Going further than the grocery store with small children in the vehicle can be a challenge. They need a lot of attention and if you’re driving alone, this can make a road trip even more difficult. Here are four tips from Clearwater area Acura for single travelers with children in the car:
1: Plan Your Trip in Advance and Know Where the Rest Stops Are
Before traveling with small children, you probably just took the shortest route or whichever way you decided to travel when you were driving. With kids, you need to plan the route more carefully and know where the rest stops are. It’s almost impossible to make a quick rest stop on the side of the road, and it certainly isn’t safe to have kids on the side of the road. Map your route according to rest stops so you can take frequent breaks, change diapers or use potties along the way.
2: Car Seat Safety Check
Before taking a long trip, give your car seat a careful safety check. Are you using the right type of seat for your child’s height and weight? Is the seat installed correctly? You may want to go to a local car safety checkpoint (some police departments do this, too!) to ensure the seat is safely installed. If you are renting a car, make sure the car seat fits properly in the rented car, as not all seats work well with all cars.
3: Prepare and Pack Strategically
If your children are still in diapers, keep a separate bag with your diaper supplies – diapers, wipes, change of clothes for when you wait too long in between diaper changes! This is the bag you will grab when you go into each rest room to make things easier, so you won’t have to dig through the car for the supplies you need.
Create an entertainment bag for each child with crayons, toys, books, and anything that might help keep the kids occupied while you’re driving. Many parents decide this is a good time for a portable dvd player – if you can pop in a two hour movie that captures their attention, you can cover a good stretch of highway stress free during that time.
Pack a cooler or bag with snacks and drinks. Try to limit the amount of sugar your kids are eating in the confined space of the vehicle, but a few healthy snacks can help.
4: Play Kid Tunes
If your kids want to sing “The Wheels on the Bus” or “Jingle Bells” for an hour straight, deal with it. If they’re happy, they’re letting you drive, and you’ll get wherever you’re going a little faster and with less stress. Sing alongs can make a car ride fun, and the more relaxed and carefree you are, the more your kids will pick up on your lead and enjoy the trip, too.
Many car owners don’t put much thought into how to wash their cars. They either run through the automatic car wash or get out the hose and dish soap and have at it in the drive way! Believe it or not, there is a right way to washing your car and doing so correctly can help keep your car in near-perfect condition for many years. Here are some tips from St. Petersburg area Acura for the right way to wash your car and keep it clean:
Wash Your Car in the Shade
When the sun is out and it’s a nice, warm day, many people will decide to wash their car. You don’t mind getting a little wet from the hose when it’s hot and sunny out! You don’t actually want to wash your car in direct sunlight, however. The sunlight will cause water spots that will make your car appear dirty immediately after washing, and can even leave behind mineral deposits that hurt the car’s paint finish. Wash your car in the shade, instead.
Use the Correct Car Washing Equipment
Don’t just grab the sponge and dish soap from the dish drain and head outside to lather up. Gather the following equipment to ensure a proper car wash:
- Bucket
- Hose
- Soft, clean sponges
- Soft bristle brushes designed for car washing
- Car wash soap
- Lint-free cloths for drying
Car Wash Steps
Here is the most effective way to wash your car:
Step One: Use the hose to get the entire vehicle wet from top to bottom.
Step Two: Put car wash soap and water in the bucket and drop the sponge in. Dish soap is not designed to wash cars and can actually damage the paint finish over time.
Step Three: Start at the top of your car and work your way down to the tires. When you wash the top first, the dirt will run down the sides of the car, which you will wash as you move down the car. Everything will be clean by the time you reach the bottom.
Step Four: Use the hose again to completely rinse the soap off the car. Start at the top again and spray soap and grime off from top to bottom.
Step Five: Use lint-free cloths to completely dry the car off. Don’t let it air dry or you will be left with unsightly spots that will make your car appear dirty even minutes after you wash it.
Step Six: Spend some time with the details. Clean off hub caps or reach under the car to clean with the soft bristle brush. Use wheel cleaner to make the tires and hub caps shine.
