Summer Auto Maintenance: Preparing for the Back to School Rush

by Dennis, Cars for Keeps Customer Service Manager

As much as we dread the end of summer, it's just around the corner, and that means kids will be going back to school. Back to school bring sports, field trips, ect. - let the craziness begin!

With all the events going on during the fall season, August is the time to make sure that mom or dad’s vehicle, (or taxi, as I lovingly call it at that time of year) is up to it new task.

Safety and reliability is the key. From fluid checks to standard maintenance, this is the time to get a head start - leaving one less thing for you to worry about once the frantic back to school rush begins.

Whether Cars for Keeps is your auto service garage or not, I encourage you to take advantage this opportunity of getting the family vehicle maintained before the hussel and bussel of school time.

Why does your family vehicle need to be maintained?

In the heat of summer, vehicle systems work very hard. Systems which take the most strain are the electrical system, cooling system, transmission, air conditioning and all of the fluids. The heat of running during how Michigan summers can make any of these systems weak, and a lack of maintenance can cause them to break down.

In Michigan we mostly think of the cold being the biggest factor, but the heat is
just as bad. So take a few hours in the afternoon to pamper your vehicle with a basic tune up and fluid flush. You - and your hectic schedule - will be glad you did!

So long for now,
Your Friendly neighborhood Service Manager,
Dennis

TOP DOWN, SMILE ON

Why do the majority of the convertibles that drive by me have their tops up? I don’t get it, if you’re lucky enough to have a convertible, why not use it? As I write this today, it’s a beautiful summer day in Maine, approaching 90 degrees with high humidity. You won’t hear any complaints from me. After all, it won’t be long before the snow flies and we’ll be talking about winter driving. So with summers so short here, why aren’t more convertible tops down?

The owner pays a premium when they buy a convertible. Not only is the purchase price more than the hardtop model, the car generally weighs more, impacting its fuel economy. A convertible swallows trunk space to accommodate the top, and insurance rates are higher for soft tops. These sacrifices must have been worth it, or they wouldn’t have bought a convertible in the first place. The freedom of fresh air and the open highway is priceless. The driver of a convertible can hear the birds chirp, smell the flowers bloom, and the can howl to the moon overhead. So why aren’t their tops down?

Could it be because the dream of the freedom of a convertible is not all that it’s cracked up to be? Do the flowers actually smell more like diesel exhaust? Is it because it’s too hot, too cold, or too windy? Are these top up convertible drivers avoiding sunburn on their bald spots, or is it that they have too much hair and don’t want to go home a tangled mess? Is the top up for fear of birds on bombing runs, or is it just too much work to press a button to put the top down? Or, could it be that they are suffering buyers’ remorse, and that they just aren’t convertible people?

I've never owned a convertible, so I can't criticize or judge the decisions of others. However, there is something really enticing to me about the freedom of open air driving. It seems to me that if I had bought a convertible, and paid a premium for it, I would take advantage of beautiful days like today. On the other hand, I might look pretty foolish in mid-February wondering, “What did I do, a convertible in Maine?”

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A Woman's Point of View: Telephones & Technology

by Colette Cooley, Cars for Keeps Office Manager

I just bought an Evo Android cell phone. Wow! It is a phone, but so much more. It’s a computer that is synchronized to my home computer, a GPS that has made my not-that-old Garmin obsolete, a Kindle reader, a hot-spot device that can hook up my laptop when no Wi-Fi is around, a still camera, a video camera, a voice recorder, an appointment calendar with sound reminders, a weather station, a conference center with live video, an office center, and on, and on. I have only had it for four days and am still finding stuff.

With all that amazing technology in my pocket I sit at my computer station at work and talk on a corded telephone. And guess what? The person I am talking to hears me perfectly and is not bothered with me going through the dreaded “dead zones.” That says a lot about sticking to the basics in some areas of your life.

We live in an exciting technological time in history. We just acquired a new scanner at Cars For Keeps. That sounds kind of mundane but actually it is pretty cool. Every year cars are coming out with more electronics and more sophisticated computers, and car repair facilities have to keep up with the means to diagnose problems. Our mechanics feel more like ‘doctors for cars’ than ever before.

