Test driving a USED car is one of the fastest ways to learn about the car itself, don’t you think? There is no doubt that your Atlanta Used Car Dealer, the Southtowne General Motors Superstore recommends taking the Atlanta used car you are looking at for a little spin before you make an offer. You can quickly determine if the car is worth your time to check out mechanically in the first few moments after you turn the engine over.
There are of course a few common problems that you need to look for when test driving a car. I found a pretty good checklist from cartips.com to study before you test drive that used car around New Jersey.
Test all of the functions of the car:
You need to test the head lights, heater, A/C, radio, interior lights, mirrors, brake lights, turn signals, defrost, safety belts, windshield wipers and seats for how they function.
Plus, you want to check out any additional options like electronic seats, seat warmers, GPS etc.
Starting the car:
Before you start the car, be sure to check if the car is already warm. If it is, the owner may have pre-heated the engine before you arrived so that the car will start easier… if this is the case, be aware that the car may have cold start problems.
Open the hood before starting the car. Check to see if there are any wet parts of the engine, this will tell you if there are any leaks.
Start the car and pay attention to whether the engine strains at all when starting. This may mean the battery or electrical system is on it’s way out.
Once the car has been started, go back to the engine compartment and check again for any wet engine parts. Some engines will leak only when running.
Put your hand on the fender of the vehicle to check if you feel any harsh vibrations. The car should run fairly smooth and not shake the vehicle.
Finally, if the car has power steering, make sure that the steering wheel can be moved smoothly back and forth and there are no strange noises when you do this. If there is a loud whine when you move the steering wheel this may mean the power steering pump is fried.
Test Driving the Car:
Finally it’s time to take this car on the road! Through the entire test drive process, be aware of the sounds of the car. Does the brake pedal make noise? Does the engine make a strange noise at a certain speed? Does steering the car make a strange noise? These are questions to be asking yourself the entire time you are test driving the car.
The first thing you want to notice about the car is how the transmission shifts:
If you’re test driving an automatic car, you should almost not even feel the shift when driving slowly. If the shifting takes longer than 3 or 4 seconds this is a major problem.
If you’re test driving a standard car, the shifts should be smooth and easy. If the car grinds into the next gear, then your synchros are probably in need of repair.
While driving down a quiet street, take your foot off the gas and let go of the steering wheel (CAREFULLY!). If the car pulls one way or the other, there is most likely an alignment problem. Also, push the brake lightly and if the car pulls left or right under braking there is most likely a problem with the braking system.
Make sure you take the car both up and down hills. Does the car shake when braking down a hill? If so, the brakes need service. Does the car handle accelerating up a hill? Or does it cough and lose power? This could mean a number of engine problems that need to be checked out.
Finally, you need to take the test drive to the freeway:
This step is really important. Any major problems with the car are going to be very apparent when riding on the freeway.
Here are some things to look out for:
Does the car pull to the left or right?
The brakes pulsing or shaking when applied.
Excessive wind noise when all of the windows are closed.
Does the car seem to “float” around? There may be suspension problems.
Does the engine sound normal?
If you stomp on the gas pedal does the car cough or hesitate before accelerating?
Now, if you decide to make the used car buying process much easier just see your Atlanta Used Car Dealer, The Southtowne General Motors Superstore first take all of the guesswork out of buying a used car.
The Question on everyone’s mind every time they pull up to the gas pump to fill up is, “How can I go more miles without having to fill up again”? I know that this Atlanta Car Dealer wants to spend less time at the pump just like you do, so I looked into easy solutions to make the most out of every drop of gas you put in your Atlanta Buick, GMC, Chevrolet or Cadillac.
I’m going to go out on a limb here and am willing to bet that many drivers spend very little to no time learning the basics of how an automobile engine works. Most people just get into their cars and drive. However, the vast majority of us consider a vehicle’s fuel economy both when purchasing and driving. Some go to great lengths to find ways of improving gas mileage such as purchasing different exhaust and air intake products, fuel additives, and tires. That’s all well and good, but those are minor improvements. When it comes down to it, the engine is the most intricate and vital component of that car’s ability to be useful. Engine damage is also, often, the most expensive to repair. It’s internal components are subject to extreme heat and friction which wear on these parts over time. They are constantly exposed to temperatures nearing 200 degrees and moving thousands of times per minute. Even with regular servicing and preventative maintenance, the wear on these parts is inevitable and adversely affects an engine’s efficiency over its lifespan. It’s the efficiency of an engine which consumers often overlook when considering fuel economy.
So, what is an easy way to know that you are working just as hard to protect your engine as your engine is working hard to service your driving demands?
