Test Drive Tips and Tricks
Ahhh, I see you’ve been checking out our specials page! Yes, there are some truly wonderful vehicles on there! Now that you’ve found a car or two that’s peaked your interest, you’re ready to take it to the next level. That’s right. A test drive. Now, slow your roll there friend. I know, I know! I’d be excited too. But it’s best to figure out exactly what you’re looking for on this test drive before you get behind the wheel. This way, when you do get out there you aren’t blinded by the sheer magnificence of the car and you can really assess, is this car right for me? Check out these helpful tips of what to look for when you go on your test drive at Harchelroad Motors of Imperial and Wauneta.
Once you are driving, evaluate these specific points:
- Acceleration: Does the car downshift quickly and smoothly? Is there enough power to pass on the highway or to go up hills?
- Engine and road noise: How does the car sound when you strongly accelerate? Is there a lot of noise from the tires? Is the cabin quiet?
- Braking: How does the pedal feel? Do the brakes “grab” suddenly?
- Steering and handling: Is the vehicle responsive? Can you feel the road through the steering wheel?
- Suspension: Is it stiff or soft? Does the vehicle ride comfortably on a rough road?
“Yes. Yes, this car runs EXACTLY THE WAY I WANT I LOOOOVE IT!” You might say. Hold up, there are a few more things you’re gonna want to check out to be sure.
Let’s talk about technology:
- Bluetooth: Pair your phone and test calling and audio streaming.
- Infotainment screen: How easy is it to use? Can you perform basic tasks such as changing the radio station or switching audio sources?
- Smartphone apps: If Android Auto or Apple CarPlay is a deciding factor for you, make sure you test out a model that has it.
- Backup camera: Does it have one? Is the view grainy or clear? Does it have sensors or lines to indicate distance?
- Steering wheel controls: Do you like the layout? Is it intuitive or is it confusing?
- Navigation: How detailed is the map? Are the street names legible? Is it easy to input an address? Does it have traffic data?
Go ahead. You can say it now. YES, I WANT THIS CAR IT’S PERFECT!! That’s all it takes, friend. Take the time to make a plan before taking that car out for a test drive. Stop by Harchelroad Motors of Imperial and Wauneta today for your test drive and we’ll make sure you leave with the car you’ve always wanted!
It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Savings
*To the tune of It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas*
It’s beginning to look a lot like savings
Here at Harchelroad
For our Buick and Chevy Friends, before the season ends
Looking for some discounts on the road.
It’s beginning to look a lot like savings
Here we’re “Famous For Fun”
So the prettiest sight you’ll see, is the Corvette that will be
Out for a test run.
An Equinox or a Cruze, or a Camaro that’s blue
Is the wish of Barney and Ben
An Impala Premier or a Lacrosse they can steer
Is the hope of Janice and Jen
And Mom and Dad can hardly wait to meet with the salesmen
It’s beginning to look a lot like savings
So before the year is done
Come see us at Harchelroad, before these savings go
Let’s Make the holidays more fun!
All Octane Matters
Until recently I didn’t know what the actual difference between the different kinds of fuel were. The only thing that mattered to me was what is the cheapest one. Past that I had no idea what made them different. As it turns out, there are quite a few people who don’t know what the difference, which is why today we’re going to talk about the difference between the gas types and why it matters to you.
What’s the difference?
The first thing my frugal little eyes notice is the price. Duh. Premium fuel decidedly costs more, and for those of us who consider the regular gas price pretty high, that 20-30 cent difference is a lot. So what why, pray tell, is the premium gas so much more expensive? Is it made with unicorn tears?
In addition to the regular vs premium fuel names, you will also notice numbers like 87, 93, etc. These numbers represent the octane level of the fuel. While octane might not be unicorn tears, the octane level does represent how much compression a fuel can withstand before igniting. A higher octane gas won’t pre-ignite as quickly. For that reason, high-performance cars with higher compression engines often require higher octane gas.
