Kelly Automotive Group

It's on all of our minds-- and we can't avoid it. Gas prices are rising, and our once stable fuel budgets are dwindling. The cost of gas is expected to reach $4.00 a gallon by the end of the month. In some states, it has already exceeded that. In a recent article by the Chicago Tribune, 31 year old Ryan Robinson described his shock with the prices at the pump (which in…

Many people wondered how long it would take Japan to recover from the earthquake that struck March 11, 2011. Much like the victims of other natural disasters on our own shores (Hurricane Katrina, BP oil spill) it seemed as though it would be at least a year before Japan showed any sign of real recovery. Well, we underestimated the Japanese...by a lot.

"As a result of the quake, a 150-meter section of the Great…

 

It's time to get a new car, and you keep asking yourself "should I lease, or should I buy?" Many people struggle with this question because it's not always the easiest to answer. Financially speaking, we always want the best bang for our buck. Emotionally speaking, we always want our dream car. While we can't answer the "to lease or to buy" question for you, we can give you the tools to…

 

With the holidays behind us and the new year coming so quickly, we have been on somewhat of a safety kick more than usual over here at Kelly Auto, especially with the recent snow storm. We like to protect our customers long after they have left our dealerships. How can we do this?  We provide information and resources that will help educate our customers about vehicle safety.

We know that you have a million things?

It has really started to feel festive at all of our Kelly dealerships! Holiday music is playing in the showrooms, snazzy sweaters have come back from their 11-month sabbaticals, decorations are hanging, and the Kelly team is feeling more cheery than ever!

As we get amped up for the holidays, we really try to emphasize winter car maintenance (as outlined in How to Winterize Your Car) so that nothing comes between you and your holiday?

 

No matter how long we will try to deny it, winter is upon is and Massachusetts winters are no joke. Walking in a winter wonderland sounds fun, but driving in it can be stressful. As soon as the temperature drops below 45 degrees your car is at war with the elements.  Cold, snow, ice, slush, salt, potholes, and gravel all take shots at your vehicle-FIGHT BACK! Don't compromise your safety or the safety of your family and WINTERIZE YOUR VEHICLE.

Here are some easy steps to prepare you and your vehicle for the season ahead so that you won't be slip sliding away from any of your winter destinations.

Switch to Snow Tires

Many people think that all-season tires will provide the traction necessary to prevent their car from sliding all over the road-this is a very dangerous misconception.  Experts advise putting snow tires on your vehicle(s) because of their ability to dig and bite into snow and ice.  Snow tires are made from a softer rubber compound in order to retain their flexibility in the cold weather. Your tires do not just affect the grip on the road, nor how your vehicle can stop and steer. And don't forget to always install snow tires as a full set of four. Only installing two snow tires will actually increase the chance of your vehicle spinning out when braking or taking a corner.

Change Your Oil

Oil thickens in the cold weather making it harder for the oil to lubricate critical engine parts on those glacial mornings, afternoons, and nights. So, even though you should be changing your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, it is a good idea to begin the winter season with fresh motor oil.

Check Battery

Really low temperatures can reduce your battery power as much as 50 percent. If your battery is more than 3 years old, let us check it for you. A battery will not warn you before it dies, so before you are left stranded in the cold, have it checked for power and corrosion.

Replace Wipers and Washer Fluid

Wipers can become brittle and inflexible as they age, and the cold winter conditions only expedite this process. Consider replacing your wiper blades, and even ask your technician about winter wiper blades that are specifically designed to fight snow and ice.  To assist your blades in keeping your windshield clear and streak free, refill your washer fluid tank with a mixture including a de-icer; it will help melt the snow and ice right off your windshield.

Try Fuel De-Icer

Speaking of de-icing, many people don't know that fuel de-icers even exist. Many experts recommend pouring fuel de-icer into your gas tank to absorb any left over moisture in your fuel lines, preventing them from freezing. Also, it's very important to always have at least a quarter of a tank of gas in your vehicle during the winter months-this will also help prevent your fuel lines from freezing.

Check the Antifreeze

Antifreeze can dilute over time, and if the antifreeze in your car becomes too diluted it can freeze, expand, and ruin expensive engine parts like your radiator.  Have the antifreeze's freeze point tested to make sure it is low enough to protect your car.

