US 27 Showroom

Monday, April 25, 2011

Revenge of the Electric Car

Fuel efficiency has been a hot topic over the last 10 years as gas prices have consistently been rising. President Obama has a goal for 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2016.

There was a film recently released, titled “The Revenge of the Electric Car”. It is a documentary of Nissan, Chevrolet, and Telsa automotive manufacturer and their development of their electric cars.

Electric cars have come a long way over the years. They are more than just golf carts. Nissan and Chevrolet have recently entered the game of offering electric vehicles. Nissan recently introduced it’s electric car the Nissan Leaf. The Leaf can go around 70 miles on a single charge. Chevrolet introduced the Volt which has a electric motor and gasoline powered motor. The electric battery is good for 35-40 miles before the gasoline engine kicks in which gets around 35 miles per gallon. The average driver goes 1,000 miles before they have to fill up the gas tank.

Telsa Motors was found in 2004. It is an electric car manufacturer. They first started producing all electric sports cars but are set to launch an all electric sedan. Their CEO is Elon Musk (one of the founders of PayPal). Telsa Motors recently signed a partnership with Toyota and will be producing the electric engine for the new all electric Toyota RAV4.

Check out the movie’s website: http://www.revengeoftheelectriccar.com/index.html

There was a DVD released in 2006 titled “Who Killed the Electric Car?” This is a documentary about the end of electric car development in the late 90s and early 2000s. You can purchase “Who Killed the Electric Car?” on DVD through Amazon.com for $11.99. http://www.amazon.com/Who-Killed-Electric-Martin-Sheen/dp/B000I5Y8FU/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1303742088&sr=1-1

Friday, April 22, 2011

Bluetooth Car Kit

                                                       Hands free communication systems is becoming a must for so many car shoppers. Most of the luxury car brands offer them. Ford has a system called “SYNC” and a lot of the other manufactures are offering similar products.

Most people can’t afford to buy a luxury vehicle or a newer Ford that is equipped with SYNC. For those we have a solution. You need a Parrot. They offer kits for cars, motorcycles, and wireless kits. With these kits you can make phone calls and listen to your iPod all by  voice commands.

Check out their website. http://www.parrot.com/usa/

It’s pretty cool what technology can do. The great thing about these systems is it keeps you hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Losing Your Car Key is Costly

We misplace things all the time. We might lose everything from our cell phone, wallet/purse, and our car keys. Losing your car key use to not be a big deal 20 years ago because you could get another one made at your local hardware store, car dealer, or locksmith.

That is no longer the case. Part of this is good. It is much more difficult for thieves to steal your car thanks to the advances in technology. It does come at a price though as the price to replace a key is higher.

Key fobs are becoming more popular than ever before. Just a few years ago they were used to lock/unlock your car, open the trunk, set off the alarm, and if you are locking start your car.

Today the key fob is the key for a lot of automobiles. A lot of the new Chrysler and Dodge vehicles have the key fob as the actual key. You put in your fob and turn it just like you would a normal key. A lot of the luxury brands have this as well. Push start technology is also becoming popular. All it takes to start some vehicles is the touch of a button. You just have to have the key fob inside the car with you.

These keys are costly. A simple fob to lock/unlock your car can be anywhere from $50-$100. Plus you have to pay someone (the dealership) to program the fob. If you need a key that will actually start your car it can cost you a few hundred dollars.

For the sake of your bank account we hope that you don’t lose your car key. It costs a lot more today to replace one than it did before.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

True Cost to Own

When buying a vehicle you need to take a lot into consideration. What car do you want/need? What options/features do you prefer? Will you pay cash or finance? It’s important to consider all of this but cost is another factor.

Cost is not just limited to the cost of the vehicle. Another cost that is on everyone’s mind right now is the fuel costs. People desire fuel efficient cars so they pay less for gas. You have maintenance/repair costs. If you choose to finance you will have the cost of interest. Uncle Sam has to get his money so there is sales tax. You have auto insurance costs too. The biggest cost of all is depreciation.

According to Consumer Reports here is the cost of ownership breaks down over 5 years.

Tax = 3%
Maint. & Repair = 4%
Insurance = 10%
Interest = 12%
Fuel = 26%
Depreciation = 46%

Edmunds.com has a true cost to own tool on their website. Check it out…it’s pretty cool!

Friday, April 8, 2011

Safe Riding

As the weather starts to warm up there will be more and more people riding bicycles on the road. If you are one of those riders please take a few moments to read over these tips.

Don’t Forget Lights – This seems so obvious but a lot of people don’t have headlights and/or rear lights. You should treat riding a bike like driving a car. You wouldn’t drive your car without your lights on.

Get Your Construction Gear – Go to your local retailer and pick up a green or orange vest to wear while riding. It might not be the most fashionable thing to wear but it will help other drivers notice you.

Use a Mirror – A lot of riders don’t have a mirror and I wonder, why? It’s one of those things that once you start using one you will wonder how you rode without one.

Wear a Helmet – Just like a seatbelt you should always wear a helmet whenever you go ride your bicycle.

The above tips seem like common sense and they are. A lot of people don’t use lights, they wear dark clothing, their back lacks any mirrors, and their head has no helmet. These things are so simple and important. They can save your life.

It is said that whenever you are driving a car you should be a defensive driver. This is true. When it comes to riding a bicycle you should be a defensive driver x10. People do not watch out for riders. You should double and triple check when making a turn, crossing intersections, or entering a roadway. Use the sidewalk when possible too.

Safe riding!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Majoring in Automotive

Have you ever thought about working in the automotive industry? There are countless employers. You have dealerships, auto manufacturers, auto auctions, parts/service shops, and lots of vendors.

Work experience is important but maybe you want/need formal education. There are a lot of colleges/universities offering degrees that will prepare you for an automotive career. Business and computer technology degrees are good. If you like to work on cars there are automotive technology degrees.

There are a couple of local colleges that offer these degrees: Ivy Tech in Fort Wayne and Northwest Ohio in Lima. Northwest Ohio even has degrees in alternative fuels, diesel, and high-performance motorsports.



There is one school that allows you to study the business side of the industry. Northwood University is growing online and there have several campuses throughout the country. The nearest one is located in Midland Michigan. You can major in aftermarket management (focusing on various aspects from wholesale, retail, to manufacturing) or automotive marketing and management. This degree focuses on all aspects of the dealership from advertising, budgeting, to used car management. They also offer an MBA for automotive professionals.


Working in the automotive industry is both rewarding and interesting. It’s also constantly changing. There are so many positions available whether it is at a dealership, parts store, or auto auction. We encourage you to check it out!

Friday, April 1, 2011

Fourever Friends 2011 Memorial Scholarship

On Saturday March 26th Angola was hit with a tragedy. Four high school seniors were driving back from a spring break trip when another car hit them head on. All four died at the scene.

Two local radio stations, US 93.3 and HOT 107.9, have raised over $65,000. Their goal was to give each family $10,000. Any amount over $40,000 is going to the "Fourever Friends 2011 Memorial Scholarship" in memory of Alexx Bauer, Matt Roe, Evan Weaver and Riley Zimmer.

Donations can be mailed to the Community Foundation at

1701 North Wayne Street
Angola IN 46703

You can also donate online at the Steuben County Community Foundation website.