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Let’s hope the rumors that the 2014 Buick Verano will be getting a new base engine are true so we get to enjoy the increased HP and MPG.

Buick Verano to go turbo-only for 2014?

If VIN tags recently posted online prove accurate, the 2014 Buick Verano may be getting a new base engine. Presently the Verano makes use of GM's 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine in non-turbo trim; 2014 documentation appears to indicate that GM's entry-level luxury compact will instead feature a 1.6-liter turbocharged mill.

If this is the same engine seen in Europe, GM Inside News suggests it may offer 192 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque – useful improvements over the larger naturally aspirated mill's 180 hp and 171 lb-ft. More importantly, the downsized engine would likely improve on the Verano's current fuel mileage estimates of 21 city and 31 highway.

We like the Verano in both of its current iterations, but the 1.6 turbo engine sounds like a worthwhile upgrade if this reports turns out to be true. Plus, if more performance is your bag, baby, there's always the Verano's optional 2.0 turbo engine with an impressive 250 horsepower and 260 lb-ft from just 2.0 liters of displacement.

Source: Autoblog.com

See the technologies Buick implemented in the Regal Turbo to focus on the most important aspects of your drive.

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Enjoy this holiday season by celebrating it the right way with the 2012 Buick LaCrosse Holiday Event. Check it out here!

Take a look as Buick chooses the Encore "Pinboard to Dashboard" design that'll be showcased at the 2013 New York Auto Show!!

Buick Takes Blogger Design from ‘Pinboard to Dashboard’

An interior designer and blogger who owns a bed and breakfast in Pennsylvania was chosen this week by lifestyle editors of major publications to have his Buick Encore “Pinboard to Dashboard” design showcased during the 2013 New York Auto Show. 

Michael Wurm Jr., whose site, Inspired by Charm, has nearly 4 million followers on Pinterest, was selected by Buick with nine other influential design, fashion and food bloggers to create pinboards in the first-of-its-kind design program launched in October.

“It’s a blogger’s dream come true. From start to finish, I was checking out what the other participants were doing and I thought everyone had a strong design,” said Wurm. “I had no idea whose design would be selected because you really got to see everyone’s style and I was in love with all of them. I have a totally different perspective of Buick now.”

One of the fastest-growing social media platforms, Pinterest invites users to organize favorite products, designs, and other items on digital “pinboards.”

The goal for the creators was to showcase how the Buick Encore luxury small crossover spoke to their personal style and life passions. 

Wurm’s ideas were initially selected as one of the top five most-creative Pinterest inspiration boards based on the response the pinboards generated online and input from the Buick team.  Those five boards were then translated into a digital, fashion-inspired Buick Encore Look Book to showcase each blogger’s unique artistic vision for his or her Encore.

A majority of the more than 20 lifestyle editors who voted from publications and outlets such as Lucky, Oprah, Woman’s World, Essence, Uptown, Good Housekeeping, The Huffington Post and She Knows selected Wurm’s design.

Seventy-one percent of Pinterest’s nearly 25 million users are under the age of 45 and 50 percent are 25-44, an important market for the all-new Encore. To date, the “Pinboard to Dashboard” program has generated more than 17 million unique visitors, followers or users across Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and blogs.

“Knowing the Encore’s target audience spends a great deal of time online, and on Pinterest, we created a social strategy to reach them where they ‘live’,” said Lloyd Biermann, Buick Crossovers marketing manager. “Pinterest and this program help visually explain and reveal the beauty of the Encore from a third-party perspective. We were impressed by the level of creativity and inspiration these bloggers created with their pinboards.”

According to a recent Bizrate Insights study, 70 percent of Pinterest users say they use the site to get shopping inspiration, and 43 percent say they use it to associate with brands/retailers.

Wurm’s site shares his best furniture finds, home decorating tips, craft projects and delectable recipes.  

 The Buick Encore “Pinboard to Dashboard” program also featured these bloggers:

• Aly Walansky of A Little Aly-tude
• Katie Rodgers of Paper Fashion
• Jessica Sturdy of Bows & Sequins
• Julie Deily of The Little Kitchen
• Shannon Ables of The Simply Luxurious Life
• Julie Thigpen of Belle Maison 23
• Jeanne Chan of Shop Sweet Things
• Susie Anderson of We Are Not Martha
• Maia McDonald of Conundrum

The 2013 Buick Encore five-passenger luxury small crossover is designed and engineered for driver confidence and versatility. Powered by a 1.4L turbocharged engine, it has an EPA-estimated 33 mpg highway fuel economy, with a standard six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. It features purposeful, intuitive and personalized technologies and connectivity including Intellilink and QuietTuning with Buick’s first use of Bose Active Noise Cancellation.

Source: Buick News

Monday Maintenance Tip: The Basics of Interior Detailing

If you're like most of us with hectic schedules, we wash our cars periodically, but normally don't have the time to vacuum the interior, let alone clean it. For most commuters and small families, the interior becomes the common dumping ground for all sorts of items, and a treasure-trove for junk collectors. So let's grab that trusty vacuum and get to work.

As before, there are some simple rules to remember. First, always have the car parked in a cool, shady place when you're cleaning the interior. Direct sunlight can bake cleaners into the upholstery, which will pull the natural oils out of leather.

Second, be sure to have a good stock of 100 percent cotton, terry cloth towels on hand for applying and removing detail products (the "nap" of terry cloth towels helps draw dirt and other contaminates away from the surface, thus minimizing the chance of grinding dirt back into the interior surfaces).

Third, you want to be sure to utilize the correct products at the correct stages to prevent unnecessary damage to your car's interior. Trying to "protect" your leather seats with plastic polish will only lead to a big mess.

The first order of business is getting all of the crud out of the interior - loose gas-card receipts, gum wrappers, toys and the handful of parking tickets that have been hiding under the seat - anything that is too large to vacuum up or you want to save. Don a pair of rubber gloves if you need to and pull it all out. Of course, you'll probably find at least $4.68 in loose change, along with the McDonald's wrappers and ground-to-death French fries you intended to throw away three months ago.

With all of the large debris removed, take some time to evaluate the condition of your interior. Is it primarily dusty with a stain or two in the carpet, or are food stains, pet odors and ground-in dirt more prevalent? Assess the damage and let's start cleaning.

Starting from the top down, attach the soft brush attachment to the vacuum and start with the dash, headliner, gauges and console. You want to use a gentle "stroking" motion with the brush. This will loosen most of the surface dirt, which is readily sucked up. If the headliner is heavily grubby, consult with a detailing professional. Most headliner adhesives do not react well to cleaners and the last thing you want is a droopy headliner. After vacuuming, wipe the dash, gauges and console with a damp terry cloth towel in a circular motion. This will help to remove any additional surface dirt prior to deep cleaning.

If you're like most people on the go, the cupholders in your vehicle see more mileage than the tires...and they get just as dirty. Depending if your cupholders are swing-away or molded into the console, cleaning the holders can be a breeze or a pain. Either way, the process is still the same. Since most of us drink sodas while driving, cupholders tend to get covered with sticky soda goop. To cut through the cola sludge, mix a batch of Simple Green and water in a 1:4 ratio. Spray the cupholder and allow the mixture to soak in before wiping with a terry cloth towel. Depending on how gooey the holders are, you may have to give them another round of cleaning. Be sure to wipe the cupholder with a damp terry towel (water) and then dry.

Move on to the front seats, package tray and rear seats, using the same technique as before to take the bulk of the dust and dirt off the seating surfaces. To get in the nooks and crannies in and around the seats, console and transmission tunnel (you know, where those doughnut chunks tend to hide), attach the crevice tool (that long needle-nose looking thing) and have at it.

In most cases (that is, if you're lucky), the floor mats have taken the brunt of the interior's wear and tear from dirty shoes, spilled drinks and road grime. Vacuum the mats well with the carpet-comb attachment and remove them from the car. Shoe scuffs on the door panels are another area which is quickly remedied by our Simple Green mixture. Simply spray the product on the door panel and scrub with a soft scrub brush. Rinse with clean water when done.

Now let's turn our attention to the swath of carpet. Using the carpet-comb tool, vacuum as much dirt and...well, other stuff, as you can, taking note of those tie-dyed areas of coffee, Coke and melted ice cream. If the stains on the carpet and floor mats are small, or the stains are light, a "spray, scrub and vacuum" product such as 3M Scotchgard Carpet Cleaner will more than likely do the trick. Follow the manufacturer's directions for best results. If the area is large, or the stains are more obvious, it's best to break out a professional carpet-cleaning machine.

Cleaning your carpet and floor mats with a machine is not rocket science. The machine "infuses" the carpet with the cleaning solution, breaking down the dirt particles and forcing them out of the carpet. At the same time, the machine vacuums the dirty water mixture out of the carpet, leaving it fresh and clean.