Why the right fuel matters:
You guessed it! Fancy cars with higher compression engines require a higher octane level fuel to allow the engine to perform at its best. Using a cheaper fuel type can actually cause the gas to combust too fast for your engine causing a knocking noise and decrease your vehicle’s power and fuel economy. You could actually do more damage trying to save money and end up costing yourself more money. So if you have a vehicle that requires a higher octane fuel, do yourself a favor, bite the bullet and get the more expensive gas. Your car will thank you in the end.
Alternately, you should not think that by using higher octane fuel your vehicle will start to perform better. You, my sweet friend, would just be wasting your money. Using the premium fuel doesn’t provide any extra benefits for your vehicle if your vehicle doesn’t need it. Save your money and use the regular gas.
We all want our vehicles to perform at their best, so when you get your next vehicle from the Harchelroad Motors of Imperial and Wauneta, be sure to consult your owner’s manual or talk to any of our experts to find out what your newly purchased vehicle will need to run at its best!
Why Is My Check Engine Light On?
So, you’ve noticed that your check engine light is on and honestly, you’re feeling pretty betrayed. I hear you, friend. It’s a tough blow. The big question is WHY, check engine light, WHY?! So what are some of the reason your check engine light might be on? Below you will find the top 5 reasons your check engine light has made an appearance.
1.) Your Oxygen (O2) Sensor needs replacing
Your oxygen sensor measures the amount of unburned oxygen in your vehicle’s exhaust system.
What if I don’t replace it?
• Your engine will burn more fuel than needed
• You will experience loss of fuel economy
• Faulty sensor(s) can cause damage to your spark plugs and catalytic converter
2.) Gas cap is loose, damaged or missing
Your gas cap seals the fuel system and helps maintain pressure within the fuel tank. It also prevents gasoline fumes (hydrocarbons) from being released into the atmosphere while you aren’t driving your car.
What if I don’t replace it?
• You can lose fuel through evaporation
• You may make more trips to the gas pump
3.) Catalytic Converter needs replacing
Your catalytic converter helps protect our environment by converting harmful carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide. Damage usually occurs due to neglected maintenance.
What if I don’t replace it?
• Your vehicle will not pass an emissions test
• You will experience reduced performance and fuel economy
• Your car may run at a higher temperature
4.) Mass Airflow Sensor needs replacing (MAF)
Your mass airflow sensor measures the amount of air entering the engine to determine how much fuel is needed to run your engine efficiently.
What if I don’t replace it?
• Faulty sensors can cause damage to spark plugs, O2 sensors or catalytic converter
• You will experience reduced performance and fuel economy
5.) Spark Plugs or Plug Wires need replacing
Your spark plugs ignite the air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber of your vehicle. The spark plug wires deliver the spark from the ignition coil to the spark plugs.
What if I don’t replace it?
• You will experience poor performance (reduced power, engine missing) and reduced fuel economy
• Worn plugs and plug wires can cause clogged catalytic converter or damage to ignition coils and O2 sensors
So if your check engine light comes on, be sure to stop by Harchelroad Motors of Imperial and Wauneta as soon as possible so that we can help you figure out what is wrong, and get your car back on the road!
Making It Out of the Mud!
Lately, Mother Nature has been doing this super cool thing in the “Fall” and “Winter” months where you never actually know what the weather is going to be like. Will it rain? Maybe? Will it be 4 degrees? Who knows. It’s suddenly 65 degrees and we’re all confused wearing light jackets. And that’s all in one day. Welcome to Nebraska, family. Fall leading into winter lends for a lot of mud particularly out on those back roads, so knowing how to get out of a sticky(literally lol) situation will be important!
As such, here are some tips for when you get your wheels stuck in some mud.
DON’T PANIC
Never in the history of panicking has panicking been a productive solution to a problem. I know, I know. Easier said than done, but if you are able to take a step back and think calmly about how to handle the situation you are much more likely to get out. For example, the panicking part of my brain would probably slam my foot on the accelerator, and end up in a much deeper rut, both literally and figuratively. So when you feel those wheels spinning, but you aren’t going anywhere. PAUSE. Take a deeeeeep breath. Exhale… don’t hold your breath… you need to be conscious to think clearly, bro. Then follow the next steps.
