Ask Patty - Automotive Advice for Women

Seven DIY Car Care Tips to Cut Your Maintenance Costs

AskPatty - Automotive Advice for Women — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:59:04 -0800

Still trying to pare down your household budget? Here’s an option you might not have considered—doing more of the regular maintenance on your car.

The idea can be a little intimidating—even scary—for some. The website, womens-finance.com, reports that one-third of women have some sort of “car-phobia” when it comes to servicing their cars.

You’ve learned DIY for your home, so why not for your vehicle? We’re not talking about a brake relining, but simple things that not only can cut your service expenses but also extend the life of your car, save on gas and keep you and your family safer on the road. Here are seven tips to get you started:

Use Your Owner’s Manual

Unlike men, most women find directions helpful. You don’t have to read every page of your manual, but skim through it and become familiar with the basics. Just like cookbooks, mark the important parts with tabs or adhesive notes. Keep your manual handy when inspecting or working on your vehicle.

Put a Scheduled Maintenance Program on Your Calendar

Your manual has the details on how often you should change your oil and fluids and inspect and replace parts. Schedule these and other DIY activities on your calendar to make sure you don’t forget.

Maintain Proper Pressure in Your Tires

If you only have time for one DIY job, this would be your top choice. Underinflated tires are the No. 1 cause of tire failure or flats and can decrease you fuel economy by as much as 10 percent. Use a quality tire-pressure gauge and check when the tires are cool. Information about the correct pressure for your car is in your manual and on the driver’s doorjamb.

Change Your Fluids Regularly

These include your radiator coolant, engine oil, brake fluid, power-steering fluid and automatic transmission fluid. Some of these tasks are quite easy, but even the most challenging are doable with a little help and practice. Your mechanic or a service representative can show you what to do, or you can find assistance online. This video, for example, will walk you through the steps of checking your oil.

Inspect Your Belts and Hoses

Belt and hose failures are the No. 1 cause of roadside breakdowns. You should inspect them every six months and before long trips.

Know How to Respond to Dashboard Warning Signs

Some of the most important signs are the check engine light, water temperature gauge, and indicators for electronic controls such as the antilock braking system (ABS) and traction control. For example, if your ABS light comes on and stays on, you should immediately have a professional inspect your car.

Content provided by George Palatine, Allstate Auto Insurance Company, Northbrook, IL
Palatine is a recognized expert in social marketing, SEO, online informatics and the power of content to engage, inform and entertain customers and business partners.

George Palatine on Allstate.com

2012 Welcomes the Toyota Prius C

Willowdiana — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:34:58 -0800

One a recent trip to San Diego I was greeted by a magical vision of wavy mountain tops peeking up over the clouds as I coasted to land in my big metal bird. As we began our descent into the city, the clouds gave way to window views of ocean-side, metro scape, harbor and then a glorious touch down on the airport’s runway.

After making my way off the jet, and down to baggage claim I was met by a black luxury chauffeured sedan and whisked to the Four Diamond award winning resort the Estancia La Jolla. During our freeway travel I immediately relaxed and enjoyed being back in one of my favorite destinations. The fresh air, ocean breeze, and green foliage of San Diego not only welcomed but embraced me.

During our travel time I noticed a red smart car keeping pace with us on the interstate. There were two things about the car that interested me. The first being the Hello Kitty head which was painted on the side of it, the second was seeing that the T-tops were removed to fit the vehicles very large male driver. Although it was amusingly odd, I thought there has got to be a story there – a Hello Kitty car being piloted by a burly giant. More on that later, especially since my essential mission and reason for my visit was to learn about and test the soon-to-be-released Toyota Prius c.

As my car entered the lush tropical gardens, of Estancia La Jolla’s property accented by colorful florals and California sunshine I made my way to my room to ready myself for Toyota’s welcome dinner for automotive journalists.

