10 Tips for Driving in the Rain
Looks like we will be having some rain for the next few days. It is best to make sure that you are prepared before you hit those slippery roads. Here are some tips we found most helpful in this situation.
In stormy conditions, it is more difficult to see other vehicles, road signs and the road itself. It is critical to make sure you can see and be seen.
- First and foremost: slow down! It takes longer to stop or adjust in wet weather.
- Replace old or brittle wipers.
- Check your tires on a regular basis. Bald tires significantly reduce your traction on wet roadways, and offer little resistance to hydroplaning. When your tires run over water, the water is displaced and it needs somewhere to go quickly. The best place is between the treads of your tires. If your tires are bald, the water has no place to go and you end up riding on a layer of water, like a boat.
- Stay toward the middle lanes - water tends to pool in the outside lanes.
- Stay at least 2 car lengths behind the vehicle driving ahead of you. The roads are more slippery while wet. If you have to make a sudden stop, you will have a less chance of bumping into the back of the cars in front of you.
- Turn your headlights on even in a light rain, or in gloomy, foggy or overcast conditions. Not only do they help you see the road, but they’ll help other drivers see you. If your car has daytime running lights you still should put them on, so vehicles behind you can see you better.
- When driving through a puddle of uncertain depth, go slow. If it’s deeper than the bottom of your doors, turn around and find another route. Deep water can cause serious damage to a modern car’s electrical system.
- Avoid splashing pedestrians.
- Rain or high humidity can quickly cause windows to mist up inside the car. In a car equipped with air conditioning, turn up the heat and direct the airflow to your defrosters with the AC switch engaged
- Never drive beyond the limits of visibility. At night rainy roads become especially treacherous. The glare of oncoming lights, amplified by the rain on your windscreen, can cause temporary loss of visibility while substantially increasing driver fatigue. In rainy conditions pedestrians, livestock, and wildlife are extremely hard to spot and even harder to avoid.
Please keep these tips in mind and drive safely!
Ford’s 100 Hour Year End Sales Event
Where did the year go!? 2012 is coming to a close, and so it is time to plan for the New Year, 2013! Maybe you have a New Year’s resolution to be a little more green? Or you’re just looking to trade up that old ride for something HOT! Take a look at the awesome deals we have for you during our Year End Sales Event from today until 1/2/13! Just picture it - driving into the new year behind the wheel of a brand new 2013 Ford Mustang…
If you have any questions about service, financing a vehicle, or any questions in general please feel free to Contact Us. We would be more than happy to answer any and all of your questions.
Anti Theft Tips
#1: Never park in a dark or secluded area, especially if you plan on leaving your vehicle for a long period of time. Car thieves look for vehicles that appear to be in disuse so either park your car in an attended area or remove the battery to disable it and prevent a quick getaway.
#2: Vehicles that do not have an activated or visible alarm system are easy targets. Many cars come with anti-theft systems but their owners do not have it activated. Simply make sure that you activate your alarm system and thieves will steer clear.
#3: Keep all of your valuables hidden from sight in your vehicle. If you have something of importance in your car such as electronics then either stash them in your trunk or hide them from plain view. They’re easy to steal and easy to wipe clean and sell so just don’t take the risk. Even leaving charging cables can indicate to thieves that you may have something of greater value in your vehicle so hide everything!If you keep these anti-theft tips in mind next time you’re leaving your car somewhere then you can prevent the theft of your vehicle. So stay aware and be smart about it!
How To Wash and Wax Your Car
It may seem counterintuitive, but frequently washing and waxing your vehicle is the best way to maintain its exterior paint finish for years to come, regardless of the constant wiping and rubbing it entails — and only as long as you’re using the right products in the correct order. This article from Edmunds.com helps explain the process of washing and waxing your car to keep that showroom color.
No matter which stage you’re at in the car wash and wax process, it’s always best to have the car parked in a cool, shady place.
If the water you’re using to wash the car is hard — meaning that it contains a lot of minerals — it will leave spots on the paint’s finish when it evaporates. That happens more quickly in hot sunlight. And although many modern, synthetic polymer-based car waxes are sun-friendly since they won’t dry too quickly and become difficult to remove, you’ll expend less effort if you use them on a cool surface. For best results, the car’s surface should be no more than warm to the touch.
