7 Ways to Better Car Maintenance

When it comes to auto repair, or even aircraft or boat repair, it’s good to know how to do some things yourself, and smart to understand that some things need to be left to the pros. That said, the following pieces of advice are things you can manage with just a little know-how.

1. Familiarize yourself with the dashboard of your car. Your dashboard should display five different kinds of warning, including the check engine light, oil pressure warning, an alternator warning, a temperature warning and a brake warning. Learn to recognize these different lights so you can easily identify what needs your attention.
2. A house has curb appeal, a car has street appeal. If your car needs a paint job, or just touch up paint, get your custom spray paint from a reputable custom paint supplier and not the store up the road. A smooth finish is key and to get custom aerosol paint to match the original is a must if you want your ride to look as fresh as can be.
3. Take advantage of free inspections, but don't just have them fix everything on the list. There will probably be one or two extra items added on that aren't strictly necessary. If you are light on cash, ask the technician which items are the most important to keep the car running safely. Get these done immediately, and save up for the rest of the work.
4. Do not assume you have been ripped-off by your mechanic because of the high price of your bill. Some parts are very expensive to replace, including engines, transmission systems or dashboard computers. You should ask your mechanic about the cost of the parts he had to put in your car.
5. When searching for an auto repair shop, you should choose one that specializes in the brand of vehicle you have. While there are probably many trustworthy shops in your area, going with one specializing in your car makes it more likely that the technician knows what they are doing. They will also probably have many parts needed for your car.
6. When performing your own car repairs, make sure you budget enough time to get the job done. It's easy to underestimate how long a repair job will take. You may encounter difficult to remove bolts or nuts, or find out a part is harder to remove than you anticipated. Giving yourself enough time to complete the repair safely will make the job much less stressful.
7. Make sure you get a signed copy of the estimate for the repairs. You also need to make sure that the contract contains a clause that the shop must contact you before exceeding the total on the estimate. This will protect you from getting a surprise bill once work is completed.

Now you can make a much better decision regarding repairs for your vehicle next time the need arises. You can learn more about car repair as you continue along. Always keep the ideas and strategies in mind that you've read here so that you can handle each situation to the best of your ability.

12 Tips for Buying a New Chevy

Movement is the universal language of personal freedom. – Louis Chevrolet

Car dealers get a bad rap sometimes. When you think of a car salesman, the image of some shyster with slicked-back hair and bleached teeth wearing a cheap suit trying to persuade you to buy an old lemon for top dollar may pop into your head. Sadly, to some extent, this can be very real in some circles. But, when we’re talking about a Chevy dealership, it’s all about value, honesty and integrity. There’s a reason Chevrolet has been a symbol of success and ambition in America since 1911. Now here are some tips to help properly get you behind the wheel of your own Chevy.

1. First things first, where are you going to go? This is easy. Simply do a quick Google search for “Chevy dealership near me” to get a list of local dealers in your area. From there, do your due diligence and read reviews to find the perfect dealership for you.
2. When shopping for a Chevy, it's important that you are aware of your needs beforehand. Do you know what you can afford? How many passengers do you need to be able to accommodate? How many miles per gallon would you like? Do you want a car with two or four doors? Write down the features you want to avoid forgetting any.
3. Safety features are important when you are shopping for a new car. Never purchase a vehicle that does not have an anti-lock brake system, or ABS. Your new car should also have airbags for every passenger. This vehicle will be responsible for keeping you safe in case of an accident.
4. Make sure to take your time. Even if you are really excited about buying that new Chevy Colorado or Chevy Traverse SUV crossover, don't just run out and buy it on the same day. Make sure that you have taken the time to do research on safety, repairs and other factors before doing something you might end up regretting.
5. Try planning car shopping trips near the end of a month. In many situations, car sales staff need to meet a monthly sales quota. Near the end of a calendar month, you might just catch a salesman behind on his quota and so willing to haggle you a better deal than usual on that exciting new Chevy Malibu.
6. Watch out for dealership advertising fees. These are often tacked on to new car purchases, and you should not have to pay them. Car dealerships have to advertise as part of doing business, and many shoppers who challenge this fee will win. If your salesman will not remove this fee, ask to speak with a manager.
7. Always read before you put down your John Hancock. Read the contract before you sign it. There is no turning back once you sign on the dotted line. If you do not understand something or want to take your time reading it, ask to take a copy home to read over before you sign it. Check the purchase agreement with others who are knowledgeable if you are unsure of what to do.
8. Get a loan from your bank instead of the car dealer. A car dealership makes a lot of their income selling loans, and because of this, the loans are almost always more costly in the long run. To ensure that you pay as little as you can you should get a loan approved by a bank before you even begin looking for a vehicle.
9.  Understand that introductory terms are just that, introductory. Therefore, know what to expect afterwards, and assess your budget to make sure that it accommodates it nicely. If you don't, you could find yourself getting duped by one of the oldest tricks in the book. Don't let that happen to you!
10. Speak to loved ones about who they bought their car from. Their advice should help steer you in the right direction. You can trust what they say as they are likely to be looking out for your best interests, which makes their advice far more reliable than that which you find on the internet.
11. Before you make your final selection of a car, talk to your insurance agent. Some types of vehicles can cause your insurance to go up significantly. This increase in monthly insurance premiums might leave less in your budget to afford the car of your dreams. By having a clear understanding of the total cost to own the car, you can make an educated decision.
12. Do not fall for the sales pitch that the deal will not be available if you wait until the next day. More times than not, you will be able to walk back into the dealership and get the same price, if not a better one the next day. If you feel that the salesman is pressuring you, walk out the door and come back the next day.

