Hi Drivers
If you own a Volt - rest assured GM has fixed that fire bug. I'm sure you weren't panicked anyway as there doesn't seem to have been any real life incidents. This article contains the details on where to go in Canada for the free fix.
GM develops fix for Volt battery packs
Happy Driving!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Friday, November 25, 2011
Chevy Volts on Fire?
Chevy Volts on Fire? well not necessarily. For a hazard that has had no real life incidents it's sure getting a lot of press. What are your thoughts? Do you think the Volt is getting disproportionatly bad press?
Monday, August 8, 2011
New Westminster's A-List - only 7 days left to vote!!
Thank you so much for voting us onto last years A-List.
It's time to vote again this year - we would love your support once again!
You can vote for your favourite New Westminster businesses and people by clicking on this link http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NewWestAList
Happy Voting!
It's time to vote again this year - we would love your support once again!
You can vote for your favourite New Westminster businesses and people by clicking on this link http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NewWestAList
Happy Voting!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Got a friend who's pregnant - don't buy this book!
Morning Drivers!
I know . . . I should be writing to you about cars; but as you can likely tell from the very few posts my brain is all baby all the time these days.
I am two days overdue - really not a big deal - and so against my better judgement turned to a book that was given to me as a gift when I first got pregnant to read what was up on 2 days overdue.
"The Pregnancy Countdown Book" by Susan Magee with Kara Nakisbendi, MD provides one page of tips, tricks, life from the trenches advice per day of your pregnancy. It's relative pocket size, cute blue and pink colouring and quotes from real mom's would lead the casual observer to think it's a fun companion for any new mom.
That would be a big misconception. Each day is filled with worse case scenarios and cautionary tales. According to this book I was supposed to be fat and miserable and hate my husband and most of the world throughout my pregnancy. Right now I should be preparing for post partum blues because being overdue I have no other option as I'm clearly miserable and feel like a failure. The description of labour and various procedures was enough to make me almost throw up they were so harrowing and the lists of long lasting side effects and healing pains from labour has not checked out with any mother I've spoken to.
By the way, if you're reading this and recognize it as the book you gave me, sorry for the bad review, but please take comfort that based on the cover I would have happily bought it for someone too!
So how to link this back to cars and car buying? Well, you can read all the car reviews you want, or find the perfect colour of cherry red; but frankly until you've taken it for a spin you'll never know if it's a great fit!
Wish me luck and Happy Driving!
I know . . . I should be writing to you about cars; but as you can likely tell from the very few posts my brain is all baby all the time these days.
I am two days overdue - really not a big deal - and so against my better judgement turned to a book that was given to me as a gift when I first got pregnant to read what was up on 2 days overdue.
"The Pregnancy Countdown Book" by Susan Magee with Kara Nakisbendi, MD provides one page of tips, tricks, life from the trenches advice per day of your pregnancy. It's relative pocket size, cute blue and pink colouring and quotes from real mom's would lead the casual observer to think it's a fun companion for any new mom.
That would be a big misconception. Each day is filled with worse case scenarios and cautionary tales. According to this book I was supposed to be fat and miserable and hate my husband and most of the world throughout my pregnancy. Right now I should be preparing for post partum blues because being overdue I have no other option as I'm clearly miserable and feel like a failure. The description of labour and various procedures was enough to make me almost throw up they were so harrowing and the lists of long lasting side effects and healing pains from labour has not checked out with any mother I've spoken to.
By the way, if you're reading this and recognize it as the book you gave me, sorry for the bad review, but please take comfort that based on the cover I would have happily bought it for someone too!
So how to link this back to cars and car buying? Well, you can read all the car reviews you want, or find the perfect colour of cherry red; but frankly until you've taken it for a spin you'll never know if it's a great fit!
Wish me luck and Happy Driving!
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Honda, Toyota lose grip on U.S. family sedan market
Honda, Toyota lose grip on U.S. family sedan market
This is an interesting article for anyone looking to buy a new car. We certainly notice people being pulled between wanting what is traditionally the reliable great brands of Toyota and Honda and considering newer brands like Hyundai, re-imagined domestic brands like Ford or "the drivers car" like Volkswagen that offer more options on basic models and often greater style.
What are your thoughts? Are you a Toyota or Honda loyalist and will continue to be so? Do you think this is just a bump in the road?
Happy Driving!
