Dallas Fort Worth Car Dealer: Unbreakable Rule #1

August 16, 2016Tips and HIntsOzzie

WEAR YOUR SEAT BELTS!

I’m astonished to hear about accidents that resulted in a fatality simply because one or more of the occupants wasn’t wearing a seat belt. As a car dealer, I understand that paramount importance of wearing your seat belt. First of all, it’s the law. Second, and I hate to be so blunt here, but you are an idiot if you don’t wear it.

If you ever get into an accident in your Dallas Buick, or GMC without wearing your seat belt, do you know the one decision you are going to regret the most? No. It’s not going to be wishing you left home 10 minutes later; or if you just drove a little slower, or even a little faster you might have been a little more lucky. It’s going to be the 2.5 seconds you didn’t decide to buckle up. Really, this is important and not to be taken flippantly. It should be second nature. Instead of throwing statistics at you, I’m posting a picture I took yesterday near Grapevine, moments after I happened upon a very serious accident.

Everyone involved in this accident appeared to be fine from my vantage point and the demeanor of the emergency personnel confirmed this by their focusing on controlling traffic.

Don’t think wearing a seat belt in your new Buick, or GMC isn’t that important? Watch the video comparison below:

I guarantee you the two people involved in this accident didn’t leave their houses thinking this was going to happen. The bottom line is that you never know when something like this will happen. However, you do know how one simple act of putting on your seat belt might save your life one day…Freeman Grapevine will be reminding all of you of this periodically. No need to thank us.

News Wire: 2017 Buick Cascada ST Makes Scenic Drives Even More Captivating

August 15, 2016BuickOzzie

(This article originally appeared on Buick.com)

2017 Buick Cascada Sport Touring. © General Motors

New special edition convertible revealed during thousand-mile road rally

NORTHPORT, MICH. — The Buick Cascada convertible delivers the freedom of open-air motoring through a driving experience with unexpected luxuries such as UV-reflective leather-appointed seats and a quiet, triple-insulated top. The Cascada’s attainable luxury will now include the reward of a uniquely bold style statement with an all-new Sport Touring edition.

In the 2017 Buick Cascada Sport Touring, customers will have the chance to make an even more stylish statement with a unique paint color, new wheel design, and other custom content that enhances the Cascada’s balanced proportions.

Road-trippers participating in the fifth annual Mille Mitten rally got a first look at the Cascada ST this past weekend on a 1,000-mile drive through the forests and lakefronts of northern Michigan. The Cascada was designed with road rally-like adventures and road trips in mind, and its convertible top retracts in 17 seconds at speeds up to 31 miles per hour so customers can breathe in every second of sunshine and scenery.

The 2017 Cascada ST is only available in True Blue Metallic, a paint color not offered on other Cascada models. The unique paint is complemented by a black cloth top that includes three layers of fabric structure for signature Buick quietness and insulation. Five-spoke, 20-inch wheels are new for the Cascada ST, as are Black Magic interior trim components, sport pedals and a flat-bottom sport steering wheel.

When it arrives at dealers this fall, the Cascada Sport Touring will be priced at $37,885 including destination. Priced and packaged for a simple buying experience, it features all the content offered on other Cascada models.

“The Mille Mitten celebrates the unique combination of features Michigan has to offer, from the deep blue of the Great Lakes to stunning star-filled nights deep in the forest,” said Ben Bator, Mille Mitten founder. “The Cascada is the perfect companion for this memorable experience, and the new Sport Touring builds off the same color palette that makes nature so inspiring.”

Read the entire article at Buick.com!

Do You Know How Your Airbag Really Works?

August 15, 2016Parts and AccessoriesOzzie

I just wrote a blog entry about airbag safety and your children. That got me wondering how much you really know about your Buick, or GMC’s airbag itself. We’ve had a few DFW Buicks and GMCs come through our Service Department recently that were in minor fender benders. However they were just “major” enough to deploy the airbag. Consequently, that got me thinking, not just about the rate an airbag deploys, but also deflates.

