2011 Ideal Vehicle Awards Names Chrysler “Most Ideal Popular Brand”

The 2011 Ideal Vehicle Awards named Chrysler its “Most Ideal Popular Brand.”

The honor was given based on owners’ ratings of their 2011 cars and trucks. Several models were also singled out with awards, including the Dodge Challenger, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chrysler Town & Country, which were named Most Ideal Sports Car, Most Ideal Mid-size SUV, and Most Ideal Minivan, respectively.

More than 72,000 vehicle owners were asked to rate their vehicles based on power and acceleration, ride and handling, interior roominess and cargo space.AutoPacific also asked owners if there were any characteristics that they would want to change about their vehicles. Vehicles with the least amount of changes were named the most ideal.

“Ideal Vehicle Award winners deliver the most of what consumers are really looking for in their vehicles,” said George Peterson, President of AutoPacific. “Shoppers can use the Ideal Vehicle Awards as a benchmark for vehicles that are designed and built with customers in mind.”

The Dodge Challenger, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Town & Country, all received crucial updates for the 2011 model year. Updates to Chrysler models have included new interiors and new powertrain options.

“It’s an honor for the Chrysler brand to be recognized by AutoPacific,” said Olivier Francois, President and Chief Executive Officer, Chrysler Brand. “Recognition by the customers who buy and evaluate our vehicles proves we take consumer input very seriously in all the vehicles we design and build at Chrysler.”

Read more: http://www.chryslerinthenews.com/chrysler-wins-most-ideal-brand-award/#more-988

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The Red-light Camera Quiz

Red-light cameras may seem technologically cut-and dry, but that's far from reality. They've saved lives, but they've also stirred up more controversy that most other traffic control devices on the roads to date. See how knowledgeable you are about some of the more picayune and esoteric aspects of this growing debate.

Follow the link to get started: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/red-light-camera-quiz.htm

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2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Price Goes Down $3,000

The 2012 Grand Cherokee, which goes on sale next month, will reportedly benefit from a $3,220 price decrease versus the 2011 model. This means that the base Laredo trim level with two-wheel drive will now carry an MSRP of $26,995.

Jeep introduced the all-new Grand Cherokee for the 2011 model year, and thus, only minor changes have been made for the 2012 model. The 5.7-liter V8 is now mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, rather than the aging five-speed, and models equipped with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 will now come with electro-hydraulic power-assisted steering.

Elsewhere in the Chrysler lineup, the 2012 Dodge Avenger and Chrysler 200 receive price decreases of $250, and the 2012 Dodge Journey costs a substantial $1,450 less than the 2011 model.

Read more: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/16/2012-jeep-grand-cherokee-base-price-plummets-by-over-3-000/

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The SRT High Performance Tour Will Be At Monroeville Chrysler Jeep On Wednesday!

Come and see for yourself what the SRT brand is all about!

Chrysler’s new Street and Racing Technology (SRT) Brand is hitting the road with its first-ever “SRT High Performance Tour.”

“We’re excited to take our 2012 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep SRT vehicles directly to our performance fans and loyalists across the country,” said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO – SRT Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “Each of these vehicles is loaded with new technologies and content that SRT customers want to fulfill their need for power, performance, contemporary luxury and safety while maintaining each of the vehicle brand’s key design differentiators.”

“We know exactly where our enthusiasts live, and sometimes you can actually create events to draw them out,” said Gilles, “and that’s what the tour is all about.”

Read more: http://www.chryslerinthenews.com/srt-high-performance-tour/#more-949

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Top 10 Car Maintenance Tips

10: Check Your Tires

Tires are one of the most overlooked parts of a car. According the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), only one out of 10 drivers checks his or her tire pressure correctly, compared with almost seven out of 10 who wash their cars regularly [source: RMA]. But the truth is that an under-inflated, over-inflated, worn down or misaligned tire can be extremely dangerous, particularly in hot summer weather.

9: Change Oil and Oil Filter

Oil is the lifeblood of your car. It keeps hardworking engine parts running clean, smooth and cool. Most owner's manuals suggest that you change your oil and oil filter every 7,500 miles (12,070 kilometers). Oil change specialists suggest every 3,000 miles (4,828 kilometers) or three months. The fact is, most of us do a lot of heavy driving during the summer when an engine is more likely to overheat. So at least check your oil before you head out on that road trip with the family.

8: De-Winterize Your Car

If you haven't driven your car very much during the winter, or if you've had it in storage, then you need to check all of the fluid levels -- coolant, transmission,differential, power steering and brake fluid -- to make sure there weren't any leaks. You'll also want to change the oil, since oil gets thick and collects condensation if it sits in the engine all winter. If you haven't used your battery in a while, you might need a recharge or a replacement. It's also important to really clean the undercarriage of the car after a long winter, especially if you live in a snowy climate.

