Fuel Efficient Autos

Every year around the beginning of the summer months, we hear of a parent, babysitter or some other adult who has left a child or pet in the car while they ran into the store or did some shopping. Unfortunately, this has killed hundreds of kids and pets over the years in an utterly senseless and avoidable act.

Even when the weather is mild, the inside of a car can get as much as 50 degrees hotter than the temperature on the outside. Within just a few minutes, the interior temperature can rise as much as 20 degrees. Within an hour, it can get as high as 50 degrees hotter. Contrary to what many parents believe, cracking the window does very little to dissipate the heat and cool of the inside of the car.

Never leave your child or pet in your VW cars alone. Even if you think it’s going to be for just a minute, you never know what is going to happen. Too many things can go wrong and it’s just better to be safe. Remember, it really CAN happen to you. That’s why it is important to take precautions to prevent it from happening.

If you just use your GPS device to tell you where to go, you are not allowing the unit to live up to its full potential. Your GPS unit can do so much more than just tell you when to turn left or go straight. Here are some fun things you can do with your GPS device

Customize It
Most GPS units have several different vehicles and voices that you can choose from right out of the box. Whether you want to be a fire truck, a bicycle or a 4×4 truck, you can make your car icon match your personality. You can also choose different voices to find the one that you like. If you don’t find something that tickles your fancy, you can go online with a simple search and download a number of icons and voices to install on your GPS unit.

Find Cheap Gas
You may need to a pay a yearly fee to some service for this program, but it’s well worth it. Services like MSN and others have programs you can install on your GPS that will tell you where the least expensive gas is in the area.

Find Your Favorite Restaurant
Are you a thousand miles from home and looking for the nearest Taco Bell? If so, your GPS device can tell you were to find one. The best part is that it also tells you exactly how to get there!

If you have not purchased a GPS device for your VW cars, what are you waiting for? Just a few hours with one of these things and you will wonder how you ever lived without one!

As popular as GPS devices are in VW cars these days, it may be nice to know some basic facts about the technology that we are using. Where did it come from? Who invented it? How does it work? These are just a few questions we are going to answer for you in the next couple blog posts. We hope you enjoy and learn something about these handy little devices.

• The first satellite for GPS purposes was launched in 1978.
• By 1994, 24 satellites were launched mainly for GPS purposes.
• The GPS technology was initially created by Ivan Getting for the United States Department of Defense. The cost was $12 billion.
• GPS satellites run on solar energy.
• The official U.S. Department of Defense term for GPS is NAVSTAR.
• GPS technology is also used to pinpoint ships and submarines. It has also been used to measure the height of Mount Everest.
• Many GPS devices are accurate to one centimeter or better.
• The GPS technology used in portable devices for cars today is the same that is used by the United States military for finding enemies.

How cool are GPS devices? I recently bought one and I cannot figure out how I ever lived without it. Get one for your VW cars and you’ll feel the same way.

If you are planning to stay in Pennsylvania this summer rather than taking a long road trip, there is no reason you cannot still have a great time. Pennsylvania has several amusement parts and other attractions throughout the state to keep your family entertained. This week we would like to briefly discuss several of those parks to give you some ideas for things to do this summer.

Hershey Park
Don’t you just love those little kisses in the foil wrapper? If so, you will thoroughly enjoy Hershey Park in Hershey, Pennsylvania. This theme park is more than just people walking around dressed as Hershey Kisses. There are roller coasters, water rides and much more to enjoy. Tickets are around $50 for a one-day admission pass so you can bring the entire family without breaking the bank!

Lakemont Park
This unique amusement park is the eighth oldest amusement park in the nation. It has been open since 1894 and it offers the world’s oldest roller coaster, called the Leap-the-Dips. Once inside Lakemont Park, you and your family can enjoy more than 30 rides and attractions, such as a fun go-kart track, and 18-hole miniature golf course, games, food and even an arcade! The best part is that an all-day pass only costs $9.95!

These are just two ideas you can consider if you want to stay close to home this summer. Just remember to maximize your enjoyment of the entire experience by taking your VW cars with you when you go!

On Wednesday, we discussed some ways that you can show your father how much you appreciate him on this upcoming Father’s Day. But if you are a father and you are reading this blog, there are some things you can do to enjoy the day to its fullest as well. Here are some suggestions that you and your son or daughter can do together to have some unique bonding time and learn more about each other, too.

• Volunteer at a charity organization – Few things will bring a father and child together more than volunteering with each other at an important community charity. You can get together and feed the homeless, volunteer to help Habitat for Humanity build a house or even go on the 5/10K charity walk in Pittsburgh. The possibilities are really endless.

• Make a scrapbook of the day – Bring your camera and take a lot of pictures of you and your children having fun. Get them developed at a one-hour developing place and create a scrapbook before the day is over. Your whole family will enjoy it for decades to come.

• Go to a concert of their choice – It’s always fun to learn more about your kids and their interests. There is no better way to do this than to let them drag you to a concert by one of their favorite bands. Who knows? You may actually even like the music!

• Shop for a car together. With now being a great time to buy a car, you can shop for Philadelphia area VW cars with your children by your side. It will be a great teaching tool for when they get older.