This is an interesting article for anyone looking to buy a new car. We certainly notice people being pulled between wanting what is traditionally the reliable great brands of Toyota and Honda and considering newer brands like Hyundai, re-imagined domestic brands like Ford or "the drivers car" like Volkswagen that offer more options on basic models and often greater style.
What are your thoughts? Are you a Toyota or Honda loyalist and will continue to be so? Do you think this is just a bump in the road?
Happy Driving!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Tell Us About Your First Time and Win a Samba Feast!
Hi Drivers!
We have a $40 Gift Certificate for Samba's Brazilian Steakhouse in Vancouver and we're itching to give it away!
Leave a comment telling us about your first car - what it was, how it felt to get it, what it meant to have it, anything else you think might be interesting to be entered into the draw. We will draw a winner on June 20, 2011.
Happy Driving!
We have a $40 Gift Certificate for Samba's Brazilian Steakhouse in Vancouver and we're itching to give it away!
Leave a comment telling us about your first car - what it was, how it felt to get it, what it meant to have it, anything else you think might be interesting to be entered into the draw. We will draw a winner on June 20, 2011.
Happy Driving!
Monday, May 30, 2011
To Buy or Not to Buy
L James Johnson at the Car Connection writes an interesting article that you might want to check out. Essentially he says there is no easy answer that each sale is a case by case situation.
Certainly from our experience we have noticed the prices rising. It’s not that there aren’t some golden nuggets to be found but it has been shocking to see how high some of the vehicles are selling for at the auction in the last month of two. While customers may be skeptical about the rising prices, it would appear that dealers are not and are willing to/having to pay the price to bring inventory onto their lot.
To understand how a few less Prius’ may cause your used Ford Focus to go up in price, it would likely help to understand how dealerships (large and small) acquire their used inventory. There are lots of ways for an individual dealership to acquire a used vehicle: wholesale it from another dealer; dealers only auction; trade-in’s; lease returns; purchase direct from customer etc.. But the bottom line is that there is really only one way for the industry as a whole to acquire used vehicles and that is when consumers decide to trade-in or sell their used vehicle when purchasing or leasing a new one.
I think you might be starting to see the problem. If Jane the Car Buyer can’t get her hands on the Prius that she wants then she’s not going to be trading in or selling her Ford Focus.
I believe this problem is compounded with the fact that the auto manufacturers have been selling at close to or below cost for the last two years as they attempt to recover and simply can’t sustain those types of freebies and rebates. Johnson touches on this in his article as well, stating the days of the huge rebates etc., are quickly disappearing (at least for now).
Apparently prices have risen approximately $1000 on average on a used vehicle from this time last year. We’ve certainly noticed an increase, although I’m not sure it’s that high. So should you buy before they increase more or hold out?
I agree with Johnson’s advice that there is no one answer. As I’ve always maintained, relationships are so important when buying a car, if you need a car speak to your salesperson or find one you trust and together you will find a car of value. Yes, that deal may not be as great as it was a year ago – but value isn’t (or shouldn’t be) based on entirely on price. Is it the car you want, does it meet your needs, will you be taken care of after you drive off of the lot? These are the things that bring real value to your purchase. And, yes, there are still great deals to be found!
Until next time - Happy Driving!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Vancouver International Auto Show
Morning Drivers!
Last weekend I attended the Vancouver International Auto Show with my dad – we had hopes of talking to brand experts and getting some insider tips on new vehicles. For the most part, what we found was a really crowded Vancouver Convention Centre with a serious lack of people to talk to. To quote my dad – we could have found out more at the Richmond Auto Mall.
While it was difficult to impossible to find someone to talk to in any depth, I did garner some overall insights.
After standing in an insanely long line to get tickets to get into the show, attendees were offered the option to stand in line again and have their picture taken with a Subaru Sumo wrestler. Big kudos to Subaru’s marketing team that they’ve generated enough excitement with their ads that people actually opted to do this.
With the state of the auto industry over the last few years, I was expecting to be really wowed by the various manufacturers as they were either trying to rebrand themselves, overcome recall setbacks or take back their market shares.
First, Ford got it! They had driving games that allowed them to show off their new technology and seemed to attract young and old. While they did not have a ton of sales people and many of the cars were locked, preventing you from looking inside, they had a large and very interactive display that worked well with their new lifestyle marketing strategy.
