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Fort Worth & Dallas: FIX YOUR POTHOLES

Hey, it happens even to the best of us here at Freeman Grapevine. You’re driving along, focusing on the road ahead, and you might not even notice the huge hole in the road…until you drive over it.

Bam, you just hit a pothole. It might have sloshed your coffee, or made your CD player skip. You quietly curse the pothole and you might even shake an angry fist in the rear view mirror, but then you just go about your day. What you might not know is, driving over potholes can cause serious damage to your car.

First off, what exactly is a pothole? Well, as roadways freeze and thaw, some of the water erodes the dirt beneath the surface of the road. Then the asphalt will start to crack and chip away. This leads to small holes in the road, and they will eventually turn into potholes.

How can potholes affect you? Well, you could notice immediate damage via a flat tire or long-term damage could start to affect your alignment and steering. Pothole damage accounts for about 500,000 insurance claims every year, so you should look for any signs of damage as soon as possible.

If you have aluminum rims, they might become bent or warped if you hit too many potholes, and they just can’t withstand the impact that older, steel rims can. If you hit a deep pothole, it could chip away some of the rust proofing on the undercarriage of you car, and you will want to get that repaired as quickly as possible.

The biggest problem will have an effect on your steering and shocks. If you notice that your car starts to pull in one direction or the other when you let go of the steering wheel, your alignment is probably off. If you notice that your drive is becoming a little rougher and you can feel every little bump in the road, those potholes might have messed up your shock springs.

Let me know if you have any funny or nightmarish pothole stories, and I might include them in a future blog post! Of course, if that pothole has left you with any of the issues I mentioned above, then feel free to bring it into Freeman Grapevine so we can take a look.

Dallas GMC Dealer gives hints on the “Right” way to buy as used car

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I’ve always wanted to do a “How To” list. If there’s one thing I know about, it’s buying and selling new and used cars. So here it is, the insider’s secret on “How-To-Buy a Used Car”

The one thing to always remember is that it won’t be a bargain if you have to spend a ton of money on repairs, so learn how to spot a lemon (buying from a reputable Dallas GMC dealer is a great first step). However, you’ll still want to follow this list regardless of who you buy from.
To complete this How-To you will need:

Time

Patience

Diligence

Step 1: Figure out how much you can spend

Figure out how much you can spend—either in cash or in monthly loan payments. Tip: Don’t forget about the costs of owning a car, like insurance and maintenance.

Step 2: Research models

Research the models you’re considering. Car information websites will help you compare both the performance and long-term reliability of various cars.

Step 3: Locate car

Locate a car that you want to check out. Search used car lots, classified ads, car dealerships that sell pre-owned vehicles, and special used-car publications and websites.

Step 4: Ask seller about condition

 

Ask the seller about the general condition of the car, including mileage, extra features, and whether service records are available.

Tip: If you’re buying the car from an individual, ask if he or she is the original owner and the reason for selling the car.

Step 5: Inspect & test-drive

Inspect the car and test-drive it. You want to make sure that it performs well, runs smoothly, and feels right.

Tip: Don’t let the seller rush you through the test-drive.

Step 6: Find out if warranty included

Find out if the car comes with a warranty.

Tip: If a warranty isn’t included, have a mechanic inspect the car for you. Let the seller know that the sale is contingent on a professional inspection.

Step 7: Get vehicle history report

Get a vehicle history report from one of the companies that sell them online. See if the vehicle has been damaged in an accident or flood—and if the odometer may have been rolled back.

Step 8: Find out worth

Find out how much the car is worth by consulting online used car guides or visiting the library.

Step 9: Negotiate

Negotiate. Using the market value of the car as a guide, make an offer on the low end. Don’t be afraid to walk away.

Tip: If you’re trading in your car or having a dealership arrange financing, negotiate the price of the car before you discuss trade-in value and financing to assure you get the best deal.

Step 10: Close the deal

Close the deal. If you’re buying from a private seller, make sure you get the title. Register your new vehicle with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.

Tip: If you’re buying from a dealership, they will handle most of the paperwork for you. Just make sure you read any contracts or paperwork carefully.

Step 11: Drive home

Drive home in your snappy new ride.

As always, if you have any comments, suggestions or questions leave me a note, or if you’re in Grapevine, just swing by Freeman Grapevine.

Dallas GMC Dealer’s take on surviving an accident Financially

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Have you been in an accident in your new car recently, are you suffering pain as a result of your car accident and it wasn’t your fault? Does this sound like an advertisement for an ambulance chasing lawyer? Well, regardless if it does or not, the fact of the matter is that this Dallas GMC Dealer believes you may have a good compensation claim against the other party.