If you don't own a carpet-cleaning machine (like a Bissell Little Green Machine), you can rent one at your local supermarket or rental agency. Since most machines infuse the carpet with cleaner and water, be sure to get a good quality cleaning solution. If in doubt, ask a sales associate for assistance.

Qwik Tip: Cranberry stains are the toughest to get out, but a little home remedy works wonders. Sprinkle salt onto half of a lemon and scrub the stain with the salted lemon. The stain will come out with only a few strokes.

Once the carpet is cleaned, turn your attention to cleaning the dash and seating surfaces. If your vehicle has leather, use a quality leather cleaner such as Lexol-ph Leather Cleaner or Mothers Leather Cleaner. If possible, try to use separate cleaners and conditioners, rather than an all-in-one product. This allows for deep cleaning and maximum protection of the leather.

Leather cleaners generally come in two forms: spray and liquid paste. The spray types are usually a spray-on, wipe-off affair. Liquid forms must be "massaged" into the leather to be effective. In either case, follow the manufacturer's directions for proper application.

After cleaning, you'll need to condition the leather and dash in order to restore the natural oils and retain its original suppleness and deter aging. Using small, circular strokes, massage the conditioner into the leather. Allow the conditioner to be absorbed by the leather before buffing off the excess. Quality leather conditioners include Lexol's Leather Conditioner and Mothers Leather Conditioner.

Over the past few years, cloth seats have become more and more resistant to staining, thanks in part to new formulations in fabric treatment, which were originally developed by the 3M company in the 1980s. The use of "Scotchgarding" (a trade term for 3M's Scotchgard product) provides a barrier to help repel water and oil-based contaminants from permanently staining cloth and velour fabrics.

Cleaning a stain-resistant cloth interior is relatively easy, compared to cleaning a leather interior. Nearly all cleaning products for cloth interiors are produced as an "all-in-one" cleaner and protectant, in spray, scrub and wipe/vacuum form, such as 3M Scotchgard Cleaner and Protector. As before, always follow the manufacturer's directions for proper application.

Getting the dust and dirt that accumulates in the crevices of climate and radio controls is easy with a couple of household tools. First, dampen a half-inch paintbrush by lightly spraying Endust onto one side of the brush and "knock" it once against your hand to distribute the product evenly. Now, dust will adhere to the brush as you wipe it over the controls. For air vents, utilize a cotton swab in the same manner.

If you've ever dry-wiped the dust and dirt away from your instrument cluster, chances are you've also scratched the clear lexan that covers the gauges. Using a small amount of Meguiar's Plastic Polish, buff the scratches out using small circular strokes with a terry cloth towel. After the polish begins to "haze-up," buff the residue off of the lens with a fresh terry towel.

Finally, we need to tackle the windows. While there's a plethora of products available to clean your automotive greenhouse nothing beats good old Windex. Spray the product on the window to be cleaned and wipe with a clean terry towel, flipping the towel to prevent streaking. If your windows are tinted, use distilled water only, as the ammonia in the Windex can "pit" the tinting film.

While cleaning the interior of your car may not be high on the list of priorities, a fresh interior will not only add to the resale value of your vehicle later down the road, but also impress that Saturday night date.

Source: Edmunds

2013 GMC Acadia and Acadia Denali - 2012 Chicago Auto Show

GM Offering Big Incentives to Liquidate Vehicle Stockpiles

In hopes of moving some inventory, General Motors is launching a campaign of discounts and incentives for various models in their lineup.

The American automaker is allowing dealers to offer as much as $2,000 in customer cash on its 2012, 2013 Chevrolet Silverados and GMC Sierras. In addition, lease specials will be offered on the Chevrolet Malibu, Cruze, and Traverse.

As for the incentive, GM will be awarding dealerships “instant value certificates” at $250 per, and dealerships will receive two certificates for every five pickups sitting on their lots. Dealerships can apply up to eight of these certificates to any pickup deal. It will be up to the dealer to offer anywhere from $250 to $2,000 to close a sale – or even nothing.

Source: Automotive News

Congratulations to JAMIE CASON for being selected as the lucky winner of our latest contest and the $100 gas card grand prize!!!

Congratulations to JAMIE CASON, seen below claiming his grand prize gift cards valued at $100, for being selected as the lucky winner of our latest contest!!!

A special thank you goes out to everyone who participated. Be sure to keep checking back for the latest updates on our next contest and LIKE our page while you're here!

Monday Maintenance Tip: Changing Your Power-Steering Fluid

What is this?

Simply put, power-steering fluid is the hydraulic fluid that transmits the power in power steering. Servicing it involves draining or flushing out your car's old power-steering fluid and then adding fresh power steering fluid.

Should I do this service when it's recommended?

Absolutely. The fluid is the cheapest component of your power-steering system. Changing it can help to prolong the life of other, more expensive power-steering components such as the power-steering pump and the stratospherically expensive power-steering rack.

Why do I have to do this?

Over time, the seals, O-rings and internal power-steering components will wear out. When they break apart, they contaminate the power-steering fluid, which forces the power-steering pump to work harder (having to pump little chunks instead of just fluid) and eventually break down.

What happens if I don't do this?

You'll eventually chew up your power-steering pump. It'll have to be replaced at a cost of several hundred dollars, or you'll have no power steering — and you can't easily drive a car that's equipped with power steering when the power-steering system fails. You also may damage the rack, which will require you to take out a small home-equity loan to replace.

Is there any maintenance required between intervals?

If you hear a whining or moaning noise when you turn the steering wheel, you should have your power-steering system checked. Your power-steering pump may be about to fail.

Also, if you notice a leak of any kind, you should definitely check your power-steering fluid level and make sure you keep it topped up. Running out of fluid will cook the pump, too.

Car Talk Tip: If you do a lot of your own car maintenance, and you feel like servicing the power-steering fluid yourself, you'll still need to dispose of the old fluid properly. To find out how to dispose of hazardous materials where you live, check out the 1-800-CleanUp/Earth's 911 Web site.

Source: Car Talk

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Buick Human Highlight Reel | Mike Schell | The Cannonball Foundation :30

2013 Buick Verano Gets NHTSA Five Star Crash Score

The 2013 Buick Verano has received a five-star overall vehicle score for safety from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to go along with its 2012 Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The Verano achieved the five-star rating under NHTSA’s revised New Car Assessment Program with its overall score based on frontal and side crash tests in addition to evaluation for rollover resistance. The performance in the three test segments are combined for an “Overall Vehicle Score.”

Equipped with 10 standard air bags and OnStar, the Verano features sensors in the vehicle that deploy standard head curtain air bags prior to impact and leave them inflated for a longer period of time to provide additional protection. Other safety features include four-wheel disc brakes, ABS, panic brake override, StabiliTrak electronic stability control, and a collapsible pedal to help reduce the risk of leg injury.

Source: AutoGuide.com

Monday Maintenance Tip: Rotate Your Tires

Tire rotation is an important maintenance duty that extends the life of your tires and ensures safe driving. We'll take a look at this simple but effective procedure.

Whether you plan on doing the job yourself or having it performed by a certified mechanic, it's important to know why we rotate our tires.

Front And Rear Tires Wear Differently
Think about it. All that parallel parking. All those three-point turns. With each turn of the steering wheel, pressure is brought to bear on the front tires. (This is even more accentuated in front-wheel-drive cars, where the front wheels also supply the main motive power for the vehicle.) Resistance causes friction, which in turn produces heat. The result? The front tires wear quicker than the rears. Because of this, it's necessary to rotate the tires front-to-rear several times during their life cycle to 1) equalize tread wear and 2) maximize the life of the tires. This is what we refer to when we say "rotate the tires." Rotating generally does not refer to either of the following actions:

• Exchanging tires on the same axle — for example, swapping the rear tires left to right
• Criss-crossing tires — moving a tire from the passenger's side rear to the driver's side front

There's a good reason for this. Tires develop wear patterns as they age. Some of these patterns are tied to the suspension system and the alignment. That's why we keep the tires on the same side of the car.

If your car has staggered wheels -- the front and rear tires are two different sizes, such as with the Chrysler Crossfire — you can still swap the tires side-to-side, but not front to back. If your tires are unidirectional (specific to one side of the car) or asymmetrical (the tread pattern changes from the inside of the tire to the outside), you can rotate them front to back but not side to side. And if you happen to have staggered wheels that are also unidirectional or asymmetrical, you cannot rotate your tires at all! But that's rarely the case.

How often should you rotate your tires? That depends. Refer to your owner's manual for exact guidelines, but most manufacturers recommend rotating tires roughly every 5,000 to 10,000 miles. Again, see your owner's manual for specifics.

An important tool needed for this procedure is a torque wrench. They range in price, but you can get a simple one for under $35. The torque wrench is especially necessary on modern cars with alloy wheels, to avoid over tightening and damage to the wheels. The recommended torque specs can be found in your owner's manual or online.

With that knowledge, let's move to the procedure, provided your car has four wheels with equal tire sizes and matching tread patterns.