When you think about it, the similarities are close. Diagnose, operate, treat, recover and send on its way all well again. That makes everyone at Cars For Keeps very happy.

You can find us on Yelp

We hope you are having a great summer and enjoying all this beautiful Colorado sunshine. We have a quite a few nice reviews we've received on Yelp and wanted to share them with you.

For our Littleton / Highlands Ranch Colorado Location

Kyle J S. Dwight is friendly and fair!
Lauren D.  < an elite yelper says: "I got my car's transmission repaired. And I have to say I gave them one days notice to get my parts and it took them about half a day and it cost about $50 less than they quoted me. I will probably bring my car here for everything now."

Previous review on Yelp: Despite that my car needs MORE work done on it, I did have a good initial experience with these guys. The guys are very nice and helpful, scoped out my cars insides same day on a Saturday. Rates seem reasonable as well. They told me I need a bunch of parts replaced so my transmission stops leaking but were more than happy to oblige to "patch up" the problem until i get my tax refund and can actually afford to get the car fixed. Bottom line, no pressure-no BS. Will be back to these guys to get my car fixed once I have the cashflow!

Michigan Road Trip Ideas: Traveling the Great Lakes State!

by Marjorie, Cars for Keeps Social Media Manager

This time of year, the shop sees plenty of vacationers passing through who are experiencing car troubles of one kind or the other. While we're sorry for these customers' troubles, it's always a pleasure to hear about their destinations and road trip adventures. It reminds us of how many beautiful places there are to visit right here on Michigan's West coast.

It also reminds us that pre-road trip repairs and maintenance can save vacationers unwanted headaches!

Ok, that was our sales pitch for this post.

It's the season of summer road trips, and veteran Michigan residents know that there's plenty interesting pavement to explore right here in our own backyard. Not only is Michigan home to some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the US, but many of these destinations are unknown to all but a few.

Personally, I prefer to avoid the vacationing crowds, traveling instead to remote, little-known places. Thankfully, I don't have to shell out the cash it would take to hop a plane or drive 1,000's of miles to find beautiful, unpopulated road trip destinations. With Michigan's abundance of natural lakes, state forests, white sand dunes and shorelines, why would you road trip in any other state?

This is a very, very short list of beautiful Michigan road trip destinations that aren't too far from our own backyard.

West Michigan Scenic Drive - My personal favorite, this meandering stretch of road travels along the coast from Muskegon to Silver Lake State Park. There are plenty of beaches and lighthouses along the way, but Silver Lake's white sand dunes take the cake. There's a breathtaking view of the dunes as you crest a hill on B-1 traveling North which never fails to amaze me.

Although the name of the road sometimes changes (Scenic Drive, Route B-15, Lakeside Drive), it's never hard to find - just keep Lake Michigan out your driver's side window! map link

Shrine of the Pines - As beautiful as it is unique, this destination is nestled in the heart of Michigan's Manistee National Forest, near Baldwin. Visiting the world's largest collection of hand-made pine furniture is a fantastic beginning or start to a trip through the dense wilderness of Manistee's many parks and hiking trails. map link

Harrisville, Northern Michigan (East coast) - Home of Iargo Springs, one of the most fascinating and little-known natural wonders in Michigan, this road trip destination lies on Michigan's East coast. A fantastic destination for a week long meandering road trip, the Widow's Watch bed and breakfast provides nearby lodging that is a treat in and of itself. map link

M-22 Highway, Leelanau Penninsula Drive - A popular and beautiful destination for road trips, Leelanau has everything you could want. From fudge shops and unique towns to serene fishing locations, M-22 is one of the most beautiful stretches of road in the Lower Peninsula. map link

If you'd like to see more Michigan road trip destinations, or find tips for lodging, check out this link.

Did we miss a destination? Comment and tell us about your favorite Michigan getaway!