This is a very interesting video on “How Your New Car’s Airbag works. The airbag has been something that I think that we have started to take for granted. For example, we know that they inflate at an extreme speed, but did you also know they have to deflate almost just as fast?

This is a very informative video. Check it out:

I know when it comes to understanding the airbag all you probably care about is that it works. However, you really should try to learn everything you can about your vehicle. The more you know, the more you can assist Freeman Grapevine with any issues you may be having with your Dallas Fort Worth Buick, or GMC.

Does anyone have an airbag story they can share for all of us who have been lucky enough not to experience it first hand?

Understanding Tire Pressure

August 11, 2016Maintenance and ServiceOzzie

In the past few years of maintaining this blog for Freeman Grapevine, I’m pretty certain I’ve written about deciphering the numbers found on your tire walls, and now I want to touch on another important feature about tires. Tire pressure!

The bottom line is, that regularly checking tire pressure is key to having a safe and well maintained vehicle. How do you know what amount of pressure your tires should have? Every vehicle that has been manufactured in the last twenty years or so has a placard located generally inside the driver’s side door jam that indicates the proper cold tire pressure. The vehicle’s user manual also usually indicates the correct cold tire pressure amount.

Often, individuals fill their tires to the pressure shown on the PSI level of the actual sidewall of the tire itself. This number is usually the maximum pressure allowable for the tire and not what the manufacturer of the vehicle recommends. Tire manufactures print this maximum PSI tire pressure on the sidewall of the tire to show the maximum pressure the tire can hold, but because tires are installed on a wide variety of vehicles, and every vehicle has a different recommended tire pressure, you should go off of your vehicle’s specifications and not the tire’s maximum capacity. It can get a little confusing, so you’re more than welcome to swing by and chat with one of our service guys to find out what exactly your tire pressure should be.

It is important to go off of the tire’s cold psi pressure. A tire “warms” up once being driven, and once a tire warms up, the pressure will increase, but the recommended levels are based off of a cold pressure reading. If your tire pressure is 5 psi below the recommended level at a cold level reading, but then reads at the recommended level after driving to the gas station to fill up the tire because the tire has warmed up, you should still add an additional 5 psi as the pressure will be at the correct amount once the tires cool down again.

Another plus to regularly checking tire pressure is that it helps improve gas mileage. And now that gas prices seems to be on the rise, this is a great way to get the most bang for your gasoline dollar.

There are many maintenance techniques to keep your vehicle performing at its best, and don’t forget to frequently check your tire pressure as this is one of the most important and easiest maintenance activities you can do. If you have any questions just post below or see us here at Freeman Grapevine and one of our guys will show you how to check tire pressure.

Highway Improvements Are A Hassle, But Necessary

August 9, 2016Just for FunOzzie

It’s really easy to complain about traffic. It’s really easy to whine about construction. In fact. it seems like Freeman Grapevine is in the epicenter of construction central. One thing that this Dallas Buick GMC store has to try to keep in mind is that, for all of the inconvenience, our “problems” with traffic and construction are actually because improvements are being made. So that got me thinking, What are some of the GOOD things about improving the safety and conditions of our roads.

Highway safety engineers have been working overtime for years to improve both traffic flow and highway safety. Improving traffic flow contributes to safer roads as well as getting you to your destination more quickly.

Before the Interstate Highway program began very few highways were divided. Roads were one solid strip of asphalt divided only by a line painted down the middle. Learning to pass slower vehicles by moving into and back out of the on-coming lane of traffic was a very important part of driver training.

Short wooden poles, strung together by a single strand of steel cable, were all that separated drivers from the road and a deep ditch or sharp curve. The guardrails and barriers of today weren’t yet invented.

There was much less street and road lighting and some of the light bulbs were always burned out. Halogens and LEDs have been a huge improvement.

One of the big killers in the past was drivers dozing off while driving and drifting into on coming traffic or bridge supports. The addition of median dividers, crushable barricades, and road shoulder grooving has significantly reduced head on collisions.

Highway safety engineers will continue to make improvements, but we shouldn’t take all the improvements we have now for granted. Despite all the traffic, our roads and highways are built to be a lot safer for us than for our parents and grandparents.