Step Seven: Spray the detailed cleaning parts you just finished and dry everything one last time.
Budget car shoppers with high end tastes can appreciate the 2013 Acura ILX Hybrid. It’s less expensive than the TSX but is sportier and nicer looking than the typical family sedan on the market. Not only will the Acura ILX Hybrid offer a high quality car for the budget shopper, but its ability to conserve fuel with Acura’s first hybrid-electric vehicle will help keep more of your money in your pocket long term. Come to your Tampa Bay Area Acura Dealer to test drive the 2013 Acura ILX Hybrid to see if the car meets your needs.
Standard Equipment for the ILX Hybrid
Including in the base price of the Acura ILX Hybrid is a number of accessories and technology. The car has 16 inch wheels and full power accessories, keyless entry and ignition, dual zone automatic climate control and a leather tilt and telescoping steering wheel. For audio and entertainment options, the Acura ILX Hybrid provides Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, a USB/iPod interface and the ability to listen to Pandora radio in the car. There is a six speaker sound system and a CD player that comes standard.
To reduce the number of backup accidents caused by blind spots, the Acura ILX Hybrid also offers a rearview camera.
Optional Equipment for the ILX Hybrid
If you still need more than the list of standard features, you have a few optional items you can add or upgrade when you buy a new Acura ILX Hybrid.
Premium Package: 17 inch wheels, leather upholstery and heated front seats, xenon headlights, foglamps, power driver’s seat, satellite radio, upgraded 7 speaker sound system, and a more advanced rearview camera system.
Technology Package: all of the equipment from the Premium Package is included with the Technology package, and it adds a hard drive-based navigation system, digital music storage and a surround-sound audio system.
Performance and Power
The Acura ILX Hybrid has a 1.5 liter, 4-cylinder engine and uses the Integrated Motor Assist from the Honda Civic Hybrid. The electric motor is used to provide a boost of power when needed, and converts energy from brakes into electricity which then recharges the lithium-ion battery pack. The gasoline and electric motor combined produce 111 horsepower and 127 pound per foot of torque.
The Acura ILX Hybrid also features unique performance-oriented gearing to generate fuel efficiency of 39 miles per gallon in the city and 38 miles per gallon on the highway.
It’s easy to get preoccupied with where you are going and whether or not you’ll be on time or if you’ve remembered everything you need when you’re driving. As the driver, you need to pay attention to the sounds and noises your car makes, and identify any unusual sounds that may be your vehicle’s way of telling you it is in need of repair. Your Clearwater area Acura dealer offers the following explanations for common car noises:
Knock, Knock, Knock
Does it sound like someone is under the hood knocking to get out?! Knocking sounds generally come from the engine or drive train and can indicate several different problems that require maintenance, including: worn crankshaft bearings, low oil, loose gearbox bolts, or bad connecting rods.
Grinding Sounds – Like Metal on Metal
A high pitched squeal or the sound of metal against metal is generally the sound of your brakes screaming for help. When you hear these sounds you should schedule an appointment with your Clearwater area Acura service department to have your brakes and brake pads replaced. It is a warning sign that your car is using bare metal to stop, rather than the brakes and pads.
Screaming or Squealing When You Start Your Car
A high pitched squeal or scream-like sound under the hood when you start your car generally indicates you have a worn or loose belt inside. It may be an air compressor belt or a fan belt. Either way, it needs to be replaced.
Thumping and Clunking Around Corners
When you turn a corner and hear a thumping or clunking sound around the wheels it could be a sign that the vehicle’s universal joints need replacing. Other possible problems that thumping and clunking sounds may indicate include rear differential issues or prop shaft problems.
Ticking Sound During Idling or Acceleration
If your car makes a ticking sound when you sit with the engine on or when you accelerate, it’s generally a sign that your oil needs to be changed. If changing the oil doesn’t eliminate the ticking sound, visit a mechanic to check the tappets. Ticking sounds in the engine that are not eliminated with an oil change can mean the tappets are not being lubricated correctly with the oil.