Wash Your Car

No, we are not kidding; wash your car. I know this sounds so incredibly simple, but it will go a long way.  Many states use highly corrosive salt compounds to melt snow and ice on roads and highways.  If you don't remove this salt from your vehicle it can cause serious corrosion damage that will cost you much more to fix than it would have cost you to wash your car all winter long.

Check Your Lights

At every oil change, have your lights checked, as well, for dimming, rapidly blinking, and non-functioning lights.  Believe it or not, it is very difficult to notice from the driver's seat a light that isn't working.  In addition to having the function of your lights checked, keep your lights clean to insure that they are properly lighting the road in front of you, and so that you are visible to other drivers on the road.

Store a Winter Emergency Kit

Store an "emergency" kit in your trunk just in case!!  I recommend having the following in your emergency kit:

• First Aid Kit, tool kit
• Jumper cables
• Blanket
• Boots, warm clothes, and gloves
• Extra water and food
• Ice scraper, snow brush, small shovel
• Flashlight
• Windshield washer fluid
• Bag of abrasive material (sand, salt, non-clump kitty litter) for traction support

You can never be too prepared. Maintain your vehicles regularly to insure that they provide you with years of quality safety and performance.  All of the services mentioned in this article can be done at any one of our Kelly dealerships, of course.   Drive safely...

 And until next time, see you in the showroom! Happy Thanksgiving! Be safe.

 

When deciding to buy a used car, have you ever felt like you just decided to buy someone else's problems? I know I have.

Well, before the invention of vehicle history reports, such as CARFAX, it was relatively impossible to know if you were in fact, buying someone else's problems until the problems had become yours. So, besides following the basic steps for car buying outlined in "How to Buy New Cars in Massachusetts", a used car buyer should ALWAYS run a CARFAX report on the vehicle(s) of their choice.  It is easy, and usually free via the dealer's website or asking for it in the dealer showroom.  If you are interested in a car and the seller is hesitant or refuses to show you a CARFAX, then you may want to go online and purchase the report for yourself.  Kelly Auto offers free CARFAX reports for all of our pre-owned vehicles on our website, and at the dealership.

 But how important is a CARFAX Report? Let me put it this way, buying a used car without knowing its history is like signing a contract without reading it.  Thus, the benefit of CARFAX is to report information about a vehicle's history that may impact a consumers buying decision. The types of information that you will find on a CARFAX Report are:

• Title problems
• Ownership history
• Accidents and Service

 Let's take a look at what these three umbrella issues cover?

 1.  Title Problems

• Your CARFAX Report will inform you if the vehicle has a state-issued salvage brand. A salvage brand is given to cars that have been in severe accidents and have been salvaged by the state, and is actually branded on the title, like a scarlet letter.
• More often than not, cars with flood damage will be transported to and sold in other states to unsuspecting buyers. Flood damaged cars can be very dangerous to drive, and your CARFAX report will inform you if the car you are researching has a flood damaged title issued by any state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
• Odometer problems are reported and odometer rollback checks are performed to protect you from odometer fraud.   When a vehicle that was originally purchased brand new is bought back by the manufacturer because of repeated unresolved problems, the state will classify the vehicle as a "lemon" and will be branded as such.

2.  Ownership History

• CARFAX can estimate the number of owners based on all of the records in a vehicles history. Look for the CARFAX 1-Owner Vehicle emblem on your CARFAX Report. 
• Was the car ever a rental car or part of a commercial fleet? If so, it could affect the car's value. Your CARFAX report will determine if the vehicle had been registered with a rental company or as a fleet vehicle or commercial vehicle.
• CARFAX will report the average miles driven per year and the last reported odometer statement to insure that you know why the miles may be higher than average, and how it affects the value and cost of ownership.

 3.  Accidents and Service

• Declaration of total loss by an insurance company will be reported on a CARFAX Report.  Sometimes an insurance company may declare a vehicle a total loss even if there is no salvage title by a state DMV.
• If the airbags in the car have ever deployed, they must be properly replaced.  Your CARFAX will inform you of previously deployed airbags so that you may check the service history, and have the airbags inspected by a mechanic.
• CARFAX will show any frame or structure damage in the car's history.  Even the smallest of accidents can cause serious and potentially dangerous damage.
• And finally, service records. CARFAX reports all service records all the way down to the simplest of services-like an oil change. This will help you determine whether the vehicle was maintained properly.