A Womans Point of View: A Typical Day Heats Up

by Colette Cooley, Cars for Keeps Office Manager

My alarm clock does not ring, or buzz, or play music. It starts off with birds singing and then my very British butler, who lives in my alarm clock, announces the events of the day so far. This morning he informed me that Opray Winfrey would like to luncheon with me today and he took the liberty of only charging her $100,000 for the privilege.

It is hard enough to wake up in the morning, you might as well do it with some silliness and a smile. I was feeling pretty perky until I got to work and walked into a furnace – the air conditioning konked out over the weekend and it had to be 100 degrees in there. Oh, Joy! I do not do well in muggy heat. It only took me five minutes to discover the computer that I work at was the only dead air space in the whole building. The temperature was already well on its way to over the 90 degree mark outside. It felt cooler outside. We were all in that fragile moment of deciding if we were going to give in to this and be grouchy or are we going to make the best of this bad situation.

Then I began to notice something. The customers sitting in our sweltering lounge sporting the most wonderful sheen, were taking it all in stride. We would apologize for the uncomfortable warmth and they all smiled and assured us that, “Hey, life happens.” Because of these wonderful people and their positive attitudes, we adapted.

We slowed down our usual frantic pace, took the time to hand out cold drinks, made sure we were all drinking plenty of water. In other words, everyone looked after each other. We even treated ourselves to some old-fashioned malted milks.

Good things happen at Cars For Keeps even when it starts out looking bad.

Reach for the Sky

Amy Bouchard of Isamax Snacks, the Whoopie Pie Lady, was in the other day. She proudly drives a Saturn Sky with the license plate that says, WHOOPIE. Little did I know that when I wrote this blog two years ago, the the Sky (and Saturn) would end production and it would become a collector's car. The Sky showed well then, and still looks great today.



I fell in love the other day.

A friend of mine came in and told me about her, “Go look!”

She belonged to someone else, but she was beautiful.

She had sleek, flowing lines.

Some say that she is fast, other’s say she is a little slow.

I don’t care what they say.

She is compact, perfectly formed, and looks good wearing her top either way.

I have seen her sister many times, but this was my first time with her.

It was well worth the wait.

But it was destined to be love from afar. She drove off without me.

She left without even a flash.

Another love lost.

Now just a fond memory, but I finally got to see, close-up, the Saturn Sky.

The Sky is a great design achievement for GM. It shows well from every angle, and in my opinion, is much better looking that its sister, the Pontiac Solstice. I spoke with the owner of this Sky, and she could not be happier. She has owned it for 9,000 joy filled miles, just now starting her third summer. I did not have the courage to ask for a ride, but she says that it is great around town, and at speed on the highway. In fact, she drives it regularly to and from Connecticut in total comfort. I congratulated her on her good fortune, and let her know of my envy.

The Saturn Sky, well worth a look, even if it is love from afar. Love the Sky!

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Fuel Efficiency Tips for Cutting Down on Road Trip Gas Bills

by Marjorie, Cars for Keeps Social Media Manager

Drivers are always looking for ways to get better gas mileage, especially when it comes to long-distance travel. Not only does gas-efficient driving cut down on the costs of gas, but it also conserves natural resources and helps to keep pollution down. Every little bit counts!

Whether you're commuting across town or are driving across the country, there are many things drivers can do to help their vehicles get more efficient gas mileage.

Driving more efficiently.

That's right, drivers can do many things to get better gas mileage - without the help of a mechanic! Drivers can improve gas mileage by as much as 10% by observing the following rules:

- Drive sensibly and carefully. Fast acceleration, quick breaking and quick cornering can increase your vehicle's gas consumption by 5% in town and 33% on the freeway. So take it easy, and do your best to work with your vehicle's inertia, rather than fighting it.

- Go the speed limit. Research has shown that fuel efficiency over the speed of 60 miles per hour decreases rapidly. In general, you can estimate your vehicle uses an extra 24 cents per gallon for every 5 miles you go over 60mph.
- Clean out the trunk. Do you really need to carry golf clubs, a tool box and other clutter in your trunk? Those boxes of books you've been meaning to drop off at Goodwill are making your vehicle run inefficiently.
- Avoid idling unnecessarily. If your vehicle will be sitting still for more than 60 seconds, it's most efficient to simply turn the engine off. Remember: idling gets you zero miles per gallon.



