Category Archives: Helpful Tips

Are Hackers Really At The Gas Station Now?

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Posted in Dealer Information, Helpful Tips, News

Unfortunately – yes.

As our cars become increasingly networked — not just through telematics systems like Uconnect and OnStar, but also through vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-grid communications – the risk of bad guys and gals tinkering with those networks goes up.

Well, if you’re one of those folks who truly fear the havoc that hackers can wreak, we have some bad news: they’re now targeting gas stations.

But wait, it gets worse: the gas stations aren’t really fighting back.

Following some mischief at a gas station in February, two tech researchers set up dummy systems to see if hackers would take the bait. They did. Repeatedly – especially on the systems that appeared to be in the U.S.

Some weren’t actually attacked, just “pinged”, so that hackers could verify that they were there. If the baddies found a use for them in the future, they could come back.

The good news is that gas station monitoring systems can’t be used to do anything that’s directly disruptive. For example, hackers can’t take control of a system and blow up a gas station.

The bad news is that hackers can still cause a lot of headaches by messing with these systems. For example, they could alter the readings on a particular station so that a fuel truck delivering refills could cause a tank to overflow, creating a fire hazard. The hackers could also keep tabs on delivery schedules and plan attacks that way. They could also burrow in and insert their own safety systems, locking fuel companies out until they’d paid a ransom.

And what’s the worse news? There’s not a lot of security on many of these systems, mostly because the companies that own them don’t see the potential for danger.

At Car Direct, our goal is to help you in finding the right vehicle for you.  Check out our inventory page to see what we currently have in stock.  Don’t see what you’re looking for?  Give us a call – that vehicle may be on its way in.  If not, we’ll find it for you!

gas station

The 10 Most Expensive (And Least Expensive) Cars to Insure

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Posted in Dealer Information, Helpful Tips

When shopping for a vehicle, everyone thinks about the price.  Most people, as we know very well, want to negotiate for the best possible price.  But there is one factor that we can’t control – how much insurance is going to cost the consumer.  The premiums on some vehicles can be as much as 3 times the rates on others.

There are a couple of factors that influence your insurance rate:
– A higher price tag typically means a higher premium.
– Family-friendly models like SUVs and minivans that come with loads of safety features also come with discounts.
– As horsepower increases, so do the premiums.
– Your zip code and personal driving history can help or hurt your premium.

In order to help our consumers making a decision about what vehicles they want to shop for, here are 2 lists – the top 10 most expensive vehicles to insure and the least expensive vehicles to insure, according to Insure.com.

The most expensive vehicles to insure:car-insurance
1. Nissan GT-R Nismo
2. Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Convertible
3. Dodge SRT Viper
4. Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet
5. Audi R8 5.2 Spyder Quattro
6. Porsche Panamera Turbo Executive
7. BMW 760Li
8. BMW M6 Convertible
9. Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG 4Matic Wagon
10. Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG 4Matic Sedan

The least expensive vehicles to insure:
1. Jeep Wrangler Sport 4WD
2. Jeep Patriot Sport 2WD
3. Honda CR-V LX 4WD
4. Dodge Grand Caravan SE Plus
5. Honda Odyssey LX
6. Jeep Compass Sport 2WD
7. Subaru Outback 2.5i
8. Ford Edge SE 2WD
9. Smart FORTWO Pure
10. Ford Escape S 2WD

At Car Direct, our goal is to help you in finding the right vehicle for you.  Check out our inventory page to see what we currently have in stock.  Don’t see what you’re looking for?  Give us a call – that vehicle may be on its way in.  If not, we’ll find it for you!

April Is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

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Posted in Dealer Information, Helpful Tips, News

Distracted-Driving

Eighty percent of American drivers believe hands-free devices are safer than using a handheld phone. But that is just not the case. More than 30 studies show hands-free devices are no safer because the brain remains distracted by the conversation. When talking on a cell phone, drivers can miss seeing up to half of what’s around them, such as traffic lights, stop signs and pedestrians.

