Life Hacks For Your Vehicle

We spend a lot of time in our vehicles. There are a few things you can do to make your car more comfortable and make life a little easier too. Here are a few tips to get you started...

At the Pump: 

If you are not driving your own car or simply forgot what side of the car your gas tank is on, you can just look at the gas gauge, it has a little arrow pointing to the direction that your tank is on.




The price of gas is always a hot topic, here is a tip to get the most for your money at the pump. ( I haven't tried this yet, I am planning to try it next time I fill to see how it goes.)




In the Garage:

It can sometimes be a tight squeeze, here are a few tips to help with parking in the garage:

  





Stay Organized:

We carry a lot of stuff around with us in our vehicles. Here are a few ideas to help keep things a bit more tidy.

1) Buy a couple of over the door shoe organizers from the dollar store, they make perfect pockets to hold small stuff on the backs of car seats. Also, utilize hooks in the vehicle to hang items with handles and straps.


2) Use laundry baskets to contain things so they don't roll around the trunk. Put your reusable shopping bags in them too, so you always have them on hand. After a shopping trip, use the laundry baskets to carry your groceries into the house.
 

3) Use cloth remote control holders for added pockets on the side of your seats.
               

4) Make a small garbage can with a lid to prevent litter from taking over. Use a plastic cereal container and line with a bag, then snap the lid on and voila!!!

         

5) Use a tackle box as a first aid kit. The compartments are great for all the little things, and it's easy to pack around. You never know when you will need something. These are also great because they usually have a place for a lock so if you have little ones you can keep any medications locked up.


6) Add over the head storage with a bungee net attached to the hooks or handles on the ceiling of your vehicle. There is usually more than enough space above the head to accommodate this trick.
   

Around the house:

There are plenty of common items that you have around the house that can be a big help in your vehicle. Here are a few:

1) After cleaning the dashboard, use Olive Oil to give it a great shine. This is easy on the pocketbook and doesn't contain harmful chemicals.


2) Toothpaste to clean hazy headlights.


3) Clear nail polish can be used to seal a chip on the windshield to prevent it from spreading before you get it in for repair. It can also be used on dings and scrapes in the paint to prevent rust from forming. You can also used coloured nail polish to touch up scratches if you can find one that matches close enough.


4) Cooking Spray is great to prevent your door from freezing shut in the Winter. Just spray the rubber gaskets around the inside of your doors, then wipe access off with a paper towel.


5) Speaking of freezing...use hand sanitizer to deice a frozen lock.  


6) Need to get that key off the key ring???  Save your finger nails and your sanity, use a staple remover to separate the ring to get the key off.


7) WD-40 can be used to remove stains in upholstery and carpets. It is also great for removing gum and other sticky stuff.
 

Bonus Hacks:

                  



I hope you found these helpful. If you know of any other great hacks, please feel free to share.

-Muriel Rolufs

Spring around Prince George

 Now that the snow is melting away, it makes me want to get out and do stuff. I have to admit I'm not much of a Winter person so once Spring hits it really feels like I'm coming out of hibernation. I started to think about all the things I want to get out and enjoy.

This made me realize just how many things there are to do in and around Prince George. Last year at this time I made a list of things I wanted to do over the non-winter months. Some were things I enjoy every year and some were things I always wanted to do. I never did do them all, but the good news is that I can keep working on my list this year, although I have a feeling it is going to grow before it shrinks. I thought I would put together a list of things I've found, and share the top activities with you.
 One of the things that makes Prince George so great is the access to the great outdoors. Many people who live here already make the very best of what nature has to offer. There are some however who may not, and may not even know where to start. Hiking is the easiest way to get started. There are all kinds of hiking trails that are easy to access with many options depending on your skill level. You can get a piece of the wilderness right down town or venture out for a drive. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Nature Walks:
1) Cottonwood Island Park
2) Forests For the World
3) Moore's Meadow Park


-These are all right in town and are very easy trails that do not require experience.

Hikes:
1) Eskers Park
2) Ancient Forrest Trail
3) Ferguson Lake

-These are located a short drive from town and are still relatively easy hikes.

Historic and Heritage Sites:
1) Railway Museum
2) Huble Homestead
3) Down Town Heritage Tour - Prince George Public Library


Fun Activities for kids:
1) Park Drive-In Theater & Go carts
2) Exploration Place
3) Noah's Ark


These are just a few of the things I could think of off the top of my head. There a are by far many more activities to get you out and about this Spring. Visit http://tourismpg.com/ for more idea's. I found that once I started mentioning my plans to others they started sharing their favorite things to do and the options are endless. Please share your favorite places so I can add to my list.

