2010 Car Guide

Thursday April 29, 2010

Custom RidesThere’s an accessory out there for you

By COURTNEY WESTLAKE

for the Herald & Review

DECATUR – If you buy acar straight from the lot,the chances are that it ispretty standard…and alot like the cars thateveryone else are driving.

Adding accessories orupgrading features of thevehicle, on the otherhand, will help tailor it toyour own personality.“Your vehicle is as mucha part of you as theclothes have on; you tryto look nice anywhereyou go, and you alsowant to look nice whenyou’re in your vehicle bycustomizing it,” saidMike Rodden, owner ofAlpha Omega AutoSound, which haslocations in both andTaylorville. “A lot ofpeople spend a lot of timein their car, so it’s nice tohave something like that.Without having acustomized vehicle, itfeels like something ismissing.”

Changing from clothto leather interior,upgrading radio systemsand adding navigationsystems are all popularoptions for enhancingyour car, truck or SUV.And because of changesin state law which allowfor window tinting,

drivers are clamoring forthe darkened windows.

“Window tinting isthe most popular thingwe do now,” said RonMiller, owner of TruckStop in Decatur. “Mostpeople think cars lookbetter like that; somepeople do it to keep glareout. It also gives UVprotection on all leatherinterior.”

Leather interiors havealso become all the rage,Rodden said.

“(It’s because of) theease of cleaning; you canclean spills like soda onleather much easier, butit will stain cloth,” hesaid. “People also chooseto put in heated seatswith leather. Leather getsreally hot in the summerand cold in the winter,and at least you cancombat the cold in thewinter.”

Change in everydaytechnology has made forsome changing trends incars as well, Rodden said.In recent years, there hasbeen a decline insubwoofer systems, butan increase in iPodintegration.

“When iPods cameout, we saw the stereomarket turn and focustoward that particularaccessory,” he said.

“Everyone has an iPod ormp3 player of some kind.A lot more people aredownloading music, sothat became a very largeitem for us.”

Not only doindividuals desire achange to their car, butcar dealers themselvesoften look to companieslike Alpha Omega and theTruck Stop for vehicleupgrades.

“The (car) salesperson will call, get aprice from us, and webend over backwards forthem; sometimes we areeven able to get the jobdone within the day,”Miller said.

Truck Stop willattempt to work withmost kinds of requestsfrom customers, Millersaid.

“We’re not afraid totry anything,” he said.“The most unique thingwe’ve done recently isput semi-tires and wheelson a pick-up truck. We’vehad a couple of peopleask about it since. We’restarting to work onHarley-Davidsons nowtoo.”

The quality ofaccessories or vehicleenhancements done at aspecialty shop ascompared to a

manufacturer isnoticeably better, Roddensaid. Heated seats get“twice as warm, twice asfast” as factory seats, andfactory speakers are notvery high-quality, hesaid.

“If you buy what’s inthe car from the factory,they put a lot of workinto making cheapspeakers sound as goodas they can,” he said. “Sothe longevity of thosespeakers is six months toa year. We have radiosput in nine years ago,and they’re still going.It’s a night-and-daydifference. You’re notnecessarily getting morevolume, but betterclarity. The quality is 10times better in an after-market piece, and youdon’t have to worry aboutit breaking.” [email protected]

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2 SPRING 2010 AUTOMOTIVE GUIDE Herald & Review • www.herald-review.com April 29, 2010

April 29, 2010 Herald & Review • www.herald-review.com SPRING 2010 AUTOMOTIVE GUIDE 3

Crown Toyota Scion A sleeker, more aero-dynamic body style makes up the newly

redesigned 2011 Toyota Sienna minivan, which has been out for acouple of months. On the limited model, the vehicle has new interiorconfigurations where the second row of seats slides back and canrecline like a reclining chair.

The limited model also features a top-of-the-line voice-activatednavigation system, a panoramic camera for the rear and a DVD playerwith two screens.

“So you could make the DVD you’re watching into a widescreenor you could play two different DVDs at once,” said Steve Walden ofCrown.