KIA came as second runner up by having the most staff, although I believe most of them were lot boys due to their age and lack of product knowledge – but they were friendly and helpful. KIA also had some fun interactive gadgets that got people’s attention. KIA has been consistently posing a challenge to the more well-known manufacturers for best value. Their new models such as the Soul and Rondo (a seven passenger cross-over vehicle) combined with their awesome hamster filled advertising campaigns have them poised to be a serious contender.
Honda market shares experienced an unprecedented dip last year, and our own personal experience at Winston Auto Group is they don’t generate interest (the exception being the old style Civic hatchback and Civic Si). My dad had received over 4 emails from Honda encouraging him to come to the Auto Show to see the new Civic. This was big news – the Civic has not been updated since 2006. Our expectations were running high for the Honda display. The display stood out in it’s very Honda beige-ness. The practically staff-less area was set up around a large turning dais that supported a new red Civic Si with music pumping. We wanted to see what the regular Civic looked like and had to do a bit of searching to find it – when we did there was very little signage or information. Perhaps Honda chose to have such a completely boring display in order to highlight the red Civic Si – but the lack of information and staff did not encourage people to look at their other models after spending two minutes watching the loud spiny red car.
We moved from Honda to Toyota and were similarly non-plussed. I paused to allow a sales person to brush past me as we headed out the door.
Not to forget the more luxury brands, they were mostly overrun by kids (literally – people seemed to think it was ok to let the Mercedes convertibles act as baby-sitter to the 12 and under kids who sat in the cars blasting the radio and preventing anyone else from looking) or by young guys dreaming their fantasy of owning a new BMW. If their intent was to attract the next generation they hit it out of the park.
To sum up this long post, I was really surprised by what appeared to be a lack of interest on behalf of Toyota and Honda and Ford may be garnering a new fan.
This was my first International Auto Show and I would be interested to hear your experience of this one or others.
Until next time – Happy Driving!
Last weekend I attended the Vancouver International Auto Show with my dad – we had hopes of talking to brand experts and getting some insider tips on new vehicles. For the most part, what we found was a really crowded Vancouver Convention Centre with a serious lack of people to talk to. To quote my dad – we could have found out more at the Richmond Auto Mall.
While it was difficult to impossible to find someone to talk to in any depth, I did garner some overall insights.
After standing in an insanely long line to get tickets to get into the show, attendees were offered the option to stand in line again and have their picture taken with a Subaru Sumo wrestler. Big kudos to Subaru’s marketing team that they’ve generated enough excitement with their ads that people actually opted to do this.
With the state of the auto industry over the last few years, I was expecting to be really wowed by the various manufacturers as they were either trying to rebrand themselves, overcome recall setbacks or take back their market shares.
First, Ford got it! They had driving games that allowed them to show off their new technology and seemed to attract young and old. While they did not have a ton of sales people and many of the cars were locked, preventing you from looking inside, they had a large and very interactive display that worked well with their new lifestyle marketing strategy.
KIA came as second runner up by having the most staff, although I believe most of them were lot boys due to their age and lack of product knowledge – but they were friendly and helpful. KIA also had some fun interactive gadgets that got people’s attention. KIA has been consistently posing a challenge to the more well-known manufacturers for best value. Their new models such as the Soul and Rondo (a seven passenger cross-over vehicle) combined with their awesome hamster filled advertising campaigns have them poised to be a serious contender.
Honda market shares experienced an unprecedented dip last year, and our own personal experience at Winston Auto Group is they don’t generate interest (the exception being the old style Civic hatchback and Civic Si). My dad had received over 4 emails from Honda encouraging him to come to the Auto Show to see the new Civic. This was big news – the Civic has not been updated since 2006. Our expectations were running high for the Honda display. The display stood out in it’s very Honda beige-ness. The practically staff-less area was set up around a large turning dais that supported a new red Civic Si with music pumping. We wanted to see what the regular Civic looked like and had to do a bit of searching to find it – when we did there was very little signage or information. Perhaps Honda chose to have such a completely boring display in order to highlight the red Civic Si – but the lack of information and staff did not encourage people to look at their other models after spending two minutes watching the loud spiny red car.
We moved from Honda to Toyota and were similarly non-plussed. I paused to allow a sales person to brush past me as we headed out the door.
