Every car had
that distinctive 'new car' smell at one point in time. However, it
doesn't take long before it gets replaced with less-desirable scents
such as body odor or stale french fries. We believe it is a smell that
should not be limited to cars that are only weeks old. If you follow a
few of these simple techniques, you can achieve a fresh smelling car for
years to come.
First, let us
cover some preventative measures. They may seem like common-sense, but
it's still worth mentioning. Obviously, avoid smoking in the car. While
it seems like the smoke immediately disperses, it actually has a much
more pervasive nature. Cigarette smoke has a tendency to find its way
into fabrics and other hard-to-reach places in the car. This is the
quickest way to displace that fresh scent. Another, maybe not so obvious
(but still important), in-car activity to avoid is eating. And whatever
you do, don't leave fast-food bags in the car during the day or
overnight! If you must eat in the car, be sure to have some car wipes
handy to clean the steering wheel and any other surfaces that may have
been affected. It's also a great idea to keep an in-car trash bag that
will contain any spills or messes that you may encounter.
Now, even
following those rules, it's still inevitable that the new-car-smell will
eventually fade away. What can you do to restore it? Here are a few
suggestions:
- We all know
that you can buy the car-fresheners to place around the vehicle. Some of
these work better than others, but there are certainly better options.
- Next time
you're in the department store, grab a couple cologne or perfume samples
(depending on your preference) and leave them in the car. These scents
are strong and will remain in the car for longer.
- Vacuum often! Use carpet deodorizer, or baking soda, to absorb any scents left behind by the vacuum.
- You can place orange peels in an inconspicuous place. As they dry, they will continue to release a naturally fresh scent.
- Dryer sheets
also work very well. Put an open box underneath the drivers seat. They
absorb bad odors while also emanating a fresh smell.
Is there anything we missed that you have found success with? Let us know in the comments, or drop us a line on the Bob Brown Chevrolet Facebook Page!
If you have yet
do drive a fully-electric vehicle, you may not realize that the driving
experience is significantly different than your average car. That's
precisely why Chevrolet released a list of driving tips for those still
making the adjustment. We'll quickly highlight those tips in this blog
post.
- Once your car
is finished charging, it is proper etiquette to move your car. This
allows the next person to utilize the charging station. If you plug your
car in and leave while it is charging, leave a note indicating that it
is okay for the next person to unplug your car to charge their own.
- Fully electric vehicles receive priority at charging stations.
- Watch for pedestrians. Electric motors are almost silent which makes it difficult for people to be aware of approaching EV's.
- The Spark EV
has a Pedestrian Friendly Alert Function which can be set to activate at
slow speeds. The feature emits a 'Chirp' sound, making the vehicles
presence known.
- As an EV
owner, whether hybrid or fully-electric, it is your responsibility to
act as ambassador to others. Spread the word about the benefits of EV
ownership, as well as the nuances that come along with it.
For more information, visit the Bob Brown Chevrolet Website.
Most of us listen
to some form of music in the car while we are driving. Did you know
that, depending on the style and genre, music can have drastic effects
on your driving abilities? This study
shows that faster tempo music causes the driver to make rash decisions
like being impatient at red lights, driving faster and making more
mistakes, sometimes leading to accidents. Interestingly, the study also
shows that listening to any type of music, regardless of tempo, serves
to moderate your heart rate.
So next time you get in the car, think twice about putting on Slayer or Deadmau5. Maybe try some Chopin? Nora Jones?
The Chevy
Silverado has recently been awarded with the first ever five-star
government safety rating for a pickup truck. Features like high-strength
steel, fully boxed frames, lane departure warning, forward collision
alert and rear view cameras all contributed to the Silverado's reception
of the highest possible safety rating.
"Safety is as important to truck buyers as it is to car buyers," said Gay Kent, GM director of vehicle safety.
"Silverado and Sierra set a benchmark for pickup truck safety by offering
a full array of advanced features designed to protect occupants before,
during and after a collision."
GM's decision to
redesign their trucks for the first time in seven years could not have
come at a more optimal time. Sales of full-size pickup trucks has
increased by 24% through July, while the rest of the industry only rose
by 8.5%. Experts attribute this to a built up demand, stabilizing
housing market and healthy energy industry.
With Ford,
Chrysler and Toyota lurking, it's a huge victory for Chevrolet. The
demand for trucks is soaring. There's no doubt that the NHTSA's decision
to endorse the safety of the Silverado will help to conquer the
high-competition truck market.
If you have been
considering buying a truck, now is the time! And it's an obvious choice
to go with the brand that research has proven to have the best possible
passenger safety: Chevrolet.
There's no denying the practicality of a minivan. It's a smart buy for many young families. The hard part is looking past the horrifying aesthetics that come along with most (all) minivans. Put simply, they're uncool. And capitalizing on that deficiency, the Traverse may well put the minivan out of its misery.
One of the big factors in this match-up is the Traverse's standard third-row seating. With all seats in use, the Traverse still offers 24.4 cubic feet of storage space. Not enough? Fold the third row and you get a spacious 70.3 cubic feet of family fun. Another point that makes it such an appealing choice is that what most cars of its class offer as optional, come standard on the Traverse. That includes a rear view camera system and curtain airbags in the case of a rollover.
While measuring its style appeal is a matter of opinion, it's safe to say that the Traverse is no match for the current vehicle choice of soccer moms across the country. After all, soccer is all about style.
See our inventory.
We all miss the days of gas under $3. But instead of being bitter about the "old days," why don't we come up with a way to recreate those days of gas savings?
With the 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV drivers can save approximately $9,000 in fuel costs over 5 years compared to the average vehicle. That's $150 a month that can be spent on something else!
The amount of money you can save on fuel is the equivalent of:
- Airfare for an around-the-world trip
- 6 pairs of Google Glasses
- 60 Nike+ FuelBands
- 6,425 Starbucks Tall Coffee of the Days
The only question is what would you spend all that extra cash on?
Now could be the last chance to get the 2013 Chevrolet you want. As we
make room for the 2014 models we need to move out the 2013's, this means
great offers for you. They’ll soon be gone so hurry in now!
Visit the Bob Brown Chevrolet Website for more information. Or just come on in to see these amazing savings for yourself.