Car care sidney Herald Wednesday, May 20, 2015 1

Sidney Herald

www.sidneyherald.com

hoW to saFeLynavigate wet roadways

What to Look Forin a teen’s fi rst car

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015a special supplement to the

FinDing the right riDeFactors to consider when buying a new car

Car care2 Wednesday, May 20, 2015 sidney Herald

Spring is a season of rebirth, and this rejuvenating time of year can be a great time for motorists to reexam-

ine their vehicles and start looking for new rides.

With spring road trips and summer vacations on the not-too-distant hori-zon, drivers who have been eyeing a new vehicle may feel the time has never been more right to sell or trade-in their current vehicles for ones more suited to their current needs.

Once drivers have made the decision to get a new car, they must then decide which car is right for them. Such a deci-sion not only requires a careful consid-eration of budget, but also a thorough examination of what you want out of your next vehicle. The following are some factors prospective car buyers may want to consider as they begin to look for new cars.

PassengersParents who drive have different

needs than drivers who don’t have children. When shopping around for your next vehicle, consider how many passengers you typically have in the car. Parents who drive the kids to and from a full slate of extracurricular activities may not only want a car with enough room to accommodate their brood, but also one that’s fuel-efficient so all those trips to the soccer fields and dance recitals won’t break the bank. Singles who don’t often have passengers and don’t have a driveway or assigned parking space may benefit from a small vehicle that’s fuel-efficient and easy to

park. Whatever your needs, try to avoid buying more or less car than you really need.

Driving habitsYour personal driving habits are

another factor to consider before buying your next car. When driving, are you traversing the nation’s highways or sticking mainly to city streets? Stop-and-go city driving can be taxing on

vehicles, and drivers may find manual transmissions are less enjoyable in city traffic. Drivers whose daily commutes are mainly done on highways may be able to live with a car deemed less fuel-efficient, as highway driving tends to consume less fuel than city driving.

LocaL cLimateDrivers should consider their lo-

cal climate as they try to decide what

their next vehicle will be. If you live in a region where ice and snow is com-mon, then four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive is a feature that will likely prove worth the investment if not a necessity, while drivers who live in warm areas where the temperatures remain mild year-round can likely skip the four-wheel drive option. When buying a new car, envision the weather that car will eventually encounter. A flashy sports car may be fun to drive and surely looks great in the garage, but if safety con-cerns force you to leave it in the garage for several months a year, then it might not be the best car for you.

What eLse is in the DriveWay?Parents or couples buying a new car

together should consider what their significant other has sitting in the drive-way. If one parent already has an SUV or minivan, then a second such vehicle may not be necessary, and buying a new car may be an opportunity to purchase a smaller vehicle that still fits the whole family but won’t need to carry athletic equipment or chauffeur the middle school basketball team. The same prin-ciple can be applied to couples without children. Such couples may want to keep one sports car in the driveway and have a more practical vehicle that can better handle road trips or weekend getaways.

Buying a new car is a fun process that’s made even more fun when drivers consider their needs and target vehicles that best meet those needs.

Factors to consider when looking for a new car

Buyesr should consider a host of factors before purchasing their next vehicles.

Warning signs a tire is about to go flatFew drivers will be fortunate enough

to go their entire driving lives with-out encountering at least one flat tire. Flat tires range from the inconvenient flats, which may interrupt a road trip or make drivers late for work or an ap-pointment, to more dangerous blowouts, which can compromise the safety of drivers, their passengers and anyone else on the road when the tire gives out.

But as inconvenient or dangerous as flats or blowouts can be, they also can be prevented more often than not. Tires often produce warning signs that a flat or blowout is about to emerge, so driv-ers who want to avoid such unfortunate developments can inspect their tires for the following signs.

Varying wear: Tires should exhibit the same type of wear. The wear on front tires and back tires may differ, but one front tire should have the same amount of wear as the other and the same goes for the back tires. Uneven

tread on tires indicates that the tire with more wear could be about to go out.