SLOW AND STEADY DOES IT
This is some turtle and the hare stuff, here friends. Try to gently accelerate out of the rut, perhaps rocking the car a little as you go. If you are lucky, you will ease out of the mud, and you won’t have to take any further action.
SEEK HELP
If that doesn’t work, the next best course of action is to find yourself a helpful stranger, or call a buddy. Calm is also a pretty big component of this one too. You will want to use the same method as before-slowly accelerating and rocking-only this time there will be others pushing to help you out of the initial dip. Remember that there are people back there so if you slam on the gas, all that mud that you are trying to escape from is going to lambaste those attempting to help you out. Slowly accelerate and hope that he added boost from your friends, new or old, will get you out of there.
CREATE TRACTION
Still stuck? Your tires are probably lacking the traction they require to escape. Your next step is to try to create your own traction for your tires. Look around for twigs or leaves, anything you can lay in front of the wheels. If you want to be prepared for future times when you might get stuck in the mud, cat litter is actually an excellent tool in this situation. Other things that might help create traction around you could be an old coat or piece of clothing, a car mat, a blanket, gravel a board, or even a piece of cardboard.
ADMIT DEFEAT
Know when you’re beat, man. It’s ok. You’re still a winner, ok? Mud is a tricky beast, so sometimes DIY isn’t going to get you out of there. After you have tried all of the above without success, call for a tow, or ask a friend, and maybe in the future simply stay away from that area in the future!
If you do spend a lot of time traveling down unpaved back roads or have to travel through muddy areas, consider stopping by Harchelroad Motors of Imperial and Wauneta to get yourself a quality Chevy truck that can handle those kinds of conditions. If you already have an awesome vehicle that is literally made for muddy travel, make sure your tires are inflated and have enough tread. A bald tire is very likely going to get stuck in the mud! If they’re worn down and need replacing, stop by Harchelroad Motors of Imperial and Wauneta to get yourself some new tires.
EmBARKING On A Journey With Your Pup
Having a new puppy is one of the best and worst experiences. That lil’ ball of energy that just wants to give you all of its love, is also singlehandedly eating its way through your couch and left you a “present” on the bathroom mat. It’s a process, the training of a new puppy. Similarly, it takes time to get your new pup car trip ready. You can’t just throw your pup in the car and take off and expect them to not totally freak out. Granted, it could happen. They could be totally chill about their first ever car ride, but making sure that the car is a place of calm rather than panic, it’s important to take the following steps to get your pup ready for road trips!
Preparing Your Pup
In an effort to avoid totally traumatizing your pup with your car, you’ll want to SLOWLY acclimate your pup to car rides. While your car is not running, we recommend you let your pet get inside and walk around for a while. We also recommend shorter trips at first with dogs that aren’t used to car travel until they get used to it and show they can handle it.
You can keep them comfortable by:
- Providing a blanket or comforter, along with pillows, for their seating area.
- Not feeding them right before you leave. Would you eat a huge cheeseburger before riding a roller coaster? Not unless you want to do a magic trick and make that cheeseburger magically reappear. No food before car rides. Your pup will thank you.
- Make a nest of blankets and toys in a crate. Get them comfortable with the crate as a happy space, not as a punishment. Making it extra comfy will be a bit part of this.
- Bringing chew toys and other supplies.
- Prep to Dispose of Messes and Waste
Accidents happen, especially when your pup is new to car rides or if you are emBARKING on a longer road trip with fewer rest stops. Make sure you have paper towels and plastic baggies for the accidents that do happen.
So, to find the perfect vehicle for your drive with your best furry friend, stop by Harchelroad Motors of Imperial and Wauneta today!
Watching football on Thanksgiving has been a family tradition since well before I was born. My dad and my uncles are some of the biggest fans I know of. Last year, my dad and my uncle were rooting for opposing teams for the first time in YEARS. It didn’t go well, y’all. My uncle’s team won and my dad is STILL bitter. I figure it is my sworn duty as family peacekeeper to butter them up a bit this year before Thanksgiving. The good news is that job is going to be SUPER easy with the specials at Harchelroad Motors! It’ll be pretty hard to stay mad when you drive up to Thanksgiving dinner in one of these sweet rides.