Not to forget the more luxury brands, they were mostly overrun by kids (literally – people seemed to think it was ok to let the Mercedes convertibles act as baby-sitter to the 12 and under kids who sat in the cars blasting the radio and preventing anyone else from looking) or by young guys dreaming their fantasy of owning a new BMW. If their intent was to attract the next generation they hit it out of the park.
To sum up this long post, I was really surprised by what appeared to be a lack of interest on behalf of Toyota and Honda and Ford may be garnering a new fan.
This was my first International Auto Show and I would be interested to hear your experience of this one or others.
Until next time – Happy Driving!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Brand New Car Seat - One Step Closer to Being Ready for Baby!
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| My New Car Seat |
I just got my car seat yesterday! While most sites will recommend never buying a used car seat because you don't know if it's been in an accident and they have expiry dates - I'm lucky enough to have a sister who is one year ahead of me in the reproductive cycle and likes to shop! Thus I know it's not been in an accident and she was happy to pass her really sweet seat down to me and go buy a new one. The stars are in alignment!
Anyway - the litany of instructions for making sure I didn't risk puncturing my little bundle of joy was a bit overwhelming and while many of you may already know this - or not care - I thought I would pass it on.
Did you know that that useful handle you use to carry the seat around is designed to absorb part of the impact if the car is in an accident? The problem is that it absorbs the impact by breaking and if you leave it in the upright position there's a chance it could puncture your baby. Mental note - always move the carry arm to the very bottom of the seat when installing in the car. With my model this means the carry arm is almost under the seat.
Car seats and restraints are made for adults which is why things like car seats and booster seats are mandatory. That being said, buying just any seat or the most expensive seat isn't necessarily the answer. ICBC has a brochure for tips on properly fitting your child into your car. Transport Canada also has some useful information on child car safety including car seat safety ratings.
As a soon to be new mom all this information can be quite overwhelming - but with some preparation (start reading/researching early), a dash of practicality and the generosity of others this crazy awesome journey will prove as safe as a well installed car seat.
Happy Driving!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Bubbles, Bling & Under the Hood
An Evening With
Amanda Mungal
“The Gal in the Car Biz”
&
Heather Elrick
“Your Baubles & Bling” Specialist
When? Thursday, April 7th @ 7pm
Where? Winston Auto Group, 131 12th St. New Westminster
Bring your girlfriends and a stack of business cards for a fun night of connections.
Tickets are only $10 and you can register through the Winston Auto Group website by clicking here.
Get some car maintenance tips from moi, pick yourself up a beautiful new Silpada bauble, sip some bubbly, tantalise your tastebuds with chocolate and enjoy a Silent Auction.
Proceeds from the Silent Auction are supporting
The Princess Project, Surrey BC
DIY Car Wash
Hi Drivers!
Spring is coming and it's likely your desire to boot around town and zip down the highway in a sparkly clean car is heightened. Of course you could always book your detailing appointment through Winston Auto Group but if the sun is out and you feel like getting out there and burning some of those winter calories while enjoying the weather here are some tips.
De-clutter first! If you're anything like me your car is part of your home-office and child-care centre with bits of paper, Kleenex boxes, empty water bottles etc.. Even a fairly clean car can have more clutter than you're aware of. Open up that glove compartment and all those other little drawers and pockets and pull everything out. You don't want to waste your whole day figuring out where to put those pens and paper scraps so unless something is obvious just bring a large plastic bag and throw everything in - you can sort it later.
Don't use dish soap! Dish soap is made to scrub your greasy dishes - not your car. Regular use on your car will break down the shine on your paint job. Use Car soap - it's really not that expensive and you can find it at Canadian Tire.
Keep your cloth in the bucket! Don't drop your wash clothes on the ground - not even on the grass. Small stones or bits of debris that you may not notice with your eye can cause heartbreaking scratches if trapped in the folds of your cloth. If you need to put your cloth down drop it back in your water bucket.
Clean wheels are like the white teeth of a smile! Don't forget to scrub those alloys or hubcaps. That black stuff inside the spokes of your hubcaps is break dust - if your wash cloth isn't getting it out - use a toothbrush (or you can splurge on a tire brush). But trust me nice clean wheels will go a long way in making your car look like new.
Rinse, Rinse, Rinse!! Ladies you use toner on your face to rinse away debris, most of us wouldn't consider eating off of soapy dishes the same should hold true for your car. How many times have you washed your car only to have it look grey or spotty as soon as the sun comes out. Chances are you didn't rinse it enough and what you're seeing is soap and or dirty water residue. When you're done washing rinse and rinse again!