Distracted driving is any activity that diverts a person’s attention from the primary task of driving. All forms of distracted driving endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety.  At any given daylight moment across America, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving, a number that has held steady since 2010. Distracted driving has become a deadly epidemic on America’s roadways

3,154 people were killed in 2013 and an estimated 424,000 injured in motor vehicle crashes that involved distracted drivers. Our youngest and most inexperienced drivers are most at risk, with 10% of all distracted driving crashes involving drivers under the age of 20. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted.

We’d like to take a moment to remind you to keep your eyes and your mind on the road in front of you while you’re driving – it could save someone’s life!  One of the best ways to stay safe while driving is to stay distraction-free. If you think about those things that distract you while driving you can more easily avoid them.

Visual distractions are things that you see that can take your eyes off of the road. That little bobble head happily bouncing back and forth on your dashboard or those fuzzy dice on your review mirror are examples of visual distractions.

Physical distracted driving is also sometimes known as manual distracted driving.  Physical distractions are anything that you are physically doing with your hands or body when you should be focused on driving. Physical distracted driving could be the result of trying to put on makeup in the car, adjusting the radio, or grabbing a quick bite to eat while traveling from one place to another.

Unfortunately, drivers don’t have to be distracted very long to get into trouble. One study found that almost 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involved drivers who were not paying attention to traffic for three seconds or less before the event.

At Car Direct, our goal is to help you in finding the right vehicle for you.  Check out our inventory page to see what we currently have in stock.  Don’t see what you’re looking for?  Give us a call – that vehicle may be on its way in.  If not, we’ll find it for you!

#distracteddrivingawareness

10 Important Things You Should Check On Your Car Regularly

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Posted in Dealer Information, Helpful Tips

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Your car gets you safely everywhere you want to go, but it requires that you take good care of it in order to keep running right. Taking care of your car is as important for keeping you on the road and getting where you want to go as it is for your safety. Some of these simple maintenance issues can actually result in an accident or injuries. Take the time to make sure these 10 things are checked regularly and maintained as needed and avoid a potential accident or car insurance claim.

  1. The Oil
    The oil in your car keeps everything running smoothly, and your car can’t run without the right level of oil. You can check your oil level by yourself easily by simply pulling out the dipstick and seeing where the oil level is. You should take your car in for an oil change on a regular basis as recommended by your vehicle manufacturer or mechanic. Oil changes are one of the most basic car maintenance procedures, and checking your oil an easy way to catch leaks.
  2. The Tire Pressure
    A tire pressure gauge is an affordable and easy to use tool that can prevent a flat tire or worse. Tires that are improperly inflated can cause blowouts that lead to accidents. They can also find you stranded on the side of the road. Additionally, the wrong level of inflation affects your fuel efficiency. It’s important to check them regularly and also be aware that the right tire pressure changes based on the outside temperature. Check with the tire manufacturer for the right pressure.
  3. The Brakes
    Don’t wait for that screeching sound that tells you the brake pads are getting old. Having your brakes checked regularly by a pro keeps your car safe and on the road. You depend on your brakes to stop your car and prevent an accident, so don’t take them for granted. It’s best to have a pro check your brakes as part of regular maintenance.
  4. The Power Steering Fluid
    If you have ever driven a car without power steering, then you know how important it is to check this fluid. Without it your power steering could fail, making it harder to control your car. Like your oil, you can check and refill this one yourself, so make it a habit.
  5. The Alignment
    While you will probably notice if your alignment is getting bad, it’s a good idea to have it looked over regularly, as it impacts the way your car handles on the road. Get your alignment adjusted as needed to ensure your car will steer and react the way you want it to when you need to move quickly.
  6. The Antifreeze/Coolant
    In Canadian winters, you will need to make sure that you have enough antifreeze in your car to make sure it can run properly. Cold temperatures are hard on your car. On the reverse side of that coin, coolant is also an important fluid to check on your car. Keeping your car running smoothly relies on the right levels of the fluids it needs.
  7. The Tire Tread
    It’s not just the pressure in your tires that matters. Your tires depend on the tread to give you traction on the road, and it’s especially important in slippery conditions. Look for signs of wear in your tires – and also look for any bulges or odd lumps that could indicate a problem. Low tread or bulges in the tires can cause slipping or a blowout on the road, and lead to an accident.
  8. The Air Filter
    A clogged air filter will cost you in fuel consumption, and it’s bad for the car as well. It costs very little to get it checked and replaced as needed, so make it a regular part of your car maintenance routine. Most places will check it for you when they change your oil free of charge.
  9. The Transmission Fluid
    Your transmission failing while driving is not something you ever want to experience. Make sure that the transmission fluid is always at a good level and is changed periodically to make sure your car can shift smoothly and keep you in control of the car at all times.
  10. The Lights – All of Them
    Having any of the lights on your car not functioning properly is dangerous. Be sure to check your turn signals, brake lights, reverse lights and of course your headlights on a regular basis. Although you are likely to catch a headlight that is out, you could easily miss a brake like or taillight that doesn’t function right. These things are vital to letting other vehicles know what you are doing or about to do – and preventing accidents. You could also get a ticket for having a light out, which could mean higher car insurance rates.