Ready To Rotate Your Tires?
Park your car on level pavement. Put the car in "Park" (or in gear, if it's a manual transmission) and set the parking brake firmly. Turn off the engine.

Choose which side of the car that you want to work on first. Now go to the opposite side and block the tires, front and rear. This is a precaution and will prevent the car from moving while you work on it.

There are several kinds of jacks you can use to elevate the car. The most readily available may be the jack that came with the vehicle. However, this is also the most unsafe and should only be used for short periods of time. If you use this jack, we recommend safeguarding yourself by using jack stands under both the front and rear axles. In fact, this isn't a bad idea anytime you're working around an elevated vehicle. Once the car is in the air, position the jack stands under the axle, behind each wheel; then gently lower the weight of the vehicle onto the jack stands.

You can also use a small hydraulic jack or -- the best of all possible options -- a floor jack. Whatever, the principle is the same. Locate a point under the frame nearest the manufacturer's recommended jacking point, and position the jack there. In most front-engine vehicles, this will be a foot or two behind the front wheel. (There will sometimes be a hole facing you here, where you can insert the extension from the jack.)

Before you elevate the vehicle, you will want to take the lug wrench and loosen the lug nuts on both the front and rear wheels. This technique uses the vehicle's weight to hold the wheels in place, so they don't spin as you crank on the lug nuts.

Once the lug nuts are loose, jack up the vehicle and then, if you have jack stands, back down onto the stands. Spin off the lug nuts and put them in a safe place.

Remove the front tire, then the rear, and switch their positions, rolling the front tire to the rear, and the rear to the front.

Before you mount them, let's inspect the tread.

The tread pattern has wear indicators built into it. These are little bumps or nubs manufactured directly into the tread. Inspecting them will tell you how close the tire is to needing replacement. See if you can spot them. They're located throughout the tread pattern, but especially on the ridge where the tread and sidewall meet. Find one? Compare its height to the height of the tread surrounding it. If the tread is wearing to the point where its height is approaching that of the wear indicator, you'll need to be shopping tires soon. Make a mental note.

Now go ahead and mount the tires, having switched front to rear, etc. If you have a friend handy, have them hold the tire while you thread the first lug nut or two into its hole. Once all the nuts are threaded finger-tight, grab the torque wrench and tighten them further.

Now, as before, you want to use the weight of the vehicle to hold the wheels in place while you snug the lug nuts down good and tight. Jack the vehicle up off the jack stands (if you're using them) and then slowly let it sink to the ground.

Take the torque wrench and tighten the lug nuts to their recommended specification.

By the way, it's best to work the lug nuts diagonally across from one another, as though forming a star, instead of side to side. This allows them to seat better into their cradles.

Done. Now go to the other side of the car and repeat the steps.

That's All There Is To It...
Remember, this quick and simple procedure will extend the tread life of your tires. It will also provide maximum gripping power to the vehicle.

To repeat: this should be done roughly every 5,000 to 10,000 miles. Check your owner's manual for exact intervals.

You don't need some fancy mechanic with a lot of expensive tools to do this job for you. This is one you can do yourself.

Source: Edmunds

Buick Design Tour | LA

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Magic Magnets Give Buick Crossovers AWD Refinement

When snow inevitably starts falling over the General Motors Proving Ground in Michigan this winter, Buick engineers will use the conditions to put the finishing touches on the Encore luxury small crossover. It arrives early next year as the brand’s first entry into the burgeoning small crossover segment.

Encore’s “Active On-Demand” all-wheel drive is designed to give the vehicle the fluid drive characteristics and sure-footed traction Buick drivers expect but in a smaller, lighter package. Unlike traditional systems that engage all four drive wheels after slip is detected, Encore uses a magnetic charge to engage a clutch at the rear axle preemptively when the vehicle is at rest because slippage is most likely to occur just as the vehicle begins to move. If no slip is detected, a computer control automatically disengages the preemptive torque to the clutch once the Encore is underway, returning the system to a primarily front-drive operation.

“A Buick all-wheel drive system has to deliver the best traction possible, and it has to do it in a way that’s totally imperceptible to the driver,” said Encore Chief Engineer Jim Danahy. “We engineered Encore’s lightweight, responsive and refined system to deliver on the expectations of demanding luxury buyers.”

Buick engineers used their experience developing an all-wheel drive system for the Enclave luxury crossover SUV and applied it to Encore’s smaller packaging. The Enclave uses similar technology. To fit Encore’s weight and space needs, engineers worked with BorgWarner to develop a new, more compact coupling for the rear axle.

Reduced weight benefits Encore’s handling, as well as fuel economy. With all-wheel drive, Encore’s EPA-estimated fuel economy is 23 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

Beyond weight savings, the advantages of Active On-Demand all-wheel drive for the driver include rapid activation and deactivation, more control over the transfer of torque, more refined performance in tight turns and parking situations and better integration with safety systems like ABS and stability control.  

“Technology is allowing us to translate Buick’s quiet, comfortable ride to smaller vehicles than we could before,” said Danahy. “This all-wheel drive system, like turbocharged engines and Buick QuietTuning technologies, allows drivers to experience that Buick DNA with unprecedented efficiency and maneuverability.”

According to the 2012 Harris Poll AutoTECHCAST^SM Study, “familiarity with all-wheel drive continues to climb” and one third of all new car buyers would consider purchasing the technology on their next new vehicle. Consideration of all-wheel drive is greatest among luxury crossover/SUV owners, along with owners between 35-54 years of age. Among current all-wheel drive vehicle owners, 83 percent consider it an important feature for their vehicle.

In addition to the upcoming Encore and the redesigned 2013 Enclave, Buick offers all-wheel drive for the 2013 LaCrosse V-6 luxury sedan.

Source: Buick News

Monday Maintenance Tip: How To Clear Foggy Headlights

Fogged headlight lenses not only make your car look tired but also restrict the amount of light illuminating the road ahead of you. Headlight restoration kits are cheap and can produce dramatic results.

Money Saved: About $40

Time Required: 30 minutes to 1 hour

Tools Required:

• Latex glove
• Electrician's tape
• Buffing wheel (optional)
• Sponge

Materials Required:

• Headlight restoring kit
• Newspapers
• Water

In the photo above are two different headlight restoring kits, the Turtle Wax Headlight Lens Restorer (typically sold for about $10) and Sylvania's Headlight Restoration Kit, selling for about $20. There are many other kits available at different prices, including some that include a buffing wheel to eliminate the manual labor.

Most headlight restoration kits include an abrasive compound and sandpaper (in grades of varying roughness) to remove the outer layer of yellowed, oxidized plastic and clear the lens. Some include a buffing wheel that can be attached to a power drill. One YouTube video even shows headlights being cleaned with toothpaste (which is slightly abrasive) and a clean cloth towel.

One difference between the two kits — and probably the reason for the price difference — is that the Sylvania kit includes a glove, tape and a liquid "UV Block Clear Coat" to protect the lens from refogging once it has been cleaned. I have one gripe with the Sylvania kit, because the clarifying compound comes in a little packet that can't easily be stored. This means this kit will probably be a one-shot deal. The Turtle Wax kit doesn't have the extra goodies, but the pads can be reused and the bottles contain a larger amount of the clarifying compounds.

To be clear (so to speak), what we're actually tackling in this project is the plastic lens covering the headlight bulbs. This plastic lens protects the headlight from dirt and debris blown around on the road. Over time, these lenses become scratched, pitted and clouded by exposure to the sun. Replacing the lenses is expensive, so many car owners opt just to clean them.

Whichever kit you use, make sure you follow the included directions carefully. Use the products in the correct order and keep in mind that the headlights won't look clear until you are finished and the residue is washed off.

I use the electrician's black tape from the Sylvania kit to protect the paint around the headlights from the abrasive compound and to ensure I don't accidently scratch the paint with sandpaper. The electrician's tape is particularly good for this task because it pulls off easily when you are finished without leaving any sticky goo on your car's paint. You might also consider using extra protection and tape some newspaper onto the car to protect the finish. Once you start getting into the project and the how-to zeal takes hold, the compounds tend to fly onto painted surfaces.

I have used the Turtle Wax kit on the left headlight and the Sylvania on the right. I applied the Turtle Wax products in two stages, rubbing on the lens-clarifying compound first to see if that did the job.

If the clarifying compound doesn't get results, you spray on the lubricant and use the abrasive pads. I use both chemicals for this test.

The Sylvania kit called for washing the headlight lens with a surface activator. Then I applied the clarifying compound from the packet to the different levels of sandpaper for sanding and polishing the lens. Finally, I applied the UV Block Clear Coat.

Clearing your headlights is easy, inexpensive and the results are satisfying. Once you do it and see how it sharpens up the look of your car, you'll find yourself recommending it to all your friends with older cars. Even better, there might be a little more from your headlights when you're driving at night.

Source: Edmunds

2012 Buick VERANO | Dance

Monday Maintenance Tip: How Old — and Dangerous — Are Your Tires?

