A Women’s Point of View: Shoes for Cars

by Colette Cooley, Cars For Keeps Office Manager

We finally had our first snowfall. How do you all feel about that? I will remain (yuck) neutral (ugh) about the subject. Anyway, one of the special things we all get to think about in the winter is, “How are the tires on my car?”

Now if you spent last summer “sandblasting” on the beach and did not get stuck, sunk or shucked*, you are probably okay for the snow this winter. However, most of us in the real world consider carefully our high expectations of safety and comfort and dependability for our cars in dangerous driving conditions. Tires. There are three facts that we can’t escape. Every car has to have them. They are not cheap. And, very few of us know which ones to get for our car. At Cars For Keeps you can be sure of three things.

Every car has to have tires. Dennis, our service manager, will get the best price that he can find for you. Yes, he price shops. And, he is knowledgeable about which tires are best for your car. Your safety is our main concern. Have you ever wondered why tires are always black?

Let us look at this area of concern for women by comparing tires to shoes. Are they always dressed for dinner? Black is beautiful, but sometimes you just need pink. Wouldn’t red and white strips be eye-catching? Or perhaps purple polka dots on a yellow background? Or…............. Neon!

*Shucked is the term used when you get your car stuck up to it’s (ummm)……trunk, and the tires are spinning out of control, and you had to crawl out the window because the door won’t open and it is sinking like a stone in quicksand and you are standing beside the car saying, “Aw, Shucks”.

Thanks, Colette. I enjoyed my 30 mile commute in the blizzard belt as well. It wasn't as much "fun" (no white knuckles) because I had snow tires. Stay warm, everybody!

Lifetime Transmission Fluids: Who’s Lifetime?

by Dennis Sweet, Service Manager at Cars for Keeps

Hello everyone, If you have called or stopped into our shop, you have probably spoken with me. We may have even talked about maintenance. I have always felt that if I can help a client better understand the needs of their vehicle, they will better understand why we recommend it being performed.

I bring up this topic today, not only because it is important, but because I also had this exact conversation with one of our clients today. The topic was transmission fluid and why we had recommended the vehicles to be flushed out and replaced with new. Our client had responded, "but my owners manual states that my vehicle has 'Lifetime Transmission Fluid'". My response to this is, “Who’s lifetime, yours or your vehicles transmission?????" Transmission fluid, just as any other fluid a vehicle uses will wear out, get dirty, break down and even burn.

With this in mind, how long of a lifetime will the transmission have if it is trying to pump contaminated, broken down fluid through its system - or, to put in other terms, veins? I will let you think about for now, but will leave you with our perspective: it is in our best interest to think of your best interest. Our goal is to help you keep your vehicle in the best running condition it can be for as long as you want to own that vehicle. “No payments, just Maintenance.”

So long for now, Dennis

Cars for Keeps' Waiting Room: a Spa Parlor or a Repair Shop?

by Marjorie, Cars for Keeps Social Media Manager

The waiting room here at the shop is not your average auto garage waiting room. Most repair shops disregard this aspect of business - after all, what does a cleanly waiting room have to do with fixing your car? Many repair shops I've been don't even have a waiting area - just a little grungy corner for you to stand clutching your wallet while you wait.

Cars for Keeps Owner Rob Hopp has a different philosophy on auto repair service, emphasizing the service aspect and recognizing that the car and the customer are a package deal. Sure, the quality of the repair is most important, but where is it written that quality repairs have to come from cramped, dirty facilities?

Cars for Keeps goes out of its way to provide not only the best repair service in town, but the best customer service as well. That means a comfortable waiting area for moms, kids, professionals and anyone else who drops by. I happened to drop by the shop last week and was again impressed with the reception area's cleanliness and commodities. Here are a few pictures I snapped of some of the facility's highlights. You can tell Rob takes pride in his shop - and his customers.

Coffee, tea or...Pepsi? The only things here that require change are the two gumball machines in the corner - which we think parents won't mind at all.

Yes, you're looking at a flat screen TV, comfy chairs and a squeaky clean floor. Catch up on the news, or a snooze while waiting for an oil change - your preference.

Kid's play area is conveniently adjacent to the adult play area. To clarify, those magazines are current within the last few months, not culled from decade old boxes.

The high speed internet-equipped computer is over in the corner to the left. Brought your own? Take advantage of the facility's free Wi-Fi.

Here's the crew crunching numbers behind the desk. This is where you can find Customer Service Manager Dennis' smiling face.

If you've been putting off routine maintenance because going to the shop is too inconvenient, try Cars for Keeps' accommodating facility. Catch up on work, play with your kids, surf the net or get caffeinated; we promise you won't have to stand in a corner while you wait.