Be sure to have a good stock of microfiber towels on hand for washing and drying the car, and for applying and removing car wax and related car-care products.
A microfiber towel is gentler to a car’s finish than a cotton towel or chamois, which could mar the finish, creating slight scratches or ruts that accumulate over time. Microfiber towels require special care, however. Wash them separately from all other laundry and especially not with linty cotton towels. Use hot water and don’t use fabric softener. Run them through at least one additional rinse cycle in the washing machine. Then dry them on a low-heat setting. Finally, stop using them on painted or glass surfaces when they begin to show their age by, for example, shedding lint. Instead, use them for polishing wheels and, later, for polishing stainless exhaust pipe tips.
Keep the car’s paint in showroom condition through a four-step process: washing, cleaning, polishing and waxing.
It’s important to use the correct products at the correct stages. This will prevent unnecessary damage to your car’s finish.
Washing
The most critical of the four steps is washing, which removes the loose contaminants that gradually accumulate on the surface of the finish, creating a gritty residue that could cause scratches in later steps if it’s not removed properly first. This requires a genuine car wash product, such as Meguiar’s Gold Class Car Wash, Mothers California Gold Carnauba Wash and Wax or Turtle Wax ICE Premium Care Car Wash. These products are pH-balanced and formulated to loosen and lift surface contaminants without stripping away waxes.
You should avoid normal dish soap, laundry soap and household cleaners. They are designed to remove and dissolve grease and oil, and they will strip away the waxes and in some instances could damage the car’s finish.
Wash the car thoroughly, working from the top down and utilizing a lamb’s wool or microfiber washing mitt. Professional car detailers prefer these because the nap of the lamb’s wool or microfiber draws the dirt particles away from the paint. Re-dip the mitt in the bucket after each panel of the car is washed. That cleans the mitt and ensures that you’re again working with fresh suds.
For soft convertible tops, dip a soft bristle brush in the suds and work the dirt out of the grain using small, circular strokes. If the top is heavily soiled or stained, use a product designed for convertible tops, such as Meguiar’s Convertible Top Cleaner. These products are pH-balanced to safely lift dirt from cloth and vinyl tops without damaging the stitching.
Dry the car thoroughly with a soft, absorbent waffle-weave microfiber drying towel.
Experts recommend washing a car this way weekly.
For casual touch-ups between washes, you can use a spray-on product called a detailer (such as Meguiar’s Ultimate Quik Detailer, Mothers California Gold Showtime Instant Detailer and Turtle Wax ICE Premium Care Spray Detailer). Detailer products slough off light surface dirt, but don’t offer any protection.
Cleaning the Gunk
Next, inspect the paint, searching for above-the-surface bonded contaminants such as a thin film of tree sap, bird droppings or pollen and below-the-surface defects such as swirls, oxidation caused by the sun’s ultraviolet radiation or etching from acid rain.
Lightly sweep your flat hand along the paint. If it does not feel as smooth as glass, you have above-the-surface contaminants. A clay bar designed for car care (such as the one included in Meguiar’s Smooth Surface Clay Kit or in Mothers California Gold Clay Bar Kit) is mildly abrasive to shear off and remove these contaminants. It should be the first product you use to try to remove them. Rub it over the affected area, kneading and turning it to expose a clean area when necessary.
For below-the-surface defects, you can use a cleaner with mild abrasives (such as Meguiar’s Ultimate Compound or Mothers California Gold Pure Polish). Use a microfiber-covered or foam applicator pad to apply it, using small circular, overlapping strokes. Never use hard pressure.
Cleaning a section of the vehicle at a time, remove the cleaner with a microfiber towel that you’ve folded into fourths. Use one side to break up and wipe away the hazy product, then flip the towel over to a clean side to remove any additional residue. Your paint should now feel smooth and should be free of swirls and defects.
If upon the initial inspection you do not find any defects — either above or below the surface — you can skip the cleaning step altogether and go straight to polishing and waxing. However, experts say that use of a clay bar probably will be necessary every six months.