Good vehicle maintenance.

It's been said before, but it's true. Keeping your vehicle in great working condition will not only cut down on the cost of serious mechanical problems, but also on gas consumption as well.

- Keep the engine tuned. Tuning an engine that is significantly out of tune can raise gas mileage by 4%, and it will help the engine last longer as well. Fixing more serious problems, such as broken oxygen sensors, can boost gas mileage by 40%.
- Proper tire inflation. Good tire inflation can improve gas efficiency as much as 3.3%. Under-inflated tires waste gas and aren't nearly as safe as properly inflated tires. Aren't sure about your vehicle's proper PSI? We know a few good auto technicians who'd be happy to find out for you.
- Consistently use the right motor oil. All car manufacturers recommend a specific grade of motor oil, and using the wrong grade can lower your gas mileage by 1-2%.
- Replace dirty air filters. Cars need to breathe, just like we do. Air filters are very cheap but essential parts; they protect vehicles' engines from becoming contaminated with dirt and dust, and when they become old and clogged, vehicles struggle to get enough oxygen and end up using more fuel than necessary. Dirty air filters can lower gas mileage anywhere from 2-14%.

Save money on commutes or summer vacations by making sure your vehicle isn't wasting gas. Stop by Cars for Keeps for a free pit stop, and see how we can help you save money on gas.

Safe driving!

A Women’s Point of View: It’s Summertime and the Living is Easy

by Colette Cooley, Cars for Keeps Office Manager

Summertime seems to bring out the ‘anything is possible’ gene in most of us. Slow, easygoing, mind renewing, exciting things that fill our days in the summer. The picnics on the beach or in a meadow; where the ants and flies show up in hordes of happiness. Bike riding to feel the breeze against your warm skin and an occasional bug to swallow. Swimming which soothes the body and the mind in nature’s womb.

Watching those sunsets while holding the hand of someone you love. Meeting someone really interesting over a vegetable stall at the open air market. Giving into temptation to wade in the fountain in the park. Going barefoot through the grass. Watching the local teams practice baseball. Catching fireflies. Enjoying fireworks. Running away from home (which we sometimes refer to as a vacation) to seek relaxation and/or adventure.

Cars For Keeps has had an influx of vacationers with car troubles. Hey - things happen! Just think of it as the adventurous side of the vacation. We know it is irritating to have your car break down when on vacation, and that is why we are experts at turning a negative into a positive.

We have met some new friends from out of town and even ended up having some laughs for everyone. We may never see these wonderful people again, but for a moment, we touched each other’s lives in a positive way. Aaaahhh! Summertime is full of possibilities and the living is easy.

A Women’s Point of View: Let Freedom Ring

by Colette Cooley, Cars for Keeps Office Manager

How often do we consciously think about all the freedom we have in this country? Sometimes we focus on things that we are not allowed to do in our lives, like being able to quit our jobs, getting the kids educated for free, and, gee, let’s not pay our taxes this year. Those are pesky problems in our lives that we all have to deal with, but actually do not have anything to do with our freedoms. I would love to pay a million dollars in taxes - do you know what kind of income that would mean for me?

Let’s focus on the freedom to live where and how we want live. The freedom to marry who we want and have as many children as we want. The freedom to choose any profession, from collecting empty bottles to being the President of the United States, and then the freedom to pursue that profession. The freedom to wear the clothes we want, visit any place we want, handle our own money and to drive the car we want. (You knew I would be getting around to cars.)

No patting Cars For Keeps on the back in this blog, just a moment of remembrance and appreciation for the men and women who have strived and won the victories for the freedoms that we celebrate this past 4th of July. In appreciation to the men and women who are actively serving in the military, Cars For Keeps offers free oil changes for them and their spouses.

Let Freedom Ring!