Even If You Don’t Drive A Cruze Eco, You Can Still Make A Difference!

Driving a fuel-efficient car is one of the best ways that a driver can protect the environment. (Did you know that at 42 MPG highway*, the Cruze Eco offers the best highway mileage of any gas-engine car in America?) A few minor changes in your daily routine (no matter what vehicle you drive) can help make a big impact.

1. Carpool. Duh! Not only will you get to know your office mates, but you’ll also save on gas. Isn’t it nice to be the passenger for once?

2. Plan ahead when you have errands to run, so you can take care of them efficiently in one fell swoop. Why drive home and go back out multiple times? Life isn’t a relay race. Planning ahead is a seriously simple strategy for saving gas and most times, your sanity. Your wallet will thank you.

3. Don’t forget to fill your tires with air every now and then. When your tires start to deflate, it forces the engine to work harder, and in effect, the engine burns more fuel. Spending some pocket change at an air pump once in a while is far less expensive. Check your owner’s manual for more info.

4. Don’t idle. Instead of driving in circles when you’re waiting for your wife to exit the grocery store, just park and turn the car off. As much as you love the feel of the wheel in your hands, turn the car off and give your engine (and the environment) a much-needed break.

5. Clean out your car regularly. Not only is an uncluttered car nice to look at, but the heavier the car, the harder the engine has to work. The harder the engine has to work, the more fuel it requires. So be proactive and only keep the necessities—registration and insurance papers, and emergency gear—on hand.

Tips on Convertible Car Care

A convertible is a stylish choice of automobile that has been consistently popular for decades, and it isn’t difficult to see why. A convertible affords you a unique driving experience, able to enjoy the sun on your face and the wind in your hair while moving at incredible speeds. Like any car, though, convertibles need regular maintenance, and one thing that must be taken care of is the car’s convertible top. It will require some time and a little elbow grease, but it will definitely pay off. After all, if the top breaks, you’ll either be left with a standard roof, or no roof at all! Thankfully, if you’re wondering how to clean and care for your car’s convertible top, you’ll be relieved to find that it’s actually quite simple.

What Products Clean Convertible Tops?

First, make sure you buy the right kind of cleaner for your convertible top. The two most common choices for convertible tops are vinyl and fabric, and these materials require regular cleaning in order to look their best. The label should specify which kind of top it is made for. If it’s doesn’t, don’t buy it—it’s worth making sure that you have the right equipment for the job. Vinyl can often be cleaned with regular car shampoo, although some standard soap may be too harsh for the job. Fabric, on the other hand, requires a fabric top cleaner. Simply wash as usual with a soft-bristled brush and then hose the suds off, and you’ll find the top shining in no time. While vinyl is designed to be water-repellent, fabric is not; it is treated so that it is suitable for use as a convertible top. A fabric guard will keep you from getting soaked while it is raining. Simply apply with a flat sponge, making sure to get every part of the roof. Several light coats are preferable to one thick coat, which will take a long time to dry. If you live in a particularly rainy area, one coat per month should be plenty; less is needed for drier climates.

Protect Your Convertible Top and It Will Protect You

It is important to treat the convertible top itself well. Although most modern models retract automatically, you should make sure that there are no obstructions, or you could damage the mechanism and potentially tear the fabric. Many vintage convertibles have to be retracted by hand, which is easy, but remember to be gentle—after all, older parts are usually more difficult to find. Thankfully, convertibles require little maintenance beyond this. You’ll find that cleaning and caring for your convertible top is a cinch, leaving you free to drive off into the sunset!

Looking to get yourself into a convertible this Spring? We've got the one just for you!

Check out our Convertible Inventory today.

Spring Clean Your Chevy

Spring is upon us and that means it’s time to clean out not only our homes, but our vehicles as well. Time to throw out those water bottles that have been building up, dust off your dashboard and let some fresh air in. Yes, some glass cleaner and a once over with the vacuum is good, but it has been some Winter season, between the snow, ice, salt brine, floods and whatever else you may have driven through. We want to inform you on how important it is to thoroughly inspect any damage the season may have caused.

In our February newsletter we had sent out a Salt Brine Warning, explaining that while it does keep us safe from snow and ice build up on the roads, it unfortunately causes damage to our vehicles, mostly the undercarriage. The mixture of the Salt Brine accelerates corrosion to the suspension. Body damage is possible as well. There is no avoiding this issue, but that is why we want you to take some time this Spring to give your Chevy some extra TLC.

What you must do is inspect your vehicle’s underbody for rust. Also pay attention to any other Winter damage, we have all hit a pothole or two.

If you notice that there is any suspicious areas bring your vehicle in to Rt 46 Chevrolet’s Service Center and we’ll have an ASE Certified Master Technician inspect it for you. We want to do our best to keep you and your Chevy safe! You can schedule your service appointment here.

Happy Spring!