In February 2008, the owner of a 1998 Ford Explorer in Georgia needed a new tire for his SUV and ended up buying a used one. When he was driving two weeks later, the tread suddenly separated from the tire. The Explorer went out of control and hit a motorcycle, killing its rider. An analysis of the used tire revealed that it was nearly 10 years old.

The incident illustrates not only the potential danger of buying a used tire but also the perils of aging tires — including those that have never spent a day on the road.

For years, people have relied on a tire's tread depth to determine its condition. But the rubber compounds in a tire deteriorate with time, regardless of the condition of the tread. An old tire poses a safety hazard.

For some people, old tires might never be an issue. If you drive a typical number of miles — 12,000-15,000 miles annually — a tire's tread will wear out in three to four years, long before the rubber compound does. But if you only drive 6,000 miles a year, or have a car that you only drive on weekends, aging tires could be an issue. The age warning also applies to spare tires and "new" tires that have never been used but are old.

What Happens to a Tire as It Ages?
Sean Kane, president of Safety Research & Strategies, Inc., compares an aging tire to an old rubber band. "If you take a rubber band that's been sitting around a long time and stretch it, you will start to see cracks in the rubber," says Kane, whose organization is involved in research, analysis and advocacy on safety matters for the public and clients including attorneys, engineering firms, supplier companies, media and government.

That's essentially what happens to a tire that's put on a vehicle and driven. Cracks in the rubber begin to develop over time. They may appear on the surface and inside the tire as well. This cracking can eventually cause the steel belts in the tread to separate from the rest of the tire. An animation on the Safety Research & Strategies Web site shows how this happens. Improper maintenance and heat accelerate the process.

Every tire that's on the road long enough will succumb to age. Tires that are rated for higher mileage have "anti-ozinant" chemical compounds built into the rubber that will slow the aging process, but nothing stops the effects of time on rubber, says Doug Gervin, Michelin's director of product marketing for passenger cars and light trucks.

How Long Does a Tire Last?
Carmakers, tiremakers and rubber manufacturers differ in their opinions about the lifespan of a tire. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has no specific guidelines on tire aging and defers to the recommendations of carmakers and tire manufacturers. Carmakers such as Nissan and Mercedes-Benz tell consumers to replace tires six years after their production date, regardless of tread life. Tire manufacturers such as Continental and Michelin say a tire can last up to 10 years, provided you get annual tire inspections after the fifth year. The Rubber Manufacturers Association says there is no way to put a date on when a tire "expires," because such factors as heat, storage and conditions of use can dramatically reduce the life of a tire.

Heat: NHTSA research has found that tires age more quickly in warmer climates. NHTSA also found that environmental conditions like exposure to sunlight and coastal climates can hasten the aging process. People who live in warm weather and coastal states should keep this in mind when deciding whether they should retire a tire.

Storage: This applies to spare tires and tires that are sitting in a garage or shop. Consider how a spare tire lives its life. If you own a truck, the spare may be mounted underneath the vehicle, exposed to the dirt and the elements.

If your spare is in the trunk, it's as if it is "baking in a miniature oven," says Dan Zielinski, senior vice president of Public Affairs for the Rubber Manufacturers Association. Most often, the spare never sees the light of day. But if the tire has been inflated and mounted on a wheel, it is technically "in service" — even if it's never been used, Gervin says.

A tire that has not been mounted and is just sitting in a tire shop or your garage will age more slowly than one that has been put into service on a car. But it ages nonetheless.

Conditions of use: This refers to how the tire is treated. Is it properly inflated? Has it hit the curb too many times? Has it ever been repaired for a puncture? Tires on a car that's only driven on the weekends will have a different aging pattern than those on a car that's driven daily on the highway. All these factors contribute to how quickly or slowly a tire wears out. Proper maintenance is the best thing a person can do to ensure a long tire life. Gervin recommends that you maintain proper air pressure in tires, have them rotated regularly and have them routinely inspected.

How To Determine the Age of a Tire
The sidewall of a tire is littered with numbers and letters. They all mean something, but deciphering them can be a challenge. The Edmunds article about reading a tire's sidewall goes into greater detail, but for the purposes of determining the age of a tire, you'll just need to know its U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) number.

Tires made after 2000 have a four-digit DOT code. The first two numbers represent the week in which the tire was made. The second two represent the year. A tire with a DOT code of 1109 was made in the 11th week of 2009. Tires with a three-digit code were made prior to 2000 and are trickier to decode. The first two digits still tell you the week, but the third digit tells you the year in the decade that it was created. The hard part is knowing what decade that was. Some tires made in the 1990s — but not all — have a triangle after the DOT code, denoting that decade. But for tires without that, a code of "328" could be from the 32nd week of 1988 — or 1978.

Clearly, these DOT numbers weren't designed with the consumer in mind. They were originally put on tires to make it easier for NHTSA to recall tires and keep track of their manufacturing date.

To make matters worse, you might not always find the DOT number on the outer side of the tire. Because of the way a tire is made, it is actually safer for the technician operating the mold to imprint information on the inner side of the tire, so some manufacturers will opt to put the number there. It is still possible to check the DOT code, but you might have to jack the car up to see it. Keep the visibility of the DOT number in mind the next time you are at a tire shop and the installer asks if you want the tires to be mounted with the raised lettering facing in.

That potential inconvenience is going away, however. NHTSA says that the sidewall information about the tire's date of manufacture, size and other pertinent data is now required to be on both sides of the tire for easier reading.

After checking out a tire's birth date, give the rubber a visual inspection. Some of the best advice on such an inspection comes from the British Tyre Manufacturers' Association. It recommends that consumers check tires regularly for any sign of aging, such as tread distortion or large or small hairline cracks in the sidewall. Vibrations or a change in the dynamic properties of the tire could also be an indicator of aging problems, the association says. It recommends replacing the tire immediately if such symptoms appear.

Don't Buy Used
Tires are expensive, especially when you factor in the price of mounting and balancing. That's why used tires become more attractive to consumers who are strapped for cash. But the purchase of used tires is very much a buyer-beware situation, Zielinski says. "Even a one-year-old tire can be dangerous if it was poorly maintained," he says.

When a consumer buys a used tire, he has no idea how well it was maintained or the conditions in which it has been used. The previous owner might have driven it with low pressure. It could have hit curbs repeatedly. It could have been patched for a nail. Further, it's a dated product.

"You wouldn't want a used tire for the same reason that you wouldn't buy a 10-year-old computer," Zielinski says. "You are denying yourself the advancements in tire technology over the past few years."

Make Sure You're Getting a "Fresh" Tire
Just because a tire is unused doesn't mean it's new. In a number of instances, consumers have purchased "new" tires at retail stores only to find out later that they were manufactured years earlier. In addition to having a shorter life on the road, a tire that's supposedly new but is actually old may be past its warranty period.

If you buy tires and soon after discover that they're actually a few years old, you have the right to request newer ones, Zielinski says. Any reputable store should be willing to make amends. "It is fair for a consumer to expect that 'new' is not several years old," he says.

Letting Go
Getting rid of an unused spare or a tire with good-looking tread may be the hardest thing for a thrifty consumer to do. "Nobody's going to take a tire that looks like it's never been used and throw it out," Kane says. But if it's old, that's exactly what the owner should do.

Although Kane has lobbied NHTSA to enact regulations on tire aging, nothing is currently on the books. A NHTSA spokesman says the organization is "continuing to conduct research into the effects of tire aging, and what actions consumers can do to safely monitor their tires when they are on their vehicles."

It's too bad that tires don't have a "sell by" date, like cartons of milk. Since there's no consensus from government or industry sources, we'll just say that if your tire has plenty of tread left but is nearing the five-year mark, it's time to get it inspected for signs of aging.

Of all your vehicle's components, tires have the greatest effect on the way it handles and brakes. So if the tire store recommends new tires at your five-year check-up, spend the money and don't put it off. Your life could depend on it.

Source: Edmunds

2013 GMC Acadia Preview

Along with its Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse siblings, the 2013 GMC Acadia receives its first significant face-lift since its introduction in 2007.

The 2013 GMC Acadia is the mid-point classwise, and is also meant to be the more rugged looking, larger CUV in GM’s trio. For the 2013 model year, the front fascia garners the most attention with a bolder grille and headlights that feature LED signature lighting, and it also grabs new 18” to 20” wheels.

The rear receives likewise LED-accented tail lights, integrated into revised rear quarters with flow-through exhaust outlets.

The cabin is equally updated with new gauges, a redesigned center console replete with features such as touch-activated climate control, and new soft-touch materials.

The Denali version of the 2013 GMC Acadia returns as the top model with a power tilt and telescoping leather and wood-grain steering wheel, contrast stitching on gorgeous unique Cocoa Dune leather and an eight-way power passenger seat.

