The Art of Loving Your Car

by Robert, Cars for Keeps Mechanic

This weekend my wife and I both decided to wash our cars. Not just a little soap and water and call it a day, but to really pamper them. We started with a soapy water wash then dried with sheepskin towels. Cleaned the rims and shined the tires and then finished with a wax job. Both of our arms felt like rubber and that they may fall off!

However we were not done yet! The carpets needed to be vacuumed; the dash wiped down, the seats wiped off and all of the glass inside and out needed cleaning.

After we had gotten elbow-deep in cleaning, I started to wonder why we did this to ourselves? Because we really do love our cars! They take us places we need to be, and sometimes they take us places we've never been. Our car, next to our family, friends, pets, and co-workers, is a major part in our life and yours too. It’s been there through the hard times and the good times. Through snow, rain, super hot days at the beach or a fantastic day at the vineyard. It may have given us a few problems and needed to be brought in on a tow hook once (or more!) but we still love it.

The point is that if you truly, deep down in your heart, love your car, you will want to take care of it. We at Cars for Keeps really do love cars. We are actually car nuts, and if you want to talk with someone who will appreciate all the things you love about your car, we are here for you. We not only love our own cars, but yours too.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a practical Volvo, a rusty Ford Pickup, a shiny new BMW or a problem ridden Maserati. We want you to know that we love your car and want to keep it in top condition throughout its entire life expectancy (or longer!). We want you to experience what you car can be, and that’s a lifetime of service from ANY automobile. With a combination of maintenance and problem prevention, we've been able to help many of our clients extend the lives of their vehicles to 300,000 miles or more - at 300,000 miles of smooth running, who wouldn't love your car? We love cars for keeps, and we fix cars for keeps.

Until next time, Robert.

Preparing Your Car for Winter

by Robert, Cars for Keeps Mechanic

Like it or not, winter is just around the corner. You may not want to talk about it yet, I know that I sure don't, yet that is one of the more important jobs I have: making sure your vehicle is fully prepared for the next challenge.

Whether you are storing your vehicle over the winter or plan on using it to forge through the snow and ice, there are some key preventative maintenance steps you should take to make sure your vehicle is ready for the colder temperatures.

Your engine coolant is one of the most important things to have checked before the first snowfall. Coolant not only "cools" the engine but it also keeps the water mixture from freezing. When water freezes, it also expands. Fill a glass with ice cubes and let it sit overnight. In the morning when you wake up you can see how far the size was actually reduced. Imagine forming ice inside your engine with those very small passages interweaving through the block and heads. Now imagine that complex system now expanding. WOW, what a sight that is! When this happens, its pretty safe to say that the auto maintenance repair bill is extremely high!

So check your coolant, and if your unsure, bring it to Cars For Keeps and we'll make sure its OK. Oh, and in case you are concerned, we don't charge our clients for checking fluids, tire pressure or other simple (what we call) "no wrench required" type services.

To prepare and prevent is effort well spent. Until next time!

How to Find the Perfect Mechanic - for the Ladies!

by Colette Cooley

Office Manager Cars For Keeps

How does a woman find her “perfect car guy”? Let’s face it, a lot of repair shop service techs and mechanics think we women don’t know anything about cars and we will believe anything they tell us.

Well, this may be true, but we don’t want to be treated that way. We may be ignorant about car repair, but we are not dumb. With a little detective sleuthing, you too, can find your “perfect car guy”. Ask. Women. Girlfriends, co-workers, neighbors, career women, stay-at-home moms, cashiers, bank tellers, etc. Where do they have their cars maintained and repaired? What do they like about that place? What don’t they like about it? Do they have delivery service? Are they treated with respect? Are they kid friendly? Is the waiting room comfortable and inter-active? Are the mechanics ASE Certified? (That last question is very important. The answer should be yes.)

Is the service manager concerned with your schedule, your budget, and your wants and needs concerning your car? How do they handle emergencies? What makes this car repair place stand out from all the rest?

Then there are the all important things we women want to know. Are the guys cute? What color is the building? Is the bathroom clean? Can you bring something to snack on and/or do they have complimentary drinks and snacks? Do the people there have a sense of humor so having your car worked on can – dare I say it – actually be fun!!!

As I was reading Colette's post, I mentally checked off each of her requirements for female-friendly car service, and I have to say that Cars for Keeps meets every single one! As a woman (who obstinately refuses to learn how to change oil), I give Cars for Keeps five stars for being female-friendly! - Marjorie, Social Media Marketing Manager