on your instrument panel. Now don’t get me wrong, I know it’s really easy to neglect keeping yourself informed about your vehicle, even though gauges and lights are giving you constant information. I also know people who insist that their “Check Engine” light doesn’t really mean much and they’ve been driving with it on for “over a year”. Really? That’s not terribly smart. Make sure you read your new car manual to find out and take a look at something other than your speedometer from time to time.
Here’s a good (yet fuzzy) video I found that illustrates this well. WATCH IT! IT COULD SAVE YOU MONEY!
IF you have any questions feel free to ask and of our Superior Automotive locations. We service all makes and models including Cincinnati Hondas, Acuras, Hyundais and Kias. Don’t just ignore the warning light in your vehicle. Your Check engine light means just that: Check your engine!
For those of you scratching your heads, “upside-down” means you owe more on the car than it is worth”. The Superior Auto Group knows this can be particularly frustrating for people looking to buy a new car in Cincinnati. If you owe more on your car now than it’s worth, the remaining debt gets wrapped into your new car purchase. Increasing the cost of your new car, but not necessarily the value.
This can be a vicious cycle for a lot of people. How do you stop it? Here are some ways to get out from under being upside-down:
Consider your automotive purchases more carefully in the first place. Look into the “residual,” which is the projected, future resale value. Even though they may cost more up front, vehicles with higher residuals are less expensive to own in the long-term because they depreciate less. Purchase mainstream vehicles. A higher trim level four-door sedan in a fairly common color will hold onto its value more than a lime green sport model with excessive customization. Unless you find a buyer whose taste in personalization is exactly like yours.
Resist the urge to keep buying new cars on a regular basis. Take care of what you have and hang onto it. Pay it off. If you’ve taken care of it, then it will bring more money when you sell it or trade it in. And if you’ve paid it off, you will then have some positive, rather than negative, equity. Spend a little time and money cleaning it up and ready for sale, but you’ll get more in the bargain. Fixing it up and spending a few Saturdays waiting by the phone can result in several thousand dollars in your pocket. If you don’t want the hassle, the dealership will be more than happy to take it in trade and make some good money on it.
Here’s an in-depth explanation on being “Upside Down”.
httpV://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv44SqUh1ak
Also check www.united-credit.org for extra help. If you have any questions, feel free to contact any Superior Auto Group Location.
If you have been racking your brain trying to decide between the benefits between equipping your new Superior Car with cloth, or leather, here’s something to think about. Every Cincinnati car dealership will have their own reasons as to which one you should choose, and for most of them, their main goal is to put you in the more expensive option. But is that really the right choice for you and your family? So, cloth or leather? Which is better? What can I afford? These are just a few of the many questions you will ask yourself when deciding on whether you want Cloth or Leather in your new car. No doubt you will discuss this for a while before making a decision.
Question: Do you have Kids? If you have kids and you let them snack or drink in the car, be prepared for messes. When you have cloth interior in your vehicle it’s difficult to keep it clean with kids in tow. It is cheaper than leather, but think about your kids and add up all of the stains you have on your carpet and furniture. If you think that stains add character to your vehicle, then go with cloth. Plus, cloth will not bond to your skin when wearing shorts during those hot summer days or freeze your hindquarters during those chilly Northern months. Are you a smoker? Cloth soaks in odors. Anything and everything you put in your car can be soaked into your cloth. Think about picking kids up from practice all sweaty and stinky or your dog getting sick in the back seat. That could be quite a mess to clean up. Plus, cloth is more likely to fade and you better watch that cigarette that could burn holes in the cloth that may not present any damage on leather. Cloth is also susceptible to rips and tears over time. How much is leather worth to you now?
Leather is a must in luxury vehicles and a common standard in most other vehicles. Leather does not hold smells, it’s easy to clean, it has a lovely scent, it doesn’t stain or burn like cloth. However, leather does take a little work to keep looking fresh. You should consider using cleaning lotions regularly on the leather as it will help preserve the leather and keep it looking healthy. If you regularly clean and use cleaning lotions on your leather you can reduce the dirty look.
So what are your opinions? Is leather worth the cost, or is cloth worth the hassle? See your Cincinnati car dealer, the Superior Automotive Group and really take a good look at both of your options.
When looking to purchase a new car from your Cincinnati car dealership, potential owners have to first consider whether they should buy the car outright, or lease it for a term. There are certainly advantages and disadvantages to both. However, we’ve found out that in some cases, there is a little confusion in regards to what it actually means to lease a car. Watch the short video below, it provides a good definition and examples of what you can expect from leasing a car.
Regardless if you are looking to buy, or lease a new car, truck or SUV from your Cincinnati car dealer, you’ll want to get all of the facts about both options before your make your final decision. It could mean the difference of saving a couple of hundred dollars a month and getting a nicer car, or owning it out right after you’ve reached your payment term. If you aren’t sure what option bests suits you, call Mike Albert Direct and we’ll help you weight our options.