Worn tread: Even drivers who know little about cars can typically recognize when tire tread has worn down to the point where the tire is a safety risk. But drivers who are unsure can employ the quarter test. Insert a quarter into the tread of the tire, with George Wash-ington’s head upright. If you can see the hairline of the United States’ first president, then you need to replace the tire. Perform this test on each of your vehicle’s four tires.

Low pressure: Drivers who do not routinely check their tire pressure are more likely to endure a flat or blowout than those who regularly make sure their tires are at the manufacturer-recommended pressure, which can be found in a vehicle owner’s manual or by calling the tire manufacturer or visit-ing their website. An under inflated tire

is under stress that can cause the tire to blowout. In addition, poorly inflated tires force engines to work harder, which negatively affects a car’s fuel efficiency.

Vibration: A car that vibrates ex-cessively may do so because tires are damaged. Poor suspension is another cause of excessive vibration. Whatever is behind a car that is vibrating, drivers should immediately take the car to their mechanic for an inspection.

Physical damage to the tire: Some-times tires exhibit physical damage like bulges or cuts, and such signs could mean a flat tire or blowout is just around the corner. Tires that exhibit such physical damage need to be re-placed immediately.

Flat tires and blowouts can prove both scary and inconvenient. Drivers who want to avoid such problems should rou-tinely inspect their tires for indicators that a flat or blowout is likely to occur.

Routinely checking tire pressure and inflating under-inflated tires is one way drivers can reduce their risk of flat tires and blowouts.

Car caresidney Herald Wednesday, May 20, 2015 3

How to detect odometer fraud

did you know?

Pre-owned car buyers looking to buy from private sellers rather than dealerships typically un-derstand that such an approach can be risky. When buying from a private seller, such purchases are typically as-is, and rarely are buyers protected with extended warranties that may be offered by dealers who specialize in pre-owned vehicles.

Buying from private sellers may also leave buyers more suscep-tible to fraud. Odometer fraud is one type of fraud that buyers must be especially wary of when buying a pre-owned vehicle from a private seller, and the following are a handful of ways buyers can determine if a car’s odometer has been tampered with.

Examine the vehicle’s service history. Before buying a pre-owned vehicle, buyers should always request to see documentation of the vehicle’s service history. This can shed light on how well (or how poorly) the vehicle was taken care of, and it also can serve as a clue as to the authenticity of the number on the vehicle’s odometer. Vehicle mileage is often included on repair orders or receipts provided by auto repair shops, so such reports should give you a

picture of how many miles the car was driven at given times through-out its history. If the numbers on the reports don’t match up with the figure on the odometer, then the odometer has likely been tam-pered with.

Inspect the dashboard. A dam-aged dashboard is not always indicative of odometer fraud, but it should be enough to arouse your suspicions. Loose or missing screws on a dashboard or scrapes or scarring along the dashboard often occur when sellers attempt to reset their vehicles’ odometers. Again, such damage is not nec-essarily indicative of odometer fraud, but if you were already suspicious of the seller, then these additional signs should be enough to compel you to walk away and continue your vehicle search elsewhere.

Ask to take the car to your own mechanic for an inspection. When buying a pre-owned car, prospec-tive buyers should insist that they be allowed to take the car to their own mechanic to determine if it is worth buying. This protects sellers from buying a lemon and can help them determine if odometer fraud has occurred. An experienced mechanic can examine a car and

determine how much wear and tear it has. If that wear and tear is more than the odometer suggests it should have, then the odometer has likely been tampered with.

Insist on a vehicle history report. Whether buying from a dealership or private seller, buy-ers of pre-owned vehicles should always insist on seeing a vehicle history report. Mileage is always documented whenever a vehicle is registered with the state and whenever it undergoes state-mandated safety or emissions inspections. A vehicle history report from an agency like CarFax can provide buyers with a record of these registrations and inspec-tions, and buyers can use that information to determine if the odometer on a given vehicle has been tampered with. If a seller re-fuses to provide a vehicle history report, walk away and continue your search until you find a buyer willing to provide the report.

