A Car or a Computer or Both?

Imagine you are a time traveler from 1940, and you just got plunked down into a car dealership.  That machine isn’t as much as a machine as it used to be, is it?

While the technology has greatly improved our cars, one unintended consequence has happened:  Those colorful touch screens are quite distracting!  Once, you could reach down without taking your eyes off the road and simply adjust the temperature.  Now, you have to swipe to the right page, zoom in on the virtual knob, and slide it to the right position.  Assuming you haven’t already driven off the road by now.

Enter the whiz-kids at Apple.  According to appleinsider.com, they have just received a patent from the U.S. government for a whole new way to control your dashboard.  One idea: a projection onto a generic knob that would change things like the volume or the air conditioning, depending on what was being projected.  Existing technologies such as “heads up displays” or like what you see on cameras that detect the position of your head would allow you to keep your eyes on the road.

The most interesting technology is for a touch screen that actually forms ridges and raised areas to give you the ability to “feel” your way across the touch screen, without the need to look at it.  All of these technologies not only make driving in the car easier, but safer too.

Now… if the computer would just hand me my French fries…

Auto-Braking For Bicycles

Bicycles sharing the road has been a debate for cities large and small for a very long time.  Love ‘em or hate ‘em, nobody wants to hit ‘em. 

Enter Volvo.

At the Geneva Motor Show, the Swedish car company known for safety, has unveiled a new system that will keep both motorists and bicyclists safe.  In what is an enhancement of automatic braking systems already in place in many Volvo models, this new system will actually scan for bikes that are riding parallel to the car.  A spokesman for Volvo explains that “if a cyclist heading in the same direction as the car suddenly swerves out in front of the car as it approaches from behind and a collision in imminent, there is an instant warning and full braking power is applied.”

For the past few years Volvo has been equipping cars with automatic braking that will detect a pedestrian or another vehicle, with great success.  This new innovation will be welcome in dense urban areas where bike and car collisions are all too common, and it will add a measure of safety in suburban and rural areas where kids risk darting in front of vehicles.

Will the day come when cars will detect dogs, squirrels and deer?  Perhaps.  Each advancement like Volvo’s takes us one step closer to the day when we have driver-less cars. 

How much would YOU trust a car that automatically brakes?

5 Car Buying Tips for Teens

It's the time all parents dread - your teen gets the license and is now begging for a car. Before you say "No", consider some of these tips to buying. And, remember, after they buy it, they'll need a good auto mechanic!

 

1.                  Start on the used lot! 

It’s often easier to finance a used car, and you’ll likely get much more car for the same money as used.  Some manufactures are offering warranties that last as long as 10 years and 100,000 miles and you can often find a used car that is still under warranty

2.                  Safety first!

SafeCar.gov has a handy tool that will show you the crash test ratings for cars going all the way back to 1990.  Check the list before you buy.  Also, consider a device that keeps an eye on your teen’s driving habits.  Phone apps exist such as the Android based “Speedbump,” and insurance companies like Allstate, Progressive, and State Farm offer lower rates when their monitoring devices are installed.

3.                  Credit issues

It can be tough getting your first car when you haven’t established credit, however many dealerships have in-house financing that can help establish credit, and work with people in unique situations.  If this still doesn’t work, consider a cosigner.

4.                  Share the cost

Sometimes having a little “skin in the game” helps young buyers appreciate the value of a dollar.  While getting in over their heads is not advisable, perhaps come up with an agreement for them to pay the fuel or insurance costs.  Also, some insurance companies will offer a discount if kids keep their grades at a certain level.

5.                  Be realistic!

Now is the best time to learn that you don’t need the flashiest car on the lot.  Pick one that will keep them safe, hold up on the road, and get good gas mileage.  You’ll help your teen build great financial habits now that will stay with them for many years to come.

Making it Easy to Get Your Car Serviced

We are all busy. We get it! Sometimes, it’s easier to do something via computer rather than calling, waiting on hold or leaving a message. That’s why we have made it very easy to schedule auto services for your car or truck with all four of our locations on-line. You might not have noticed it since you are so busy.

Front End Alignment - Just one of our many services!

Here’s the link to the Nixa shop.

Here’s the link to West Springfield.

Here’s the link to North Springfield.

Here’s the link to Ozark.

Remember, we are here for you for all repair and service needs as well as regular maintenance. This is where the online appointment forms come in handy! Oil changes, brakes, tires and wheels plus alignments and nearly every other auto service your car might need routinely. We are here to help you with all these issues that, if not taken care of quickly, can compound and cost you even more!

Don’t forget, we offer free Wi-Fi if you are waiting and free shuttle if you want us to take you back to work or home.

Do Your "PART" for Your Tires!

Remember the acronym PART

When was the last time you took a good, long look at your tires? I mean really checked them over to make sure what you are driving on is safe? There is an easy way to remember what you need to do to make sure your tires are safe for the road. The acronym is PART: Pressure, Alignment, Rotation and Tread. If you do your part and follow PART, you will end up riding safer and spend less money when you need new tires down the road.

P=Pressure: This is fairly simple and one that almost everyone will remember since it is a tire. If the tires are under-inflated, that causes uneven wear (and gas mileage issues, by the way). Wear on the tires means you have less control of your vehicle during an accident. Get a tire gauge and check your tires periodically. Get into a routine and put it in your calendar. Once a month is a good amount.

A=Alignment: Your car wants to pull you to the left or right as you travel at higher speeds. Your alignment is out of whack and your front tires are facing in different directions. It happens all the time when you hit a large pothole or a curb. Make sure to get this taken care of right away when you feel that pull. Misalignment can cause major damage to your tires and cause accidents.

R=Rotation: Front tires wear faster than the back because they guide the car when you steer. Regular rotation eases the wear and it’s good to get this done every two oil changes or 7,000 miles. Some manuals have suggested times…be sure to follow those.

T=Tread: This is what grips the tire to the road. Other than the air inside your tire, this is the most important attribute. Without proper tread, the rain or snow or even some unseen liquid on the road can mean the difference between arriving safely or not arriving at all. When you check pressure, be sure to check tread. It’s really easy if you have a penny! Point Honest Abe’s head down into the tread. If it touches his head, you’re OK. If you put the penny into the tread and there is space between his head and the tread, you are low. Check several parts of the tires, as tread is different along the entirety.

Remember: PART. It’s the best defense against bad tires and possible accidents.