7: Check Hoses and Belts

The key to summer driving is keeping the engine cool. We're going to talk about the radiator and coolant soon, but first you need to check the hoses and belts. The hoses connected to the radiator help pump coolant to and from the engine block, and the belts run the fan that helps cool the system further [source: CBS News]. If the hoses crack or the belts snap, the radiator will quickly overheat, leaving you stranded.

6: Change the Air Filter

Over the winter, your car's air filter can get clogged with salt and other thick debris. A clogged air filter can really lower your fuel efficiency. Replacing a dirty or clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent

5: Replace Your Windshield Wipers

Winter can be tough on windshield wipers. Ice, snow, salt and extreme temperatures make cracks and tears in the rubber that lower the effectiveness of the wipers. If your wipers are leaving visible streaks or take several passes to clear away light rain, they need to be replaced.

4: Check Your Brakes

Brakes need to be replaced when the lining on your brake pad or brake shoe is worn down past the minimum thickness specified by the car manufacturer or state law [source: Yahoo! Autos]. You can have your brake linings checked at any normal service shop or at a brake specialist.

3: Check the Coolant and Radiator

Cars are designed to run hot, but there's a limit to how hot they should run. A combustion engine is most efficient at around 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius). But if an engine is allowed to get too hot, moving metal parts can actually start to melt and fuse together, causing a variety of internal problems for your engine -- and, you guessed it, a hefty repair bill.

2: Clean Your Battery

Wintertime is notorious for dead batteries and early morning jumpstarts. But the truth is that hot weather is even tougher on your battery. Summer heat can speed up the chemical reaction inside a battery, causing the battery to be overcharged [source: CBS News]. This can dramatically shorten the lifespan of your battery. Heat can also damage the battery by evaporating internal battery fluid [source: Car Care Council]. The best way to keep your battery running smoothly is to keep it clean.

1: Maintain Your Air Conditioning

The most common cause of a malfunctioning air conditioning unit is a low level of refrigerant. This could be caused buy a leak somewhere in the system. Since modern air conditioning systems are complicated creatures, it's best to have a professional check out the problem.

Tips courtesy of: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/car-driving-safety/accidents-hazardous-conditions/summer-car-maintenance10.htm

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Child Safety Seat Inspection Station Locator

 

While installing and using child safety seats may appear to be easy enough, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has estimated that close to 3 out of 4 parents do not properly use child restraints ... and if you are one of them, that child safety seat may not protect your child the way it should. Use this locator to find a child safety seat inspection station nearest you. Certified technicians will inspect your child safety seat and show you how to correctly install and use it.

              http://www.nhtsa.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm

            You can filter results by State/Zip Code as well as with Spanish-speaking technicians, and/or having local Child Passenger Safety events.

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Tips On How To Properly Wash and Wax Your Car

Check out the tips below on how to properly wash and wax your car.

More than one-third of car owners use damaging non-automotive products when washing their cars-products that could contain harmful detergents, abrasives and additives. And almost half of motorists don't ever wax their vehicles.

"Waxing at least twice a year is recommended for maximum protection, yet surveys show that 48 percent of motorists don't wax their vehicles at all," said Jeffrey Webb, director of retail marketing at Turtle Wax, Inc.

Motorists should avoid dish detergent, which contains harsh chemicals that, intended to cut through grease, will strip away the wax finish on your car. Some are hard to rinse off and leave streaks. For best results, a formulated automotive wash is recommended, one that gently lifts the dirt and grime while protecting the finish.

Washing an automobile on a regular basis protects it from the natural elements that harm the finish. The Car Care Council recommends the following dos and don'ts when it comes to a do-it-yourself car wash:

• Don't wash cars in direct sunlight. Do wash cars in shade or in cooler temperatures in the early morning or late afternoon.
• Don't use dish detergent. Do use a formulated car wash.
• Do fill your bucket with warm water.
• Do use a soft terrycloth towel or washing mitt.
• Do spray the car often with water.
• Don't scrub the car all at once. Do complete one section at a time, rinsing repeatedly to prevent the soap from drying on the paint.
• Do use soft terrycloth towels or scratch-free fabric to dry the vehicle.
• Don't neglect waxing the vehicle. Do prep the car for waxing using cleaner/polish to remove contaminants.

"The myth of not having to wax your car because you have a clear-coat finish is just that, a myth," Webb said. "Clear-coat finish is only as thick as a piece of paper and can become damaged from the effects of sunlight, UV radiation, acid rain, salt, dirt and air pollution."

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