Schedule Maintenance with the Clearwater Area Acura Service Center
Unusual car noises should not be ignored when you are driving. They are often the first warning sign for problems and should result in scheduling an appointment for maintenance before the problem becomes more expensive and troublesome to fix.
If you have always loved the Acura ZDX, you should consider making this the year you come to your Largo area Acura dealership to buy one. The 2013 Acura ZDX will be the last year for this model. The ZDX is a midsize crossover hatchback and makes a good family vehicle.
2013 Acura ZDX Performance and Power
The Acura ZDX offers a 3.7 liter, V6 engine. It has very sharp and precise handling thanks to the advanced all-wheel drive system. The engine puts out 300 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque with the 6 speed automatic and manual shift control transmission.
You can expect to get about 16 miles per gallon fuel efficiency in the city and 23 miles per gallon the highway.
Trim Levels and ZDX Options
Unlike other vehicles with multiple trim levels, the 2013 Acura ZDX keeps it simple with a single trim level. With the single trim level, however, you pretty much have everything you need and it all comes standard. The vehicle has room for five people and comes standard with 19 inch wheels, front and rear parking sensors to reduce accidents caused by blind spots, automatic xenon headlights, foglights, power liftgate, panoramic sunroof and power-folding and heated outside mirrors.
Additional standard features include auto-dimming rearview mirror, a keyless ignition and entry, comfortable leather upholstery, 8-way power front seats with heating and ventilation and driver memory settings, and dual-zone automatic climate control.
You’ll get your music on with a USB/iPod interface, satellite radio, CD player and an auxiliary jack.
Interior Design of the 2013 Acura ZDX
Inside the Acura ZDX, drivers are presented with technology interspersed with cool surfaces. It does not present the exact appearance you would expect in a luxury car, but there is no mistaking the quality of materials used. The gear selector is in the middle of the front seats, and the center console divides the front seats giving the driver and passenger each their own cocoon-like cockpit areas.
The backseat has limited space because of the sloping roofline, so you may find it best suitable for small adults or children. For extra space in the cargo area you can put the backseats down to increase the cargo area from 26 cubic feet to 56 cubic feet.
2013 Acura ZDX Safety Considerations
You’ll feel confident in your safety level when driving the ZDX due to the antilock brakes, front seat airbags, side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags, stability and traction control and active front head restraints to reduce whiplash injuries. A forward collision warning system and lane-departure warning system come standard.
Important Reminders from a Tampa Bay area Acura Dealer Regarding Driving and Multitasking
Multitasking is simply a way of life for many people these days, with all of the pressures to keep up with busy lifestyles. When trying to balance work and home with families and sports practices – life can get really hectic! For many families, it never seems like there are enough hours in the day. Your Tampa Bay area Acura dealer wants to remind you not to multitask while driving – no matter how busy you are.
Prevent Car Accidents By Focusing on the Road
Nearly 80% of all car accidents could be avoided if the drivers of the vehicles were simply paying attention to the task at hand, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Drivers using cellular phones and tablets while behind the wheel are the most at risk, and statistics show it is not just teenagers who are texting behind the wheel. Drivers between the ages of 18 and 60 all admit to using cell phones.
How Drivers Get Distracted
While cell phone use is among the top reasons drivers are distracted behind the wheel, there are actually many things that can take the drivers’ attention away from the road. If you are a focused driver, you may be surprised to learn what types of activities are going on in the cars around you! If you commonly multitask while driving, you should definitely put a stop to it to increase the safety of yourself, your passengers, and everyone on the road around you. Here are some common things people do while driving:
- Read the newspaper or a book
- Fix their make-up or hair
- Shave facial hair or legs
- Looking in the backseat or on the floor for an item
- Feeding the baby or tending to baby’s needs
- Eating
- Writing a check or balancing the checkbook
- Consuming alcohol
Resist the Urge to Multitask
When multitasking becomes such a common way of living, it can be difficult to resist the urge while behind the wheel. You really need to do everything necessary to avoid doing anything else while you are driving. Keep business at work or home and deal with the kids when you are safely parked. If 80% of all drivers are distracted, be the 20% that pays attention and can avoid a potential car accident caused by a multitasking driver.
