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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1995-04-26, Page 13Clean sweep Even a car deserves tender loving care. Give Your Car or Light Truck Expert Care Applies*000t charged Heavy; duty Shocks Partscoveredby • •. (Does not tnctudo MacPherson strut;. suspgns ton parts) Warranty We'll- Keep You 24,ffing with full lines of.... Farm, Fleet and Passenger Tires Extra Savings on quality used tires Call (519) 522-1629 or (519) 523-9190 after hours MATT GEORGE 1,0114 SEND lox 523-4742 1?"e Londesboro on Car Care Products at Blyth 523-9681 1-800-2764163 Brussels 887-9661 SAVE 10% on the following products Blue Diamond - one step glaze 425 ml pt# 298 Autosol - metal polish 100 g put 1000 Rain X - glass treatment See better, drive safer 200 ml pt# RX713 Wash 'n Wax - one step, shampoo and waxing system 455 ml pt# 851 Armorall protectant protects and beautifies vinyl, rubber & plastic 500 ml put 10500 Spray Nine - multi-purpose germicidal cleaner 700 ml pt# K1 Specials in effect until May 5, 1995 THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1995. PAGE 13. Many thing to consider when buying auto Unless you are young or young- at-heart and travel only as a single or couple there is more to consider when buying a new car than the fact that the little red convertible caught your eye when you drove by. Though many may believe that price is the top priority, experts suggest first looking at your needs in a vehicle. How many passengers do you regularly transport? Are they adults or children? Do you require lug- gage space? Is the majority of the driving done in the city? To ensure both the emotional and practical sides of ownership are covered, choose a vehicle which Summer heat hard on cars A mid-summer check of certain car components is especially critical when record breaking heat hits, say experts. Heat can deteriorate rubber parts, for example, sometimes causing cooling system and vacuum hoses to crack or split. Summer heat also is hard on other rubber parts, such as drive belts and windshield wiper blades. They should be inspected and replaced as needed. Further, high speed driving over hot road surfaces, especially when the vehicle is heavily loaded, will place added stress on tires and will accelerate wear. In addition to a periodic check of inflation and tread depth, a close inspection of tires for bulges (an indication of tread or ply separation), sidewall cuts of other damage. Also, contrary to popular opinion, the battery suffers more from heat than cold. Extreme under-hood temperatures, espe- cially in smaller, aerodynamic cars with less space under the hood, accelerates deterioration of the battery. For this reason, some batteries are now built with special heat-resistant components for use in southern climates. Driving in drought-stricken areas is also hard on the air filter. Its job is to remove dust,from the air before it enters the engine. When the filter becomes choked up with dirt, the engine will be starved for air. Fuel economy and performance will suffer and exhaust emissions will increase. The excessively rich mixture caused by such a malfunction can cause the catalytic converter in the exhaust system to overheat. Be careful when driving or parking on parched grass. This has been known to be a source of fires. Finally, hot weather driving places a heavy burden on the engine's cooling system as well as engine oil and transmission fluid. Before extensive summer driving, check these fluids and components. Make it a daily check during a high-mileage vacation trip. Rotate tires Do you have a front -wheel driver vehicle? If you do, when was the last time you rotated your tires? Car Care Council reports that front- wheel tires wear faster than the rear ones because most of the car's weight is in front - plus those tires also steer and drive the car. For optimum wear, tires should be rotated about every six to eight thousand miles. combines safety, utility and han- dling as well as comfort and pride of ownership. In making the decision, set out the relevant criteria. If you have a young family with two small chil- dren, travel mainly within the city (less than 20,000 km. per year) and need room only for groceries, a sub-compact may fit the bill. As well, a four-cylinder with an automatic transmission may be bet- ter for innercity commuting. Rural and highway driving may be better suited to a six-cylinder with a manual transmission, possi- bly with overdrive. A four-door sedan or compact sports utility vehicle may be more appropriate if the passengers are often adults, yearly travel exceeds 20,000 km. and luggage room is required. A roof rack may also be added to provide extra storage space for large items. For those transporting four adults or needing more room for luggage, hatchbacks, stationwagons or mini vans may be required. A pickup would be suitable for one or two passengers who require extra cargo space. Once the basic criteria is deter- mined, options can be chosen. Even these depend on the expect- ed use of the vehicle. If it is to be the primary automobile, options such as air conditioning, tilt steer- ing wheel, power steering and cruise control may be considered. One could forgo the options on a secondary vehicle. Now that the size, style and options have been selected, it is time to go to a reputable dealer. Other considerations would be location, service rates, hours and availability of shuttle service. The final consideration is the price. If the models reviewed and test-driven are above your price range, ask the dealer to suggest a lower-priced vehicle which will still meet your needs. Eliminating some of the options may also trim the cost.