The 2011 Toyota Avalon is also an exciting brand-new vehicle onCrown’s lot, which has been named best in class for backseat comfortand is the first in its class to have a back-up camera as standardequipment, Walden said. The Avalon gets 20 miles per gallon in thecity and 29 on the highway.

On the Scion lot, the Scion xB is a roomy four-door car that has40 different options available for customizing.

“Scion lets customers personalize it to their taste,” Walden said.“Some want more basic, some want options and it gives you theflexibility to do that.”

Some popular added options are spoilers, navigation systems,upgraded radios like XM satellite, exhaust tips and rear bumperappliqués, Walden said. Scion vehicles have been a big hit with all agegroups, he noted.

The Scion tC model has also been very popular, and the Scion xDis smaller than the xB with a different body style, while still boastinga lot of room in the vehicle.

Crown Toyota Scion

255 W. Pershing Rd., Decatur

872-5000

2011 Toyota Sienna

2010 Scion Xb

2010 Scion Xd

2010 Scion Tc





Automobile insuranceis so necessary inprotecting those who areout on the road that it isrequired by law from thestate.

But purchasinginsurance should be donewith much moreconsideration than simplyfollowing state laws,according to KarinBetzer-Grady, accountexecutive with J.L.Hubbard Insurance andBonds.

“It behooves you to get

adequate coverage,”Betzer-Grady said. “Ifyou’re in an accident andyou only have coverage upto $20,000, and theperson you hit has avehicle worth $23,000, allexpenses incurred – bothto the vehicle and medicalexpenses for the person –past your insurance limitcome from your pocket. Itdoesn’t take much to runup expenses over a lowlimit, and then you’reresponsible for those out-of-pocket. You want tomake sure you arecovered adequately, which

is different for eachperson.”

The purpose ofinsurance is to protectyourself and your familymembers in the eventthat you suffer a loss toyour property or personalharm and to protectyourself from lossessuffered by others. Thestate minimum requiredin Illinois doesn’t actuallycover much if you areinvolved in a bad accident,said Don Whitacre, ofWhitacre-McNamaraInsurance.

“No matter how good

of a driver you think youare, people always makemistakes,” Whitacre said.“Most are fortunate, butsometime people getinvolved in that accident

where people are injuredand you’re at fault.Adequate auto insurancecan protect you fromlawsuits.”

Protect YourselfBuying the proper insurance is an important part of car ownership

Insurance continued on page 7

Jackson FordThe 2010 Ford Fusion is a five-passenger, four-door sedan that is

available with a 4-cylinder or 6-cylinder engine, or as a hybrid. Thevehicle offers Ford’s exclusive sync program, which allows the abilityto have hands-free telephone and voice texting with both outgoingand incoming texts.

“It’s really a safety thing because you can keep your eyes on theroad at all times,” said Dave Freundt, sales manager at Jackson. Inaddition to the sync program, the Fusion also is available with built-in navigation and other modern options, he added.

“And it’s very economical with mileage ranges from 34 miles pergallon with the 4-cylinder engine to 41 miles per gallon with thehybrid,” Freundt said.

Jackson Ford will also be introducing a brand-new 2011 Mustang,which will be available in August. Another new model is an old brandname that is being re-introduced: the Ford Fiesta will also be for salein the late summer and is a compact car with mileages in the 40s,Freundt said.

Jackson Ford

455 E. Pershing Rd., Decatur

877-5441

2010 Ford Fusion

2011 Ford Mustang



Insurance continued from page 5

In general, there aretwo kinds of autoinsurance: full coverageand liability only. The twomost important types ofliability coverage arecalled bodily injuryliability, which coversinjury to other people,and property damageliability, which coversdamage to someone else’sproperty, Whitacre said.

“I’ve had people driveinto houses and all kindsof crazy things,” he said.“People should carry atleast $100,000 per personand $300,000 per accidentin bodily injury liability.”