Keep your car in good running condition and it will keep you safe and in control on the road. It takes a short amount of time to check these important functions, but can save money, fuel, and even lives in the long run.

At Car Direct, our goal is to help you in finding the right vehicle for you.  Check out or inventory page to see what we currently have in stock.  Don’t see what you’re looking for?  Give us a call – that vehicle may be on its way in.  If not, we’ll find it for you!

Drugged Driving – It’s A Little Hazy

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Posted in Helpful Tips

AMost Americans understand the tremendous danger—and potentially devastating consequences—that drinking and driving subjects motorists and the public to. But what about the dangers of the widely available recreational marijuana that’s already legal in Colorado and Washington and soon to be so in Oregon, Alaska, and the District of Columbia?

U.S. drivers are a lot hazier about that—as well as the consequences and impairments that result from prescription medications and painkillers.

In a recent AAA survey, while 66 percent said that people driving after drinking pose a very serious threat to safety, only 56 percent attached that threat level to illegal drugs in general and just 28 percent to prescription drugs. And Americans aren’t clear on what the impairment thresholds are for marijuana, or on the legal and safety issues.

These findings come ahead of the full 2015 Traffic Culture Index report, to be released next month from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

Eight in ten Americans agreed that it is ‘completely unacceptable’ to drive one hour after using marijuana. Meanwhile the AAA notes federal research showing that marijuana can impair driving performance for up to three hours.

Furthermore, some research shows that marijuana impairment has two components, an acute one and a chronic one—and the latter, for regular marijuana users, could affect driving for weeks even after they stop.

The results also point to the need for an adjustment in driver attitude regarding prescription drugs. “Just because a doctor prescribes a drug, or you can purchase it over-the-counter doesn’t necessarily mean it is safe to use while driving,” said Jake Nelson, AAA’s director of traffic safety advocacy, who recommended that you discuss all potential side effects with your doctor or pharmacist.

According to the AAA, the use of one prescription drug has increased by ten percent in the past decade, while the use of five or more prescription drugs has increased by 70 percent. Medication can affect drivers’ alertness, concentration, general vehicle control, and mood (and arguably, decision-making).

The AAA Foundation does offer a Roadwise Rx tool that will help you check on a drug’s side effects, or potential interactions.

At Car Direct, our goal is to help you in finding the right vehicle for you.  Check out or inventory page to see what we currently have in stock.  Don’t see what you’re looking for?  Give us a call – that vehicle may be on its way in.  If not, we’ll find it for you!

Fuel Economy is America’s #1 Criteria When Shopping For A Car

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Posted in Dealer Information, Helpful Tips, Vehicle Technology

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When looking for a new car, there are a lot of factors to consider: how the car looks, how comfortable the ride is, its high-tech amenities, and the number of cup-holders.

But according to a new study from the ACC, the thing at the top of most shopper’s must-have list is good fuel-economy.

To uncover that fact, the ACC in conjunction with another research company polled 1,014 U.S. adults about a number of things related to cars and car-shopping.

Major takeaways from the firm’s survey include:

– 79% of respondents said that fuel efficiency was more important than most other factors when shopping for a new car, even outranking safety features and price.