Odometer fraud is employed by sellers who want to make their cars seem more attractive to prospective buyers. But buyers of pre-owned vehicles can employ several strategies to detect if a given vehicle’s odometer has been tampered with.

Private sellers may know that the amount of mileage on their vehicles will go a long way toward determining their asking price, but they may not know that certain mileage milestones can affect how prospective buyers view their au-tomobiles. For example, savvy buyers know that manufac-turer warranties tend to expire after three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. That may make a vehicle less attractive to buyers or inspire buyers to ask that the price of an extended warranty be deducted from the asking price of the vehicle. Another important mileage marker to consider is the 60,000-mile marker. Upon reaching 60,000 miles, many vehicles need certain upgrades, including new brakes. Sellers who wish to unload their preowned vehicle as quickly as possible may want to make these upgrades prior to selling their vehicles and showcase the service re-cords to prospective buyers. If not, sellers should be flexible with their asking price, as buyers are likely to know that significant maintenance could be just around the corner for a vehicle that has exceeded the 60,000 mile mark.

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Car care4 Wednesday, May 20, 2015 sidney Herald

Many parents contribute money toward the purchase of their teenagers’ first car. But even

those who don’t help kids finance the purchase of their first vehicle may still want to offer some advice as their teens start to look for the car they will no doubt remember for the rest of their lives.

Different drivers need different things out of their vehicles, so a car that might be perfect for adults will not necessarily be the best fit for teen driv-ers without much experience travers-ing the nation’s roadways. The follow-ing are a few factors to consider when helping teens find their first car.

sizeTeenagers have little to no experi-

ence behind the wheel, so it’s best that they not drive cars that are especially small or large right away. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, young drivers between the ages of 16 and 17 are significantly overrepresented in fatal crashes. The NHTSA suggests such drivers’ imma-turity and inexperience plays a signifi-cant role in that over representation. So parents likely do not want their

children in the smallest car possible, as such vehicles may not protect teens as adequately as slightly larger vehicles in the case of an accident. In addition, very large cars, such as pickup trucks or SUVs, can be difficult to control and are best suited to older drivers who already have years of driving experi-ence under their belts. A mid-size sedan is big enough to protect teens and their

passengers in the case of an accident, and such vehicles are small enough to handle easily.

Passenger caPacityAnother factor to consider when

shopping for cars for teenagers is pas-senger capacity. The more seats there are in a car, the more friends teens can pack into their vehicles. Numerous

teenagers in a car at once can prove distracting to the driver, and that dis-traction can pave the way for an auto accident. Steer clear of minivans, SUVs or other vehicles that feature a third row of seats, as teens may be unable to stay focused on the road with so many passengers in tow.

UnDer the hooDFew teens would not light up at the

sight of a muscle car awaiting them in the driveway. But cars that acceler-ate quickly and those with substantial horsepower and high-performance en-gines may tempt teens to speed or spark the development of poor driving habits. Look for a vehicle with modest accel-eration instead of an imported sports car that teens may be too immature and inexperienced to handle.

Wear anD tearTeens’ first cars are often pre-owned

vehicles, and such cars may have sig-nificant wear and tear on some impor-tant safety features.

Wear and tear may not be a reason to avoid purchasing a pre-owned ve-hicle, but parents may want to replace the brake pads and tires on recently

What to look for in a teen’s first car

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purchased pre-owned vehicles. Brake pads in strong condition may prove the difference between avoiding an ac-cident or getting into one. In addition, poorly inflated or worn down tires pose a safety risk to teens and their passen-gers. If such features seem to be worn

down, replace them before letting teens hit the open road on their own.

Teens will remember their first cars for the rest of their lives. Parents can ensure those memories are positive by finding a car that teens can handle comfortably and operate safely.