You can also purchase

plans that cover medicalpayments to the policyowner and otherpassengers in the policyowner’s car, uninsuredand underinsuredmotorist coverage andphysical damage.Coverage that includesphysical damage to yourcar is classified as“collision” and“comprehensive.”

“You can writecomprehensive withoutcollision,” Betzer-Gradysaid. “Sometimes peoplemight park their vehiclesoutside, and they wantcomprehensive coverage,so we provide that so theyare protected fromvandalism, limbs falling

on their cars, sleetdamage and that sort ofthing.”

In evaluating yourauto insurance orshopping around for anew policy, Betzer-Gradyencouraged policy ownersto know how much youneed to protect yourselfagainst potential lawsuitsand know the value ofyour vehicle. Shoppingaround between differentcompanies and policieswill enable you to find thebest coverage at the bestprice, she said.

“One big reason thatpeople don’t switch to adifferent carrier is thatyou have to get together alot of information that

you don’t normally have(right in front of you),”she said. “But you shoulddefinitely shop aroundand get quotes. If it savesyou a little bit of money,it’s worth it.”

Calling a localinsurance agency is thebest thing you can do,Whitacre said. He said hehas seen firsthand thekind of mistakes peoplecan make if they buy autocoverage over theInternet.

“Most people don’tknow what kind ofcoverage to buy, andthat’s what an agent isfor,” he said. “Get a goodagent and take thatagent’s advice. Insurance

is very complicated, and itcan ruin people if youdon’t have the rightcoverage.”

Betzer-Grady agreedthat personal attentionfrom an agent can savepeople a lot of trouble.

“To me, it’s thepersonal service andattention that you don’tget if you buy online,” shesaid. “You don’t have thatagent explaining to youabout your coverage andthe different aspects ofyour policy, and you don’thave someone you can goto if you have questions orhave an immediateproblem.”

[email protected]


Miles Chevrolet NissanWith a rear DVD system, power rear-lift gates, back seats that fold

flat and seating for seven to eight passengers, the Chevrolet Traversehas become the center of attention in the land of automobiles. Thesport utility vehicle has picked up first place awards from ConsumerReports, Consumers Digest and the Kelley Blue Book in the familySUV category, said Rob Evans, Chevrolet sales manager at Miles.

“It has fuel mileage of 25 miles per gallon on the highway, whichis very good for that SUV segment with that much seating,” Evanssaid.

The 2010 Chevrolet Equinox is also taking home sport utilityvehicle awards this year, with gas mileage up to 32 miles per gallon,and the 2010 Chevy Malibu is an award-winner in the mid-sizedsedan market, Evans said.

In the Nissan line, the 2010 Nissan Altima is a 2.5 S four-doorsedan with 175 horsepower engine and 10-year, 125,000 milewarranty. The Altima boasts 32 miles to the gallon, said MauriceBrown, Nissan sales manager at Miles.

“It has been ranked the number one mid-sized car from J.D.Power and Associates,” he said.

The Altima also has a state-of-the-art intelligence key with push-button ignition.

“You can keep your keys in your pocket permanently becauseyou’re albe to control and start the car within a foot-and-a-halfradius, so there’s no more locking your keys in your car,” Brown said.

Also worth checking out on the Nissan lot are the Nissan Cubewith an all-new design and the Maxima, which is a luxury vehicle.

Miles Chevrolet Nissan

150 W. Pershing Rd., Decatur

877-4440

2010 Chevy Traverse

2010 Chevy Equinox

2010 Nissan Altima

2010 Nissan Cube

2010 Nissan Maxima



Poage Auto MallThe GMC Terrain has a four-cylinder

engine, getting 22 miles per gallon in the cityand 32 on the highway. New features of theTerrain include remote keyless entry, rear-vision camera and dual stage front driver andpassenger air bags with a passenger sensingsystem.

The vehicle also has available touchscreen navigation system and availableremote start, as well as a DVD entertainmentsystem that is also available.

Be sure to also check out the GMC Acadiaand the Yukon, which are both larger sportsutility vehicles, and the GMC Sierra pick-uptruck.