I don’t know about your dad, but mine has a soft spot for a Camaro. It’s been his weakness since his childhood. Imagine the childlike wonder that will be all over his face when I tell him that he could get a 2017 Chevrolet Camaro 2LT for only $29,605!! That’s savings of over $3,000 off MSRP! It’d be hard for any Camaro loving relative to pass that up!
My uncle has been talking about getting a new truck for YEARS. GOOD NEWS UNCLE BRIAN, at Harchelroad Motors, you can get yourself a 2017 Chevy Silverado 1500 LT for $41,379! Total savings of over $7,000 off MSRP! If that doesn’t patch up a little spat between brothers, I don’t know what will!
There are also specials on the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze LT and Impala Premier, and 2017 Buick Envision Essence, and Lacrosse Essence! Harchelroad has a variety of options that are sure to patch up whatever family feud arises this holiday season!
So come down to Harchelroad Motors of Imperial and Wauneta, at 530 East Highway 6, Imperial, NE 69033 to be the hero of your family feud and leave with an amazing vehicle and great savings to congratulate yourself and your family for surviving another holiday together!
*All specials expire on 11/30/17 see specials page for full details.
Emergency Preparedness, It’s a Way of Life
There are 2 kinds of people. People that make emergency preparation a lifestyle, and people who have accidents frequently, but they somehow manage to NEVER be prepared for them. I am very clearly the sort of person who frequently ends up in accidents and is always shocked that it’s happened. Car battery dies, no way to jump start my car. Tire goes flat, has the spare tire but doesn’t have the car jack or wrench to actually replace the tire. That sort of thing. You’d think that I’d have learned by now. My grandma has even called me “reckless”, which honestly hurt. I ALWAYS have emergency food supplies, so like… my priorities are straight here. BUT, to ease her mind I have decided to get together an emergency kit for my car because… well, it needs to happen.
Just because your car appears in good shape, there’s no guarantee problems won’t arise. You never know when something’s going to happen to your car no matter how well you maintain it.
Here are the must-have items that should be part of every car emergency kit:
1. Charged cell phone and a car charger so that your phone is fully charged every time you’re on the road.
2. First-aid kit. Aside from the obvious items like band-aids, you should also have adhesive tape, gauze pads, aspirin, antiseptic wipes, antiseptic cream or ointment, and any particular medications or items you or your family may need like an EpiPen.
3. Fire Extinguisher. It should be rated for Class B and Class C fires by the National Fire Protection Association, or NFPA. Class B fires are those that involve flammable or combustible liquids, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, and kerosene. Class C fires involve energized electrical equipment such as switches, panel boxes, and batteries.
4. Three reflective warning triangles. While many prepackaged emergency kits contain one warning triangle, having multiples is preferred.
5. Tire gauge
6. Foam tire sealant as a quick and relatively inexpensive way to repair a flat.
7. Car Jack and wrench if the tire blows out and can’t be fixed.
8. Jumper cables
9. Flashlight (waterproof) and extra batteries
10. Gloves
11. Rags
12. Duct tape
13. Tow strap or tow rope capable of towing at least 6,000 lbs.
14. Multipurpose utility tool
15. Rain poncho
16. Drinking water
17. Nonperishable snacks
18. Warm blanket.
19. Snow shovel.
20. Cat litter. It works as well as sand beneath the tires for traction and weighs less.
21. Windshield ice scraper
I recommend keeping these items in a large Tupperware bin. It’s easier to keep everything organized and you’ll know exactly where everything is when you need it. One of the best ways to prevent an issue with your vehicle is to keep up with your vehicle’s maintenance, so be sure to stop by Harchelroad Motors of Imperial and Wauneta for service today. In the event you do end up in an emergency situation in which your vehicle is broken down, have your vehicle towed to Harchelroad Motors of Imperial and Wauneta and we’ll be glad to get your vehicle sorted out.