What to look for in a teen’s first car

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Car care6 Wednesday, May 20, 2015 sidney Herald

Spring showers certainly may bring flower later on, but they also contribute to challenging driv-ing conditions. Early spring weather can be fickle,

vacillating between dry, wet and even icy conditions. Drivers need to remain on their toes to safely traverse roadways near and far.

Wet roadways and poor driving conditions contrib-ute to thousands of road accidents each and every year. As roads get wet, oil and other substances rise to the surface of the pavement, which can quickly become slippery and compromise the traction offered by tires. According to the United States Department of Transportation, there are around 707,000 automobile crashes each year due to rain.

Heavy rains also may lead to puddles, which can obscure hazards on the roadway. Cars may stall out in puddles or hydroplane, which occurs when cars coast along the surface of the water. Puddles also can be splashed by oncoming cars, leading to visibility issues.

It is in every driver’s best interest to use caution when driving on wet roads. The following tips can help prevent accidents, injuries and even fatalities during the rainy season.

sLoW DoWn. Drivers should drive slower when roads are wet

and when rain compromises visibility. It can take up to three times longer to stop on a wet road than a dry one. By slowing down you will be able to stop or veer out of the way of danger.

Leave room. When driving on wet roads, leave more room be-

tween your vehicle and the one in front of you. Again, this plays into stopping distance. Tailgating increases your risk of rear-ending a vehicle if you cannot stop in time on a wet roadway.

stay aLert. It can be easy to be lulled into complacency while

driving. But staying alert and conscious of every detail going on around you can reduce your risk of ac-cident when driving in less than ideal conditions.

skiP crUise controL. As a driver, you want to remain in control of ac-

celeration and speed, rather than leaving it up to the cruise control system. If you begin to hydroplane on cruise control, the car may actually speed up.

Use yoUr heaDLights. Headlights can light up the road in front of you,

helping illuminate potential hazards. Lights on a car also make your vehicle more visible to others on the road. Always turn on the headlights in inclement weather.

avoiD jerky movements. Keep a steady pace and the vehicle in control. Jerk-

ing the wheel or accelerating and braking in a erratic fashion can cause the vehicle to spin out or skid on wet roads.

check yoUr tires. Inspect your tires for tread wear and air pressure.

Tires should be rotated as part of routine mainte-nance. Poorly performing tires are a significant safety risk. If you live in an area known for a lot of rain, invest in tires designed for wet road conditions.

Don’t let wet weather get the best of you. Slow down, stay visible and be on the alert.

How to safely navigate wet roadways

Why a clean air filter is important in your vehicle

Motorists routinely check their tires for proper inflation, top off engine fluid levels and maintain oil change schedules. But some drivers do not understand the importance of keeping engine air filters clean.

Engine air filters are a relatively inexpensive vehicle part, but they perform a very important job. For every gallon of gas a car burns, it uses the equivalent of 12,000 gallons of air, and that air must be filtered to help keep an engine clean.

Air filters catch all of the dust, grime, insects, sap, leaves, and any other debris that may get sucked up past the air intake of the vehicle’s grill and into the engine itself. Without the air filter, those contaminants may compromise the engine, caus-ing corrosion and abrasion. If the air filter in the engine becomes too dirty and is not changed regularly, the engine is starved of air.

Clean air filters allow just the right ratio of air to fuel to enable the engine to function properly. Engines need adequate air for the combustion process to take place. Without the proper combustion levels, vehicles cannot perform properly or efficiently and the engine may burn more gas or get fewer miles to the gallon. A dirty filter also can rob an engine of power. Drivers may notice sluggish accelera-tion.

Air filters also can get so dirty that the engine stalls completely. But such a prob-lem only develops after considerable neglect.

Air filters may not need to be replaced at each and every oil change service call. Many technicians advise replacing the filter every 8,000 miles. However, drivers who live in particularly dry and dusty regions may need to replace filters more frequently.

Mechanics can often detect when an air filter needs to be replaced. If he or she notices the air filter is particularly dirty, then it’s probably time to replace it. Re-placing the filter is a relatively inexpensive repair for the amount of performance and peace of mind a new filter provides.

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