The Buick La Crosse is a luxury sportsedan that comes standard with heated driverand front passenger seats and StabiliTrak, astability control system with break assist andtraction control. The vehicle also has an

available touch screen and voice-activatednavigation system, and a feature called XMNavTraffic incorporates real-time roadconditions like construction or an accidentto help you find the best route.

Other notable vehicles from Buickinclude the Lucerne, a sedan, and theEnclave sport utility vehicle.

Poage Auto Mall

1500 Koester Dr., Forsyth

875-2110

2010 GMC Terrain

2010 GMC Acadia


Bob Ridings (Decatur)The Lincoln Mercury Mariner is a sleek sports utility vehicle that

comes in hybrid and standard, said Larry Grischow, general managerat Bob Ridings in Decatur. The hybrid gets an impressive 34 miles pergallon in the city. The Mariner is available with voice-activatednavigation and can be synced with 911 Assist. It also has availableActive Park Assist, which means that it can almost parallel-park itself.The cargo space is 31.3 cubic feet, and the seats fold down in back togive the vehicle even more cargo space.

“So it not only has a great ride and gas mileage, but you can haula lot of stuff,” Grischow said.

Other noteworthy vehicles in the Lincoln line include the MKT,which was voted best in class for fuel economy and has a refrigeratedconsole and DVD screens in the headrest, as well as the MercuryMilan.

The Suzuki’s 2010 Kizashi comes standard with keyless pushbutton ignition and eight standard air bags. It is available in all-wheeldrive, Grischow said.

“It’s a sporty and elegant sedan,” he said. “It’s the winner of 17international Car of the Year awards.”

The Suzuki 2010 Equator pick-up truck and Suzuki SX4, whichgets 30-plus miles per gallon, are also exciting vehicles currently onthe Bob Ridings lot.

Bob Ridings

3103 N. 22nd St., Decatur

877-3102

2010 Lincoln Mercury Mariner

2010 Lincoln MKT

2010 Suzuki Kizashi

2010 Suzuki SX4

7 Green Interior Car Care Tips Making green changes to the way you care for your vehicle

extends beyond the type of fuel you use or keeping your tiresproperly inflated. Modifications to the way you care for the interiorcan mean the difference between eco-friendly and not.

Many times detailing the interior of a vehicle requires a lot ofstrong chemicals. But it doesn't have to.

1. Keep up with mess. If you clean as items become soiled, youwon't have to rely on harsh chemicals to remove set-in stains.

2. Replace carpeted mats for rubberized ones. Choose recycledrubber mats, which will require a hose-down instead ofshampooing with strong carpet cleaners.

3. Invest in a quality shop vacuum or high-powered vacuum.Routinely vacuum the interior of the vehicle to prevent ground-indirt.

Care Care Tips Continued on page 16




Rick Ridings (Monticello)The Mercury Mariner sports utility vehicle has four-wheel drive,

heated seats, reverse-sensing navigation and is now available fromRick Ridings at zero percent interest for 60 months.

“It’s a great time to buy a car,” said sales manager RodneyThompson. “The Mariner is also available in hybrid; we have a few ofthose on the lot as well. If you go hybrid, it gets 34 miles to thegallon in the city, which is pretty good.”

The Mercury Grand Marquis is also exciting for those who areinterested in a large car. The Grand Marquis is a full-sized luxuryvehicle, Thompson said. The Mountaineer is available at zero percentinterest for 60 months as well, in addition to the Milan, which is afour-door sedan available with a four-cylinder or six-cylinder engine.

Rick Ridings

1817 Old Route 47, Monticello

762-2521

2010 Lincoln Mercury Mariner

2010 Mercury Milan



Sullivan-ParkhillSafety is the number one focus at Volvo as evidenced by exciting

features on recent models. The Volvo XC60 crossover vehicle has anavailable system called SIPS, or side impact protection system, aswell as a feature called City Safety.

“If the car in front of you stop abruptly, then your car – whetheryou hit the break or not – will stop for you, when you’re going under20 miles an hour in the city,” said Ken Moerdyk, of Sullivan-Parkhill.