Polishing
Polishes and glazes add luster but do not protect the finish, so using them is entirely optional, especially since clear-coat finishes are highly resistant to oxidation. Even years-old cars generally retain their shine today.
Nevertheless, products such as Meguiar’s Ultimate Polish and Mothers California Gold Micro-Polishing Glaze can restore the natural oils your paint once had, making the car’s surface more reflective and shiny. Using a polish or glaze once a year may be helpful. Although light-colored paints such as white, silver and tan may not display much change, darker colors such as black, burgundy and navy blue will reflect light like a mirror after proper polishing.
As you did during the cleaning process, apply the polish or glaze by hand, using small circular, overlapping strokes with a microfiber-covered or foam applicator pad on one section of the car at a time, removing the polish with a microfiber towel after the product becomes hazy. Don’t allow the polish to dry completely. Trying to remove dry polish will almost certainly result in scratches to the finish.
Waxing
For protection, you need to apply a car wax, and experts recommend that this be done at least every three months. However, there are varieties of wax that can be used much more frequently. If you’re really obsessive, some can be used as often as every few days.
The newest synthetic polymer-based waxes — such as Meguiar’s Ultimate Wax, Mothers California Gold Synthetic Wax and Turtle Wax ICE Premium Care Liquid Wax — generally provide longer-lasting protection and are easier to use in the sun than older-style carnauba-based waxes such as Meguiar’s Gold Class Carnauba Plus Wax and Mothers California Gold Pure Brazilian Carnauba Wax.
Normally, the newer liquid or paste waxes provide the longest-lasting protection — usually three or four months if the car is kept in a garage and not exposed to a harsh environment.
When applying a liquid or paste wax, you’ll use the same technique: small, circular, overlapping strokes, using a microfiber-covered or foam applicator pad and working one section of the vehicle at a time. As in the other steps, remove the wax with a microfiber towel that you’ve folded into fourths, using one side to break the waxy surface, then flipping the towel over to a clean side to remove any additional residue.
Spray waxes such as Meguiar’s Ultimate Quik Wax, Mothers California Gold Spray Wax and Turtle Wax ICE Premium Care Spray Wax are designed for quick application but generally don’t offer the same long-lasting protection as the liquids or pastes. Experts say that spray waxes should be used as a booster between the quarterly applications of the liquid or paste waxes. Some car-care experts recommend using these spray waxes as often as twice per week. Some say once a month is sufficient.
A Special Caution on Matte Finishes
Except for washing with a car wash product, nothing should be done to or applied to a car covered in a matte paint with a flat finish, such as Mercedes-Benz’s “designo Magno” series. These matte paints also can be cleaned in a brushless automated car wash as long as the machine does not apply any shine agents. And as with a car that sports a glossy finish, it is important to clean bird droppings, tree sap and other surface contaminants from a matte paint finish immediately.
Your Car Wax Mileage May Vary
Despite their suggestions for how often owners should clean and wax, product manufacturers won’t make any firm promises for how long any of their products will actually protect a vehicle.
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Food Truck Frenzy!
Check out some of the food trucks that will be here on Saturday, June 30th, 11am to 4pm! 
Trailer Park Truck
Trailer Park Truck is about great food and good times.Fried food, burgers, waffles, mac n’ cheese 
Maui Wowi
Maui Wowi Hawaiian is proud to serve the most delicious, healthy all-natural smoothies and coffees from the islands of Hawaii.
Kabob Express
Mexican/Mediterranean FusionThe freshest homemade “Mexi-terranean” flavors everyday all throughout the Los Angeles area! 
Del’s Frozen Lemonade Del’s Los Angeles is bringing Rhode Island’s famous Del’s soft frozen Italian fruit ice to southern California. Del’s fruit ice is made from a secret recipe of filtered water, fruit and sugar. This proven recipe consistently produces a high quality, delicious product. 
The Fry Girl
Fried desserts i.e. donuts, apple friesMaking delectable, fun and as ‘healthy as possible’ fried foods at events is what The Fry Girl Inc. is known for throughout Hollywood and surrounding communities. 
