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Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC: Sharing the Road With 18 Wheelers

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Have you ever put any thought into understanding what it’s like to drive an 18 wheeler on a crowded and hectic roadway? Your Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC dealer, Freeman Grapevine wants to remind you that, even though you share the road with truck drivers and their cargo, you have more maneuverability and a clearer line of sight which makes you the game changer if there is a sudden reduction in speed or lane change. Chances are YOU will be the one that is either rapidly approaching a rig in your lane, or changing lanes to get around one.

I can say that most big rig drivers follow the rules of the road fairly well, if they don’t they could incur sever penalties, or fines which can affect their ability to be hired by the companies they truck for. So, you see, most of the time when you are frustrated with a slower moving rig, it’s not his fault, he’s going the speed limit; it’s you who needs to drive less aggressively.

To really appreciate the difficulty in driving an 18 wheeler, you have to understand their physics. They have wide turning radius. They have large blind spots. That  also take 800 feet to stop going 55 mph, whereas you would take only 400 feet. In other words, pass them quickly, don’t follow close behind, don’t cut them off when you make lane changes, etc. Common sense may not be so common for many drivers.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-si8D6Uel-Q

The bottom line is give these guys a break. Slow down. You will make their driving task much easier and less stressful, and at the same time you will be less aggressive and less of a nuisance. It’s just a matter of respect. Even if you’ve been behind the wheel since you were 16, there are still those of you out there that could stand to learn to share the road with others. Freeman Grapevine just want you understand that courtesy is contagious, avoid problems, don’t be a part of them.

Dallas Fort Worth GMC Dealer: GMC Unveils The Sierra All-Terrain HD

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This amazing truck was unveiled in 2011 and all of use here at your Dallas Fort Worth GMC dealer eagerly await it’s release from concept to production.

Unlike many concept vehicles that never see the light of day other than to impress at auto shows, the Sierra All-Terrain HD is built on the already existing Sierra truck platform. That means it’s release for general sales is very promising. It has received excellent reviews at the show last year and turned lots of heads. Cross your fingers, I know all of you Dallas GMC fans would love to take this bad boy for a spin…off road, of course.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Azr6zetLA9g&feature=topics

Designed to be one of the most capable trucks ever created, the All Terrain is a Sierra HD on steroids. Compared to the standard model, the concept is shorter, wider, and taller. Furthermore, it has been equipped custom control arms, Fox off-road shocks, front/rear jounce shocks, automatic locking differentials, and a beefy front stabilizer bar .

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In terms of styling, the concept features a massive grille, bulging fender flares, LED lights and 20-inch aluminum wheels with 35-inch BFGoodrich KM2 tires. The bed has a composite liner and two compartments which house an air compressor and a 110-volt outlet.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxIG_1vaZ-c&feature=fvwrel
The interior has two-tone leather seats, satin chrome trim, and a next-generation navigation system with an 80 GB hard drive.

Power is provided by a Duramax 6.6-liter V8 diesel engine with 397 hp and provided 765 lb-ft of torque. Are you drooling yet? We are! You can bet the moment this truck is release, Freeman Grapevine will be writing a full review of this impressive concept truck.

Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC Dealer: Saving Gas On Road Trips

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Summer is here, school is out and that means: It’s Road Trip Time! Here at your Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC dealer, Freeman Grapevine, we love our road trips. Of course when you sell some of the best cars on the road, it’s hard not to.

If you are planning on taking a road trip this year, be it a family reunion, or just visiting parts of the US, we know that that price of gas is the first thing you are going to consider before you even make the decision on where you should take your road trip. In fact, in many cases the price of gas is going to dictate where you go and how long you are going to be gone. Factor in all of the food and lodging you may be spending cash on, and all of a sudden, that fuel tank seems like it is getting smaller.

So how do you save on gas and still go where you want? Check out this great list of gas-saving road trip tips I found via CNN :

Pick the right tool for the job: If you have more than one car to choose from, don’t just try to squeeze everyone into the one – or two – that go the furthest on a gallon. First of all, if you think you’re saving gas by splitting the crew into two small cars rather than taking the big SUV, you’re not. Remember, two small cars will burn gas twice as fast as one, and that’s probably faster than your SUV.