The XC60 also has a whiplash protection system (WIPS) anddynamic stability traction control, or DSTC.

“DSTC measures whether the car is sliding or you are over-steering or under-steering and corrects it. It can apply one-cornerbreaking to force the vehicle to take the path you are steering for,”Moerdyk said.

Other impressive vehicles from Volvo include the XC90 SUVcrossover, which has rollover protection, and the 2011 S60, which iscoming out this fall.

Sullivan-Parkhill Automotive

440 W. Anthony Dr., Champaign

352-4275

2010 Volvo XC60

2010 Volvo S60

2010 Volvo XC90

Care Care Tips Continued from page 11

4. Buy seat covers. Instead of using harsh chemicals to cleanupholstery, removable seat covers may be able to be washed in awashing machine and cleaned with eco-friendly detergents.

5. Stock up on dusting cloths. Static-charged dusting cloths can beused to collect dust and debris from the dashboard and instrumentpanel. This reduces the need for spray dusting products.

6. Replace interior air filters. Most new vehicles have an airfiltration system for the interior of the vehicle. Clogged filters canproliferate contaminants inside the cabin of the car. Frequentlychange the filters to ensure cleaner interior air quality.

7. Leather interior fixer. You don't need expensive or harshproducts to condition leather interior. To clean leather seats, forexample, use a small drop of eco-friendly dish liquid worked into adamp rag. Clean the stain or seats. Use a damp, clean rag to collectany remaining moisture and soap residue. Buff with a dry cloth.Apply a miniscule amount of olive oil to a cloth and work it intothe leather to condition it. Don't use too much or you'll be leftwith oily seats and a mess. •




DECATUR – When warmerweather arrives, the generalpublic seems to get the itch toget out on the road to cruise instyle in a new vehicle.

“Spring always brings newsales,” said Diane Ellis, loanoperations manager at Land ofLincoln Credit Union.

A consumer has severaloptions when looking to financea vehicle, Ellis said. The lendingbank or credit union can hold thetitle of the vehicle, you could geta signature loan (which isunsecured) or you could put thevehicle on a home equity loan(which is secured by your house).With a high credit score, theseoptions will enable you to get alower interest rate than financingthrough a dealership.

Ellis recommended thatbuyers get pre-approved for avehicle loan before purchasingthe vehicle. The information youneed for pre-approval includesyour social security number,address, place of employmentand length of employment.

And if you’re not yet amember of the credit union, Ellissaid the process is simple andquick. A driver’s license and twoother forms of identification areneeded.

“Getting pre-approved (forvehicle financing) is beneficialbecause you want to know whatyour options are at your bank orcredit union before you go intothe dealership. A five-minute pre-approval saves a lot of time andmoney,” Ellis said. “Dealershipscan do financing, but in somecases, they add percentage pointsto your rate. We can do all the

paperwork right here in theoffice once you purchase avehicle if you are pre-approved,and the buyer’s order can befaxed to the bank.”

Earthmover Credit Unionworks in partnership with severaldealerships’ lenders in the area,such as Bob Brady, Miles andCrown, said Letha Peete, vicepresident of lending atEarthmover.

“You can go in and speak witha lender; they’ll work your deal,send us the paperwork and we’llapprove or send a counter offer,”she said.

Additionally, to assistconsumers with their vehicleshopping, Earthmover offers atool on their Web site(www.decu.com) calledAutoSmart, where you can find awealth of information, includinginterest rates and NADA vehiclevalues.

While several options areavailable for financing a vehicle,most consumers choose a basicauto loan, Peete said.

“Mostly people are looking totry to get that 72-month loan.They’re stretching that paymentout just to get the paymentdown,” she said. “So we also haveto look at the vehicle’s value toobecause in two to three years,people are looking to getsomething new and still have halfof their loan left.”

Though the interest inpurchasing a new vehicle isspeeding up this season,consumers today seem to bemore attracted to cars that areonly new to them, which is adifferent attitude than even acouple of years ago.