Another use for your pastry brush! Now it's time to vacuum but how do you get into those little crevasses around the gear shift and e-brake? Hold your vacuum nozzle as close to the spot as you can get - then gentle sweep at the debris with your pastry brush. You'll be amazed how much more you can pick up.
Happy Driving!
De-clutter first! If you're anything like me your car is part of your home-office and child-care centre with bits of paper, Kleenex boxes, empty water bottles etc.. Even a fairly clean car can have more clutter than you're aware of. Open up that glove compartment and all those other little drawers and pockets and pull everything out. You don't want to waste your whole day figuring out where to put those pens and paper scraps so unless something is obvious just bring a large plastic bag and throw everything in - you can sort it later.
Don't use dish soap! Dish soap is made to scrub your greasy dishes - not your car. Regular use on your car will break down the shine on your paint job. Use Car soap - it's really not that expensive and you can find it at Canadian Tire.
Keep your cloth in the bucket! Don't drop your wash clothes on the ground - not even on the grass. Small stones or bits of debris that you may not notice with your eye can cause heartbreaking scratches if trapped in the folds of your cloth. If you need to put your cloth down drop it back in your water bucket.
Clean wheels are like the white teeth of a smile! Don't forget to scrub those alloys or hubcaps. That black stuff inside the spokes of your hubcaps is break dust - if your wash cloth isn't getting it out - use a toothbrush (or you can splurge on a tire brush). But trust me nice clean wheels will go a long way in making your car look like new.
Rinse, Rinse, Rinse!! Ladies you use toner on your face to rinse away debris, most of us wouldn't consider eating off of soapy dishes the same should hold true for your car. How many times have you washed your car only to have it look grey or spotty as soon as the sun comes out. Chances are you didn't rinse it enough and what you're seeing is soap and or dirty water residue. When you're done washing rinse and rinse again!
Another use for your pastry brush! Now it's time to vacuum but how do you get into those little crevasses around the gear shift and e-brake? Hold your vacuum nozzle as close to the spot as you can get - then gentle sweep at the debris with your pastry brush. You'll be amazed how much more you can pick up.
Happy Driving!
Friday, February 25, 2011
It's Freezing Out - Are You Pumping Your Own Gas?
Morning Drivers!
Some of you may already know this - but with this cold weather snap I thought I would let you in on a great piece of information.
If you live anywhere near Coquitlam or are just driving through - stop and fill up your tank.
In the 1970's the Coquitlam City Council enacted a bylaw requiring all gas stations to be full-service as a means of creating employment. You might think that gas would be a bit more expensive for the luxury of sitting in your warm dry car while someone pumps your fuel but in my experience the price is similar to other municipalities. (Before you more eastern provinces with all your "real" snow get jealous - we're paying $1.25 a litre right now - so we do deserve a bit of luxury at the pump!)
For the last couple of weeks I've made a point of checking out the prices from Pitt Meadows to Vancouver - and they are consistent across the board - including in Coquitlam.
Such a simple By-law to address employment issues and such a lovely perk on these cold days . . . perhaps after the last 40+ years successful example some of the other municipalities will follow.
Happy Driving!
Some of you may already know this - but with this cold weather snap I thought I would let you in on a great piece of information.
If you live anywhere near Coquitlam or are just driving through - stop and fill up your tank.
In the 1970's the Coquitlam City Council enacted a bylaw requiring all gas stations to be full-service as a means of creating employment. You might think that gas would be a bit more expensive for the luxury of sitting in your warm dry car while someone pumps your fuel but in my experience the price is similar to other municipalities. (Before you more eastern provinces with all your "real" snow get jealous - we're paying $1.25 a litre right now - so we do deserve a bit of luxury at the pump!)
For the last couple of weeks I've made a point of checking out the prices from Pitt Meadows to Vancouver - and they are consistent across the board - including in Coquitlam.
Such a simple By-law to address employment issues and such a lovely perk on these cold days . . . perhaps after the last 40+ years successful example some of the other municipalities will follow.
Happy Driving!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Volkswagen Recall
Hi Drivers,
As many of you know I drive a beloved red Rabbit. I received a letter in the mail this week letting me know there was a recall to prevent a possible fuel leak. If you're driving a VW and haven't received a letter or want to make sure you're not included in the recall - here are the details.