The 2013 Acura TL offers a wide variety of safety features to help keep you and your family safe during your travels. The sales team at Clearwater area Acura would be happy to discuss any of the safety features you may want more information about, or feel free to come into our dealership and take the 2013 Acura TL for a test drive to see if it meets your needs for your next vehicle.
Advanced Braking Systems
Like most modern cars, the Acura TL provides an anti-lock braking system (ABS) to help you maintain control of the steering wheel even when you slam on your brakes. The ABS prevents the wheels from locking and sliding, but still allows maximum stopping performance.
The Acura TL also uses a Brake Assist system, which is intelligent enough to detect emergency situations by monitoring the speed the driver hits the brake pedal and ensures the ABS is activated until the driver releases the brake.
Finally, to further improve the use of your brakes, the Acura TL also uses Electronic Brake Distribution to make sure the brakes are working evenly across all four wheels to optimize their effectiveness.
Acura Vehicle Stability Assist ™
The Vehicle Stability Assist system offers an additional safety feature that works alongside the anti-lock brakes. When a driver is presented with certain situations, they have a tendency to oversteer to compensate. Oversteering can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle, so VSA uses sensors to monitor the speed of the vehicle, the angle of the steering wheel and throttle position to detect problems and oversteering. If detected, the Vehicle Stability Assist system will be engaged and stabilize the vehicle by applying brakes to each wheel as necessary while reducing engine torque.
Multiple Air Bags
The Acura TL provides six airbags: two in front, two for the front seat occupants for side-impact, and two side curtain airbags that cover the front and rear outboard seats. Advanced airbag sensors are used so the correct airbags will deploy as needed and with the appropriate amount of force. The bags will literally inflate at different rates of speed depending on the severity of the car accident. If a front seat passenger is too small for the passenger airbags, the Acura will automatically disengage the airbag for that passenger’s safety.
Acura TL Child Safety Considerations
In addition to size-sensing air bags, the Acura TL has a few other options that will provide safety for children in the car. The LATCH System (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) is in place in the Acura TL allowing compatible child safety seats to be installed without the use of adult seat belts.
Power windows and the moonroof will all stop closing if they sense an obstacle (such as your child’s fingers!) in the way.
Many car buyers prefer to buy used cars in order to get more car for their money – and a good option for a gently used car is the 2012 Acura RL. The Acura RL is a luxury sedan loaded with high end features and gadgets and a powerful engine. You can take a closer look at the 2012 Acura RL at your Tampa Bay area Acura dealer and take it for a test drive to see if it works for your needs.
2012 Acura RL Performance and Power
With a 3.7 liter V6 engine, you won’t wish your car had more power or get-up and go ability! The RL delivers 300 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. The 2012 Acura RL features an all wheel drive system and what they call “Super-Handling” which helps send the power to the wheels where it will give the car the best traction based on the conditions of the road and weather.
Fuel economy is 20 miles per gallon combined city and highway, with 24 miles per gallon achieved on long highway drives and 17 miles per gallon in the city. The standard transmission is a 6 speed automatic with manual shift paddles.
Trim Styles, Options and Features
There are three trim levels for the 2012 Acura RL. All RL vehicles come with the following features as standard equipment:
· Sunroof
· Bluetooth connectivity for phone and audio
· Voice command capability for climate system and audio
· 10 speaker Bose surround-sound audio system
· Satellite radio, auxiliary audio jack, 6-CD changer, USB and iPod interface
· 18 inch alloy wheels
· Keyless entry and keyless ignition
· 10 way power from seats with memory functions for the driver seat
· Heated front seats
· Leather seats
· Xenon automatic headlights
· Automatic dual-zone climate control
· Back seat climate control
Optional packages include the Technology package and the Advanced package. The Technology package will add a backup camera and rear parking sensors to prevent back up accidents; adaptive headlights, wooden steering wheel and shifter, navigation system with up to date traffic details and a climate control that is based on the GPS solar sensor, and restaurant ratings from Zagat.