On the powertrain front, the 2013 GMC Acadia sports the same 288 hp 3.6L V6 and 6-speed automatic transmission as the pre-face-lifted model. Front- and all-wheel-drive versions are offered.

Safety features are numerous in the new Acadia as it will be equipped with seven airbags including an industry-first Centre Side Airbag, the Cross-Traffic Alert System, and Head-up Display. Traction and electronic stability control systems are obviously standard.

The 2013 GMC Acadia Denali is scheduled to arrive in Canada at the end of 2012. Final pricing should be available later this year.

Source: Auto123.com

Great job to the Hardin Buick GMC team for earning this great 5-star review on Yelp!

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GMC Never Say Never Sweepstakes & Mike Tirico

Do Your Car a Favor by Lightening Your Keychain

Lighten up that keychain! Does your car key share a chain with a dozen or more other keys? That’s a pretty heavy load hanging off the car key when it’s in the ignition. The weight, combined with bouncing while you drive, can wear out the tumblers inside the ignition and eventually lead to ignition switch failure. To add years of service to your ignition switch, purchase a lightweight key chain that allows you to separate your ignition key from the others. Drive with only the ignition key in your ignition. If your ignition key “sticks” when you try to turn on the car, it’s a warning that your ignition switch is about to fail. Replace it before you get stranded.

Monday Maintenance Tip: Don't Be Stranded by a Missed Recall Notice

You're driving along a lonely stretch of road miles from nowhere when the noise begins. As it gets louder, a terrible question jumps into your mind: did you remember to check the recall notices on the car you're driving?

If your answer is "no," you could be in for a rude shock. Recalls, often issued for relatively insignificant issues such as windshield wiper malfunctions, sometimes relate to the operation of the engine itself. To ignore such recall notices could leave you stranded.

Typically, you will be notified of recalls on your car in two ways:

1. A written notice mailed directly to the owner of the car.
2. The dealer tells you a recall is in effect when the car is brought in for maintenance.

Unfortunately, this system of notification is by no means foolproof. Owners are sometimes left unaware that recalls exist on their cars. The defect goes unrepaired. And motorists are left stranded.

Honda Motor Company, known for building the most reliable cars on the market today, recently issued a recall for a misaligned timing belt tensioner pulley on the water pump on some 17,500 2003 Honda Pilots made during July 2002. As the recall notice states, the misaligned tensioner pulley "could cause the timing belt to contact a bolt on the cylinder head. Eventually the belt could be damaged and fail." The consequence of this? "The engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash."

Naturally, Honda is not anxious to publicize the fact that one of its vehicles was manufactured with a defect. However, owners should have been informed by one or both of the above methods and obtained the necessary repairs before the situation becomes critical. That's the way the system is supposed to work, anyway. In reality, some owners were not informed and were left stranded by the side of the road. For a more detailed account of one such recall notification lapse and subsequent breakdown, read "The Road Warrior, Breakdown and Twister."

Of course, all manufacturers — not just Honda — have to issue recalls on their vehicles at one time or another. Yet, the owner notification process remains imperfect in many cases. In fact, Honda's legendary reputation for dependability makes the recent situation that much more surprising. And it underscores the need for motorists to take matters into their own hands.

Instead of merely waiting to be notified by the manufacturer, or alerted during a maintenance visit, owners should periodically check for recalls themselves. Recall information is available in our Maintenance Guide, along with a wealth of information about how to service and maintain your vehicle. Recall notices are posted weekly on Edmunds.com.

Additionally, you can call the dealership and ask a service advisor to run your vehicle identification number (VIN) through the computer system. Another source for recall information is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which is responsible for investigating possible design and manufacturing defects. For more information on NHTSA's role, read "Recalls, Technical Service Bulletins, and Other Good Stuff."

Checking for recalls on your vehicle will only take you a few moments. Breaking down by the side of the road will take you hours, or days, to get back up to speed and may require major repairs. As always, planning ahead has its rewards.

Source: Edmunds

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Buick Regal GS | Groceries

Driving Tip: Multitasking Mania and Distracted Driving

Mark Stevens is a multitasking maniac. A couple of months ago, the White Plains, New York, marketing consultant was working his cell phone with one hand and his Blackberry with the other while trying to steer his Mercedes SL500 with his wrists and knees — when he plowed it into a rental vehicle in an Enterprise parking lot. That followed his fourth ticket in four years for talking on his cell phone while driving.

"If you are a determined multitasker, it's an addiction — and you can't stop it," said the 59-year-old Stevens.

Talk about distracted driving. Even during a short trek, he said, he's likely to sip a Diet Coke and a bottled water, eat a sandwich, read a copy of The Economist, write notes to himself and listen to NPR, in addition to performing his cell phone and Blackberry action — oh, and driving. "I'm a driven person, and that's why I do all this stuff while I drive." Efficiency, not safe driving, is primary.

Although he may represent an extreme, there's a little bit of Stevens in many of us. Multitasking while driving has become endemic — and epidemic — on American roads. More drivers are trying to figure out what other duties they can perform while driving. Insurance companies, meanwhile, are trying to make drivers keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel. And automakers are caught between consumer demands for more capabilities and conveniences — and the safety and legal concerns that often compel vehicle designers to make multitasking more difficult.

The growing number of cultural references to multitasking resonates with all of us. They include the TV ad depicting a group of business colleagues moving all their office functions into a car and the Allstate Insurance commercial in which spokesman Dennis Haysbert tsk-tsks viewers about multitasking.

The reasons for multitasking are many. Ever-longer commutes are tempting time-starved Americans to invent ways to spread more tasks over the hours they must spend in their vehicles. Also blame cell phones, video entertainment systems and iPods. Throw in the fact that many drivers apparently don't care that they might be annoying — or even alarming — other drivers by applying mascara, drinking hot coffee, reading a pulp novel or selecting station XM 132 all at the same time.

A recent survey by Nationwide Insurance quantified some of the trend's scary dimensions. More than 80 percent of drivers surveyed identified themselves as multitaskers. Sixty-eight percent eat while driving; texting or instant-messaging while driving, or fixing hair, is practiced by 19 percent of drivers; 14 percent comfort or discipline children while behind the wheel; and 8 percent drive with a pet in their laps.

Weather conditions had little effect on drivers' tendency to multitask. Even those who perceive themselves as safe drivers admitted doing outlandish things behind the wheel, including changing clothes, balancing a checkbook and shaving.

And multitasking is going to increase before it wanes. About 35 percent of Gen Y-ers say they always multitask, compared with 30 percent of Gen X-ers and just 21 percent of baby boomers. Those differences are amplified in important behaviors such as fiddling with a cell phone while driving: 37 percent of Gen Y-ers admit doing it versus just 17 percent of Gen X-ers and only 2 percent of boomers. About 89 percent of teenagers reported seeing other teens on their cell phones at least sometimes while driving, reports a recent State Farm Insurance survey.

The problem for drivers and insurance companies is that drivers are just bad at multitasking successfully. About 80 percent of all crashes are related to some form of distracted driving, according to the U.S. government.

"Driver behavior is only getting worse," said Bill Windsor, associate vice president of safety for Columbus-based Nationwide Insurance. "Car design and safety features have helped reduce fatalities over the last 10 years, but there are signs — such as an increase in fatalities among pedestrians and motorcyclists — that problems with driving behavior are starting to outstrip vehicle and roadway improvements."

Governments, insurance companies and other players can mitigate the problem to some extent. Four states and the District of Columbia already outlaw the use of handheld phones while driving, and at least 38 states currently are debating bills that would specifically regulate text messaging while behind the wheel, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Highway designers are trying to add more rumble strips on highway shoulders to startle those who've strayed to the side, and creating greater numbers of safe rest spots along the nation's roads.

But a large part of the responsibility and opportunity for dealing with multitasking rests with automakers themselves. The scope of their dilemma is perfectly underscored by the fact that an alliance of General Motors, Toyota, Nissan and Ford spent $6 million over the last four years to study driver distraction and develop solutions. Their conclusion was that drivers can safely withstand just about any amount of aural distraction in a vehicle as long as they keep their vision on the road in front of them.

"It was a lot of expensive research just to validate the idea that you should keep your eyes on the road," admits Rich Deering, GM's senior manager of crash-avoidance system development. "But this is an issue that won't go away."

The auto industry is pulled in two directions. As quality and other differences among vehicle brands have dwindled over the last generation, car companies have turned to comfort and convenience features in their battle for market share. In the process, they have converted many of their vehicles into rolling living rooms and offices. Passengers are invited to watch movies, thanks to rear-seat entertainment systems; work on their laptops, courtesy of ample power outlets (including 110-volt connections) throughout the vehicle; and use OnStar to tap into sports scores and stock-price quotes on the Internet.

Vehicle designers even encourage drivers to engage in more multitasking by, for example, increasing the capabilities of audio systems, providing devices and slots to facilitate mobile-phone usage, and cramming every square inch around the driver with drink holders, trays and even laptop compartments.