So, no matter how pretty a used car may look, the CARFAX history report may expose some things that are far less appealing.  A little research can go a long way, and save you a lot of money, embarrassment, and time?

 

Until next time, see you in the showroom

For many people, buying a new car can be a daunting experience--but it doesn't have to be. By following a few simple steps, your stress can be relieved and you will never feel like you are walking blind into a car dealership ever again. So, what are these magical steps I speak of? Well, the secret ingredient, the trade secret is...PREPARATION. Disappointed? Don't be. The research you will do is only a small price to pay to avoid headaches, scams, and lemons. Let's begin...

 

Step 1: KNOW YOUR BUDGET

Before you do anything, before you look at anything, know what you can afford! It is very easy to fall in love with a car that is over your spending limit. Let's save the heartbreak, and set a price range.  This way you can eliminate cars not in your budget before you fall "head over wheels."

 

Don't forget about taxes and fees, deposits, and interest rates! Take Massachusetts taxes and fees into consideration when setting your price range; they can increase your total payment by hundreds, even thousands. Also, discuss what you can afford to put down as a deposit--the more you put down, the lower your monthly payments will be (if you plan on financing, that is). The interest rates on your finance policy will directly effect your monthly payments. Watch out for APR incentives--0.9% may sound great when advertised, but when it expires after the first 12 months, you may end up paying more than you can afford each month. This brings us to our next step!

 

Step 2: KNOW YOUR CREDIT HISTORY

Your credit history will directly influence the interest rate you are given.  So, know your credit report BEFORE you go into the car dealership. This way, you will know what to expect, and more often than not, your salesperson will ask you about it anyway. REMEMBER: It is illegal for a dealership to run a credit report without your permission! Also, most APR incentives are only given to customers with excellent credit--so if your credit is only OK don't be fooled by the fancy ad saying you can receive 1.9% APR.  Read the fine print.

 

Step 3: KNOW YOUR NEEDS

What does the vehicle have to do for you? With so many choices these days when it comes to cars, knowing your needs is the best way to begin eliminating some of the options and packages. Do you have a large family? If so, then you might need a minivan or SUV. Do you live in an area where it snows a lot? You might need a vehicle that has all-wheel drive or that is four-wheel drive capable. If you travel long distances often you may want to look into cars with good gas mileage, or even Hybrids. Unless you are buying your next shiny new toy, I would first focus on what you need rather than what you want.

 

Step 4: RESEARCH AND RIDE!

Once you have narrowed your list down, test drive!  You can do a lot of research at the dealership and learn a lot about a car by test driving it. Ask questions, ask LOTS of questions. If you can, find out the dealer price of the vehicle you are researching. If you decide it's the car for you, negotiate up from that figure as opposed to negotiating down from the sticker price.

 

Read car reviews in magazines and on the internet.  Learn which cars have been given awards and high marks for safety, gas mileage, highest resale value, etc. And finally, ask around! Your family, friends, and co-workers are bound to either own the car, driven in the car, or know someone who owns the car you are researching. Don't count them out.

 

Step 5: PURCHASING

First, allow me to add this.  If we advertise it, we'll have it when you get here.  It's easy.  It's honest, and it's guaranteed!!  So, if you were inspired by an offer in one of our ads, whether TV, Radio, Newspaper, or Online at kellyauto.com, you can be sure that we will have that vehicle when you get here, and for the exact advertised price.  That is the Kelly way!!

 

Take your time.  Find the vehicle you want.  Be confident that this will be the vehicle you want to drive for the next three to seven years.  Know your financial capabilities.  Don't commit to something that you are not sure you can handle.  When prices and/or monthly payments are presented, be certain that you are comfortable with what it all means.  Ask tons of questions.  It's our pleasure to do whatever we are able to ensure your comfort in the process.  I'm not trying to say it's like getting your tooth pulled, but make sure you know what you're doing.

 

Don't be intimidated when you are choosing to spend your money.  You are the boss.  Take the time to review what has been presented, then decide.  There's no reason to rush into something with open questions.  Satisfy all of your curiosities and inquiries and then reward yourself with that vehicle.

 

While there are many other factors that go into purchasing a vehicle, these are just the basic steps to prepare YOU for the process ahead.  I will write more in depth about trade-ins, financing, and other aspects of the process, all with stress-free methods and tips to get the car, truck, van or SUV you really want..

 

Until next time, see you in the showroom!