For our meal we were taken to the famed Eddie V’s restaurant located in La Joya’s eclectically chic shopping district. During the evening we met our Toyota hosts and also had the opportunity to meet new journalist friends, and partake in a four course dinner complete with crème brulee! In the distance we were summoned to visit the porch area facing the ocean to listen to the muffled barking of the local sea lions.

Hearing the sea lions was an exciting way to end a truly fantastic day. On the trip back to the hotel I spoke with another female journalist and relayed to her my interesting freeway experience from my earlier freeway travels and sighting the Hello Kitty Smart Car. She beamed and then told me that the car I saw was owned (and probably being driven by) San Diego Charger Defensive Lineman Antonio Garay. Astonished I quickly googled this information to have it confirmed - then laughed at knowing that there really was a story behind the kitty kiddie-designed car and its ‘big kid’ driver.

After we arrived back to our hotel we said our goodbye’s to our new friends at Toyota and wandered off to our rooms in preparation for our upcoming day. The next morning began with summaries of many aspects of the Prius c and the vehicle information was relayed by international engineers and Californians. First off we were greeted by Satoshi Ogiso, the self-proclaimed patriarch of the Prius family who had a hand in engineering different aspects of every Prius since its 2000 inaugural model.

“The Prius c will be smaller but a little more feisty,” Ogiso said. “It includes efficient packaging, contemporary design, fun to drive spirit, and fuel efficiency.” Although the ‘c’ is centered around the 20-30 year age group it is, “Individualistic and modern and good for those who want a car that matches a practical yet active lifestyle.”

The practicality of the Prius c is the fact that the front seats are actually larger than the average compact car class seats. The rear seats are also designed to fit three passengers and provide plenty of leg room but it would be a semi-tight fit. So ideally the back seat quite comfortably seats two with a little extra space to spare.

Ogiso added that the goal with the Prius c was to, “Create an obtainable hybrid which was not only fun to drive, but had edgy styling and no-compromising technology.” Many of the technology features included in the Prius c can be seen in previous models, however, there are still a few additions which were included in this latest model such as more opportunities to track mpg’s and eco-efficiency. The ‘c’ also makes more and better use of space as opposed to earlier versions.

Since the ‘c’ is more hatchbacky than previous models, the engineers decided to keep the trunk area clear and instead of placing the lithium ion battery in the back, they engineered the vehicle to have the (now 26% lighter battery) located snugly underneath the back seat. This not only added to the vehicles center of gravity but assisted in increased stability and enhanced agility. This allows the free and clear trunk to stow a full-sized bicycle when the rear seats are folded down.

Having a low-cost vehicle with a high concentration on engineering is especially comforting. Toyota has included their STAR safety system which features over nine airbags, a whiplash injury lessening system, additional steel reinforcements and welds, roof impact protection, ABS, Traction Control (TRAC), Stability Control, Smart Stop and Brake Assist.

Driving the Prius c causes one to feel very grounded and sturdy on the road even though the vehicle is much lighter than earlier models.   The focus on center of gravity, aerodynamics and stability were definitely noticeable during the vehicles test drive across the windy, hilly terrain of the city of San Diego. Responsive steering in tight turns and moderate serpentines, along with immediate acceleration (regenerative) braking response performed very consistently.

Although the ‘c’ includes MacPherson struts and additional suspension and chassis modifications there was still mild bumpiness experienced if the drive was not on the smoothest of roads. But with such a lightweight vehicle, it would be nearly impossible to physically ‘mute out’ an uneven driving surface.

Driving the easy to handle with smooth steering and zippy response Prius c (even when going up a slight hill) was not only enjoyable but fun. With a .28 drag coefficient it is also highly aerodynamic. The "c" is not only a great sign of innovation, but ideal for a family of four who wants and enjoyable, safe, and dependably performing ride all wrapped up in an eco-efficient package.