Acura is making a few waves with the release of the new 2013 Acura ILX. The 2013 Acura ILX is based off a heavily modified Honda Civic. It, in a word, is “different”. Although their appearances may be similar, the Acura ILX features different shock absorbers, a faster steering ratio, a larger-diameter steering shaft, thicker windows and more insulation. Of course, the exterior and interior are completely unique to the Acura.
As you can see below, their price structure is also vastly different. In fact the Acura ILX would be better compared to both the Buick Verano and Volvo C30 in regards to pricing and technological appointments.
2013 Acura ILX
2012 Honda Civic sedan
Base price: $25,900
$15,955
Fully loaded price: $34,400
$26,900
(Hybrid with Technology Package)
(Hybrid with leather and navigation)
A stand out in the new 2013 Acura ILX are it’s safety features. (Source Automedia.com)
Safety features include Acura’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure (nearly 60 percent high-strength steel) and six airbags, plus accident-avoidance technologies such as Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with new Motion Adaptive Electric Power Steering (EPS) and electronic traction control (TCS), four-channel Anti-lock Braking (ABS), and Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) with Brake Assist.
If you were a fan of the now defunct Acura TSX, you are going to really love what the 2013 Acura ILX has to offer. For more information on the new 2013 Acura ILX, call Cincinnati’s Acura Dealer, Superior Acura.
Have you ever wondered about tire technology? Like is any manufacturer ever going to make one that never wears out, or a tire that is self-inflating? At the Superior Automotive Group, we wish all of our new and used Hondas, Hundais, Kias and Acuras equipped with everlasting tires,o r even self inflating ones. Although you can really rely on the the ties that come on our Superior new and used cars, will the be equipped with maintenance free tires in the future? Is the tire revolution Science Fiction, or Science Fact?
As for the everlasting tire, I don’t think we’ll see that one any time soon as they’d probably cost an arm and a leg, not to mention virtually wiping out the manufacturers themselves. But, what about the self-inflating tire? I know we’ve all heard of it’s purported existence, but now it looks like it may come to fruition. That means no more loud compressors, say goodbye to leaky hoses and inaccurate tire gauges. The good people at the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company have apparently developed a system which will allow tires to self-inflate automatically.
The technology that Goodyear has developed is called Air Maintenance Technology (AMT) and is completely self-contained, without any need for external pumps or electronics.
“While the technology is complex, the idea behind the AMT system is relatively simple and powered by the tire itself as it rolls down the road,” said Jean-Claude Kihn, Goodyear senior vice president and chief technical officer.
Source Goodyear.com
Here is some theory behind the science.
Now that you know that self-inflating tires are indeed Science Fact don’t bother searching the net just yet for this new tire technology, Goodyear has yet to provide any costs, or even an estimate when the technology will become available to the public. However, don’t let that crush your self-inflating dreams. Goodyear has received grants from the United States Department of Energy’s Office of Vehicle Technology to help further development.
Aside from the “cool” factor, keeping your tires at optimal operating pressure delivers lower emissions, longer tire life, enhanced safety and improved vehicle performance.
Stay tuned to the Superior Automotive Group for further details. I’ll keep an eye on this topic for a future post. How great would it be if keeping your tires at optimal pressure just meant a quick trip to the corner store for some milk? It’s just one less maintenance issue you will be responsible for in the future.
Here’s something that drivers, not only across Cincinnati, but the rest of the nation seem to forget about, yet it can be an extremely important life line if you are ever in a bind. Your spare tire, and no, I’m not talking about the one around your waistline.
Superior wants to remind you that proper care and maintenance of your spare tire will one day pay off. It’s only a matter of time before you pick up that nail, or hit a curb or pothole and get a flat tire. What next? Well, I hope your spare tire has been properly maintained and kept full. Now this might seem like common sense, but we all know that most things, when out of sight are also out of mind. As if getting a flat tire isn’t bad enough, how much more can it ruin your day to find out that your spare is too low to hold the weight of your car?
Many new vehicles have an on-board monitoring system that alerts you if your spare needs air. Pay attention to the warning or you will be paying for a tow truck.
Below is a brief video video on how to remove your spare. honestly , you should already know how to do this, but just in case you don’t you can take a look at the video for some good hints. Of course, your spare also might be even easier to access, as it might be contained in a compartment under your cargo space floor.
Of course, know how to release your spare tire won’t do you any good if you haven’t done proper maintenance and kept it inflated to the proper PSI. Get into the habit of checking the pressure in your spare tire monthly. Also, every time you bring your car into service to Superior, just ask us to check your spare before you pick up your vehicle, even if you just brought it in for an oil change.
Remember, having a properly maintained spare tire, doesn’t mean eating a dozen donuts, but just staying a little more vigilant in regards to keeping enough pressure in your spare to actually use it when you need it.