Now, I hope you are never in a car accident accident and if you were I really hope that you don’t have to go through the stressful experience of a lawsuit of some kind. However, this is real life and things happen…here’s what to do if they do.

Many compensation personal injury solicitors now work on a No Win No Fee basis meaning you don’t need to pay them a penny for their services. If you win your case you will not have to pay their legal costs and the fees and cost for helped you will be collected from the other party. If you lose your case , it is very likely to get nothing, that’s why they mostly take cases on they believe will win.

In regards to insurance, any medical costs from the hospital, health care and also any medicine you’ve had to purchase can probably be claimed. If any other costs have arose from this car accident then make it clear when you speak to your lawyer, they will need to know the full facts of the accident as well as the pain and costs you have or are suffering from.

Remember, every car accident compensation claim is completely different from any other. It depends on the injuries that were caused, any costs or medical treatment, time off work needed and much more. As well as the time it took them to close the case. It could take a few months or a couple of years, so just keep this in mind when choosing your compensation claim lawyer, get a good one.

Some good questions to ask are :

• Will I get the ‘whole’ of my compensation? If yes… continue
• Will I need to pay a fee? If no… continue
• Do you recover costs from the other side (i.e. people at fault)? If yes… continue
• Would I need to pay anyone any money once my claim is settled? If no… proceed.

Again,  Freeman Grapevine hopes you never have to experience any of the above. However, if you do, know that you have recourse to file claim against the offending party. Be wise in your choice of lawyer, he should have your best interest in mind…not his.

New Dallas Buick Dealer approves of co-signing

Now this article isn’t for everyone. It’s for a lot of you, but not all of you. It for those people who ar looking to buy a new car, possibly their very first even. It’s for the people who have had a blemish or two on their credit history. Hey who hasn’t, really. This is just a way you could go if you really needed  a new car. Here’s a hint, check out your friendly Dallas Buck Gmc Dealer in Grapevine. (oh, come one you know I have to do those right? Those shameless Plugs? Something about SEO, or something)

BUT I DIGRESS!!! No really, this is some good advice.

Ahem! “The Co-signer”. The co-signer is the person who will accept the responsibility for your car payment, should you not be able to pay your monthly note for what ever reason. Now if you are honest, have a steady job and have lived at the same address for more than two years, then getting that next new car might be easier than you thought.

Let’s get to it, I’ll try to make this as interesting as possible, I swear.

Do you know how important a co-signer can be in obtaining a new or used car in Dallas? Do you know what their obligation as co-signer is? This is important to know for any potential new car buyer who is looking to have somebody co-sign their contract, or for somebody who is being sought after to co-sign a contract. Here’s the bottom line, the creditor for your car loan may allow you to have a co-signer on the finance contract with you in order to make up for any shortfalls in your credit history. This is a good thing because it opens up criteria for issuing the loan.

Don’t abuse the trust and good will of your co-signer by purchasing a vehicle you know you won’t be able to afford. A co-signer has equal responsibility for the contract, not some, not most, but equal responsibility. If you skip on your payments, your co-signer is legally obligated to cover your debt. Further, this contract and any missed payments will show up on the co-signers credit history. Therefore, if being asked to be a co-signer, make sure that this is somebody that you have a large amount of trust and confidence in, because it could have dire effects on you if this person cannot hold up their end of the loan.

Co-signee! Don’t mess it up! You are holding the good faith of your co-signer in your hands. Cover your debt so your co-signer doesn’t have to go through the process of suing you…good advice ; ) In the meantime, trust-worthy co-signee, enjoy your new Buick! (COME ON! I sell Buicks, man!)

If you have some credit issues, a co-signer could be the key to your new car. Check out this video for some more good advice.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vtNGQGbTug

Dallas Buick Dealer and the New Buick LaCrosse Concept

Buick Dallas, GMC Dallas, Texas Buick, Texas GMC, Texas GMC Dealer, Used Car Dealers Dallas, Used Cars Dallas, used cars fort worthAs a Dallas Buick Dealer, I know that when some people think of Buick, they don’t necessarily think of the word “luxury”. “Comfortable, smooth, well-built” are the words I hear the most to describe the Buick LaCrosse.

Well, it was only a matter of time before we started to see more refined sensibilities come out of the Buick design factory, and if this new Buick LaCrosse Concept give any hint of what to come from Buick, I think we are all in for some really nice surprises.Buick Dallas, GMC Dallas, Texas Buick, Texas GMC, Texas GMC Dealer, Used Car Dealers Dallas, Used Cars Dallas, used cars fort worth

Some upgraded luxury touches include  a palette of trims including cabernet red, dark cocoa brown and caramel chocochino; French-stitched premium leather seats; suede on the headliner; and a red exterior with tinted chrome accents.