With the cost of vehicles and gas today, families have been looking for new ways to scale down especially when it comes to vehicle, operation and daily costs. The Prius c will offer 53 mpg. city/46 mpg. hwy. and will include the Prius’ famed reputation for being a long-lasting vehicle. “96% of Prius's sold in the U.S. are still in operation today,” Bill Fay Toyota’s Group Vice President of Marketing said. “The Prius is the number one selling hybrid in the world and has outpaced all other hybrid sales. The Prius also touts the highest owner loyalty than any other midsized car,” Fay added. (I put the Prius line in a compact category but not going to split hairs).

Besides launching the Prius c, then the Prius Plug in EV (on sale in March), Toyota has, “A Good outlook for 2012,” Fay said. “This year we will be releasing 19 new or updated Toyota’s, Scion’s and Lexus products with a release to be scheduled every 19 days (on average) this year.”

The Prius c will have four different model levels from which to choose starting from level C1 (base) going to level C4 (extra packaging). C1 is equipped with power windows, locks, information display, hill start assist, keyless entry and steering wheel-mounted controls. The price for the C1 starts at $18,950 dollars. The C2 will start at $19,900 and adds on cruise control, six-way driver seat adjustments and a six speaker audio system.

The difference from the C2 and the C3 is technology and for $21,635 dollars consumers get Display Audio with Navigation and Entune®, Touch Tracer Display, and push button start. Lastly the C4 includes heated front seats, alloy wheels and fog lamps (along with all of the other features listed in the other grades). The C4s price is $23,230 dollars and is sure to be one of the most equipped lowest priced hybrids of the year.

Toyota Virtual Booth - NAIAS 2012

AskPatty - Automotive Advice for Women — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:33:54 -0800

Seems like I've been on a roll for posting great video content lately, so why stop now? Toyota has decided to invite everyone to enjoy their very impressive display from the NAIAS in Detroit. They've put together a comprehensive 360 degree virtual tour, where you can check out the display from virtually any point on the floor, comment on cars you like, and connect with other viewers like you.

They've put together this neat little video explaining how the virtual tour works. Have a look, and then check out the tour for yourself at http://www.toyota-global.com/events/motor_show/2012/detroit/booth/

Kaeli Gardner AskPatty.com

Think PINK for Valentine's Day: AutoTex PINK offers 15% off frameless blades for February

AskPatty - Automotive Advice for Women — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:17:49 -0800

Monday Morning Superbowl Wrap-Up: Viral Video Chart

AskPatty - Automotive Advice for Women — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:17:16 -0800

Welcome back to the working week, Ask Patty Nation. Hopefully you're all not too worse for wear after the Super Bowl weekend. Whether you're in recovery from the weekend or just have a standard case of the Mondays, some Super Bowl commercials may just do the trick to cheer you up this morning.

Viral Video Chart has the stats on the most shared Super Bowl ads online, and there are some familiar faces on the list. VW's Bark Side and Dog Strikes Back are at number 1 and 3, respectively, with 706,564 shares and 149,290 shares. Not too shabby! Audi's Vampire Party also showed well, coming in at number 5 with 70 thousand shares, and many other car ads we featured here are on the list as well. Some car ads that didn't get covered last week (I can't be everywhere, after all) also have been enjoying quite a healthy online life, particular the number 2 video, a wonderful Honda CR-V ad starring Matthew Broderick in a situation that will be very familiar to anyone who has seen Ferris Bueller's Day Off. If you haven't seen it, you HAVE to check it out below, then head over to Viral Video Chart and check out the other ads you may have missed - or give a few another look. It's guaranteed to brighten your Monday blues.

Check out the other ads here:
http://viralvideochart.unrulymedia.com/chart_keyword/Superbowl_2012?items=100&interval=all_time

Have a great week, Ask Patty Nation!