– 72% of respondents said that fuel efficiency is more important now than it was five years ago.

– 37% of respondents said that they’d driven out of their way to purchase cheaper gas.

Which is all very interesting, if not terribly surprising.

At Car Direct, our goal is to help you in finding the right vehicle for you.  Check out our inventory page to see what we currently have in stock.  Don’t see what you’re looking for?  Give us a call – that vehicle may be on its way in.  If not, we’ll find it for you!

How To Test Drive A Car

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Posted in Dealer Information, Helpful Tips

You always test drive a car before you buy it right?  Of course!  Some drive it like they are in a Nascar Race and there’s one lap to go.  Some drive like they are afraid that touching the gas pedal will make the car go, and then what?  At Car Direct USA, our Sales Team is always happy to accompany the customers on a test drive.  Here are a few tips that we recommend while test driving a car to see if it’s the right fit for you.

1 – Take your time, you’re not actually in the Daytona 500.  Pick a few different roads to drive on at different speeds, and drive like you would on a daily basis.  You will get a better idea of how the car will perform under normal driving conditions.

2 – Park the vehicle.  CMan driving his caran you parallel park it?  Do you feel comfortable pulling into a parking space?

3 – Play with the radio a little and see how the speakers sound.  Is there additional technology on the car?  Ask your sales representative (who is sitting right next to you at this point) how it all works.  Check out how the seats move and fold down.  You may not be thinking about these things today, but we guarantee you will soon.

4 – Drive, and then ride.  See how the car feels as the driver, then ask to see how the car feels as the passenger.  A vehicle can feel very different from these 2 perspectives.

5 – Turn off the radio, and just listen to the car for a few minutes.  You want to get to know how the car sounds.

6 – Be meticulous and ask questions.  Review the Auto-Check with your sales representative and make sure you understand the information that is provided.  Ask questions if it isn’t clear to you, we want them all answered so that you have a strong sense of security.

7 – If you are the type of person that likes to have a friend or family with you, please bring them!

At Car Direct, our goal is to help you in finding the right vehicle for you.  Check out or inventory page to see what we currently have in stock.  Don’t see what you’re looking for?  Give us a call – that vehicle may be on its way in.  If not, we’ll find it for you!

Women. Start Your Engines.

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Posted in Dealer Information, Helpful Tips

women car repair

While auto repair shops tend to be a male-dominated enterprise, much of their success is driven by women.  If you own or work at a shop, you know this to be true.  So why, we have to ask, does a new survey from AutoMD suggest that women hate taking their vehicle to a garage so much that they would rather go to the dentist?  Here are a few reasons that we came across in reviewing this survey.

Very few people actually trust their mechanics – approximately 83% of people feel that they are being overcharged for repairs.

The repairs to the vehicle aren’t clear.  86% of survey respondents said that their repair experience wasn’t transparent – they were not communicated to in layman’s terms.

When asked to rank five specific activities from most to least pleasant, taking a car in for repairs came in last – behind buying a car, going to  the dentist, shopping for airline tickets online, or shopping for books and music online.

Women may hate taking their vehicles to the repair ship, but the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence reports that a whopping estimated 65% of customers who take their vehicles to an automotive repair shop for service are women!  What can we learn from this fact?  In the automotive industry, we think it is vital to understand the needs of women and how to communicate with them, even with the perception that it is a male-dominated enterprise.  We need to remember the little things – like the magazines women read while they wait, and the cleanliness of the bathroom just to name a few.

 At Car Direct, our goal is to help you in finding the right vehicle for you.  Check out or inventory page to see what we currently have in stock.  Don’t see what you’re looking for?  Give us a call – that vehicle may be on its way in.  If not, we’ll find it for you!

10 Most Congested Highways & Cities In The US

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Posted in Helpful Tips, News

traffic_6.4.14There are days when it seems very frustrating to drive in Hampton Roads.  We are a melting pot of drivers from all over the country.  But can you believe that out of 7 major cities – Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach – not one of our cities made the 10 Most Congested Highways & Cities In The US list!
This is good news for us!

