Tag Archives: dallas buick

Want A New Car, Figure Out A Realistic Budget First

New Cars, , , , ,

Almost ever person I know falls into the trap of wanting more than they can really afford…or more than they should be able to afford, in some cases. That’s just human nature. It would be great if the average person hand an unlimited budget to get the car the want, but we’re not all Paris Hilton who can buy a Pink Bentley easier than we can get gum at the corner store. No matter how much you believe your new car budget is, it is still best to figure out a true budget friendly car payment when you are planning to buy a new car. In fact, with a well thought out budget and some quality car research, you may find that you can actually get more for your money.

You can obtain a Reliable Annual Percentage Rate from your bank. It is helpful if you will conduct good research with several banks. Low APR however are only granted to creditors with good credit records. Those who have bad credit records are left with no choice but to bear the burden of high interest payments.

The useful tips in the video above can help you figure out a budget friendly new car payment. If you have any questions about setting a realistic budget, call us at Freeman Grapevine and we can put you in the car you want for a price you can really afford without much stress on your wallet, or your head.

New Drivers Need To Know More Than The Rules Of The Road

Safe Driving, , , , , , , , ,

If you have a child, it’s inevitable that one day they are going learn to drive and end up wanting to borrow the keys to your car. Of course they are going to go to  a driving school, and you may show them a thing or two in an abandoned parking lot.  However, their automotive education should end there. It’s a very good idea to cover basic car care tips.  Owning a car means more than learning how to get from point A to point B, it also entails knowing how to keep your car running, and knowing how to fix and prevent problems.

“What do you mean I have to change my oil?”

I’m surprised at how many new drivers think that their car operates via some kind of magic and rarely give a second thought to how the thing actually works. Changing the oil is a prime example. Young drivers may go way too long between oil changes, if they even change it at all. A good plan is for you, the driving parent, to walk them around the car and show them under the hood and explain to them how things work.  Here’s some good things to teach them.

  • Explain that all cars, new and old, need regular attention. Make sure your teenager knows and follows the maintenance schedule for her car. In addition to making a car safe to drive, preventive maintenance can save thousands of dollars during a lifetime of driving.
  • Don’t overlook the owner’s manual. This is full of information about the car that your young driver may never know unless he is familiar with this automotive bible.
  • Make it fun. There are myriad sites on the Internet that are fascinating for young and old drivers alike. Some have Q & A sections. Let your teen send the tough questions to the professionals.
  • It’s probably been a while since they went on a field trip. Take them with you to the repair facility, the tire store, the body shop and wherever you have automotive work performed. Get them accustomed to the automotive world-its people, places, jargon and prices.
  • There are hundreds of books available on this subject. Many are written specifically for non-technical audiences; some are even humorous. Buy a few and make them required reading for the licensing process.
  • Make a plan. What happens if the car breaks down, your child has a wreck, or the car gets stolen? What if no adults are home to receive the panic call? Whether you want your teenager to call your family repair facility or Aunt Sadie, give some instruction and put important phone numbers in the glove compartment. [Source: Midas.com]

If you plan on doing any repairs at home, it’s a really good idea to have your new driver help with that service. It give you the opportunity show them the things that you are doing to repair the car. Of course, it goes without saying that, if your teen driver has proved themselves responsible enough to have their own car, swing by Freeman Grapevine and check out our used car selection.

The Best Road Trip You Will Ever Take

Just for Fun, , , , , , , ,

freeman grapevine, texas road trips, dallas buick, dallas gmc, fort worth buick, fort worth gmc, texas wineries, see texas, go texan

I realized something today. I don’t write about taking road trips around Texas in your Buick, or GMC nearly enough. Maybe it’s because I don’t ever have the time to do so. Maybe it’s because…yeah…I just don’t have the time. There really is no other reason why everyone shouldn’t just jump in their GM cars, trucks and SUVs and do a little exploring one weekend.

I mean, have you ever taken the time to really think about what Texas has to offer? I mean really think about it. We have nearly every type of climate from tropical humidity on the Gulf Coast, to the cold plains in the panhandle during the winter months. We have forests to the east of Dallas and deserts out west. We have 2 Major League Baseball teams, two football teams, soccer and hockey. We have multiple state universities with campuses spanning the state. We have some of the largest and most culturally diverse cities in the nation. We have huge music and art festivals and thousands of amazing restaurants. We even have 24 wineries! (I’ll bet you weren’t aware of that!)

https://www.youtube.com/user/gotexantv

So, why don’t we get out of our comfort zone and take a few days to explore Texas? Too busy? That’s a bad excuse. Make time. You will be absolutely astounded at the history and majesty of this great state.

If you need me, I’ll be on this computer at Freeman Grapevine hopefully planning my own Texas road trip soon…all I have to do is make the time.