It's hard to keep drivers away from all those distracting goodies that, nominally at least, are meant only for passengers to enjoy.

"We need to provide reasonable accommodations for a wide variety of activities that people want to do in their cars," said Andrew Coetzee, vice president of product planning for Toyota Motor Sales, USA. "We do have responsibilities to meet the needs of customers. It's up to customers to use them at their discretion."

Yet automakers have taken measures to limit multitasking by drivers — or at least make it safer — in specific areas:

Navigation systems

The industry's unspoken agreement bans navigation screens that require drivers to lower their heads more than 30 degrees from a straight-ahead position. Also, many automakers won't allow front-seat occupants to enter destination addresses manually while the vehicle is in motion.

Meanwhile, they're all working on improving voice-recognition technology so drivers won't have to touch navigation screens at all. Based on several years of experience with its OnStar system — which relies on a customer-service person to give drivers oral directions — GM is convinced that voice interaction largely takes the danger out of navigation systems. "We're just not seeing a crash problem there because, with OnStar, drivers can keep their eyes on the road," Deering said.

Bluetooth

Despite some states' laws to the contrary, drivers aren't going to stop using cell phones while driving. So automakers are doing their best to make it as safe as possible. Installing hands-free technologies such as Bluetooth across their entire lineups is a major focus. "There's a social responsibility we feel in developing a system like that," said Coetzee. "It's taking a more reasonable approach than just saying, 'Don't use a cell phone when you drive.'"

Audio systems

Automakers are pushing to integrate vehicle sound systems on digital platforms and to create easy interfaces with MP3 players so there is a central, convenient source of control on the dash — instead of the makeshift assemblages of iPod cradles, extenders, power-port plug-ins and other devices that many drivers now use. Most vehicles already are available with steering-wheel-mounted audio controls.

Fold-down front seats

Many vehicles now offer fold-down front passenger seats with flat backs that drivers can use as makeshift desks, as well as110-volt power ports to power their laptops.

Food and beverage handling

This is an area that exemplifies how automakers can enhance the multitasking experience without making it more distracting or dangerous — the ultimate win-win tactic. Chrysler, for example, figures that as long as you're going to demand drink holders, they might as well help you maintain the beverage temperature you want. So in the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger sedans, there's a cupholder option that allows drivers to keep drinks warm or cool. Other manufacturers have expanded the number, sizes and locations of their front-seat cupholders to put beverages within easier reach. Even the tiny Mazda Miata now has door-mounted cupholders capable of holding a regular-size Starbucks coffee.

Chrysler, for one, has drawn the line at installing food trays up front. "We actually looked at a compartment that would hold a fast-food hamburger or other sandwich," said Ralph Gilles, a product vice president for Chrysler's Jeep unit. "But that was the point where we were inviting a little more activity than we really want from the driver. And what could you add for food beyond that?"

Because there's no sign whatsoever that Americans are going to multitask less, auto designers are going to have more and more such internal discussions — leading to increasingly difficult decisions.

"You could say we're only helping the dysfunctionality of America with some of the things we do in vehicles now," Gilles said. "But it's the reality of the marketplace."

Source: Edmunds

Buicks Are ‘In’ This Season in Trend-Setting Miami

Buick’s October retail sales were the highest since 2006, putting the brand on track for its best retail sales year since that year. Year-over-year sales to individual customers increased for the sixth straight month, up 15 percent. Total Buick sales, including those sold to executive fleets and other commercial customers, also grew by 15 percent.

Miami – a city dominated by luxury and import vehicles – is among the places where Buick is growing rapidly. More than twice as many metropolitan Miami car shoppers chose Buick in October compared to 2011, with retail sales up 117 percent.

“Miami is a unique and challenging market,” said Greg Ross, Buick regional zone manager for Florida. “Luxury brands often outsell more affordable brands and the mainstream segments are import-oriented, too. Buick’s growth in this image-conscious market is all about great products, advertising and dealers.”

Mark Naszradi, general manager for Williamson Buick-GMC in Miami, credits Experience Buick for attracting new customers to his showroom. “The new approach to leasing has really helped us,” Naszradi said. “Miami is a big leasing area.”

Experience Buick is a 24-month lease that includes SiriusXM satellite radio, OnStar Directions and Connections and oil changes in the monthly payments. Since launching in mid-March, lease penetration has grown from 47 percent of Buick sales in Miami to 65 percent in October.

Nationally, leasing has more than doubled since the introduction of Experience Buick.

The new 2013 Enclave luxury crossover is now arriving at dealers with many new standard features, including the industry’s first front center air bag and an IntelliLink voice command system. Enclave retail sales were up 1 percent year-over-year in October.

Source: Buick News

Monday Maintenance Tip: How To Handle Scheduled Car Maintenance

Many car owners spend little or no time preparing for a scheduled maintenance visit to the dealership. They merely drive in and agree to the recommendation of the service advisor. This can be a costly error.

This article will tell you how, when and where to have your car serviced. It will also show you how to use the various tools on Edmunds.com to schedule service visits with local dealerships or independent garages.

We'll tell you how to prepare for your encounter with the service advisor, and how to tell if you are being overcharged for scheduled car maintenance.

What Is Needed?
The car's service manual is the best way to learn how to maintain your car. It was written by the factory representatives who designed and built the car. It stands to reason that they should also know how best to keep everything running smoothly.

Now consider the role of the service advisor at your local dealership. This person is certainly knowledgeable about your car. However, the service advisor also gets a commission for all work done on your car. Therefore, if he or she recommends a brake job, for example, a slice of your payment will go into his or her pocket.

In another instance, the car's manual may say that the automatic transmission fluid doesn't have to be changed until 80,000 miles, but the service advisor says it's best to change it at 30,000 miles. Who's right? Consider this: The service advisor gets a commission for all the parts and services he sells. So his opinion isn't exactly unbiased.

New Vehicles Under Warranty
If your car is less than three years old and has fewer than 36,000 miles (or whatever the terms of your warranty are), mechanical problems will be fixed under the bumper-to-bumper warranty for no charge. However, this doesn't cover wear items like brake pads, and your car will still need "routine maintenance" for which you will have to pay. Routine maintenance is most often oil and filter changes, tire rotations and various inspections. After about the length of your warranty, the routine maintenance often becomes more involved and more expensive.

An Overview of Required Service
Car owners usually become aware of the need for routine maintenance at certain mileage intervals. These intervals are described in the owner's manual or in our car maintenance section. Changing your oil every 3,000 miles as "recommended" by the quick oil change chains and car dealerships is typically more than twice as often as necessary. Again, look to the owner's manual for proper scheduled car maintenance intervals.

Some vehicles will even have a reminder display indicating that a service, typically an oil change, is required at a certain mileage point. Still other vehicles will use a "maintenance minder," which will only become illuminated when the work is actually required. A computer in the car's engine makes a calculation based on a number of factors that more accurately determine the time at which oil begins to break down.

Scheduling a Service Visit
You should review your car's manual to find the actual work that is required at the appropriate mileage interval. Print this out along with the estimate of costs in our maintenance section.

Increasingly, dealership Web sites have an e-mail link to the service manager. You can e-mail the service advisor for an appointment and get a quote for the work you want done. This will give you a chance to review the charges and compare the quote with other dealerships or independent garages before you commit to using their services.

Alternately, you might call several dealerships, ask for the service department and get quotes. Make sure you get the advisor's name for future reference. Once you've decided who you're going to take your car to, you can call them back to set a time to bring in your car.

Before you go to the dealership, you should check for recalls and Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) that have been issued for your car. Print out any information you find and give this to the service advisor. (A good service advisor should automatically clear all recalls and TSBs on your vehicle but this doesn't always happen.)

At the Dealership
When you arrive at the dealership, you will be welcomed by a "greeter." Often, this person will take the vehicle identification number (VIN) and the vehicle's mileage and write this on a form that is given to the service advisor. Your car is about to be driven away so take your wallet, purse, computer and anything else you need. You will then meet with the service advisor. If it is early in the morning, it could be busy in the service department and the service advisor could be rushed and impatient. Don't be pressured. A lot of money is at stake here.

Often, the interaction will begin with the service advisor saying, "How many miles do you have on your car?" You should understand this is their opening gambit for a sales pitch. You can answer, "There are 20,000 miles on my car, but all I want is an oil and filter change and tire rotation." The service advisor might then whip out an official-looking list of "dealer-recommended services" and say, "We recommend this service be done at 20,000 miles." If you look at this list, you'll see that many items on it are not shown in your car's service manual.

At this point, many people will accept the recommendation of the service advisor. After all, the service advisor is an expert who is acting on your behalf. Right? Well, not exactly. It's not uncommon for the difference between the "dealer recommended services" and the maintenance listed in your car's manual to be more than $100. In other cases it has been much more.