“More people are purchasingused vehicles versus new,” Ellissaid. “That is showing because ofdepreciation. People don’t wantto take big hit in beginningbecause of the vehicledepreciating.”

Ellis recommended having allyour financial “ducks in a row”before making a purchase.

“You need to know who you’refinancing with,” she said. “Knowwhat the vehicle is worth, havesomeone help provide thatservice for you, which we can do.Know what rate you should belooking for with your credit scoreand how much your monthlypayment will be, and if you canhandle that. If you’re notknowledgeable, then find the

vehicle you want and leave; don’tget stuck with financing youaren’t comfortable with.”

Peete strongly encouragedindividuals to speak in personwith a bank or credit union andknowing available options whencar shopping.

“That’s what we’re here for, tohelp with that process,” she said.“Check the value of vehicle andmileage and those things. If it’s aused vehicle, take it somewhereand have it checked out to seewhat you could possibly begetting into. We like for people todo their research. Just be careful,and don’t let your emotions floodyour pocketbook.”

[email protected]

In The MoneyCheck out your financing options before buying


Isringhausen ImportsThe elegant and comfortable BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo now

comes standard with the eight-speed automatic transmissionpreviously to be found only in the BMW 760i twelve-cylinder luxurysaloon.

Other standard features of the Gran Turismo also include rear axleair suspension as well as hydraulic rack-and-pinion steering. IntegralActive Steering is available as an option, which allows the driver toactively steer the front wheels with rear-wheel steering varyingaccording to driving conditions and current requirements.

Options in the Gran Turismo are exciting, with a complete rangeof features from BMW ConnectedDrive, such as Lane ChangeWarning, Lane Departure Warning, Speed Limit Info, BMW NightVision with detection of individuals and a back-up camera. BMWConnectedDrive also offers an Enhanced Emergency Call functionthat automatically determines the current location of the car so youwon’t be searching parking lots anymore.

The BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo also boasts telecommunicationand navigation systems, a DVD entertainment system at the rear andan 80 GB hard disc for navigation data and the owner’s musiccollection.

Isringhausen Imports

229 E. Jefferson, Springfield

1-800-332-6142

Did You Know?

One of America's most famous roadwaystechnically no longer exists. 2010 marks the25th anniversary that Route 66, which has beenmentioned numerous times in pop culture, wasofficially removed from the United StatesHighway System. The reasoning behind thefamed route's decertification was its practicalirrelevance, as the road had long since beenbypassed by travelers for more convenientroutes. However, the route's decertification hasnot done much to decrease its historicalnotoriety. In fact, several portions of the roadhave been designated a National Scenic Byway,including stretches in Missouri, New Mexicoand Arizona. What's more, a handful of Route66 associations sprouted up shortly after theroute's decertification. These associations wereestablished to preserve and restore the route,while also promoting its rich history. Each statealong the route, which

spans Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma,Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, hasits own Route66 association. Travelers with alove of history can even find "Historic Route 66"signs along the old route, and those travelingthrough Flagstaff,Arizona, can even travel alongRoute 66 by driving down Santa Fe Avenue, allbut a few blocks of which was renamed Route66. Perhaps due to its presence in pop culturelore, Route 66 might never be forgotten, asthere is even a movement afoot to have thefamed roadway returned to road atlases.




When the U.S.economy took a turn forthe worst, people beganto try to cut back onspending, includingpostponing regularmaintenance on theircars.

“I’ve seen peoplespending less money ontheir car; it’s theeconomy more thananything,” said DanBenson, owner ofRainbow Automotive,which has been open in

Decatur since 1981. “Butthey’ll find out they’respending more money inthe long run becausewithout maintenance,the car won’t last.”

Today’s high-techvehicles can amass a lotof mileage withoutshowing the wear andtear, so it can be easy toignore the car’smaintenance schedule.But stopping theproblems before theystart will save big moneyon repair bills down theroad, Benson said.