Also, packing too much into a small car can lead to the use of roof-top racks and bins, which seriously undermine fuel economy. (More on that in a moment.) Besides that, jamming everyone and everything into a too-small car can be just plain uncomfortable on a long trip and the point is to have fun, not start fights.

Pack light and smooth: Extra weight cuts fuel economy, so try to pack as light as possible. The savings are slight, but every extra 100 pounds cuts your fuel economy by about 2%, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

More importantly, don’t pack more than you can fit inside the vehicle. This is especially important. Packing stuff on roof-top bins and racks cut fuel economy by about 21%, according to tests done by Edmunds.com.saving gas on roadtrip, Buick Dealer, buying a car easy, buying used car, car brakes, cars, dallas Buick Dealer, Dallas GMC Dealer, dallas GMC Truck, dallas new car, dallas Used Car, dallas Used Truck, dallas Used Truck. New Car, DFW Buick, dfw car dealer, dfw gmc, dogs, engine dissection, Fort Worth Buick, fort worth gmc, Fort Worth Truck Dealer, Ft. Worth Buick, Ft. Worth car dealer, ft. worth gmc, GMC Dealer, GMC Truck, professional grade, used buick, Used Car, used gmc, Used Truck

And those roof-top racks with crossbars, even if left empty, also cut fuel efficiency. Take them off. Leaving them in place can reduce fuel economy by about 1%, according to Edmunds.com.

Use your cruise control: There are times when cruise control isn’t appropriate, such as in areas with heavy traffic or in bad weather. Also, using cruise control on hilly roads can actually use more fuel, not less, as your vehicle struggles to maintain speed while driving up hills.

But if you’re driving over relatively even terrain, cruise control can prevent unnecessary speed changes which waste gas. In tests by Edmunds.com, using cruise control at 77 mph improved fuel economy by 10 to 15 percent.

As an added benefit, cruise control prevents speed creep – the tendency to gradually increase your speed the longer you drive – and that can keep you from getting a costly speeding ticket.

Stay to the right: Even if you’re driving at a constant speed, going too fast wastes gas. Within the range of normal highway speeds, each 10 miles per hour faster will reduce your fuel economy by 15% to 20%, according to tests by Consumer Reports and Edmunds.com.

Going too slow isn’t safe either but at least try to stay out of the left lane where the traffic is fastest, unless you really need to pass someone. Again, this can also keep you from getting a ticket.

Calm down in town: When not in highway traffic, take it easy on the pedals. Aggressive acceleration and hard braking waste an amazing amount of fuel. In testing by Edmunds.com, aggressive driving cut fuel economy by about 25%.

Don’t worry about A/C: It’s debatable whether it uses more fuel to drive with your windows down on the highway or with the windows rolled up and the air conditioner on. In tests by Consumer Reports and Edmunds.com, it depended on the vehicle and speed. At 65 mph, using the air conditioner was slightly more draining. At higher speeds, it probably wouldn’t be.saving gas on roadtrip, Buick Dealer, buying a car easy, buying used car, car brakes, cars, dallas Buick Dealer, Dallas GMC Dealer, dallas GMC Truck, dallas new car, dallas Used Car, dallas Used Truck, dallas Used Truck. New Car, DFW Buick, dfw car dealer, dfw gmc, dogs, engine dissection, Fort Worth Buick, fort worth gmc, Fort Worth Truck Dealer, Ft. Worth Buick, Ft. Worth car dealer, ft. worth gmc, GMC Dealer, GMC Truck, professional grade, used buick, Used Car, used gmc, Used Truck

Avoid getting stuck: This is something you’ll probably want to do anyway, but really try not to get stuck in traffic. Idling and slow driving wastes a lot of fuel, so plan to drive at times when few others are. Also, plan alternate routes ahead of time in case you hit unexpected snarls. Driving a little bit out of your way can use less fuel than crawling down the straight-and-narrow.