Later, while inspecting your vehicle, the technician may sometimes notice additional items that need attention on your car, such as an oil leak or a worn hose. He then makes those recommendations to the advisor. Be aware that not all of these suggestions need to be taken care of that same day. If you agree to additional work, your basic service could turn into an expensive one. Feel free to get a second opinion, or hold off on non-emergency repairs until it fits your budget.

Saving Money on Service
In some cases, the service advisor will offer service packages that include an oil change and other repairs or changes, supposedly at a discount. Often, there really is a savings here. But make sure the package covers only the items in your car's manual and not costly and unnecessary service items.

It's not uncommon for a service advisor to provide a discount or coupon for service. This can knock the price down a lot. But it also complicates this situation and makes it hard to see the real cost. Be prepared for this and take a moment to calculate the bottom line costs. It's all too easy just to agree to the extra costs in the heat of the moment.

You will then be given an estimate of the charges involved. It should approximately match the costs listed in our car maintenance section. If it doesn't, you should ask why the charges are higher. Use the information listed in our maintenance section. If the disparity is high and the service advisor doesn't adequately justify the extra costs, you can leave and shop for a better deal at another dealership.

Important Points To Consider:

• Don't always assume that more frequent oil changes than indicated in your owner's manual are beneficial for your car.
• Remember that the service advisor profits from work and parts he or she sells you.
• Understand the maintenance schedule in your car's manual.

Source: Edmunds

2013 SmartSlide & Third Row Seating | GMC Acadia Interior Space

Car Tip of the Week: Aftermarket Versus Manufacturer Car Parts

When you take your car to the dealership's service department for repairs, you know you're getting Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) car parts. However, if you take your car to an independent shop, you'll most likely get aftermarket car parts. Is there anything wrong with that? Does a less expensive part mean a poorer-quality part? And in what situations should you use only OEM parts?

To answer these questions, we've created a list of pros and cons to help you make a more informed decision when choosing what parts go into your car. In this way, you can strike a balance between cost and quality.

Aftermarket Parts

An aftermarket part is any part for a vehicle that is not sourced from the car's maker. If the parts are direct replacement parts, they will not void your car's warranty. A number of companies make parts designed to function the same, or in some cases even better than the original. Tom Torbjornsen, host of America's Car Show, estimates that about 80 percent of independent shops use aftermarket parts. "Be an informed consumer," said Torbjornsen."Shop around, make sure you're dealing with a good mechanic and request high-quality aftermarket parts."

PROS

• Less expensive: Aftermarket parts are usually less expensive than OEM parts; how much you save varies by brand. Shop around to find the best price and to get an idea of how much that part usually costs. If the price of a part seems too good to be true, ask questions about its quality.
• Quality can be equal to or greater than OEM: In some cases, you may end up with a better part than you started with. "The aftermarket companies reverse-engineer the part, and work the weaknesses out," said Torbjornsen. For example, when an automaker designs its brake pads, it has to strike a balance between cost, durability, noise levels and performance. If you want better performance and don't mind some extra brake noise (some brake pads squeak even though they are stopping the car effectively), an aftermarket pad may be your best choice.
• More variety: There are hundreds of companies that make aftermarket parts. Some specialize in specific parts, and other companies, like NAPA, make almost any part you can think of. More variety means greater selection and a wider range of prices.
• Better availability: You can walk into any gas station, auto parts store or local mechanic, and they're bound to have a part that fits your car. This gives you more options on where to take your car for service.

CONS

• Quality varies greatly: The saying "you get what you pay for" rings true here. Some aftermarket parts are inferior because of the use of lower-quality materials. Stick with aftermarket brands you're familiar with or are recommended by a mechanic you trust, even if these parts cost a bit more.
• Overwhelming selection: If you're not familiar with aftermarket brands, the selection could be overwhelming, and there's some chance you may get a bad quality part. Even a part as simple as a spark plug can be made by dozens of different companies and comes in numerous variations. Consult your mechanic for advice or simply stick with the OEM part when the price difference isn't significant.
• May not have a warranty: To keep costs down, some aftermarket parts are sold without a warranty.

OEM Parts

OEM parts are made by the vehicle's manufacturer. These match the parts that came with your vehicle when it rolled off the assembly line.

PROS

• Easier to choose your part: If you go to the parts counter at a dealership and ask for any part, you'll usually get one type. You don't have to worry about assessing the quality of different brands and prices.
• Greater assurance of quality: The OEM part should work exactly as the one you are replacing. It is what the vehicle was manufactured with and provides a peace of mind in its familiarity and performance.
• Comes with a warranty: Most automakers back up their OEM parts with a one-year warranty. And if you get your car repaired at the dealer, they'll usually stand by their labor as well.

CONS

• More expensive: OEM parts will usually cost more than an aftermarket part. When it comes to bodywork, OEM parts tend to cost about 60 percent more, according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI). There is more of a burden on parts and service to increase a dealership's profit, since the sales departments have been underperforming. But the gap in pricing might be closing, says Torbjornsen. "We've seen a balance in the scales; dealers are now trying to compete with independent shops."
• Need to be bought at the dealership: Even though there are other ways of buying OEM parts (eBay, online wholesalers), most people will go to a dealership to buy their car parts. This limits the number of places you can buy from. You can request OEM parts from your local mechanic, but it may take longer to get your vehicle repaired since the parts must be ordered.
• Quality may not be superior: You paid the extra money for an OEM part, hoping that it was vastly better than an aftermarket part. But that may not always be the case. As Torbjornsen mentioned earlier, some aftermarket parts are equal to or in some cases better than OEM parts. So you might be paying extra just for the name.

When Should You Request OEM Parts?

When it comes to collision repairs, make sure you are getting OEM parts, since aftermarket body panels may not fit properly or have proper crumple zones for crash safety.

If you lease your car, there are also economic considerations. Since aftermarket parts decrease a vehicle's book value, using them to repair your vehicle's body may cost you part or all of your security deposit.

But here's the rub: In 21 states and the District of Columbia, a body shop's repair estimate does not have to indicate whether aftermarket parts will be used. You'll often find that your insurance company will favor aftermarket parts because they are cheaper. If you request OEM parts, some insurance companies ask you to pay an additional fee. Check with your insurance provider beforehand, to see what parts they will cover.

Which Is the Best Way To Go?

All aftermarket parts are not created equal — but all OEM parts are. This creates its own set of advantages and disadvantages. If you're familiar with a number of brands or work on your own car, aftermarket parts can save you a lot of money. If you're not familiar with aftermarket brands, prefer to have everything done at the dealership and don't mind paying a bit extra for that peace of mind, OEM is a good choice for you.

Source: Edmunds

GM to debut new Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra pickups in December

General Motors plans to reveal its redesigned Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full-size pickups Dec. 13 in Detroit, officials said Monday.

The highly anticipated trucks are central to GM's profitability in North America. The Silverado 1500, which hasn't been redesigned since 2006, is easily GM's best-selling vehicle in the U.S. at 298,200 units in the first nine months of the year.

The 2014 Silverado and Sierra are expected to hit showrooms at an unspecified time in 2013. The public will get to see the vehicles in person at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January.

"The bold exterior design of the new Silverado reflects the enhanced capabilities of the truck while features such as jewel-like, projector beam headlamps showcase the careful attention given to every detail," GM said in a statement.

The Silverado has entered the "final validation" phase and "torture testing," the automaker said earlier this month. The pickup competes against Ford's F-150 series and Chrysler's Ram pickup.

The vehicle will start production in 2013 at the company's plants in Ft. Wayne, Ind., and Silao, Mexico.

Silverado marketing manager Tony Truelove said in a recent interview that the new vehicle would balance "performance capability and fuel economy."

"We don't trade off one to get the other. We feel we have a very good overall truck and will continue to improve on that formula for the next generation," Truelove said.

Source: Nathan Bomey, Detroit Free Press

Monday Maintenance Tip: Identify the Issue Before You Pay for Repairs or DIY

Unless you're a gearhead or an ace mechanic, you probably can't diagnose common automotive problems on your own. But bringing your car in for repairs whenever it misbehaves is inconvenient and expensive. Wouldn't it be easier if you could troubleshoot car problems before you pay for service? The fix might turn out to be something simple that doesn't even require a shop visit.

That's where Edmunds can help. Our editors and car-savvy readers offer a wealth of automotive information on the many hiccups and breakdowns that affect different models. Although identifying the cause of a rattle or squeak may seem like panning for gold, a few choice nuggets of owner info could save you substantial amounts of time and money, and help you better describe a vehicle's trouble to a service advisor or mechanic.

Defining the Problem

Does your vehicle's misery have company? The Edmunds features below will help you troubleshoot car problems by reading the experiences of other drivers and owners.

• Look at our Long-Term Road Tests to see if we've had your model in our fleet. If so, read what our editors said while putting the car through its paces. Whatever problems a particular model or brand tends to have, chances are our editors will have discovered it.

Example: Our testing director's daughter burned her legs on a Mini Cooper S tailpipe because it extended too far out from the back of the car. That problem was shared by all Coopers with the same design.

