Black Friday, Christmas Prep and Car Trivia

by Marjorie, Cars for Keeps Social Media Manager

Now that most of us have recovered from celebrating - or attempting to drown out - Thanksgiving, we turn our attention immediately towards the next big landmark: Christmas. I'm sure many of you have taken advantage of what the consumer market has dubbed "Cyber Monday"; most reports from the auto sector reported that auto sales were strong for Black Friday this year, a good sign for the coming fiscal year.

It's been a common mantra of ours here at the shop since early November, but it remains true: now is a good time to make sure your vehicles are in good working condition. Before the snow hits the roads, before inevitable holiday travel, before you turn on your windshield wipers to find that they are too old to work. As incentive, we're running several winter specials, including10% off all European model repairs (interpret that however you wish) and 15% off returning customers who have left a positive review on our Merchant Circle or Superpages listings. Piece of cake.

Rob will guest post on Monday with some sage advice on seasonal "Pit Stops". For now, let's relax with a few items of car trivia.

1. Industry experts believe one of every 25 air bags that have been deployed have not been properly replaced. They're also the most stolen item from a vehicle (having surpassed radios)

2. Nearly half the used vehicles on the market come with air conditioning.

3. Windshield wipers were invented by a woman (as were all smart things!).

4. The first product Motorola started to develop was a record player for automobiles. At the time, the most known player on the market was the Victrola, so they called themselves Motorola.

5. One seventh of the new auto/truck sales in the US are in Southern California (and half of those are purchased by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger).

6. The first speeding ticket was issued in 1902 (for going 24 miles an hour, 4 miles over the speed limit).

7. In 1923, 173 new inventions by women for cars had been reported. Among these inventions were a carburetor and an electric engine starter.

8. The first car radio was invented in 1929.

9. Most American car horns beep in the key of F.

10. About half the cars that are flood damaged end up back on the road. As far as Hurricane Katrina is concerned, estimates are that about 200,000 vehicles were dried out and resold.

Happy Christmas shopping!