Let’s say something good about highway and road development! Freeman Grapevine understands the need for constant highway and driving standards, do you?

Understanding Brake Safety

August 7, 2016Maintenance and ServiceOzzie

Brake System

Although it doesn’t happen often, it can and Freeman Grapevine has seen it: Cars involved in accidents because of brake failures. How do you know that your brakes a failing? If you’ve gone a while between tune ups you are going to want to have your brakes checked ASAP. One leading indicator that your brakes are failing is the feel of the brake pedal. If your car pulls left or right when braking, or if the front end shakes, then these are definite signs of excessive brake wear. If the brake pedal in your car begins to feel spongy, it could be a sign that air has entered the brake system, or fluid is low. Do not ignore these warning signs!

A spongy brake pedal, together with a decrease in brake fluid, may also indicate brake wear, so when you check the brake fluid reservoir, make sure it’s topped off. If not, then brake fluid is most probably remaining at the wheel to fill the space caused by wear. Many vehicles purchased from car auctions experience this kind of problems because of being stocked for a long time in car garage or showrooms. Simply replacing the brake fluid and letting it flow throughout the wheel by pumping the brake pedal a few times before your run the used automobile helps in ensuring safety for you and your passengers.

Many new cars have ABS (Automatic Braking System) which initiates a rapid- fire pumping sequence to the brakes, keeping the car straight during sudden or hard braking. If the ABS light illuminates on your instrument panel, then it’s likely that the wheel sensors have detected excessive build-up of metal particles from the brake system. Most cars are designed to shut down the ABS when excessive particle build-up occurs, but a shutdown ABS does not prevent you from stopping, it just means that the ABS feature isn’t working.

Wheels should be pulled and brakes checked once a year by an experienced brake specialist. At Freeman Grapevine, we have experts who can fit your new car with high quality, high performance braking components. Whether it’s used car or not.

Also keep in mind, brake fluid absorbs moisture in the system and becomes acidic after about two years. Check your owner’s manual or call us to see what kind of brakes your car has and how they are adjusted. .

Remember, how and where you drive will greatly influence when your brakes must be replaced. If you have any questions about your brakes, come and Freeman Grapevine.

An Amazing Idea For The Snowbound

August 7, 2016GMCOzzie

Now this might not be something we need here in the Dallas/Fort Worth area as we don’t get very much snow at all. In fact, being almost summer now, this might seem like an oddly timed post. However, the advancement of modern automotive technology is always inspiring to all of us at Freeman Grapevine. Besides, who knows, this awesome new invention might become available in the future and you can say you saw it here first.

Introducing the Track N Go by AD Boivin. Source Autoblog.com

This creative solution for foul-weather-mastery comes from AD Boivin, a company better known for marketing products for powersports vehicles like motocross bikes and snowmobiles. The company says that this is the world’s first wheel-driven track system, and judging by the video available after the jump, it appears quite capable when fitted to what looks like stock GMC Sierra 4×4 pickups blasting through the snow.

Now there is no word on when, or even if the Track N Go will be released for the general consumer public to enjoy, but if it does, you know that this type of advancement will be welcomed by those where large amounts of snow can be an issue. For those of use here in Texas, unless we own a place in Colorado, we’ll probably never have a use for the Track N Go. However, knowing that it exists is cool enough. It’s like they looked into my childhood imagination and came up with an extremely useful tool that can virtually eliminate being stranded by snow.

Have you come across any other interesting automotive inventions? I think I saw an article about a new flying car that I have to read. Of course, Freeman Grapevine never knows what we’ll see next on our lot…a boat/car? That would come in really handy on Lake Grapevine.

Do Road Side Information Signs Really Help Find The Missing?

August 5, 2016UncategorizedOzzie

I recently saw a sign on 360 that said, “Missing Elderly, White GMC truck, License BS5 FTGX”. I instantly started scanning the cars around me simply out of curiosity. Then I thought to myself, “I wonder if this type of information on an electronic road sign really works”? I guess it does to an extent because it prompted me to look at the cars in my vicinity. However, 5 minutes down the road it was getting harder to remember what I read. Had I continued further down the road, I probably would have encountered another sign, and would probably have done the same simple search of my surroundings.