Lighten Up!
Makin’ your way downtown, driving fast, faces pass and your homebound, but it’s dark out…more dark than normal. You’ve got your headlights on, but they don’t seem quite as bright as they usually do.
You’ve already made sure your battery and alternator are in good shape, that’s the first logical step after all. But the lights are still a bit dim. Your next step should be to take a good hard look at the lights themselves. I don’t know about you, but driving in the dark is not my idea of a good time. Alternately, other drivers not being able to see me is just dangerous. So if you’re looking to return your headlights to their former splendor, check out these tips.
Phase 1: Do they look dirty? If you’re looking at your headlights and can’t actually identify where the lights are in the headlight, it’s possible you need to wipe those guys down. It’s amazing how much some glass cleaner and a dream can clear up. That could fix the whole situation! Use some glass cleaner or at least some soapy water and a clean rag. Wipe them down well, and see if they shine bright like a diamond with the lights on. If that doesn’t clear up your nighttime visibility, it’s time to move to phase 2.
Phase 2: Headlight reconditioning. This tends to be a bit more of an involved process, so we recommend taking your vehicle to your friends at Harchelroad Motors to take care of this.
If they’re still not fixed, have your dealer look at the bulbs (or capsules) that are the actual headlights. They could be burning out. If you have halogen bulbs, you should see if you can get them upgraded to either brighter halogens or LED capsules, which are also brighter generally than older halogen bulbs.
Your headlights don’t seem that important until you have to go LITERALLY anywhere in the dark…those bad boys are going to be your best friends for life! So if you notice that your headlights are dim, dirty or dying, feel free to stop by Harchelroad Motors today and we’ll be happy to help!
Top 5 Reasons To Love the 2018 Chevy Equinox
Ok, I love my car. No really. It’s got a LOT of pretty awesome features that make my daily life simple and fun. Just to prove it, here are my top 5 FAVORITE things about my 2018 Chevy Equinox!
FRONT SEAT
Let’s talk about how comfortable the seats are. They are CRAZY comfy! Like my body is cradled lovingly by the seats and I just really appreciate that. Additionally, the dual cockpit seating affords you a very accessible center console which makes grabbing for ‘things’ right at your fingertips easy! Screen controls to coffee cups – it’s all there, and all you have to do is reach!
INTERIOR SPACE
The interior of the 2018 Chevy Equinox provides over 63.5 cubic feet of cargo space which is glorious when you have a family. Particularly a family with small children who are just starting to discover the joys of “after school activities”. You might think, how much space could a 5-year-old’s soccer gear possibly take up? The correct answer is the whole trunk and part of the back seat, as it turns out. The Equinox provides plenty of space for all of her gear and enough room for me to fit the groceries too!
MPG
Gas mileage is incredible in this crossover, in fact, you get an estimated 39 MPG on the highway! When you need to haul small children all over this good green earth, you will definitely be thanking your Equinox on a daily basis for its exceptional mileage.
SAFETY
A few other safety features that help you out when you are driving are things like Low-Speed Forward Automatic Braking which translates to this: If you are driving below 50 MPH and there is a potential collision you have not sensed, the vehicle senses it for you, and auto applies the brakes.
Side blind zone alert is perfect for blind spot monitoring. The alert lets you know when someone is in your blind spot so you don’t merge into them.
TAILGATE
I’m not sure if you’re familiar with life with small children, but let me tell you, you never in your life have free hands. Even when you think your hands are free, they’re not. Additionally, the number of times that your hands are full when you need to get to your trunk is inevitably EVERY time you need to get to your trunk. Now with just a motion of your foot under the vehicle, the hands-free gesture tailgate just opens like magic. It’s just such a simple yet important feature.
So if you just read this list and thought to yourself, oh man. I NEED that vehicle in my life (I get it, I also felt that) stop by Harchelroad Motors of Imperial and Wauneta today. We’ll be happy to get you a test drive in what will surely be your next car.
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