Gourmet Genie
The Gourmet Genie’s wholesome Mediterranean fare is halal, kosher and organic, and includes such staples as hummus and couscous but is probably most popular for the gourmet fusion tacos and pita wrap sandwiches.
The Bun Truck The Bun Truck is a gourmet food truck in the Los Angeles-area serving Korean-Mediterranean Fusion. 
On the Lot: 2013 Lincoln MKS
Lincoln MKS Performance: The available EcoBoost® V8 engine combines direct-injection technology and twin turbochargers to provide the performance of a V8 plus the fuel economy of a V6. EcoBoost generates 365 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque (with premium fuel) while delivering an EPA-estimated 17 city/25 hwy/20 combined mpg, AWD.
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Lincoln MKS Design: Intelligent Access with push-button start is a Lincoln MKS standard feature. With the key fob with you, in your pocket, purse or briefcase, just open the driver’s door. Once inside, press the brake pedal and then the start button, shift into gear and go. It’s so easy and convenient, you’ll wonder how you ever got along without it. Learn More »
Lincoln MKS Technology: Now you can personalize your driving experience from entertainment to climate with simple voice commands, intuitive touch-screen controls or customizable cluster screens right in front of you.
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Lincoln MKS Luxury: Both driver and front passenger relax in the heated or cooled front seats with three temperature settings each. A thermal engine, operated independently of the vehicle’s climate control system, heats or cools the air and then circulates it through the perforated cushion and seat back. Heated rear outboard seats with two temperature settings are available. Learn More »
The Perfect Car for the College Graduate
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An article from TotalCarScore.com identifies the top 10 best cars for college graduates, and right up at the top of the class is the Ford Focus. The 2012 Ford Focus pulled several all-nighters studying and scored well on the test for several reasons.
One of the reasons the Ford Focus scored well is the price. We all know how expensive tuition and books can be and that the vast majority of college grads walk off the graduation stage with a diploma and lots of debt. Grads are going to need a car to get them off to that new job and chances are your old high school chariot probably doesn’t have much life left in it. The 2012 Ford Focus is very affordable while you’re working off those student loans.
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Focus Performance: Forget fun to drive. Bumper cars are fun to drive. The 2012 Focus has an intense side that comes out when you push the start button. It comes with an all-new chassis and suspension that’s tighter and better than ever, and a new cornering assist system that puts the torque where the traction is. We took some very sweet performance technology and put it at your finger tips. Available spring 2011. Learn More »
Focus Design: If our designers were cubists, the 2012 Focus might have turned out boxy. Clearly, they are not. Instead, they created a shape, and shapes within that shape. The belt line is actually several belt lines, shifting into a Z-shaped pattern that gives the Focus muscular shoulders over its wheels. It’s kinetic design. It makes the car look like it’s in motion even when it’s parked. This is a car that looks coiled and ready to spring. So go ahead. Get in. And start more than a car. Available spring 2011.Learn More »
Focus Technology: Focus has the technological mastery to keep you connected to the rest of the world. The big news this year is the class-exclusive availability of MyFord Touch™ technology.* It’s done for the car what touch did for the phone. A simple intuitive touch screen that lets you control your navigation, phone and entertainment. Steering wheel mounted controls with a display in the cluster right in front of you let you control additional functions without taking your hands off the wheel or turning your head. Oh, but there’s more. So much more. Available spring 2011. Learn More »
*Class is Small Sedans and Hatchbacks
Focus Interior: It’s easy to imagine yourself a fighter pilot driving the 2012 Focus. The cockpit just feels like something you fly, not drive. Everything you need is in there, but it’s hardly dry and utilitarian. It’s a hundred little reasons to say, “ooh.” Available spring 2011. Learn More »
2013 Mazda MAZDA6 concept
The new 2013 Mazda6 has been rumored to be taking a similar look to the Mazda Takeri that was shown last year and the Tokyo Motor Show. This article from CAR Magazine called Mazda6 (2013) - full scoop on new family car goes deeper into the details.