The recall covers the Golf, Rabbit, Jetta and Jetta Sportwagen models from the 2007 to 2009 model years. The New Beetle from the 2006 to 2010 model years is also covered under the recall.
There are 413,000 cars being recalled in the United States and Canada (only about 37,000 are in Canada).
The automaker said that the Golf, Rabbit and Jetta models have a plastic tab on the windshield fluid container that could rub against a fuel line and cause a leak to develop.
In the case of the New Beetle, a fastening clamp that is part of the power steering system could cause the same kind of problem, the automaker said in a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
VW said it had not received any reports of fires, injuries or crashes related to the condition in either market.
VW said it would pay for its dealers to inspect all of the vehicles covered by the recall and replace the fuel line if needed.
If you haven't received a letter from VW but want to ensure your car is not included in the recall you can make use of the VIN recall on VW's site.
Until next time, Happy Driving!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Blind Man Drives Ford Mustang
Just read an article in 24 Hours about Ford's new car for the blind. Making use of "non-visual interface technologies", some kind of space aged gloves that allow a non-seeing person to "see" the world around them. Thought this was amazing so did a google search - appears Ford has had this in the works for a while. Check out this story about a man who had been blind for 20 years test driving a mustang in 2009.
Chevy Volt Uses Golf of Mexico Oil Soaked Booms
This is not really new news - press release came out in December - but you have to dig a bit to find it - so it might be new news to you too! Either way - it's pretty good news - so worth a post. :)
Being green isn't just about lower fuel efficiency - and it would appear that GM understands this - I was pleasantly surprised to read that GM currently uses recycled and renewable materials in its cars and trucks, which are at least 85 percent recyclable. Used tires, old plastic bottles, denim and nylon carpet are all redirected from landfills and reused in select GM vehicles. Furthermore world-wide their facilities recycle 90% of the waste they generate.
The Chevy Volt - their new electric car - is currently using oil soaked booms from the clean up in the Golf of Mexico for parts that deflect air around the radiator. As of the date of the press release this step had already diverted 100,000 pounds from landfills. The parts are made from 25% oil soaked boom material, 25% recycled tires from GM test tracks and the rest is made from a mixture of post-consumer recycled plastics and polymers.
With work history that includes working with a sustainable purchasing consulting firm, I appreciate the importance of understanding that going green is a deeper process than a cloth bag or buying the newest lower energy gadget and it is encouraging to see a company the size of GM taking such progressive moves.
Buying a "greener" vehicle can be confusing as every manufacturer is scrambling to get into this new "green" market with differing technologies - most of which us lay-persons aren't experts in. Add to this trying to look at the bigger picture and it can be completely overwhelming.
Confusion aside, I think it's an exciting time right now to see the advances being made in the auto industry as they work to meet our vehicle needs and wants and meet greener targets.
Happy Driving!
GM Press Release
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Baby on Board
As any of our newsletter readers and friends will know, we have a baby on board. What does this mean for you? You can expect some baby and your car focused articles. :)
As a childless couple, who did plan to have children, we made the decision to get a two-door Rabbit Hatchback in 2009. We figured there would be lots of room to get baby in and out. (You can stop laughing seasoned moms) There certainly is the room - but now we will be put to the test. But here's my question, Rabbit hatchback or no, for those of us that don't want a mini-van and have no need or lifestyle for an SUV - what's a practicle but still fun car for the new family. Clearly the answer will change as the family expands - but so many people feel the need to jump into mini-van land the minute they find out their pregnant - is this necessary?
I did a bit of poking around this morning and found the following forum on Red Flag Deals. It starts with - will our rear-facing baby seat fit in the back of a Mazda 3 Sport Hatch. The answer is yes, but the conversation is interesting. A key point raised by a few responders is take your seat with you and try it out. This is a good point for any piece of equipment you plan to carry regularly and you think might risk not fitting. Also, just because one parent may sit more often on the passenger side doesn't mean they always will, try out the car with both parents sitting in front of the babyseat. If the taller parent isn't quite as comfortable sitting in front of the babyseat you will need to consider how often that will happen, how important that is, and whether it's going to be a consistent problem across makes and models (sorry but if you're 6' and over - it's likely going to be a problem regardless of what car you get)
I'm guessing there are many more factors than 'will the seat fit' - I'm hoping to enlist the opinion of the Mommy Consultant, but what's your opinion? Did you feel the need to jump into a large family vehicle right away - or did you hatchback it and survive?