Well, for starters, consider Synthetic oil as your next oil change. When compared to traditional petroleum based oils, Synthetic has a stronger viscosity or stickiness. It also takes longer to break down in extreme temperatures and is less subject to evaporative loss. Substituting synthetic oils for traditional oils when servicing a vehicle protects these parts better and, in turn, leads to greater engine efficiency. It’s efficiency directly affects the amount of fuel being used or wasted in the combustion process. Therefore, one of the most best ways of improving gas mileage is to protect the efficiency of a vehicle’s engine over its lifespan with a synthetic lubricant.
This might be a good way to visit the pump less and with the rising prices of gasoline in our present day economy, a greater portion of the population is in need of finding practical ways to improve gas mileage. Using a synthetic oil for engine lubrication is one significant way a consumer can improve fuel economy and save a substantial amount of money over time. How much money? Well, how much are you willing to gamble? It will also better protect internal engine components longer which will save money in engine repairs…a piston seizing because you neglected to change your oil could tap into your kids college fund…and if you don’t want to face this…
…then you might want to care of that engine a little better and consider using a synthetic oil in your new or used car. Ask your Atlanta car dealer, The Southtowne General Motors Superstore what the best option for your car is. Of course you can direct any questions or comments here as well.
Southtowne has seen it with Altanta car buyers before: buying a car on impulse. Whether it’s your first car, or you’re a seasoned negotiator, you should never buy a car on impulse. We’re not talking about a candy bar at the checkout counter here. The buying process takes time, research, careful thought and even some strategy.
Organize your purchase and create a checklist that includes a list of everything you will need to make a good decision. Without organization, the purchase process will be overwhelming. In addition to finding the best car for the right price, you have to navigate through confusing payment options and deal with salespeople. Be prepared! Your checklist should not be limited to just the actual car itself. It should be all the things, relative to the purchase, that you want and need before you to sign on the line. Planning ahead and being organized will pay off with a much better and easier car buying process.
Here’s my list of what you should educate yourself on before you even set foot on a dealership lot:
Financing – Before you even search the Internet for that new Atlanta Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet or GMC, sit down and figure out how much money you really have for a down payment, and how much you can realistically afford to pay each month. Never tell anyone those numbers. Knowledge is power and you want to keep the power. While most dealerships can and will arrange financing, your knowledge will allow you to find the best deal and let you know the price range and terms you should be looking for in your new car.
Research – Do your homework online and check out all the Atlanta Buicks, Cadillacs, Chevrolets and GMCs you might consider. The more you know the better choices you will be able to make. Be sure to know the manufacturer’s suggested retail price and any special offers available in your area. Shop individual dealer web sites for specials as well. Internet specials on the dealer’s website are many times the lowest the dealer is willing to sell for. Check multiple dealerships and offers. You don’t have to drive 300 hundred miles to get the best deal. Just use your knowledge of the offers available to work your best deal at the dealer close to you.
Equipment – Make sure you get the equipment and features you really want and need. Many times a dealership will advertise a vehicle that has very little equipment. In their defense, it’s because they want to be able to advertise the lowest price on that Nissan car you’re looking for. If you aren’t comfortable driving a manual transmission, don’t buy a car without automatic. Get power locks and windows with a security system if you can afford it. Buy only the high tech features that you will really use. There are lots of expensive toys out there today. Choose wisely.
Items To Remember – Check with your insurance company to see how a particular model will affect your premium. What is covered by the warranty and is the warranty transferable when you decide to sell? Is Roadside Assistance included with the warranty? Check fuel efficiency on the models you are considering and weigh the benefits of gas, diesel, and Hybrid. Then decide based on your own driving habits and budget.
The Car Buying Process – Now you’re getting to the relatively fun part of your car buying experience: the car itself. Don’t take a car on a test drive unless you are serious about the car. After you test-drive the new Atlanta Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet or GMC, odds are that you’ll want to buy it. Also, don’t test drive the highest trim level of a car (equipment, engine size, features etc.) if a lower trim better fits your budget. To avoid making a mistake, test drive the exact trim you plan to buy. Better yet, test-drive the exact car you are considering. Car buying can be easy if you don’t make excuses like “The dog ate my homework.”
Can you add anything else to this checklist? What’s important to you when buying a new or used car? Let your Atlanta car dealer, the Southtowne General Motors Superstore help you with your new car research!
As we get older, a lot of us experience lower back pain, especially while driving. I’ve talked to a few Southtowne customers and finding an Atlanta Caddillac, Buick, Chevrolet, or GMC with comfortable seating was on their list. In a number of cases it ranked higher than gas mileage. A number of researches have investigated the relationship between driving and Back Pain, which some interesting results. One finding is a comparison of drivers in the USA and in Sweden found that 50% of people questioned in both countries reported low back pain.
So what is the connection of driving and back pain?