 

Can Your Steering Wheel Be Germ Hive

Parts and Accessories, , , , , , , , , , ,

The short answer is, of course, “Yes”.  Did anyone get FLU this year? The answer is probably also is, “Yes”. How did you get it? No doubt you wondered. I certainly did. It too forever to get over and I’m still wondering how I got it, though at this point, it makes no difference. There is a very good chance the I caught this, as well as colds and minor infections from my steering wheel. Yup, the good old steering wheel. Let me ask you a question? When was the last time you cleaned your steering wheel? A clean cloth and some alcohol will to the trick, but when was the last time you did that? Now you may think this is a  good idea, but I doubt you are running out to your car right now to clean it. When the realization of how filthy your steering wheel is…remember, every thing you touch you transmit to your steering wheel. You may wash your hands periodically, but I know you don’t disinfect your steering wheel. So, what’s the point other than we should wash your steering wheels? Why not avoid the hassle and get an anti-microbial steering wheel cover like the one in the video below.

I’m not going to argue that we all could take a little time to tidy up our cars on the inside. The fact of the mater is we all simply don’t clean our cars as thoroughly as we should. Sure, we vacuum from time to time, or rub some cleaning material we randomly chose at the grocery store and give our dashes a once over. It’s probably a good idea to start cleaning the interior of your car more often, especially during flu season. Clean that germ infested steering wheel.

Texas Law Allows For Arrest On Minor Traffic Offenses

Uncategorized, , , , , ,

This is, in fact, true. A police officer in Texas can arrest you for minor traffic offenses excluding speeding. Sounds strange, huh? When I heard this from a lawyer friend of mine, I was left scratching my head thinking that this couldn’t be true, but I did a little research myself and found that this is true. The case is Atwater vs. Lago Vista, 99-1408. I found an article from ABC news which confirmed that in 1997 Gail Atwater was arrested for not wearing her seat belt:

The officer arrested Gail Atwater, handcuffed her hands behind her back and took her to the city police station. A friend looked after her children and her pickup truck was towed away.

Texas law allows police to make arrests for routine traffic violations, except for speeding..

From my understanding, Atwater sued the city under the pretense that her Constitutional rights, specifically her Fourth Amendment Rights were violated. However:

The high court majority rejected her argument that police should not have arrested her for a crime that would carry no jail time.

“The arrest and booking were inconvenient to Atwater, but not so extraordinary as to violate the Fourth Amendment,” Justice David H. Souter wrote for the majority.

So, for all of you Texas drivers out there, it pays to be nice to the attending officer if you get pulled over for something other than speeding. Don’t have your seat belt on? You can be arrested. Run a stop sign? You can be arrested.

Now, that being said, you probably aren’t going to be held for a minor traffic violation, that is as long as you just follow the rules and don’t make that officer’s job any harder than it already is. Remember, they never really know what type of situation they are going into, even on a routine traffic stop. They have one of the most dangerous jobs you can have, so just go with the flow be nice.

What do you think about this story? Do you agree, or disagree?

 

Follow The Gasoline Trail, Dallas Fort Worth

Just for Fun, , , , , , ,

Have you ever wondered how a drop of gasoline spends its “life” after being deposited into the gas tank of your vehicle? Well here’s a nostalgic film from  the 30’s that explains the route gas follows through your engine and how it generates power. Of course, fuel economy and technology has advanced greatly since then, but the fundamental principles are the same. Take a look:

Thought this was an old video, it did a great job of explaining to the public how their cars worked. Not that it was a mystery, but it was more of an attempt to teach people about their vehicles which in turn I’m sure was responsible for America’s love affair with the car. If you have any links to vintage car videos you’d like to share, just add them to the comments section below. Freeman Grapevine is always looking for fun and interesting car talk.

Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC, Diagnosing A Broken Tie Rod

Maintenance and Service, , , ,

Think you feel a clunk or shake in the steering wheel? You might have a bent tie rod! Your Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC dealer wants you to know that if you feel any type of tie rod issues, you should probably bring in your Dallas Buick, or GMC ASAP. Leaving any problem unattended to is only going  to exacerbate any problem you ma be experiencing with noise or poor performance.

Here’s a great video from 1A-auto.com that will help you diagnose a broken tie rod

If you’ve already don the diagnosis or think that your Fort Worth Buick or GMC may be suffering from the issue, bring it by your Metroplex Buick GMC dealer, Freeman Grapevine.

Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC: Do Shock Tactics Work In Teaching Kids To Drive

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For those of you who have you have kids, if they aren’t already, they will be driving before you know it, and hopefully it’s a Freeman Grapevine car. As is usually the case for our new batch of young drivers, they’ll be attending a driver’s education course. Now, driver’s ed has changed drastically in the past 60 years. There has been more of a shift from shock education…remember all of those horrific videos they’d show to kids about the dangers of driving. Check out the one I found from the 50’s below.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwbi9UCzmIQ

These days, driver’s education is more real world and scenario driven, as opposed to the shock and awe of past driving classroom videos. Which do you think is a better technique? Do shock tactics really deter kids from making bad decisions behind the wheel? Does focusing on real world scenarios seem to achieve better results, or does it neglect the inherent dangers and responsibilities of driving? Are kids too desensitized with images they see in the media to even take notice?

Your Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC dealer, Freeman Grapevine takes driver’s education seriously and hopes that all new young drivers do the same.