Vehicle Safety – Driving With Children

vehicle-safety-driving-with-children 5.17.13It seems adults, specifically parents with young children, are just as guilty as everyone and anyone else when it comes to engaging in distracted driving.  Researchers from the University of Michigan surveyed more than 600 parents to find out what distractions they face while driving with their children, whether they use age-appropriate child restraints and if they had ever been in a motor vehicle accident.  They found that almost 90% of drivers reported engaging in at least one technology-based distraction while driving their child in the past month, drivers who reported engaging in distracting behaviors were more likely to report having ever been in a crash, and drivers of children who were not restrained in an age-appropriate restraint had 2.5 times higher odds of reporting a child-related distraction than drivers of children who were restrained properly.

The results were shocking to us, and we started thinking about what could be done to help prevent these hazards and keep all children a little safer.  At Car Direct USA, we came up with 3 key items for you to take a minute and think about next time you get in a vehicle with your child:

1 – Set an example and wear your own seatbelt.  Inspiration: Parents who reported always wearing a seatbelt were significantly more likely to report their child always uses the age-appropriate restraint.

2 – Ensure you have the correct and age-appropriate restraint for your child.  Inspiration: Many children are not using the right safety seat for their size.  Check your state’s law for specific child-restraint regulations.

3 – Put your phone down.  Inspiration: Almost 90% of drivers reported engaging in at least one technology-based distraction while driving their child.

To learn more about this study: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-05/aaop-mpm042613.php

At Car Direct USA, 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!

Made in America is a Powerful Statement

cars-american-flag 4.12.13More and more people are looking to buy American Made products – including vehicles, helping keep jobs here.  In an effort to help consumers buy American, we are sharing with you a new index released by American University’s Kogod School of Business.  The findings – domestic brand vehicles have the most American-made content in the United States; taking into consideration not only where each vehicle’s parts are produced, but also the locations of the manufacturer’s headquarters.

The scary part when looking at purchasing an American-made vehicle?  You could take the transmission apart and discover that 80% of the parts inside didn’t come from American factories, they are stamped with their own country of origin.

What are the Top Five American-made models from the index?
1 – GMA Acadia, Buick Enclave, and Chevrolet Traverse (all tied)
2 – Dodge Avenger, Ford F-Series pick-up (both tied)
3 – Chrysler 300
4 – Jeep Compass, Patriot, and Wrangler (all tied)
5 – Chevrolet Corvette, Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Mustang, and GMC Terrain (all tied)

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 your looking for?  Give us a call – that vehicle may be on its way in.  If not, we’ll find it for you!

See the full Kogod Made in America Auto Index here:
http://kogodnow.com/autoindex/

To find out how much of your car is actually made in America, check out the American Automobile Labeling Act reports below.  The AALA informs consumers about the percentage of American content which comprises each car. AALA data specifies the percentage of U.S./Canadian parts content for each vehicle, including where the engine and transmissions were built.
http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/regrev/evaluate/809208.html

5 tips to make sure you’re on the road this season Ready For Spring Virginia?

Get Ready for Spring – 5 tips to make sure you’re on the road this season from Car Direct USA

More often than not, people focus is on preparing their car for winter, however, it is equally as important to focus on getting your car ready for spring!  Here are some useful tips that you can use to give your car some spring TLC.

  For starters, take your car to the car wash and get a nice undercarriage wash.  If there were ever a time to splurge and get the supreme wash, this would be the best time for it. Driving on salted roads causes build up and an undercarriage wash will remove that salt caked under wheel wells and on all of the metal under your car. Salt build-up will eat away at the undercarriage like termites in a dead tree and leave your car prone to rusting. If you really want to go the extra mile, go to a car wash that sprays a rust inhibitor. And, while you’re there, bring a few quarters and take five minutes to vacuum the winter crud out your car!

With the changing of the temperature, it’s important to check the air pressure in your tires.  Whether you kept them nice and full during winter, or you’ve slacked off and they’ve gotten a bit flat, chances are the pressure could use some adjusting. Also, check the tread – is it time for new tires or a rotation?

Ready For Spring 2013

Ready For Spring 2013

Dry hands and lips aren’t the only things that crack in the winter cold. Check all of the belts and hoses under the hood for cracks. If you don’t know how to diagnose a belt, come on by our service center and we’ll be happy to help you out. It doesn’t take a genius to realize that a cracked belt or hose spells bad news. A snapped belt can kill your car.

While you’ve got the hood up check your car’s fluids. By simply topping off your fluids you can prevent serious problems from happening down the road. The more that you love your car the more it will love you.

After clearing all the snow, frost, sleet, etc. it’s probably time to replace your windshield wipers. After all it’s April showers that bring May flowers… changing your blades now will prevent you from getting stuck in a spring rain storm with frayed windshield wipers. There’s nothing worse than listening to old blades scrape on glass, it’s like listening to a three-year-old play violin.  And you’ll not want to pay the $200 to replace the glass.

Give your service center a call if you find anything out of place, a mechanic will cover a checklist of important things. After that, the only thing that you’ll have to do is pick out a new air freshener.

After all, that’s what your car is going to feel like when it’s ready to hit the road for the spring and summer months, Piña Colada anyone?

Car Direct USA Opens in Virginia beach with fresh Inventory arriving daily!

Car Direct USA a major new dealership featuring pre-owned trucks and SUVs, is now open in Virginia Beach.

“We’ve got a great location Says Brian Jones, and we are excited about being the first in this area to open a dealership catering specifically to those looking for a No Hassle Car Direct price. Our inventory of cars, trucks and SUVs, are like no other and we have shopped Nationwide to provide the best there is to offer.

Jones said the dealership will have fresh Inventory arriving daily with prices starting below most of his Va Beach Competitors  and a wide selection of brands including Chevy, Ford, Dodge, Nissan and Toyota to select from. According to Jones, a key feature of Car Direct USA will be its on-site financing and wide array of lenders. “We will also have more than 2 dozen banks available for financing options for a quick and easy buying process,” he noted. “With Interest Rates as low as 1.79%” Car Direct USA is located on Shore Drive in Virginia Beach just a few miles from the main gates at Little Creek Amphibious Base.

Brian Jones said the new dealership will be open six days a week. Hours will be Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays.  A new website  has also been launched where purchasers can review much of the inventory.  The dealership can also be reached by calling 757-464-1200.

Car Direct USA Opens
Online shopping is becoming one of the most popular ways to shop and Car Direct USA emphases this to their potential customers. Now everyone can search direct for the car that they want and the price they need. They can search by make and model, year and color and price and options. This is the perfect way to eliminate the hassle of going from dealership to dealership trying to find that perfect car at a price that will fit the budget. You can even check with the finance department to see what kind of loan you qualify for.

Another bright spot in finding the perfect car deal online is that the customer no longer needs to wait around the dealership to see if they will be able to get the financing they need. With most of the finance department online, the customer can simply fill out an online application and find out about getting financed before they even go to Car Direct. Jones says, he is excited to be apart of his community and looks forward to helping others and encourages car buyers to shop Car Direct USA and avoid the Mega Dealership Hassles.

Welcome to our new blog!

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Our Vehicle are updated regularly with great deals that are designed to help save you money. If you do not see a vehicle here that you are looking for, please contact us so that we may further assist you in the search for your perfect new vehicle.

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Sincerely,
You’re local #1 Used Car dealer