By Tim Pollard (artist’s impressions by Christian Schulte)
Spy shots
31 May 2012 09:40
Mazda is about to inject some concept car fizz into its 6 range – 2013’s new family car will draw heavily on the swoopy Takeri concept car shown at last autumn’s Tokyo motor show. Only minor details such as handles and mirrors will change, as depicted by CAR’s artist’s impressions.
But it’s not just a sassy new style that makes us sit up and take notice of the new Mazda 6. It’s the second production car borne out of the firm’s new SkyActiv engineering philosophy: carrying on from where the Gram strategy shaved every last ounce from the MX-5, Mazda now builds all its road cars to the weight-obsessed SkyActiv blueprint.
Mazda 6: the Skyactiv tech
It brings a lightweight modular architecture and a suite of clean petrol and diesel engines – which Mazda claims are nearly as frugal as hybrids without a bulky EV battery in sight. The Takeri’s 2.2 turbodiesel spat out 173bhp and 310lb ft, yet Mazda claimed just 104g/km of CO2.
Such cleanliness should be achievable on the new 6 since it’ll sport SkyActiv staples such as stop/start, low-friction components and regenerative braking. Dubbed i-ELOOP, this braking system harnesses energy when you dab the brakes and stores it in a capacitor to run the car’s electric systems. This saves battery drain and is claimed to stretch combined fuel economy by up to 10%.
Mazda 6 lands at the 2012 Paris motor show
Expect to see the new Mazda 6 at the Paris motor show this autumn – pointing to availability at UK dealers early in 2013. Two bodystyles will again be offered – a five-door hatchback or a sleek tourer – and we’d predict prices to kick off at around £18,500 for the base models.
Mazda might be losing money globally, but it’s trying to build its way out of a hole with new product to lure customers away from mainstream brands Ford and Vauxhall – and mid-market types such as Volkswagen and Honda.
The new CX-5 launching this summer is the first of a glut of newcomers: the 6 arrives next and by 2016 every model in the range will have been replaced.
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In the Show Room: Ford Taurus
Today in the AV Ford Show Room, we have the Ford Taurus in Ginger Ale. More information and pictures can be seen at here.
Taurus Design: With chiseled good looks from every angle, the new Taurus appears more aggressive and assertive than ever. Sharp, clean lines accentuate the new hood design, drawing your eye to the bold new grille. You can sense immediately from the design of a great car what you’re about to experience at the wheel. The new Ford Taurus.
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Taurus Technology: SYNC® with MyFord Touch®* lets you customize systems like climate controls and available voice-activated Navigation System, your mobile phone and music library in a way you’ve never before experienced. BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with cross-traffic alert* lets you know when a vehicle is in your blind spot or is approaching when you’re slowly backing out of a parking space. Adaptive cruise control* automatically slows your Taurus when traffic ahead slows down. And there’s active park assist* that takes the dread out of parallel parking. Innovative Ford technology. Making life on the road easier. Learn More »
*Available feature.
Taurus Performance: Advanced Ford powertrain technology comes in not two, but three Taurus engine choices for 2013. The new 2.0L EcoBoost® option delivers high 4-cylinder fuel efficiency* while generating V6 power. The standard 3.5L Ti-VCT V6 is now equipped with the performance and efficiency benefits of direct injection and twin-independent variable camshaft timing. And there’s the Taurus SHO with its 3.5L EcoBoost engine and unique sport-tuned suspension system – an exhilarating experience for the driving enthusiast who craves V8 power but desires V6 economy.** Advanced engineering also improves steering and braking to make Taurus agile and easy to control. Learn More »
*Projected 22 city/32 hwy mpg – 2.0L EcoBoost® engine. Ford preliminary data. Pending EPA certification.
** EPA-estimated 17city/25 highway mpg EcoBoost AWD.
Taurus Interior: What does it take to create an interior with outstanding craftsmanship? It’s having an obsessive attention to the generous level of amenities you expect, as well as an exceptional level of quality. It’s going the extra mile – and beyond whenever possible – to exceed your expectations. This is the price of admission to producing a premium-class car. Now step inside the new 2013 Ford Taurus. Learn More »
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