-Muriel Rolufs

Preparing Your Vehicle For Spring

Well, Spring has sprung...at least according to the calendar anyway!!! But, even though Mother Nature hasn't quite caught up yet doesn't mean you can't get a jump on some preparations.
Keeping up on the maintenance of your vehicle is a must if you want to get the most out of it. There are a few simple steps that you can take to improve the longevity of your ride. Changing of the Season is the perfect time to put some extra love into your investment. When you live in Northern Canada each season brings it's own challenges so when you prepare ahead it makes the transition a little easier.

1) Clean the interior. Remove all the junk that has accumulated over the winter months. You know...the stray mittens, food wrappers, and boulder sized gravel that you tracked in on your boots. Wow, that looks better already!!! Now vacuum up the small stuff (don't forget the seats) and give everything a good wipe to get rid of the thick layer of dust.  

2) Wash the exterior. You will want to get all of the dirt and salt off the exterior of your vehicle. Salt is what leads to rust, so be sure to do a thorough clean. Once it's clean, a good coat of wax is a great idea to help the Spring rain bead away and add further protection.

Note: If you aren't up for this there are plenty of options for car washes that will gladly do the dirty work for you.

3) Schedule an appointment with your mechanic. Winter temperatures are tough on your engine, you will want to have a mechanic go over everything to make sure it is in good condition. Make sure these things are done while you're there:
- Change oil
- Change other fluids
- Check belts, brakes and hoses
- Check suspension

4) Changeover tires. Once the temperature is consistently above 7 degrees it is safe to take off your winter tires. If you use studded tires they have to be removed before April 30th in B.C. If you don't use winter tires then you should give your tires a good inspection and make sure that the tread looks good and that there is no damage. Make sure to check your tire pressure too.

5) Inspect your wiper blades. Ice and snow can damage your wiper blades pretty quickly. With the rain in the spring you will want to make sure your wipers are in tip top shape. Check for cracked or dry rubber on the part of the blade that has contact with the windshield.

6) Speaking of the windshield. Check for chips and cracks and have any repaired, or have your windshield replaced if necessary.

7) Check Your A/C. You will want to be sure your air conditioning is working properly before the summer months hit ( believe me, I'm speaking from experience.) Test your A/C to make sure it is working before you go to the mechanic, that way if there is a problem you get get it looked at while you're there.

If you take the time to do these few things it will help your vehicle running smoother and looking better. Take the time to do maintenance every few months to get the most from your vehicle and it will be worth your while.
Now just sit back and wait for all this snow to melt!!!

-Muriel Rolufs

Why You Should Consider Buying A Used Vehicle

When it comes time to consider buying a vehicle there are many things to think about. The good news is that you are in the drivers seat, pun intended! There are numerous things that you need to think about; What kind of car will best suit my lifestyle? What style of vehicle do I prefer? How much can I afford to spend? Check out our blog article: What's the Right Vehicle for Me for some helpful tips on choosing the best vehicle to suit your needs.

The three main reasons to buy used?
1) Save Money
2) Save Money
3) Save Money

Yup, that's pretty much the basics of why buying a previously owned vehicle makes sense.

First: New vehicles depreciate by up to 30% in the first year. That means if you buy a $30,000 car you just threw $9,000 out the window just for the privilege of driving it off the lot. I don't know about you but I can think of a lot of things I could buy with $9,000.

Second: Your Insurance costs will be lower. Insurance rates are based on the value of your car, the less your car costs the less your insurance rates will be.

Third: Get more luxury for less cost. Want a vehicle with all the bells and whistles? Spending less on the overall vehicle price can give you more flexibility for extras that add to convenience and comfort.  

Aside from buying a home, vehicles are often the next big ticket item that people spend their money on. When trying to plan your budget you can save yourself thousands of dollars by buying a used vehicle.

People are often worried about compromising quality when buying used, this is not always the case. If you buy from a dealership like Queensway Auto World you have reassurance in knowing that each vehicle has gone through a 50 point inspection and history reports are available on all vehicles we sell. Also, you can purchase warranty plans to protect your investment into the future.

-Muriel Rolufs

Top 5 things that make us stand out

Foam Fingers... They aren't just for twerking

Here are a few reasons why we are different: 

1) Our customers come first. 
There is a good reason why we have been voted #1 Used Car Dealership in Prince George. Our customers can expect a no pressure sales environment. The staff at Queensway Auto World are here to help you and we want you to be excited about your purchase.