Let’s say that you’ve done all of your research and have decided to buy a new car from the
Superior Automotive Group. You have read all of the reviews on the vehicle you intend to purchase and you’ve watched all of the YouTube videos. You have all of your financing squared away and you’ve already made an appointment with a salesman to take an extended test drive. But, there is something you’ve forgotten about. GAP Insurance.
You may think that, “Oh, I’m already insured with my other vehicle, surely that counts”. Well it does, and it doesn’t. GAP insurance picks up where car insurance leaves off.
So, what is GAP insurance? I’ll make it simple. So, you’ve just bought that new car at $40,000. The minute you drove it off the lot it depreciated in value according to your insurance company. So, now it’s worth $30,000. You wreck that car and the insurance company gives you the $30,000 for it, but now you still owe a remaining $10,000 on a car that you aren’t even driving because it’s been totaled. Unfortunately, this happens all the time to people, but it wouldn’t happen if they had GAP insurance. See, GAP insurance will insure you for the difference between what you would owe on a vehicle and what an insurance company says it’s worth. So in other words, you would be 100% covered if you were in an accident and now you know why it’s imperative to get GAP insurance.
*The one and only reason you might not want GAP insurance on your new car is if you paid for it with cash and don’t owe anything to the bank.
For less than $5 a month in most cases, GAP insurance can save you thousands. When searching for GAP insurance, research all of your options because there are a few different ways to obtain it. You can get it through the dealership, your insurance company or in some cases, the bank will roll it into your loan.
Let Superior know if you have any experience with Gap Insurance and tell us YOUR advice.
There are few sounds more disheartening than hearing a small rock, pebble, or other piece of debris crack against your windshield. The Superior Auto Group and Mike Albert Direct has seen and fixed thousands of windshields with what may appear to be “just a little damage”. These small little chips and cracks may not seem like something you should worry about, but the fact of the matter is they can get worse over time and are something that you need to fix as soon as you can. These little cracks can soon start to spread and you will have to get your windshield replaced. A large crack in your windshield will not pass inspection.
I found a great article from Auto Product Review that give good tips on why and how you should get these small dings replaced, and if you are driving with a chipped windshield you should definitely read on.
1. Lower costs – windshield chip repair cost is much less than the cost of replacing an entire windshield. And depending on the type of chip that occurs, it is possible that the chip will quickly spread until repair is no longer possible. Today’s technology has improved to the point where even small cracks can be safely repaired. And in most cases, insurance will cover your windshield chip repair cost with no money out of pocket to you, precisely because having to replace an entire windshield is so expensive.
2. Increase your safety – the windshield for most modern cars has become an important structural part of the car. In order for it to function correctly in the event of an accident, it must have structural integrity. Auto windshield chip repair is not only a cost saving measure, but also an important safety measure.
3. Reduce visibility issues – whenever you have a chip or crack in your windshield, there is a good chance that it is going to be in your field of vision. Chips can obstruct your visibility making it harder to determine what is happening on the road ahead in time to be able to react. Cracks become a new surface in the glass and glass surfaces reflect light. This means that at inopportune times you might be distracted by light shining in your eyes from an unexpected angle, which might slow down your reaction time or cause you to flinch or hesitate. Making sure that your windshield doesn’t have any of these visibility issues is an important safety factor.
4. Quick and convenient – windshield chip repair services can now be done very quickly and conveniently in as little time as having your oil changed. This is one of the reasons that many oil change shops have started offering the service as part of their standard services. They will often times find small chips and dings before you have even become aware of them, and will handle contacting your insurance to have the repair covered. Remember to check on the warranty to see how long the repair is guaranteed to last.
5. Do it yourself options – You can even find kits to do your own repairs if you have a mind to. This is a good option if your insurance doesn’t cover windshield chip repair. If you are going this route, be sure to check out what other users have said regarding the ease of installation and the long-term effectiveness of the repair. You’ll also want to check to see what kinds of tools and equipment are needed and whether the costs of buying or renting them make sense compared to simply paying for the repair out of pocket.
The bottom line is, you shouldn’t wait too long. For a larger problem to develop is not only unsafe, but it will cost you a lot more down the road. Of course, if you are looking for a new car or a used car in Cincinnati with pristine windshields, we have thousands of them!
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 [email protected]
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For those of you scratching your heads, “upside-down” means you owe more on the car than it is worth”. The Superior Auto Group knows this can be particularly frustrating for people looking to buy a new car in Cincinnati. If you owe more on your car now than it’s worth, the remaining debt gets wrapped into your new car purchase. Increasing the cost of your new car, but not necessarily the value.
Acura is making a few waves with the release of the new 2013 Acura ILX. The 2013 Acura ILX is based off a heavily modified Honda Civic. It, in a word, is “different”. Although their appearances may be similar, the Acura ILX features different shock absorbers, a faster steering ratio, a larger-diameter steering shaft, thicker windows and more insulation. Of course, the exterior and interior are completely unique to the Acura.
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