Until next time, happy driving!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Stinky Car?
Hi Drivers
Sorry it's been a while - Christmas got the best of me.
Is your car smelling a little ripe and the usual remedies of cleaning and air fresheners aren't working?
A reader recently wrote to me to tell me about her success in getting the cigarette smoke smell out of her new to her car. I've done a bit of research in order to pass on some basic "how-to" tips to you.
You likely know your car has an air filter but did you know your car likely has an interior air filter as well? This filter can get clogged and dirty from condensation, pets, smoking etc.. The instructions below are general and may not be suitable for your car. But a quick Google search for "[my car] interior air filter" should bring you more specific info. Most cars built after 2001 have interior air filters but you can confirm whether yours does with a google search or by going to your car parts store.
So - let's get started . . .
1. Locate your air filter. It is likely below the glovebox or under the hood on the passenger side. If under the glovebox it should be a square or rectangle panel that is easily removable. If under the hood it may require moving other parts.
2. If you're able to easily remove the filter - take it with you to the parts store to make sure you buy the right one. If you can't find it or if it's difficult to remove then buy the new filter as it will likely come with step by step instructions.
3. Before inserting your new filter, clean the area with a vacuum or damp cloth.
Things to keep in mind: don't try to clean your filter - leave it or replace it; don't remove parts of your dashboard - some instructions call for this - but unless you know what you're doing avoid this step if at all possible.
If you don't feel up to the challenge of doing this yourself - just ask your mechanic to change it for you the next time you're in for service.
Happy (and fresh smelling) Driving!
Sorry it's been a while - Christmas got the best of me.
Is your car smelling a little ripe and the usual remedies of cleaning and air fresheners aren't working?
A reader recently wrote to me to tell me about her success in getting the cigarette smoke smell out of her new to her car. I've done a bit of research in order to pass on some basic "how-to" tips to you.
You likely know your car has an air filter but did you know your car likely has an interior air filter as well? This filter can get clogged and dirty from condensation, pets, smoking etc.. The instructions below are general and may not be suitable for your car. But a quick Google search for "[my car] interior air filter" should bring you more specific info. Most cars built after 2001 have interior air filters but you can confirm whether yours does with a google search or by going to your car parts store.
So - let's get started . . .
1. Locate your air filter. It is likely below the glovebox or under the hood on the passenger side. If under the glovebox it should be a square or rectangle panel that is easily removable. If under the hood it may require moving other parts.
2. If you're able to easily remove the filter - take it with you to the parts store to make sure you buy the right one. If you can't find it or if it's difficult to remove then buy the new filter as it will likely come with step by step instructions.
3. Before inserting your new filter, clean the area with a vacuum or damp cloth.
Things to keep in mind: don't try to clean your filter - leave it or replace it; don't remove parts of your dashboard - some instructions call for this - but unless you know what you're doing avoid this step if at all possible.
If you don't feel up to the challenge of doing this yourself - just ask your mechanic to change it for you the next time you're in for service.
Happy (and fresh smelling) Driving!
Friday, December 10, 2010
Speaking of Electric Cars - The Revenge of the Electric Car
Just watched this trailer for "Revenge of the Electric Car" coming out Spring 2011! You must watch - I'm definately booking it into my calendar.
Happy Driving
Electric Cars . . . The Consumer . . . Patrick Swayze??
Morning Drivers,
Some of you may recall that last year I told you about Canada's zero emmission zero noise car, the ZENN. I just received an update from ZENN who's Chief Operating Office Brian Cott was invited to present in the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada's“Invest in Canada” event held in Shenzhen, China. The focus of the event was to highlight the advantages to investing in Canadian businesses and was automotive centered.
At the same time that the "Invest in Canada" conference was being held, the 25th Annual World Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exposition was being held in Shenzhen. Regardless of your thoughts on doing business with China, what was interesting within the letter was Brian's insights that automotive manufacturers around the globe are struggling with the same birth pains - mainly convincing the consumer that electric vehicles are commercially viable. (as noted earlier in this blog - current models have low re-sale potential due to the very high cost of battery replacement).
There are currently huge government insentives in China for auto manufacturers developing electric vehicles; however, manufacturers around the world are aware these insentives won't last forever and each of them is carving their own path through these new waters.