The Advanced package adds power-folding side mirrors, interior wooden accents, adaptive cruise control and a system to help reduce accidents called the Collision Mitigation Braking System.
2012 Acura RL Safety Considerations
In addition to the standard safety features you would expect like antilock brakes and airbags, the RL includes traction and stability control. The vehicle earns the highest possible safety rating for both front and side collision tests according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
People who have only ever purchased new or used cars may not be sure of how the leasing process works. If you’ve been considering leasing an Acura, you may be interested in learning about the potential benefits of leasing compared to buying. Here’s what you need to know about how leasing works, the benefits of leasing, and other advice for your next car from a St. Petersburg area Acura dealer:
Understanding a Car Lease
Your lease payments cover the cost of the vehicle’s depreciation and the fee for renting or using the car for your lease period. Depreciation is basically the difference between the cost of the car and the remaining value of the car, as well as any other fees you roll into the lease payments which may include taxes. You will drive the car for the lease period and then return it to the dealership or some people choose to buy the car when their lease expires.
Benefits of Leasing Cars
There are many reasons why people decide to lease a car instead of buying. While the benefits won’t apply to ever driver or situation, here is a list of common benefits leasing allows people and you can decide if they would also benefit you:
Always drive a new car – if you lease vehicles instead of buying them, you will be driving in a new car all the time. Your car will only ever be two or three years old, depending on your lease terms.
Limited maintenance expenses – because you are always traveling in a new car, you are likely never to have any major repair expenses. You will only need to keep up with the basic car maintenance like ensuring the tires are properly inflated and routine oil and oil filter changes.
Enjoy the latest technology and features – also because you are always in a new car, you can experience all the latest in car technology and features. When cars put in new navigational systems, entertainment systems and safety features, you get to experience them each time you exchange your lease for a new leased vehicle.
Lower payments – you can lease vehicles for much lower monthly payments than you could buy the same vehicle since you are only paying for the depreciation of the car during your lease term and the cost of borrowing the car during that time frame. When you buy a car, you are paying for the entire cost of the vehicle.
Once you’ve chosen a vehicle, you will finalize the purchase with the Finance and Insurance office of the dealership. It is here that you will be offered a variety of products and services to go with your vehicle, ranging from maintenance plans to paint protection and extended warranties. Your Largo area Acura dealer shares some things you should think about and consider before agreeing or declining the extended warranty coverage on your next car purchase:
What is an Extended Warranty?
The vehicle extended warranty is coverage that starts when your manufacturer’s bumper to bumper warranty expires. You can purchase an extended warranty the day you buy your car, or you can buy it at any time before your manufacturer warranty expires at the same rate. If you purchase an extended warranty for your car after your manufacturer warranty has already expired, it will be much more expensive. The warranty should cover most breakdowns and repair needs until the expiration date is reached.
Will You Keep the Car for Many Years?
Extended warranties make the most sense for car buyers who keep a car until they can no longer drive it. If you are someone who trades in vehicles every three or four years for a new model, you probably will not get much benefit out of an extended warranty since your car will still be under the standard manufacturer warranty.
Know Who Backs The Warranty
Before you buy the extended warranty, find out who backs the coverage. Some dealerships are selling extended warranties through third-party companies, and not all of them have the best record. They may even require that you get your car fixed at the dealership that sells you the car, where as an automaker-backed extended warranty will be honored at any dealership around the country.
Do Your Comparison Shopping Before You Buy Your Car
Since extended warranty prices can vary, it’s a good idea to do some research before you sit down to finalize your car purchase at the dealership. You can call other dealerships and compare prices on the extended warranty for the car you plan to buy so when the dealership provides you with the price for the extended warranty you know if it is a good deal or not. If another dealership is offering the warranty at a lower price, you will probably find your dealer will lower the price on your extended warranty to match the other dealer in order to keep your business.
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