“Every surface in the interior of the LaCrosse GL has been crafted with the knowledge that Buick customers enjoy the finer things in life, but don’t need to flaunt it,” Magdalena Kokoszynska, creative designer on LaCrosse GL said.

Buick Dallas, GMC Dallas, Texas Buick, Texas GMC, Texas GMC Dealer, Used Car Dealers Dallas, Used Cars Dallas, used cars fort worthThe exterior of the Buick LaCrosse GL Concept is colored in red with brushed and tinted chrome accents on the grille, door handles and deck lid, as well as around the windows, taillights and headlights.

“The LaCrosse GL concept expresses Buick’s distinctly human kind of luxury – one that is as warmly inviting as it is elegant and refined,” said David Lyon, executive director of design. “The design cues that already distinguish the production LaCrosse – such as the premium leather-upholstered seats, ice blue ambient lighting and soft touch surfaces – are amplified in the GL and serve as inspiration for future Buick models.”

Now of course we’ll see some type of price restructuring, but as of now, since there is no word of a production model yet, I guess Buick is just testing the market to see what type of reaction the LaCrosse GL receives before making any decisions.

If you are interested in seeing the current production model of the Buick LaCrosse, don’t hesitate to swing by your Dallas Buick Dealer and take a test drive. You’ll be glad that you did.

Feel free to leave any questions or comments below.

Dallas Buick Dealer Invites you to see “Compact Luxury”

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From the get-go, it’s clear that GM wanted the Verano to be a clean break from its checkered past of rebadging Chevy compacts. In sharp contrast from Buick’s last compact, the Skylark which died out in 1998, the Verano hides its Chevrolet roots well from the outside. With only a subtle “hockey stick” character line betraying its Opel roots, the Verano is neither a rebadged Euro-market sedan (like the Regal) nor a “pure” Buick design like the LaCrosse. But it does split the difference between the two designs, marrying a subtle design with a few discrete Buick cues like the hood-mounted ventiports. The overall impression is of a clean, classy car that is, if anything, possibly a bit too substantial and anonymous… which, upon further reflection, makes it quite Buick-like.

buick verano, GMC Dallas, Buick Dallas, Used Cars Dallas, Texas GMC, Used Cars Fort Worth, Used Car Dealers Dallas, Texas Buick, Texas GMC DealerInside, GM’s newfound parts-bin savvy takes center stage: just as the Regal was rebadged from a different market, the Verano’s interior is borrowed but not a duplicate. The seats, which are some of the best available in the compact class, are the huge, well-bolstered thrones from the LaCrosse.

So, if you were wonder what “Compact Luxury” looks and feels like, stop by your Dallas Buick Dealership, Freeman Grapevine and take one for a spin yourself!

Ever Think About Renting Out Your Car? GM and OnStar Think It’s A Great Idea Too!

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There are tons of things that people seem to rent out, from houses to appliances, to computers, to baby furniture, but your personal Dallas car is not one that comes up often. Of course there are car rental agencies, but these are agencies, not just “Regular Joes” renting things out.  However, renting out your car is not a bad idea, provided that you either don’t need it all the time, or you have multiple means of transportation to make it happen.

If renting your car out is something that interests you, then it could be done easily if you own a GM vehicle with OnStar, like a Buick or Fort Worth GMC. Incidentally, you can find at Freeman Grapevine, and it’s easy because GM has just launched a new program that encourage just that.

Recently GM has partnered with RelayRides, which is a peer-to-peer carsharing opportunity which helps peers share their cars and make some cash…and who wouldn’t want too make some extra cash?!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s4sIjabalA

The program lets the owner of the vehicle set the rates and availability of their vehicle to be rented. By going through RelayRides, the owner of the GM vehicle has the comfort in knowing that there is a $1million insurance policy that makes the transaction a safe and convenient one.

How does this work exactly?  By using the OnStar system! A RelayRides borrower would need a smartphone, download an app and then use it to control their borrowed vehicle.  But there’s a catch. The program with RelayRides and GM won’t be available until 2012. However, we are very curious to see how this new venture will go. Would you sign up your GMC Fort Worth? Or what about your Buick?  We’d love to hear from so post your thoughts on this concept below or stop by and chat with us at Freeman Grapevine!

A New Navigation System That Offers Dallas Cars More Than Just Directions

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I feel like I’ve hit the jackpot when I find an accessory that can do more than just one thing.  And if it’s got a touch screen then that is even better.  Recently GMC Fort Worth has just come out with a jackpot when it comes to navigation systems.

I can remember just a few years ago when the TomTom was all the rage. And it also came with a pretty hefty price tag too. But now, the TomTom can’t touch what is going to be available in the new 2012 GMC Terrain.