It will be interesting to watch the journey of the electric car over the next couple of years. There is a vast chasm between environmentalists singing the praises and the need for electric vehicles and consumers actually purchasing one.
Aside from simply feeling confident in purchasing this new technology, driving and car ownership is still very much an emotional activity/possesion for many people. Feeling the power of your engine, shifting gears, dust clouds left in your wake etc., are still very much a part of our car owning pschye. It's possible that we will have a cultural shift in our way of thinking but I think "green" vehicles will find increasing success if they are able to develop something that can still make us feel like Patrick Swayze pulling out of Kellerman's Resort.
I'm confident it can be done and am excited to see how the auto indusrty makes this absolutely necessary green transition.
Happy Driving!
 |
| Picture from Autoworld Blog |
Morning Drivers,
Some of you may recall that last year I told you about Canada's zero emmission zero noise car, the ZENN. I just received an update from ZENN who's Chief Operating Office Brian Cott was invited to present in the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada's“Invest in Canada” event held in Shenzhen, China. The focus of the event was to highlight the advantages to investing in Canadian businesses and was automotive centered.
At the same time that the "Invest in Canada" conference was being held, the 25th Annual World Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exposition was being held in Shenzhen. Regardless of your thoughts on doing business with China, what was interesting within the letter was Brian's insights that automotive manufacturers around the globe are struggling with the same birth pains - mainly convincing the consumer that electric vehicles are commercially viable. (as noted earlier in this blog - current models have low re-sale potential due to the very high cost of battery replacement).
There are currently huge government insentives in China for auto manufacturers developing electric vehicles; however, manufacturers around the world are aware these insentives won't last forever and each of them is carving their own path through these new waters.
It will be interesting to watch the journey of the electric car over the next couple of years. There is a vast chasm between environmentalists singing the praises and the need for electric vehicles and consumers actually purchasing one.
Aside from simply feeling confident in purchasing this new technology, driving and car ownership is still very much an emotional activity/possesion for many people. Feeling the power of your engine, shifting gears, dust clouds left in your wake etc., are still very much a part of our car owning pschye. It's possible that we will have a cultural shift in our way of thinking but I think "green" vehicles will find increasing success if they are able to develop something that can still make us feel like Patrick Swayze pulling out of Kellerman's Resort.
I'm confident it can be done and am excited to see how the auto indusrty makes this absolutely necessary green transition.
Happy Driving!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
A Greener Drive Initiative for New Westminster
Morning Drivers,
We are pleased to announce Winston Auto Group's enrollment in the EcoDrive Program, an innovative solution to reduce the environmental impact from driving. Now, buying a car from Winston Auto Group promises to reward New Westminster drivers and their families alike, but the real winner will be the planet.
Under the EcoDrive Program, Winston Auto Group is making a commitment to neutralize the driving-related impact of every vehicle that leaves their lot. As automobile emissions are one of the largest contributors towards greenhouse gases, the Program’s efforts could mean a significant reduction in the overall impact of this valued Canadian activity.
Through the Program, Winston Auto Group purchases carbon offsets that neutralize all the emissions a driver creates during the first year of vehicle ownership. The offsets are supplied by LivClean, a top ranked carbon offset retailer by the David Suzuki/Pembina Institute. LivClean invests in emission-reducing projects that include activities like renewable energy, diverting waste from landfills, and using alternative fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The program also aims to educate drivers about behavioral changes that reduce driving-related emissions. Such changes include anti-idling, proper car maintenance and eco-fuel choices such as ethanol blend gasoline.
“As driving is a person’s single most polluting daily activity, the EcoDrive Program goes straight to one of the major sources of greenhouse gases. As an EcoDrive participant, Winston Auto Group is not only helping the environment, they’re providing their customers with a solution to help reduce their daily emissions”, stated Paul DeVries, President of LivClean.
At Winston Auto Group we know that auto dealerships are not top of mind when people think green, we have taken steps to reduce our internal waste and are really thrilled to be able to work with EcoDrive in taking a substantive step towards reducing carbon emmissions.
When buying a vehicle at Winston Auto Group, each customer is issued a certificate directly from LivClean confirming the carbon offset purchase on their behalf, along with a vehicle decal and key tag to announce their eco-driving status. For more information on how the program works please visit http://www.winstonautogroup.com/ or ecodriveprogram.ca.
Happy & Greener Driving!
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