The list of the 10 most congested highways comes from Google Maps, viable Mashable.  The good news for us is that none of major routes on the East and Gulf Coasts are included. The bad news is that drivers in California and Hawaii are facing daily gridlock. Google’s list includes:

  1. Interstate H-1 E, Kalihi-Palama in Honolulu, Hawaii
  2. Interstate 5 N, in San Diego, California
  3. Caligornia 2 E, in Los Angeles, California
  4. Lunalilo Freeway, Kalihi-Palama in Honolulu, Hawaii
  5. US Highway 101, in Hollywood, California
  6. Interstate 278 W, in Sunnyside, New York
  7. Interstate 678 N, in Briarwood, New York
  8. Lunalilo Freeway, from Liliha to Kapalama in Honolulu, Hawaii
  9. US Highway 101 N, in downtown Los Angeles, California
  10. California 2 E, in Santa Monica and Glendale, California

That said, folks in other parts of the U.S. aren’t completely in the clear. Google Maps also revealed a list of America’s ten most congested cities, and several metro areas in the East and Midwest did made the cut here:

  1. Honolulu, Hawaii
  2. Chicago, Illinois
  3. New York City, New York
  4. Los Angeles, California
  5. Boston, Massachusetts
  6. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  7. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  8. Washington, D.C.
  9. San Francisco, California
  10. Duluth, Minnesota

Hopefully these lists will help you be  prepared for wherever you may be driving this summer!

At Car Direct, our goal is to help you in finding the right vehicle for you at a rate that you can afford.  Check out our inventory page to see what we currently have in stock.  Don’t see what you’re looking for?  Give us a call – that vehicle may be on its way in.  If not, we’ll find it for you!  And then we’ll help you get the best financing possible!

Distracted Drivers Texting, And Caught In The Act!!

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Posted in Helpful Tips, News

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Is this an effective method to broaden awareness of a dangerous issue, or is it a voyeuristic sort of public shaming?  Imagine going out on the town, and seeing… yourself, caught in the act, texting while driving.  That’s what’s happening in the San Francisco Bay Area, where a graphic designer has received a lot of media attention for purchasing space on Billboards to share pictures, snapped in public, of people texting while driving.

At first you may laugh, as that would be quite embarrassing to the person that was caught… but what if it were you?  Social pressure appears to be the goal of the project.  Of course, the billboards don’t name names, but there’s a possibility that your friends, coworkers, or even boss will recognize you, caught in the act.

Is it possible that the next step will be digital billboards with cameras looking into traffic.  Perhaps if the camera spots you texting, your image will appear, in real time, on the billboard?  You, and everyone in traffic around you, would catch you in the act.  And when do we determine if it’s gone too far?  There are cameras at traffic lights to take a picture if you run a red light, and then you get a ticket in the mail.  Will these billboard cameras capture the image of you texting in your driver’s seat, and send you a ticket in this case as well?

In Virginia, it is against the law to text and drive, punishable by a fine of $125 for first-time offenders, and up to $250 for repeat offenders.  The law states and defines this act as:
“46.2-1078.1.  Use of handheld personal communications devicesin certain motor vehicles; penalty.
A.  It is unlawful for any person to operate a moving motor vehicle on the highways in the Commonwealth while using any handheld personal communications device to:
1 – Manually enter multiple letters or text in the device as a means of communicating with another person; or
2 – Read any email or text message transmitted to the device or stored within the device, provided that this prohibition shall not apply to any name or number stored within the device nor to any caller identification information.

Our advice – Make a habit of not texting and driving.  You, and all of those around you, are much safer this way.  And there is no chance of being pulled over and fined for texting and driving.

Sources:
http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1091157_public-shaming-with-billboards-any-less-likely-to-text-and-drive#src=10065
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-1078.1

At Car Direct, our goal is to help you in finding the right vehicle for you at a rate that you can afford.  Check out our inventory page to see what we currently have in stock.  Don’t see what you’re looking for?  Give us a call – that vehicle may be on its way in.  If not, we’ll find it for you!  And remember – Don’t text and drive, be safe!!

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