• Check for Recalls or Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) for your vehicle. Recalls are government-mandated, relate to safety and emissions issues, and have no end date. TSBs cover other types of issues, are voluntarily sent to dealers by automakers and are generally good during warranty only. Auto repairs on recalls and TSBs are usually done free of charge. But don't expect the automaker to notify you about TSBs. Unlike recalls, which are infrequent on a particular model, TSBs can number in the dozens, but it's often worth the time spent searching.

Examples: Anyone searching under "2007 Mini Cooper" will discover a government recall for the exhaust pipe issue mentioned above. But even minor problems, like engine rattles and overheated footwells, were listed as Mini Cooper TSBs that dealers would fix — if consumers knew enough to ask.

• In Consumer Ratings and Reviews, owners frequently post entries when something goes wrong with their cars, and they'll often document their attempts at repair. Input your year, make and model (and style/trim if needed) to see only entries related to your vehicle. Or search under other years or models as well.

You've Got Questions, We've Got AnswersSometimes you need a more personal approach. That's where Edmunds' social media is at its best, allowing you to start or join a conversation, or ask a direct question.

• On Edmunds Answers (below), readers ask automotive questions, and other readers and Edmunds staffers answer those questions directly. You can ask a new question or search previously asked questions in the Maintenance and Repair category to find others who've had issues similar to yours.
• Ask questions on our Facebook page and on Twitter. Other vehicle owners, Edmunds staff, dealers, and even manufacturers are available to help answer your inquiries.
• CarSpace Forums offer a great deal of information from experts and fellow owners. Use the make/model pull-down menus to find the discussions related to your vehicle. Then search within these discussions for the main issue or faulty part causing the problem — such as "steering and suspension" or "dimming lights" — to quickly locate other owners with an answer about this issue. Or you can look under the Maintenance & Repair Forum. You can join an existing discussion or start one of your own.

Example: When the transmission died on one of our editors' personal vehicles (a 2002 Honda Odyssey), we discovered through the Forums that those transmissions were failure-prone. Armed with that information, we were able to get a dealer service center to replace it free of charge, even though the van was a few months past its warranty.

Other Resources

Although Edmunds has most of the bases covered, you may not always find what you're looking for on our site. If that happens, try the following.

• Auto Zone's troubleshooting guide. It's comprehensive, well executed and fun to use.
• eHow.com's category on Diagnosing Car Problems allows you to search under text, videos or both, with topics like "Troubleshooting Electric Motor Starters" and "Clutch Replacement Signs." Master mechanics and other professionals contribute most of the information.
• If you think your car's problem may affect its safety, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration's consumer site, SaferCar.gov can help. Use this site to learn if there's a potential safety problem before a recall is issued by searching "Early Warning Reports" and "Defect Investigations" for your vehicle. You can also use the site to file a complaint about a vehicle, component, child seat or tire.

Once you identify potential sources for your vehicle's problem, print out the information and bring it with you to a mechanic who knows your make very well. The Edmunds community can assist here, too: Our Dealer Ratings and Reviews and Auto Repair Shop Directory can help you to choose the best local repair shop for your needs.

Source: Edmunds

Buick Human Highlight Reel | Tamika Catchings | Catch The Stars Foundation :30

Car Tip of the Week: Calling Roadside Assistance

When you're broken down by the side of the road, your motor club card suddenly becomes your most precious possession. But with roadside assistance programs being pushed by credit card and cell phone companies — to name just a few recent entries to this field — how do you choose from the glut of plans available?

Before trouble strikes, it's important to choose a roadside assistance provider that meets your needs. Experts suggest weighing your options. "Be sure it covers the person, not the vehicle," says Doug McLendon, director of roadside programs for AAA, the largest auto club in the country. "Look for a flexible plan that offers benefits to suit your personal needs and won't leave you with out-of-pocket expenses after a breakdown."

According to Better World Club President Mitch Rofsky, "You definitely want to ask about the turnaround time for a service call," referring to the wait time for help to arrive. "Then, consider the extra benefits of each program, like discounts and travel information."

Taking the time to review all the details of your roadside assistance program (or programs) can pay off when you're stranded and need to decide quickly who to call. Auto clubs vary widely in costs and benefits. Dividing roadside assistance programs into three categories — freebies, add-ons and stand-alones — may help to simplify the choice.

Freebies

Roadside assistance usually gets tucked into the package for free when you buy a new or certified pre-owned car. Edmunds.com editors have compiled a list of roadside assistance coverage for new cars based on manufacturer. Each automaker sets its own limits on how long the free service will last by mileage or age of vehicle. Some used car deals also include roadside assistance plans, but they may require a separate inspection. Generally, a tow provided through one of these plans will take your car to the nearest dealership, which implies higher-priced parts and labor, unless the faulty parts are under warranty.

OnStar, included free for one year on all new GM vehicles, streamlines roadside assistance. Wireless and GPS technology installed in the vehicles connects drivers with a call center that dispatches towing and other emergency services and can remotely unlock doors and help locate stolen cars. After the grace period, OnStar costs $200 or more annually, depending on the level of coverage. If your new car is your only vehicle and you don't pile on the miles, the more conventional three-to-seven-year roadside assistance package that comes with the car may be all you need.

The free roadside assistance programs offered through cell phone plans or credit card agreements need closer scrutiny. Two major carriers have faced lawsuits from customers who claim they were being billed for what they thought were free roadside assistance plans. Some cell phone-based plans require that the call for assistance be made from the phone that includes the plan.

What appear to be free roadside assistance programs offered through some credit card companies can turn out to be glorified dispatch services. The tow truck arrives and the technician provides whatever service is required, but later, charges for that service appear on the credit card account.

Add-On Plans

A growing number of businesses and organizations, from Sam's Club to the AARP, offer roadside assistance plans for a small charge added to other membership or service fees. These add-on plans are usually contracted out to national roadside assistance providers such as Road America, and the level of dependability is comparable.

However, the benefits are not necessarily the same. For instance, the roadside assistance plan obtained through a personal Allstate insurance policy covers only the insured vehicle, while a plan offered by Allstate Motor Club covers the cardholder (plus an additional driver) in any car being driven by either of them. Also look carefully at the number of miles allowed for each tow and the number of people covered in these plans to avoid unpleasant surprises later on.

Some insurance companies treat roadside assistance service calls made through their add-on plans like accident claims. Too many requests for help with a lockout could result in higher premiums. If the service calls are reported to ChoicePoint, the insurance industry record-keeper, your eligibility for coverage may be jeopardized.

Stand-Alone Plans

Families, especially ones with teen drivers, usually spend enough time on the road to take advantage of the services offered by stand-alone roadside assistance providers such as the companies mentioned below. No two auto clubs are the same, and most offer two or more levels of membership.

To compound the confusion, many auto clubs sprinkle in benefits of little or no value, running the gamut from paying for ambulance transport (usually covered by health insurance) to providing reward money for help in the conviction of car thieves. Lodging discounts and travel advice at some clubs amount to the same kind of information you'd find at Travelocity or Mapquest. Consider how often you'll really need a guaranteed arrest bond for a traffic violation.

Ask Questions

Five key questions to ask when comparing roadside assistance plans are:

• What is the cost of a basic membership?
• How many people are covered in the basic membership?
• How many tows per person are allowed each year?
• What is the average response time per service call?
• What percentage of service calls will require reimbursement and what percentage will be completely covered by the membership? (Motor clubs usually don't have this information readily at hand, but you can use this rule of thumb: The more detailed the information in the members' handbook about how to request a reimbursement, the more likely you will be reimbursed rather than towed without paying up front.)

Reap Benefits

Once you've decided on a plan, familiarize yourself with all its benefits so you can use them when the opportunity arises. AAA, actually an affiliation of more than 75 regional auto clubs, gives you the choice of a tow to the nearest repair facility no matter how far, or to a location of your choice within a specified number of miles (depending on the level of membership you choose). In addition to its long-standing rating system for lodging, AAA also inspects auto repair companies and will arbitrate complaints made by members about any certified service facility. A mobile battery testing and replacement service provides on-the-scene maintenance or installation for AAA members.

Better World Club is one of the fastest-growing auto clubs. It features environmentally friendly options like bicycle roadside assistance and discounts on hybrid car rentals as well as traditional motor club services. BWC members can also support ecological change with carbon offsets, payments that support renewable energy production or programs that work to counteract emissions by absorbing carbon dioxide.

It's also important to be aware of situations that your plan doesn't cover, such as a vehicle disabled in a flood or one stranded on a highway like the New Jersey Turnpike, where local governments prohibit all but certain licensed towing companies. Keep a roadside emergency kit on board as well as some spare change in case your cell phone connection cuts out.

Plowing through all the options for roadside assistance may seem as appealing as running on fumes through rush-hour traffic. But once you know how and when you're covered, you can usually recoup the cost of your plan the first time you call for help.

Source: Edmunds