Now or LaterBe sure and follow the recommended service schedule

Service continued on page 20


“Auto maintenance is veryimportant; it increasesthe longevity of theengine and of the car,” hesaid. “There’s a reasonmanufacturers put themaintenance schedules inthere.”

Vehicle maintenanceschedules come withevery car, Benson said,and if you can’t findyours, most schedules canbe found online.

Some of the mostcommon maintenancemeasures that peopleneglect include oil

changes, brakes, air filtersand tire pressure, Bensonsaid.

“It all impacts themileage of the car,” hesaid.

The lifespan of the cardepends mostly on whatkind of attention theowner gives to the car,Benson said. Vehiclestoday can be driven formany years if they’regiven the proper care andattention.

“We see a lot of carswith over 200,000 milesnow,” Benson said.“People are keeping them

around. They’re notbuying new cars as much,so they’re fixing up theircars more and taking it toend of the road.”

Keeping a pen and padof paper handy in your caris an easy way to keeptrack of your car’smaintenance. Simply jotdown when maintenanceprocedures wereperformed, when you fillup with gas and themileage you attained andwhen you added fluidslike coolant and powersteering fluid. Thisinformation will also be

beneficial when you’reinterested in selling yourvehicle.

Checking under thehood will also keep youaware of the state your caris in. Cracks or leaks canbe found through regularinspection of belts andhoses.

Benson encouragedcar owners to learn howto monitor the fluid levelsof the oil, radiator,battery, power steering,brake and automatictransmission fluids intheir vehicles.

Also, be sure the air is

filled up in your tires andmake sure all lights areworking properly, inaddition to keeping up-to-date on tire rotations andoil changes, Benson said.

“You should rotateyour tires every 6,000 to8,000 miles – usuallyabout every other oilchange,” he said. “Andfollow your mileage toknow when to changeyour oil.”

[email protected]

Easy Tricks to Conserve Fuel Whether due to the struggling economy or an increased desire to

live a more environmentally-conscious life, many of the nation'sdrivers are exploring ways in which they can conserve fuel. Whileriding a bicycle to work or taking public transportation are bothreliable means to conserving fuel, there are many other ways to doso as well.

• Don't accelerate too quickly. Accelerating too quickly from a deadstop taxes the engine and requires more fuel as a result.

• Don't overfill the gas tank. When filling your tank, stop once youhear the first click at the pump. Overfilling will simply lead tospillover.

• Empty the trunk. It might be convenient to keep your golf clubs inthe trunk, but that excess weight could be forcing your engine towork harder and use more fuel as a result.

• Close the windows when driving at higher speeds. When thewindows are open at high speeds, that added air drag is reducingyour vehicle's fuel efficiency substantially.

• Don't idle too long in the mornings to "warm up" the vehicle. Ingeneral, a vehicle does not need more than 60 seconds of warmingup to be able to operate efficiently.

• Don't rev the engine like you're driving a race car. Revving theengine needlessly wastes fuel and can even lead to engine damage.

• Maintain your vehicle. Older filters make it harder for an engine torun at maximum efficiency, so stick to the recommendedmaintenance schedule.

Service continued from page 19



HPR Automotive SuperstoreThe all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee has reached a new level of

comfort, refinement and capability.The newly redesigned Grand Cherokee offers real wood accents and

soft leather throughout the large interior, along with heated steeringwheel and premium navigation with voice recognition.

New for 2011, the Grand Cherokee will also offer the Selec-Terraintraction control on some 4x4 models, said HPR’s James Hutmacher.The system allows for complete on and off-road capability for thevehicle.

With all of the changes, Jeep still ranks safety high on the prioritylist, Hutmacher said. The Grand Cherokee comes standard with

45 key safety features, such as side curtain air bags for all passengers and anti-lock brakes. One of the biggest safetyimprovements for 2011 is the Uconnect Guardian, which affordscustomers with five of the most requested security features: automaticcrash notification, emergency call, roadside assistance, remote doorunlock and stolen vehicle location assistance.

HPR Automotive Superstore

1320 W. Jackson, Sullivan

1-866-644-5330

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee


Documents

2010 Car Guide