GPS satellite navigation tools can help by making it easier to change routes on the fly. Some newer models even include traffic warnings on the screen so you can see what you’re getting into.

Little things: For reasons of both safety and fuel economy, you should give your car a good once-over before setting off. Make sure tire pressure is set correctly, your filters are clear, your fluids are fresh and the engine is running well. These things will make only a slight difference to your fuel economy, but you should do them anyway to prevent wasting time waiting for a tow truck.

Make the most out of each road trip and who knows, with all of your savings you might be able to afford just one more road trip! But the main thing to do on a road trip is to have fun!

And now there are even apps that can help you watch your gas usage too. Check out FuelFrog which tracks your fuel usage once you provide them with the information for distance traveled, the price paid and how much fuel was used.  

Before you hit the road, we always recommend checking that your fluids are good, especially the oil and the coolant levels. If you need to get your vehicle checked out before you hit the road, swing by Freeman Grapevine for a complete check up.

Have a nice trip!

Dallas Buick GMC Dealer: Summer Heat, Your Car And Your Pet

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I don’t like the fact that I have to write articles like this, but every year it seems that Texas drivers and pet owners need a reminder. It pains me…strike that…INFURIATES me when I see dogs left in cars by themselves. First off, your dog’s temperature is already roughly 100.5°F to 102.5°F. In order for them to diffuse heat, they have to pant and cool the blood flow through their tongue since they have no sweat glands and do not perspire. As if that isn’t enough, they are wearing a fur coat!

What many people don’t know is that even on moderately cool days, the temperature inside a car can be fatal. Even when its only 70 degrees outside, in just one hour, the temperature inside a car can soar to over 110 degrees, and cracking the windows doesn’t really help.

If you think that your four-legged friends would be “OK” for a few minutes as you ran in to a store, think again. In fact, don’t think about it. Go ahead and sit in your car with no air running for 10 min. and then see if you feel the same way. I’ll even let you crack the windows. Sweat much?

No one is immune to catching a case of “the stupids”. You may think it will only take a few minutes to grab those groceries or chat with a friend, but that few minutes can translate into life threatening heat exhaustion for your best friend:

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Symptoms of Heat Stroke

If your dog has heat stroke he will progressively show these signs:

  • Excessive panting;
  • Pale gums, bright red tongue;
  • Disorientation and your dog doesn’t respond to his name;
  • Increased heart rate;
  • Thick saliva;
  • Vomiting;
  • Breathing difficulties;
  • Collapse;
  • Coma;
  • Death

Dogs Prone to Heatstroke

  • Young puppies and older dogs;
  • Overweight dogs;
  • Dogs with an existing illness or recovering from illness or surgery;
  • Dog breeds with short faces – Bulldogs, Shar pei, Boston Terriers, Pugs – have narrow respiratory systems that easily get overwhelmed in hot and humid conditions;
  • Double coated breeds such as Chow Chows; and
  • Dogs bred for cold climates such as Malamutes, Huskies and Newfoundlands.

If you suspect that your dog may have heat stroke:

Make sure your dog is out of the sun and has access to water but don’t let him drink too much.

Cool him with cool/tepid water – either immerse him in a bath, gently hose him or apply cool towels to his body. Importantly do not leave wet towels on your dog and do not use very cold water – both prevent your dog form being able to cool himself.

Move your dog to an area where there is cool air circulating, such as an air conditioned room or stand him in front of a fan. The cool circulating air will help your dog to reduce his temperature.

Remember, your dog can’t tell you that he is uncomfortable, so you’ll have to use common sense. Under no circumstance should you leave your dogs unattended in a car. Regardless of how hot you believe you car will “actually” get, you are going to be wrong. Then you will be left with a tragedy that is not only emotional, but quite possibly legal as well. You will get fined for endangering an animal by leaving them in a hot car, or could even be arrested for animal cruelty if they die.

Keep your pups safe, keep them out of your hot vehicles. If you have any comments, questions or advice, leave a comment below or see me at Freeman Grapevine!