So far, research has found three factors for low back pain whilst driving: vibration from the engine (something that you can not change), sitting position and the length of time that we drive.
Here are some ways to make your driving experience more comfortable.
The Seat
Make sure that your bottom sits all the way in the back of the seat – where the base and the back of the seat meet. This will help to make you sit more upright and maintain the natural curvature of the spine, minimizing the stress on the spinal ligaments. If your seat has a lumbar roll built-in have this all the way out.
The Base length and Height of the Seat
The base of the seat should never touch the back of your knees and the front of the base should be slightly higher than the back, helping to provide more support and allowing you press the pedals without changing your spinal posture.
The Backrest
First relax back into your seat, place the seat at about a 10-15 degrees incline from the vertical position. If this feels unnatural to you then it probably means that the backrest is not upright enough for you. This can result into neck strain and / or coccyx (sitting bone) pain.
The Headrest
The position of your headrest will not only help to lower the injuries in an accident, but also to help to allow a better posture. The bony bit at the back of your head (known as the ‘inion’) is a good guiding point, the headrest should be level with this. There should be about 1 inch between the back of your head and the headrest. This allows for the ligaments and the muscles of your neck to control the posture of your head better and giving better support in case of an accident.
Seat – Pedal distance
Make sure you have the distance between seat and the pedals so that when operating the pedals this does not cause you to over stretch your legs or twist your body in any way. Your legs should not be straight when pushing the throttle or clutch all the way down. Obviously your knees should not be bend to the point you cannot easily move from one pedal to another. It is normal to have your knees bent about 45 degrees.
The Arm position
Your arms should be as relaxed as possible, elbows bend around 20-30 degrees. If your steering wheel is adjustable have it in the mid to lower position, this will help to reduce the stress on your shoulders. Your hands should be positioned at ’10 past10′ and not as is suggested left hand at 9 o’clock and right hand at 3 o’clock.
Take breaks
We all have seen the “Rest Stop” signs along the roads…do it! Taking a break helps your back as well, so when you need to take a rest you can have a stretch at the same time to help your back.
If you have chronic back problems, like many people do, driving can exasperate the pain at times. Look for an Atlanta Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet or GMC that puts you in a good seated position and is comfortable. Feel free to come and try out the driver’s seats at the Southtowne General Motors Superstore, I’ve sure we can help you find one that is comfortable for longer trips.
I have written about it before. We see it all of the time here at Southtowne Buick Cadillac GMC. Bad car owners not taking care of their vehicles by ignoring a regularly scheduled oil change. Honestly, it is amazing to me that some people go as long as they do without changing their oil. I think if people could actually see what happens to their engine when you go too long between oil changes, they would be more conscious about the performance of their car and at the same time avoid costly repairs.
I found a 2 part video that not only explains the damages you can encounter, but actually shows you. Take the time to watch both videos. You’ll be shocked at the damage that can be caused by not being a responsible car owner.
If you are one of those car owners that tend to consistently ignore changing your oil, go grab your keys and head directly to the Southtowne General Motors Superstore. If you let this routine maintenance go too long, I guarantee you that you will be shelling out a lot more money to fix your Atlanta Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet or GMC.
For those of you who may have forgotten, Mother’s day is Saturday. At the Southtowne General Motors Superstore, when it comes to mothers, there is no one we believe who is more special, or more deserving to have a day to call their own. That’s why, instead of writing about the usual automotive related topics, I thought I’d give a Southtowne Salute to the women who have made enormous contributions to our lives.
From the very beginning, the bond between mother and child is one that will flourish and grow well into that child’s adulthood. Mom has always been there and always will be. She praised you when you did well, and corrected you when you needed guidance. She put everything on hold when you needed attention. She kept you strong when you were weak and picked you up when you faltered.
For everything that our mothers did, and still do, make this Mother’s Day a special one for them. Do something different. Buy them a new Cadillac! I’m kidding…sort of. In all seriousness, make Saturday a day for them to remember. They have given of themselves 365 days a year from the day you were born. Give them just one of yours.
Have you ever thought what the would would be like with out mothers?
From all of use here at The Southtowne General Motors Superstore, have a Happy Mother’s Day, we are all eternally grateful to have been able to call you, “Mom”.
There is news out of the Buick camp and you are going to hear it first from the Southtowne General Motors Superstore. This next model year, Atlanta Buicks are focusing heavily on customer experience. According to a recently released dealer announcement letter focuses, Buick is making a concerted effort at building even better relationships with our customers. In fact, right now is a very promising time for Buick. As they continue to ride the momentum of the Buick product renaissance with the launch of the all-new Verano and the recently announced 2013 Encore compact SUV they are also introducing new customer initiatives such as Experience Buick, which includes a ‘New Lease on Luxury’ . That’s two years of all-inclusive premium services, bundled into one simple monthly payment.