                              

2) Quality Pre-owned vehicles.
Every one of the vehicles that we sell has gone through a 50 point inspection. We ensure that all reports are available for every vehicle we sell: Carproof, Damage reports, inspection reports, as well as Lien records. Plus, every vehicle is fully detailed inside and out, so they are spotless for you.

3) We have a top notch Warranty Plan.
One of the reasons that people are uneasy buying previously owned vehicles is because they don't have Warranty. We sell Lubrico Warranty , you can custom design a warranty to suit your needs and your budget.

4) Finance Options
No matter your credit history, we have financing to adapt to your situation. Many people have life events that cause them problems with credit, we can help get financing approved and can even help you rebuild your credit rating. If your credit is in good shape, we can often get better interest rates than the banks to help you get the best value possible.


5) Locally Owned and Family Run
Some people don't know the significance of this. Dealing with a family run company gives you added value that you don;t often get elsewhere. There is a unique personal touch because these business owners view their customers differently than large corporations do. These companies are members of the local community and because of this their clientele are also their neighbours. Plus, the revenue earned from these local businesses are more likely to go back into the local community through charities and sponsorship.
For more on this check out our previous blog: " Family Run? Locally Owned? Why does this matter?"

New Years Resolutions

Well, it's that time of the year again. It's time to sit back and analyze the past year and think about all of the things that have happened, the good and the bad. We often find ourselves reflecting on the year that seems to have passed us by and wonder if there was anything that could have been different. That is what makes New Years so incredible, it's a chance to look at the world around us and decide what things we want to keep in our lives and what things to let go of as we move forward.

Not everyone is big on making New Years Resolutions. I personally make resolutions all throughout the year. Some people avoid them all together, there are many reasons to skip the popular tendency: lack of motivation, fear of failure, unclear direction, etc. These are all the more reason to give resolutions a shot.

If you find you are lacking motivation, just plain stuck in a rut, having a goal can help. Even the smallest challenge can get you motivated, no matter your goal. Lets say you want to lose weight. You don't have to go crazy with some starvation diet or hit the gym for hours a day. Just keep it small and simple, try to set a goal to not eat anything with in 2 hours of going to bed, or cut out snacking on junk between meals. If you are not very active you can start out by going for a 15 minute walk every day. The key here is to make small changes that you can stick to and keep building from there. If your goal is to organize your house and declutter then the same principle applies. Pick one room at a time and dedicate 15 minutes a day to cleaning it up. You will be amazed at how quickly things start to change. And the best part? You start to see the success in your small steps and your motivation keeps building.

Is it a fear of failure that holds you back? That's all the more reason to have a resolution. If you start out small you will have attainable goals to work toward and you will see results and success. The reason most people fail is because they bite off more than they can chew or they aren't realistic about what they can actually achieve right away. That sets you up for failure. Small accomplishments are the foundation, then you build and build from there. Before you know it you have a pile of successes under your belt to be proud of.
Are you unclear of the direction you are headed in? The perfect cure for that is, you guessed it, a resolution. You don't have to be clear on what your future holds, just simply pick something that interests you. Always wanted to paint, travel, hike a mountain?  Find something that inspires you and take steps to do it. What you will find here is new things opening up to you and it may give you the direction you were missing. It also opens the door to meeting new people who can also help you learn your path.

There is an infinite list of reasons not to take some time to come up with resolutions for the New Year (or any other time for that matter) but there is an equally long list of reasons why you should.  Your resolutions shouldn't be about doing a complete overhaul of your life, but rather an opportunity to adjust your sails and head in the direction that you want to take your life. It gives you a chance to make your own decisions about the person you want to be. 

So as the year comes to a close, take a bit of time to consider what you can do to make your own life better. You don't have to change the world, just take steps to make small improvements. And remember, you can renew your resolutions continually throughout the year. If something isn't working don't give up, just re-evaluate and come up with a new plan. Also you don't necessarily have to start on New Years day, you can pick a date that works with your own life. Sometimes it's hard to get into a new routine right after the hectic holiday season. We often do so much over Christmas and New Years that the thought of setting resolutions into action just isn't realistic, and that's okay.
Never made a resolution before? There are plenty of different things to work with. Start with a few different areas and fine tune it to suit you. Some main areas to consider are: health, relationships, financial situation, home, work, and so on. Pick one area and consider one thing that you can do to make improvements. Heck, pick one thing from each area and apply a small change and keep adding as you go. A resolution is a just a goal and a promise to yourself to take action to make improvements.
This year make a resolution to set a resolution, and start the journey to creating a better life for yourself.  Happy New Year!!!  



-Muriel Rolufs