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

Why I Use Winter Tires

                 I have to admit, when I got my first car I didn't have a lot of money. I was only 19 years old and worked 3 to 4 part time jobs to support myself. Between rent, car loan, insurance and other monthly expenses I wasn't left with much to pay for other things.  Winter tires were a luxury that I couldn't afford. Besides, I thought all seasons were good in the snow.  As a result, I was one very nervous winter driver. I remember getting in my car (after banging the solenoid with a wrench to get it to start) and literally shaking with fear as I navigated my way through the icy roads to make it home. Every time I came to an intersection I hoped and prayed that I would be able to stop, and again when it was time to start I pleaded with my car to get me going and not sit there with my tires spinning on ice. I only drove when I absolutely had to.

                My winter driving experience went on like this for a few years and I just surrendered myself to not being a good winter driver and got accustom to having my heart in my throat every time I had to go anywhere. Then, something changed. I had my first child and suddenly everything had taken on new meaning. Incorporating the cost of winter tires became a necessity instead of a luxury. There was no way I was going to take any risks with precious cargo on board.

                With my new winter tires on and my little bundle of joy safely secured in his car seat, I set out on those horrific roads. As always I was nervous, even more so now.  But there was something different about this experience. As I made my way along the streets I realized I could stop and start...virtually whenever I wanted.  I could feel the tightness in my chest from anxiety slowly start to subside, my hands stopped shaking and I could breathe again.

                It didn't happen overnight but each time I ventured out it got easier and easier. Learned how to control my vehicle better at intersections and I no longer was a shut in during the winter months. Those tires changed my perspective about winter driving and gave me more confidence on the roads. The best thing was that I realized I wasn't a bad winter driver, I just didn't have the right equipment for the job.

                 Now with the knowledge that I have about the benefits of using winter tires I can’t believe that I didn't make them more of a priority in my early driving years. After all, I live in Northern Canada and winter road conditions are a part of life here. Even though I was strapped for cash, I should have found a way to make it work.

                So with this being said, my advice is if you drive in the winter invest in winter tires. Sure All Seasons sound like they would be enough, but they are not. Winter tires are made specifically to handle ice, snow, slush and sub zero temperatures in a way that other tires just can’t compete.  There are ways to make them more affordable; look for pre and post season sales or check Kijiji or the buy and sell for lightly used ones.  Also you could budget to put away a bit each month to save up. It’s worth it.

-Muriel Rolufs

Parking

Many of us learn the skills needed to drive to pass the drivers test and then quickly leave that knowledge behind. Have you ever been in a rush to get downtown to get your banking done and found once you got there that the only spaces that are available are ones that would require parallel parking? And you have no idea how to parallel park, especially in the middle of the hectic downtown traffic. Or have you tried to squeeze in some Christmas shopping only to find the parking lot jam packed, and the only way to find a parking spot would require extensive skills in reversing? Another lost skill.
I came across this and thought I would share. Often when we have been driving for several years we forget things like how to parallel park, unless we do it often. I know several people who would rather drive around the block several times than attempt to parallel park simply because they don't remember how to do it. This is a great reminder on how to park or even a great lesson for those just learning to drive.
 Whether you are a new driver or a veteran, these tips can be helpful. It would be a good idea to get out and do a little practicing so that if the opportunity presents it's self you are ready to use those skills and claim your spot! 

-Muriel

Travelling With Pets

 Our little furry family members are important to us. When planning to bring your little critters on the road with you there are a few things to keep in mind. Even if you are only travelling a short distance there are a few tips that could be helpful and may even save a life.

It’s nice to have our furry companions enjoy the excitement of a road trip, often there is nothing our K9’s like more than a trip in the car. You can see the genuine happiness in them as they hang their head out the window and let the wind blow through their ears. But, did you know that the wind blowing in your dog’s face can actually be dangerous? That’s right; even though he is having the time of his life he is at risk of numerous dangers like, getting hit by an object, developing a lung infection, or causing inner-ear damage. It’s best to be the big mean parent and ruin the fun for the sake of safety.