According to Buick:
Experience Buick has led us to further examine how we can improve Buick ownership. The Buick powertrain warranty at 5 years/100K miles offered a significant advantage over all of our competitors. However, we have taken another look at its terms and found that on average, our luxury customers drive fewer miles per year. Buick data shows that 68% of vehicles run out of the powertrain warranty at the five year mark rather than 100K miles. In some instances, it has resulted in customer dissatisfaction as owners of low mileage vehicles were told their powertrain warranty coverage had ended.
In order to rectify this discrepancy in mileage and better align with real-world customer usage, Buick has improved the warranty experience for their customers by changing the powertrain warranty to 6 years/70K miles beginning with our 2013 model year vehicles. This change now directly matches key luxury competitors such as Lexus, Acura and Infiniti, and better supports Buick’s premium position in the marketplace. The new warranty terms will also apply to roadside assistance and courtesy transportation units.
This is great news for all of those who were looking into the luxury market for their next vehicle. No longer are the players only foreign vehicles, but it now includes the quality American Craftsmanship of Buick and will have the power to back up their performance. Now is the perfect time to consider Buick. See the Southtowne General Motors Superstore for more information on Atlanta Buicks and the new programs Buick has released to bolster consumer confidence.
Do your understand the TRUE value of keeping your anti-freeze at appropriate levels? Southtowne Motors has seen a lot of vehicles come in to the shop because their owners failed to keep a tab on their fluid levels. Summer is just around the corner, so what’s the best way to “keeping your cool”?
As most of you may know, not only does antifreeze keep the vehicle cooling system from freezing, but it also keeps it from boiling over – if the system is working correctly, that is. Radiators need a certain level of antifreeze to lower their freezing point and raise their boiling point and thus protect the engine block from damage.
Also, did you know that antifreeze has a PH level which, without maintenance, can become corrosive and break down the cooling system? Not many people do. Corrosive antifreeze can cause leaks. It can also create electrolosis. This is when the antifreeze actually has a low voltage electrical charge to it. Electrolosis can cause damage to the engine, or cooling system.
By having your vehicle’s cooling system checked regularly at our Newnan Chevrolet Dealership (at least every six months), you can help keep your vehicle’s engine cool and running better, longer.
There is no doubt that every time you jump in your Atlanta GMC, you think about fuel. Be it the unstable costs, or how many miles per gallon you are able to coax out of your vehicle, the bottom line is that fuel is expensive and we’re all waiting for a cheaper solution. GM has announced a new bio-fuel option for both the GMC Sierra HD and The Chevy Silverado 2500 HD. While the cost for the addition is set at an additional $11,000, GM understand the value of this technological advancement both in regards to saving at the pump and on environmental costs.
GM justifies the cost of the bi-fuel option saying that it serves as protection against gasoline prices that are unstable at best, and that in the end, owners can potentially keep $5,000 to $10,000 dollars that would have otherwise been spent on fuel over a three year period. The bi-fuel option allows the vehicle to switch between CNG (compressed natural gas) and petrol fuels, and to acquire the capability buyers will have to drop $11,000. The upgrade adds a Type 3 tank in the bed that gets you a 650-mile range on any heavy-duty truck variant.
Granted, the cost at this time seems rather high, but in relation to the money you will save and the smaller carbon footprint you will be leaving it is very close to being on target fiscally. The fact of the matter is that once introduced and refined further, the cost will eventually drop as Bio-fuel becomes more available.
Is bio-fuel something that you would be interested in your future GMC, or Chevrolet? Is the cost at this time too high? Have you thought about the residual costs of not having a bio-fuel equipped vehicle? Do you think this will make a significant impact on the automotive industry? The jury is still out, but you can be certain that Southtowne Motors in Newnan will be on board with all of the latest technological advancements.
We’ve seen blown head gaskets many times roll through our Atlanta car service department. This is a serious malfunction and can dramatically affect the future performance of your engine. Lucky for you products exist at your local auto parts retailers that can help stop the problem before it starts. The issue is that many people wait way too long before performing preventative maintenance. Come on people, it’s called “preventative” for a reason.
Take a hint from the video and use Steel Seal when you change out your radiator fluid. Staying on schedule with your preventative maintenance will help avoid any unnecessary, and unwanted damage to your head gasket.
If you wait too long, this simple fix won’t be so simple anymore and you’ll need to bring your car into Southtowne Motors for a professional for repair.
My name is Steve Mader. I've been in the automotive industry for over 30 years and have held numerous dealership positions before I began working at Southtowne in 1992. I have a real passion for community service, and that includes the automotive community. I figured that after 30 years I could possibly share 1 or 2 things I've learned along the way. I hope you find my articles informative, educational and entertaining.
By Steve Mader