The new 2012 GMC Terrain will have the option to come with a fantastic Color Touch Navigation System which includes a radio system, Sirius, maps, hands-free phone capabilities, directions, photos, traffic, weather and more.

Check out this video for an inside look at the new Color Touch Navigation System:

httpv://youtu.be/x45q1PCjc20

The Color Touch System will also have a SD card reader that allows all who get to ride in this fantastic vehicle the chance to view pictures from smartphones and cameras. Of course for safety reasons, you can only do this when you’re parked.  So, say you just got back from a great birthday party with friends where of course you used your camera. No more waiting to get home to view them on a larger screen. You can do it in your Terrain!

And you bet the Color Touch Radio System is loaded with options and has hook ups like USB and auxiliary inputs for MP3 players and iPods, plus the standard AM/FM/CD.

With voice command, you can tell the navigation system what to do and still keep your attention on the road.

“Terrain’s Color Touch Navigation System is practical, purposeful technology with a high-tech look and feel at an economical price point compared to competing systems,” said Dave Bojanowski, GM navigation systems engineer. “Anyone familiar with smartphones or tablet computers will find its 7-inch color touch-screen and large app icons intuitive and easy to use.”

Come check it out in person at Freeman Grapevine and see if the new 2012 GMC Terrain is the perfect fit for you.

The Time for Used Cars DFW is Now!

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There’s a right time for just about everything, right? Like the right time to get married. The right time to buy a house. The right time to plant a garden. You get my point. And right now it’s the right time to buy a used car at Freeman Grapevine and here’s why:

  • you have an old car that costs more to repair than it’s worth
  • it would make the best present ever
  • you’ve had a lifestyle change
  • there are tons of vehicles available
  • you can get a smokin’ deal

These are truly some things to really think about. If your car has become unreliable and you seem to always be taking it in to get fixed then now is a great time to buy a used car here at Freeman Grapevine. Not only is your car taking up a lot of your time being fixed every other week, but it can also be unsafe.  You should also take a look at the amount of money you’re spending on fixing it compared to the amount it’s currently worth today. You don’t want to be throwing money down the drain. Sure you may have an attachment to your current car, but believe me, when you find the perfect used car at Freeman Grapevine you won’t even look back.

With the holiday seasons coming up, you may want to consider getting one of our great used cars as a gift. This is the ultimate present.  Imagine how excited the person receiving the gift will be! The look on their face will be priceless. So if you are getting a used car as a gift, we would love for you to capture the moment and send us a picture!!

It may be time to consider buying a used vehicle if you have had a recent lifestyle change. This can be anything from getting a new job that now takes you on a commute to a new teenager that’s ready to drive.

Right now at Freeman Grapevine we have had the best selection of used cars in our history. I don’t know if you recall, but finding a great used car DFW has been a bit tricky the last year and half. They just weren’t as available as they usually were. But we’ve searched high and low and have brought back the best of the best. Come check them out at Freeman Grapevine today. And of course tell all of your friends. This is a great used car time to buy.

In addition to not only having the best inventory right now at Freeman Grapevine, we also have great deals. You don’t have to take my word for it, come on down to Freeman Grapevine see for yourself!

GMC Adds a Front Center Air Bag for Even More Protection, Ft.Worth!

At Freeman Grapevine, we know that you depend on your vehicle for a lot of things namely, transportation. However, another very important feature of a vehicle that is often taken into consideration before buying a new car is safety. Besides providing the some of Fort Worth’s best vehicles, GMC is also highly in tune with providing the most comprehensive safety system in the automotive industry.

Just recently GMC announced that it will offer a new layer of protection during collisions in their crossover vehicles. The new air bag will be centrally-mounted and is said to protect occupants in side-impact crashes better than before.

The new air bag will be located in the space between the driver’s and front passenger’s seats and will deploy during a  side collisions.

Check out the video demonstrating a crash without the airbag and a crash with the air bag:

httpv://youtu.be/2YOEwNPCKH8

Now, after watching that I’ll bet you are hoping that GM will extend it’s new air bag technology to other models.  I know I am. Look closely, that air bag can really save someone from some serious side whip lash.

GMC is leading the pack when it comes to the new air bag as it’s an industry first that is providing protection between drivers and front passengers.

By 2013, GM plans to have this new air bag as standard equipment on it’s crossover vehicles including the Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia. This new air bag is not required by federal safety standards, but I have a feeling that with such a great safety advance, that will change.

Hopefully GMCs in Fort Worth will have the air bag before 2013, but we are keeping our fingers crossed that they will come out sooner than later.

What do you think about this new air bag technology?  We’d love to hear from  you. Just post your comment below or swing by Freeman Grapevine today!