If you are planning to take your pet on a trip and they have not spent much time in a vehicle before then it’s a good idea to try and get them used to the environment a bit first. Take your cat or dog out to spend some time in the car for a while without going anywhere. Let them sniff around and get used the space and all of the new smells, this will help them to be more relaxed while travelling. You can also take him out and about around town on short little journeys to gradually get him used to being in the car. If you choose places that are more exciting like a trip to the dog park then it will make the outings that much more positive.  These practice runs can also give you an indication of whether your pet has any other issues that you need to be aware of like anxiety or car sickness. If there is a problem you can speak to your vet about medications to help.

You wouldn’t dream of putting your child in the car without securing them in a proper seat, so why would you not do the same for your pet. Your animals depend on you to keep them safe. A loose animal in the vehicle is dangerous, not only to you but to them as well. In the event that you have to slam on the breaks your pet becomes a projectile. Imagine little (or even big) “Fluffy” flying through the air, then slamming into you, your child, or even a window. That is not an image that is easy to think of, but it is a reality if you don’t take precautions to prevent it.  Another danger of having a loose pet in the vehicle is having them distract you while driving. A frightened pet could try and hide under your feet, making it near impossible to operate the brake and gas pedals. Or, if you are trying to get your pet to behave you are likely not watching the road.

Luckily, there are numerous ways to secure your pet to avoid disaster:

-  Crates are probably the best way to keep animals contained, especially when it comes to cats. If your pet is not used to being in a crate then you will want to make sure that you let them get used to it a bit first. Make sure that you secure the crate as well; you will want to strap it to something so that it can’t move around or it will also become a potential projectile.  You also want to make sure that your pet is comfortable inside the crate; they should have enough room to turn around and move. It’s also a good idea to make sure the interior walls of the crate are cushioned as well; you don’t want your pet to be hurt if he hits the walls in the event of sudden stops.

 - Another great way to keep your pet safe is with the use of a harness. They make pet friendly harnesses that attach to a regular seatbelt or ones that have straps that attach to the ceiling of your vehicle. These are great so you can still enjoy the company of your dog while you keep them safe and comfortable. Remember, the back seat is best for pets because the air bags in the front seat can cause serious injury in the event of an accident.

Now that you have your pet travelling safely we can look at a few other things that help make travelling with your pet easier.

Food – Make sure that you do not feed your pet for at least 3 to 4 hours before you leave. This will help prevent car sickness. If your pet needs to eat during the trip do not feed them in a moving vehicle, this could cause an upset tummy. Stop at a rest stop for him to eat and make sure you allow lots of time for the food to digest before getting back on the road.

Water – Fresh water should always be available to your pet. Bring bottled water along so you can make sure that can keep them well hydrated. There are special water dispensers available to attach to the inside of crates. Also, you can buy collapsible bowls that are great for food and water while travelling.

Identification – I.D. tags are important while travelling, make sure your pet is wearing one. In the event of an accident your pet could get loose and become lost, this ensures that he will have a better chance of being returned to you. Also, if your pet is travelling in a crate, make sure that the crate is labelled with your pets name, your name and address and cell phone number. The more information you can provide the better.

Travel Kit – Put together a few items that you can have easy access to during your travels. Use a small bin with lid to keep it all contained. Your kit should include: Pet health records (in case of an emergency trip to the vet), nail clippers, liquid bandage, pooper scooper, waste bags, treats, extra dog leash, and at least one favorite toy.

During the trip make sure your pet is content and comfortable. Having a toy available often helps them to be more relaxed and occupied. It is also important that you make frequent stops to allow your pet to stretch his legs and have bathroom breaks (always clean up after your pet.) When you stop to let your dog out ensure that there is lots of space to walk him and make sure he is always on a leash. If you have to leave your pet in the vehicle then park in the shade and leave the windows open. Do not leave your pet for long periods of time, even if the windows are open, it doesn’t take long for temperatures become dangerous.

Hopefully these tips can help you to have a successful road trip with your best friend. Remember to use these safety tips even if you are just travelling around town. Accidents are not planned and these few precautions could save you or your pet from injury, they could even save life.

-Muriel Rolufs