Buying a Chevrolet is an honored tradition for generations of Americans and people across the world. From the iconic 55’ Chevy Bel Air to the modern designs of the Chevy Cruze and Chevy Tahoe, you can’t go wrong with model from this time-tested manufacturer. So go ahead and use this tips along with some common sense and get behind the wheel of a new Chevrolet vehicle soon.

How to Shop for a Chevrolet

Founded back in 1911, by Louis Chevrolet, the Chevrolet company, which is often referred to as Chevy, has a reputation of its own and a huge fan following. It only makes sense that if you aren’t already a part of that following, then you want to be soon enough.

“As a leading Chevy dealership… we offer a wide selection of new Chevrolet, including the Chevrolet Colorado, Camaro, Bolt, Corvette, Chevrolet Cruze, Equinox, Impala, Malibu, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500HD, Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD, Sonic, Spark, Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse, Trax, Volt and the SS.” – Clay Cooley

Before you get to Googling “Chevy dealership near me” and heading on over to dealership, consider the following tips.

• Prior to even stepping foot in a Chevrolet dealership, you need to know what kind of car you want. If you have kids, maybe you should be looking for a van or large SUV. If it is just you, maybe you want something sportier. Either way, know what you want before you go.
• Shop around before you even go to the dealership. If you spend some time on local Chevy dealer's websites, you can learn about incentives that are offered. If you know what one dealership is offering, you can use it as a negotiating point and may be able to get a better deal.
• Prior to purchasing a used Chevy car, truck or SUV, arrange to have an impartial mechanic check it out. A mechanic can offer an impartial opinion about the vehicle and determine whether the car has hidden damage from previous accidents or being submersed in mud, muck water.
• Check out Chevrolet.com if you want to customize your car from the ground up. While the cars on the dealership lot may be the kind of car, you want, a number of car manufacturers give you the opportunity to customize the car a bit with color and features. You may have to wait a few weeks more to get your car, but it might be worth it.
• Ask your friends about what they hear. Looking back on their experiences, do they feel they did the right thing? Are they sorry they purchased the vehicle? What things are they hearing about different cars that are out there? Get their input for better insight.
• Never buy a vehicle unless you have taken a test drive. Heck, test drive Chevy Corvette while you’re there just because it’s a thrill to do! But seriously, it's important that you find out how a particular car handles, even if you've driven this exact model before.
• Almost every salesperson is going to at least attempt to "upsell" you in an effort to get a bigger sale – don’t hate the player, hate the game. However, don't let them pressure you into the next model up or features you don't need. If they claim not to have the model you are looking for in stock, only the "better" one, ask if they can locate one at another dealer.
• In order to test drive some different Chevrolet makes and models, make sure you bring your license and insurance card with you. Many dealers will want a photo copy of them before you drive. This is just to protect them in case someone steals or damages a car. If you do not have them with you, they might not let you test drive.
• Those of you who are in the market for a certified pre-owned vehicle would be wise to check the cars certification checklist. This will allow you to be sure that all components have been inspected and everything is in order allowing you to buy with a great deal of confidence.
• Read all the documents that are presented to you when you purchase a new car. They will usually have a large stack for you to sign. Don't feel pressured into signing anything that you do not understand. If you do not understand something, ask about it before signing. Until you sign your name to all the paperwork, you can walk out of the dealership and not owe a dime.
• Those who have bad credit end up at a buy-here pay-here dealership. Be very careful of these places. They often buy cars at auction for little money and the majority of the money they make is off of the high interest rates they charge. Try to get a loan from a bank, not the dealership.
• When looking to buy a new or used Chevy vehicle, make sure that you never elude to the fact of how much money you have on your person. You only want to talk about what you think you should put down in regards to the terms and price of the vehicle being discussed.

Now that you've checked out these tips, it should be a little easier to shop for that new Chevrolet Tahoe or sporty Camaro or whatever you get the keys to. No matter which Chevy you buy, you’re already a winner because you chose the premier American car manufacturer.

There’s nothing more classic than a Chevrolet!