All posts by Ozzie

Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC Crosswalk Pong Keeps Crosswalks Entertaining

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Color your me impressed with German ingenuity for giving you a little entertainment as you sit and wait for your turn to cross at a crosswalk.

Crosswalk Pong. That’s right, Crosswalk Pong. So you get stuck before you get a chance to cross. In Germany, there’s no reason to rush, miss you crossing signal and get plowed over by a European sedan. Now you have a fun reason to wait.

Crosswalk Pong pits you against someone else on the other side of the street in a good old fashioned pong game. As your light counts down, you are visually warned that your game will be coming to an end soon and you can cross the street.

In the meantime, the German Transportation Department put themselves in the walker’s shoes and came up with a pretty fun to kill a few minutes while waiting to cross the street. Check it out.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQqAxB5DjgQ

Have you run into any other fun things like this that local Governments put into place to help keep the citizenry either safe, progressing, or in this case, entertained? If so, tell your Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC dealer, Freeman Grapevine

The Cell Phone Is Now A Necessity On Dallas Fort Worth Roads

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It wasn’t too long ago that the cell phone was a luxury. It was expensive and the calling plans were too. Eventually the technology of communications has caught up with us. The devices got much better and so did the calling plans. I wonder what Alexander Graham Bell would think of cell phones today.

Once being slightly despised because of your accessibility has now become a communication system that will tell everyone you know where you are. what you are doing and probably the new 300 things you plan to do over the week.

The rub of is that the cell phone has now become a virtual necessity for daily operation. When you think about it. A smart phone running an advanced operating system can generate a lot of information and get out out of a bind in the future.

Let’s pretend you have a flat. You can call some one for help. You can learn how to change it yourself via YouTube. You can send an email to your mechanic and text your friends telling them you’ll be a little late all in a mater of moments. So, here are a few tips to keeping what is now one of the most important tools in your car functional:

  • Keep your cell phone charged at all times.
  • If possible have a back up battery accessible and fully charged as well.
  • Keep your cell phone away from water.
  • Program all of your emergency contacts in your phone
  • Just like a medical ID bracelet, you can also store information on your phone such as allergies, prescriptions and medical conditions.
  • If you have an iPhone, download the Child ID app created by the FBI to help get information out quickly for a missing child.
  • Add ICE, “in case of emergency,” to contacts you would like contacted in an emergency. This is not very reliable as there are many different types of phones out there that people may be unfamiliar with and if your phone is locked then there’s no sense in doing it in the first place.
  • If you phone is equipped with a camera it can be helpful in documenting damages to things like your car or property.
  • If you are lost, most smartphones have a map app that can help you find your way.

I almost hate to admit it. But this is one invention that has both made our lives infinitely more complicated but also seems to be at the center of solving most of our daily problems.

Do you know of something you just can’t live without in regards to your car? If so, tell your Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC dealer, Freeman Grapevine the one thing you can’t live without in your car?

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 Dealer What The Release of the iPhone5 Will Mean For Cars

Parts and Accessories, , ,

Today we had some big news in the technology world with the release of the iPhone5. Incidentally, by the time you read this, my post will be well know history, and probably totally obsolete…So, the new iPhone 5 came out today and amidst all of the hullabaloo, some automotive news came along with it.

With cars like Hyundai and Scion who have models hardwired with a 30 pin connector to their decks, or Audis and BMWs who have ingrained 30 pin cradles you are going to also get an adapter. That’s right, Apple has changed it’s charging system to their new Lightening connector and that means the above mentioned cars, and many others, will have to also purchase and adapter so you can marry your new iPhone5 to your car’s audio capabilities.

The adapter will cost $29 and the old 30 pin connector port seems to dwarf the new Lightening port.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrGk4O4XRio

Who’s anxiously awaiting the new release of the iPhone5 later this month? Tell your Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC dealer, Freeman Grapevine what you think about your phone.

Dallas Fort Worth GMC, The 2013 GMC Acadia

GMC, , ,

Looking for a new SUV with three row seating? Well the New 2013 GMC Acadia is certainly worth checking out. With a considerable amount of upgrades from the previous model year, the 2013 GMC Acadia is certain to turn the heads of Dallas Ft. Worth GMC lovers.