The important thing is to spend time with your kids on Father’s Day and reflect on the years gone by and the years ahead.

Did you know that Father’s Day is this coming Sunday? If you forgot, it’s not too late to do something that will honor your father. Your Trenton area VW cars dealer wants to offer you some things you can do to make your father feel special on this day.

• Simply Say “Thank You”
Being a father is often a thankless job. Dad typically gets stuck with the discipline, bringing home a paycheck and other things that go unnoticed. But if your dad did his best to raise you and supply your needs for you, he would probably be content with nothing more but a sincere and heartfelt “thank you” on Father’s Day.

• Spend Time with Dad
You can thank your dad for all his hard work over the years by spending time with him on Sunday. Take him for a scenic drive in you VW cars and just have some bonding time. You will both remember that drive for the rest of your lives.

• Go for a Picnic
You do not have to spend a lot on dad on Father’s Day to make him feel appreciated. Take him out for a picnic or just spend some time playing catch at the park if he is able to. You will be astonished at how much he will appreciate the time you spend together.

If you have not planned your summer trip yet, what are you waiting for? Your VW cars are ready to go and there is so much this country has to offer in terms of scenic drives and beautiful landscapes. Here are a few awesome drives you should consider taking in your VW cars because everybody should experience the beauty of America’s landscape while it still lasts.

• Merritt Parkway
You do not need to drive all the way to California or Arizona to see some breathtaking scenes in your VW cars. The Merritt Parkway begins just north of New York City and meanders through some awe-inspiring “woodsy Connecticut suburbs.” You will want to take photos of the Art Deco style bridges that have the class and charm of the 1920s and 1930s architecture as well as the green trees and sunshine that surround you along the way.

• New Mexico’s Turquoise Trail
If you are planning on heading west this summer, make some time in your agenda to take a drive along the Turquoise Trail in New Mexico. The road runs from Albuquerque to Taos and you can visit Wild West mining towns, Indian dwellings and modern art galleries along the way.

These are just two of the roads you can check out in your VW cars this summer. Keep coming back as we will be giving you more ideas for the summer travel season in the days and weeks to come.

Well, the time has come for that annual summer treat – rising gas prices. Just when you think it’s safe to drive your VW cars across the country, prices for fuel are going up everywhere. And western Pennsylvania is no exception.

In the last couple weeks, the average price for a gallon of fuel has shot up by more than 10 cents in the region. According to AAA, the average price in western Pennsylvania was $2.54 last week. That’s more than ten cents above the previous week’s average which was $2.43 per gallon. But, it is almost a rule for every blogger to say the following when talking about these increasing prices: It’s still not as bad as last year’s prices which averaged about $3.99 per gallon in the region.

One of the reasons that prices are continuing to rise is because of crude oil prices. Apparently, those prices have increased from $60 to more than $68 last week.

The highest price found in western Pennsylvania last week was $2.58 per gallon while another station in the area offered fuel at $2.51 per gallon.

Just keep these prices in mind when planning your trip and even your errands in your VW cars. Even though they are economical and efficient, they still use fuel. Just be a little more conservative this summer and look forward to lower prices in the fall.

Have you ever been in an accident that was not your fault? If another driver hit you, your insurance rates probably did not increase. But some insurance representatives say those days may come to an end.

In Florida, for instance, some insurance industry representatives reported to the Florida Cabinet that it is not uncommon for them to charge higher premiums to new customers if they have been involved in accidents that were not their fault. Kevin McCarty, the Florida Insurance Commissioner, wanted to ban the extra surcharge last week. However, the governor was the only supporter of the idea and the surcharge ban failed.

According to National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies spokeswoman Liz Reynolds, auto insurers feel they are justified in charging the surcharge because they cannot “confirm unproven accidents are truly not at fault.” She went on to say that drivers who are involved in no-fault accidents also tend to file more claims.

The really bad news if this surcharge actually passes is that some insurance companies may deny insuring some drivers based on no-fault accidents. Alex Sink, the CFO of the Florida Cabinet, said it may be a good idea for drivers who have been involved in many accidents, but the surcharge is not ideal for those who have only been in a couple accidents.

This is just one more reason to be a safe driver in your VW cars. Keep an eye out for other drivers and you will increase your chances of avoiding accidents.

If you have been eyeing one of the VW cars at your local dealer but have not taken it for a test drive, now might be the perfect time to check it out, according to this article in U.S. News and World Report.

While many Americans are saving their money and falling prey to the fears of uncertainty, analysts in the auto industry say you can get an amazing bargain at dealers across the country. If you have decent to good credit, this is definitely a buyer’s market. Several automakers are looking for bailouts and bankruptcy protection which means they are willing to “wheel and deal” just to make a sale. For VW cars, that means more competition which is driving the price of many available models down. Keep these tips in mind, however, when going to your Philadelphia area VW dealer.

• Know the incentives and deals available on the models you are interested in so you have a better idea about what it will cost. This gives you more negotiating power.
• Don’t get carried away. Just because dealers want to make a deal right now does not mean you should offer a ridiculously low price. They still need to make a profit.

Using these tips and some common sense with your finances will help you get the VW cars you’ve been wanting without blowing out your budget!