I guess I’m answering my question here. Do road side signs work? From my perspective, the answer is “Yes, they do work” to the extent of making drivers survey their immediate surroundings. Subsequently and hopefully, every driver in front and behind me did the same thing.

Smarter Highways Ahead Here in the Dallas Fort Worth area, we have electronic roadside signs on almost every highway and loop and my question is, “Do they work in regards to finding missing persons”?

Do you do notice the signs?

Did you scan the area looking for the vehicle mentioned?

Was that person found as a result of an attentive driver?

I’m curious to know if other driver’s are as attentive as I apparently am in regards to noticing roadside information. I’m also really curious if anyone has been found as a direct result of a electronic roadside sign.

I can say without a doubt that me and everyone else at Freeman Grapevine would like to see more information sign systems in place in the future. The more signs that are up just means that many more drivers will notice them…or will they? Leave me a comment below and tell me what you think.

Do You Have Driving Anxiety?

August 1, 2016Tips and HIntsOzzie

Driving associated fears aren’t uncommon. We all have had those moments where driving can make us anxious. In fact, Freeman Grapevine wants to let you know that driving anxiety is a lot more common than you may think. It happens to many drivers daily. Many of whom may not understand that driving related fears are indeed common and can be controlled, even eliminated.

Check out this video. It’s really interesting and not only explains what causes driving anxiety, but also how to deal with it.

Remember, there is a difference between taking action and simple reaction when you are driving. If you are an anxious driver, you are going to want to have a plan, or strategy in regards to conquering some of your irrational fears. That’s taking action in regards to a particular driving situation, and not reacting to an anxious driving scenario. Believe me, there are a lot of irrational fears out there such as driving next to a barrier, or going over a particularly high overpass, or bridge.

Do you have driving anxiety? If so, how do you deal with it? Do you have a special routine? Do you avoid driving all together? Freeman Grapevine is interested to hear your story and how you conquer your own driving fears. Leave a comment below and know that, when it comes to driving anxiety, you aren’t alone.

News Wire: Buick Avista Named Concept Car of the Year and Most Significant Concept of 2016

July 31, 2016BuickOzzie

(This article originally appeared on Buick.com)

General Motors Vice President Global Design Michael Simcoe accepts two 2016 North American Concept Vehicle Awards for the Buick Avista concept Sunday, July 31, 2016 at the Concours d’Elegance of America in Plymouth, Michigan. The IMAC awards are for the 2016 Most Significant Concept Vehicle of the Year and for the 2016 Concept Car of the Year. (Photo by Steve Fecht for Buick) © General Motors.

Judges praise intuitive design and futuristic interior

DETROIT — The Buick Avista received the 2016 Concept Car of the Year and the Most Significant Concept Vehicle of the Year at the 2016 North American Concept Vehicle Awards ceremony today at the Concours d’Elegance of America in Plymouth, Michigan.

The awards recognize the vehicle that makes the strongest impact in terms of automotive design, engineering and market responsiveness. The Avista is both an indicator of Buick’s future design direction and a celebration of its deep design heritage.

“The design process of the Avista brought the team together to unite around a future direction for the brand and the great teamwork and enthusiasm it generated,” said Bryan Nesbitt, executive director, Buick Global Design. “While looking to the future, we also wanted to honor the rich heritage of Buick by integrating timeless design cues in this beautifully progressive concept vehicle.”

Judges praised the Avista’s futuristic interior and intuitive design, with Detroit Free Press auto critic Mark Phelan saying the vehicle “cements Buick’s surprising status as one of the auto industry’s most intriguing brands.”

The Avista’s cabin is defined by gliding, seamless lines melded with leather and aluminum details. The latest connected technology is accessible through touchscreens on the instrument panel and the floating center console, which extends between the rear seats. The exterior also boasts titanium and carbon-fiber accents that make for optimal durability. The sleek design reinforces the balance of beauty and precision during the driving experience.

Read the entire article on Buick.com!