Check out the new 2013 GMC Acadia and the Acadia Denali trim package in this cars.com video from the 2012 Detroit Auto show.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQmyKhMf8-0

Pretty nice, huh. Now all you have to do is swing buy your Dallas Fort Worth GMC dealer, Freeman Grapevine and take a spin. Can you see you and your family in the new 2013 GMC Acadia? Let us know what you think in the comments section below?

Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC: When Will CD Players Be Extinct

Parts and Accessories, , ,

I don’t know about you, but when I drive, I have to listen to music, most of us at your Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC dealer do. For me, it’s just a really great way to decompress after work, or a great way to get pumped up on the way to a  game. The bottom line is, Fort Worth, that without tunes in the car, most of us might find traveling a bit on the boring side.

I don’t think we have anything to fear about losing our in-car entertainment, but I did recently hear that Sheryl Connelly with Ford Motor Co., told Digital Music News, “The in-car CD player – much like pay telephones – is destined to fade away in the face of exciting new technology.” According to Ford, downloadable formats such as MP3 now account for 98% of the music market, having grown more than seven-fold while CD sales have dropped 35%. The automaker says the Ford Focus is its first model that will have a CD-less in-dash radio.

Of course, Ford isn’t the only auto manufacturer who is moving towards integrating a smartphone connection as well as USB and MP3 Bluetooth connectivity for an external device in their vehicles as well.

Our cars have become such an ingrained part of our culture, they have quite literally become extension of ourselves and our homes. There is no doubt that over time customer preferences will lead us quickly into an all-digital approach to in-car audio entertainment. That means no more floorboards covered in scratched CDs. No more pulling the wrong CD from the right case. It will quite literally streamline our dashboards as well as how we listen to music in our cars.

The big question is, “When will all of this take place?” I don’t have an answer for that, but my guess is certainly much sooner than later.

What’s next? This? WARNING: DON’T ATTEMPT THIS

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx3ZJ9HXIbo

Of course that was just for entertainment, so don’t go and turn your car into a giant keyboard…unless your name is Liberace.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to ask. If you are interested in the next generation on in-car entertainment, swing by and take a look at what Dallas Fort Worth Buick and GMC have to offer.

Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC, What Does It Mean To Be “Upside-Down”

Credit and Financing, , ,

I wrote about being “upside-down” a little while ago, and I think it’s time to revisit that topic. For those of you scratching your heads, “upside-down” means you owe more on the car than it is worth”. This can be particularly frustrating for people looking to buy a new car. If you owe more on your car now than it’s worth, the remaining debt gets wrapped into your new car purchase. Increasing the cost of your new car, but not necessarily the value.

This can be a vicious cycle for a lot of people. How do you stop it? Here are some ways to get out from under being upside-down:

Consider your automotive purchases more carefully in the first place. Look into the “residual,” which is the projected, future resale value. Even though they may cost more up front, vehicles with higher residuals are less expensive to own in the long-term because they depreciate less. Purchase mainstream vehicles. A higher trim level four-door sedan in a fairly common color will hold onto its value more than a lime green sport model with excessive customization. Unless you find a buyer whose taste in personalization is exactly like yours.

Resist the urge to keep buying new cars on a regular basis. Take care of what you have and hang onto it. Pay it off. If you’ve taken care of it, then it will bring more money when you sell it or trade it in. And if you’ve paid it off, you will then have some positive, rather than negative, equity.  Spend a little time and money cleaning it up and ready for sale, but you’ll get more in the bargain.  Fixing it up and spending a few Saturdays waiting by the phone can result in several thousand dollars in your pocket. If you don’t want the hassle, the dealership will be more than happy to take it in trade and make some good money on it.

Here’s an in-depth explanation on being “Upside Down”.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv44SqUh1ak

Also check www.united-credit.org for extra help.

Thanks to automedia.com

If you have any questions about your car finances, don’t hesitate to give your Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC dealer, Freeman Grapevine a call. We can try to get you out of that “upside down” situation.

Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC: What Age Is Too Old To Drive

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All of us here at your Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC dealer, Freeman Grapevine, know that driving is one of the very last freedoms it seems we’ll enjoy as we get older. The thought of losing autonomy by having to relinquish our driver’s licenses can be scary fro some, and down right infuriating for others.

Everyone always talks about what the minimum driving age is, but is there a maximum?  Do you have a parent or know a friend’s parent who is a little older and isn’t the safest driver?

I read an article from AOL Autos, which lists some warning signs of senior drivers.  Take a look:

Warning Signs: 20 Things To Look For In Elderly Drivers

• Decrease in confidence while driving
• Difficulty turning to see when backing up
• Easily distracted while driving
• Other drivers often honk horns
• Hitting curbs
• Scrapes or dents on the car, mailbox or garage
• Increased agitation or irritation when driving
• Failure to notice traffic signs or important activity on the side of the road
• Trouble navigating turns
• Driving at inappropriate speeds
• Uses a “copilot”
• Bad judgment making left turns
• Delayed response to unexpected situations
• Moving into wrong lane or difficulty maintaining lane position
• Confusion at exits
• Ticketed moving violations or warnings
• Getting lost in familiar places
• Car accident
• Failure to stop at stop sign or red light
• Stopping in traffic for no apparent reason

Are there other warning signs you’d recommend looking for?  Have you ever had to tell your parent that it’s not safe for them to drive any more?  Please share here your thought here. Freeman Grapevine is concerned about all drivers across Texas and the US and would like to hear your opinion on this topic.

Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC Dealer: How Long Has Your Check Engine Light Been On

Maintenance and Service, ,

Your Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC Dealer, Freeman Grapevine wants to know, when was the last time you actually looked at the instrument cluster in your car? It’s really easy to neglect keeping yourself informed about your vehicle, even though gauges and lights are giving you constant information. I know people who insist that their “Check Engine” light doesn’t really mean much and they’ve been driving with it on for “over a year”. Really? That’s not terribly smart. Make sure you read your new car manual too find out and take a look at something other than your speedometer from time to time.

Here’s a good (yet fuzzy) video I found that illustrates this well. WATCH IT! IT COULD SAVE YOU MONEY!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEs702FK8Kc

IF you have any questions feel free to ask your Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC Dealer, Freeman Grapevine we know how to “Turn the Light off” in your new car.

Dallas Fort Worth GMC: Almost 50 MPG By 2025

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It’s no secret that the Obama administration is in talks about a new requirement that all new cars and light trucks must get up to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025!

Your Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC dealer, Freeman Grapevine agrees that more vehicles could stand getting updated to get better miles per gallon, but the requirement is so high that a lot of ‘automobiles’ will be lost if this ever gets passed without some type of major improvement in fuel consumption technology.

There are only a few vehicles on the road today that barely come close to meeting this miles per gallon amount. And you guessed it, they are hybrids and/or electric vehicles. But most Americans aren’t ready to take that plunge just yet, be it because they are too expensive, the selection of vehicles is too small or people just aren’t ready to give up their gas powered vehicles just yet.

Here’s a small expert from US Today:

The National Automobile Dealers Association, a powerful lobby in Washington, today says:

To reach a 56.2 miles-per-gallon (mpg) standard would mean a tremendous shift in the types of vehicles consumers buy. To meet that goal, 55 percent of market share would be hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles, according to the Center for Automotive Research. In 2010, hybrids and plug-ins together accounted for less than 2.5% of U.S. new auto sales. Overly-ambitious standards set 14 years in the future risk severe economic harm if consumer wants and needs are not met.

We are all for bettering the earth and making progress towards new and innovative ways to use fossil fuels more efficiently, however this new possible requirement would also hinder a lot of great vehicles. To generate power you need fuel, so some of the larger GMC trucks that are able to produce such high torque and massive amounts of power might be affected by this stipulation. However, the technology for increasing gas mileage already exists to an extent, but at this time is just too expensive to put into practice.

Since this news is pretty new, reports are saying that the amount of miles per gallon could change once more meetings are held.  Tell Freeman Grapevine what you think about this possible requirement that all new cars must be able to get up to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025?