Kaeli Gardner AskPatty.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhkDdayA4iA&feature=player_embedded

Super Bowl Teaser Week Conclusion Carnival: Going Back to the Dogs with Confidence

AskPatty - Automotive Advice for Women — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:37:27 -0800

Happy Friday, Ask Patty Nation! Today we conclude our week of Super Bowl ads and teasers with a whole slew of videos. Many many companies are releasing their full Super Bowl ads early, and some of them are in this batch, so be fairly warned if you'd rather see them "fresh" during the game. I was going to make it a dog video trifecta, but the "Confident You" spot from Cars.com was too entertaining to skip. After that, we'll see a pair of spots by Subaru from their "Dog Tested and Approved" campaign, and finally - the full ad teased by the VW "Bark Side" video featured here last week is actually two ads in one, includes a look at the new new Beetle ... and it's hilarious.

Enjoy, and have a great Super Bowl weekend!

Kaeli Gardner AskPatty.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMxSZQZuBYc

Thursday's Super Bowl Teaser: Audi vs. the Vampires

AskPatty - Automotive Advice for Women — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:32:40 -0800

Wow, it's Thursday already. The week is just flying by. Today's Super Bowl ad teaser is - actually not a teaser, I think, because it certainly seems like the complete ad. So if you want to see it for the first time on Sunday during the game, you are fairly warned to turn back now.

Still here? Good. So this is an Audi ad. Last year's "Goodnight Moon" inspired ad was all well and good (and has been running again on TV this week, in anticipation of the launch of this new one, I'm sure), but this ad takes the cake. It features vampires at a party in the woods - and not the Twilight kind. Now, with apologies to the Twi-hards and Twi-hard moms out there, because when I was younger my vampires were the sexy undead played by Keifer Sutherland, listening to new wave music and partying until dawn, so this scene warms my teenage gothic heart, particularly the use of "The Killing Moon" by Echo and the Bunnymen as the spot's soundtrack. It took me back!

Anyway - one of the vamps' undead buddies arrives at the party with the vampy equivalent of a case of beer - a clever nod to the Super Bowl ads of yesteryear - and, well... hilarity ensues. Just watch the ad.

Stay tuned tomorrow for one final ad teaser before game weekend, and have a great day in the Ask Patty Nation!

Kaeli Gardner AskPatty.com

Kia's Super Bowl Teaser Certainly Teases

AskPatty - Automotive Advice for Women — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 07:39:07 -0800

As the Ask Patty coverage of Super Bowl ad teasers continues, today we take a look at the new teaser (in every sense of the word) from Kia. Now - as a disclaimer, Kia's ads of late have been some of the most memorable and well done ones. I've featured their now famous hamsters on the blog before, and applauded them for making memorable commercials that appeal to females and males alike, and resisted the urge to be provocative and sexist (see Fiat's J-LO ad for reference).

Now, Kia, I'm going to have to call this one like I see it - I'm afraid I'm not going to like your Super Bowl ad. I still hold out hope that you'll surprise me, you seem to be a female conscious brand, but this teaser doesn't exactly instill me with faith. See for yourself:

Short and sweet, I know. Adriana Lima (who is apparently a supermodel of some sort? I'm not up on my model-ology), clad in a tight and quite revealing... garment of some sort, her hair blowing in the wind, waves a checkered flag for a few seconds over the tune of "Mr. Sandman" and then, "See you on sunday," and that's that.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The days of objectifying scantily clad women and using them to sell cars should be over by now. Haven't we all gotten past that? Are consumers still so gullible? Add to that the fact that women are the majority car buyer in North America today and the fact that ads like this are even considered is beyond my understanding.

Now - again, I hold out hope that Kia will turn this around and spin it in a memorable and non-sexist way. I really do. I like Kia as a brand and as a company - I drive a Kia, and I love it. Hopefully this is just the cliche'd setup to a joke, and I'll be able to say "Phew! Well played, Kia. Well played," on Monday. Time will tell!

Stay tuned for more Super Bowl teasers all week long on the Ask Patty blog.

Kaeli Gardner AskPatty.com