Snow Tire FAQs: Michigan Winter Driving Essentials

by Marjorie, Cars for Keeps Social Media Manager

If you've lived in Michigan your entire life, like me, you understand how easy it is to become helpless to the winter elements. If you're new to the area, then you're in for a treat; Michigan's legendary lake effect snow is beautiful, unpredictable and an absolute horror for unprepared winter travelers. While there's not much we can do about keeping our cars from being buried in snow drifts or coated in ice every morning, we can do something about making sure our cars remain on the road - once we've managed to get there.

Here are a few basic facts you should know about snow tires. Check out the YouTube video at the end of this post if you don't believe tread really makes a difference. Which car will you be?

Aren't all-weather tires good enough for winter?

No. Again, I refer you to the video in this post for proof. All-weather tires are designed for dry and wet conditions in warm weather, but they're in no way prepared to give tread on black ice, packed snow and sandy slush. Snow tires are specially made with softer rubber and carefully placed grooves which quickly wear down on dry pavement - which is why you should never leave your snow tires on past spring...unless you like buying new snow tires every year.

When should I put on my snow tires?

Well, how brave are you? If you're a daredevil like me, you may intentionally wait until after the first snowfall just to test your ice-racing skills. For the rest of you, who value your and your family's safety above thrill, it's best to have snow tires put on before the first snowfall, which, in Michigan, could be anytime between October 15th and December 30th. Typically, having snow tires put on a few weeks before Thanksgiving is plenty early enough, and it ensures safe holiday travel.

Should I get studded tires?

This question is best directed to your tire dealer or auto repair shop (I'm sure Dennis has a strong opinion), but there aren't very many situations where studded tires help you more than regular snow tires - in some environments, studded tires can actually give you less traction. Studs are only good for packed snow and ice, and they will hinder traction in thick snow, slush and dry pavement. So unless you're commuting across the tundra in Alaska, sticking to unstudded snow tires is a safe bet.

Should I get two snow tires or four?

Tire dealers and some mechanics have a strong opinion on this question, too. But for those of us who would prefer not to spend an extra $250 on two superfluous snow tires, here are the bare facts: front wheel drive cars should at least have both front wheels equipped with snow tires, and likewise, rear wheel drive cars should at least have snow tires on both rear wheels. All wheel drive automobiles, of course, should have four snow tires. It's true that having snow tires on all four wheels, even on front and rear wheel drive cars, provides ideal traction, but having only powered wheels fitted with snow tires will still provide far more traction than regular summer or all-weather tires.

For rear wheel drive owners, remember to throw some weight in the back. Keeping your summer tires or some bricks in the trunk - or bed - will give you an extra boost in traction.

Safe driving!

Happy Birthday to Cars for Keeps: 20 Years of Quality Service

by Dennis Sweet, Service Manager at Cars for Keeps.

Happy Birthday sounds nice at any age. Some people would like to quit having birthdays once they've reached a certain age. Well, I say bring on the birthdays. In case any you are wondering what I am rambling about, I am not talking about myself; I am talking about Cars for Keeps.

As of November 1, 2009 we are 20 years old - hurray! For us, that means 20 years of helping people like yourselves keep your vehicles as long as you wanted to. Here’s to another 20 years of great clients and the satisfaction of being able to help people by keeping their cars healthy.

Thank you to all who have made these last years so rewarding. You have made saying happy birthday worth it.

Until next time,

Dennis

Automatic Transmission Failure: How to Check Fluid and Prevent Costly Breakdowns

by Marjorie, Social Media Marketing Manager for Cars for Keeps

No two words strike fear into the hearts of those of us who are not mechanically inclined like the words: transmission failure.

Checking my engine oil may be the extent of my automotive expertise, but I've learned that having a faulty automatic transmission can mean almost certain death for a vehicle. For most cars, particularly those that are getting on in life, the cost of replacing an automatic transmission exceeds the value of the entire vehicle - rather like totaling your car.

Fortunately, transmission failure does not happen randomly; indeed, catching the early signs of transmission trouble is easy if you know what to look for. Here are a few things you can do to make sure your automatic transmission doesn't cause premature car death.

1) Own cars with manual transmissions. Ok, so this isn't exactly a solution to maintaining an automatic transmission, but car owners should be aware of the differences between manual (standard) and automatic transmissions. Manual transmissions (or "stick shifts") are more energy efficient than automatics, but more importantly, they have far fewer moving parts - which means way less maintenance and risk of part failure. Sure, you can talk on your cell phone, keep the kids in the backseat from fighting and drink your coffee simultaneously while driving an automatic, but a manual transmission will never conk out like an automatic.

2) Check automatic transmission fluid (ATF) regularly. This is really not hard - no harder than checking your oil levels. If you're unsure exactly which dipstick is for the ATF or what to look for once you find it, watch this short video on how to check your car's ATF. If you're still unsure, there's a great little auto repair shop on Fulton Street where the mechanics would be happy to show you.

Keep in mind, you're looking for two things: level and color. The fluid mark needs to hit between the low and high marks, and it should be nice and red.

3) Change your ATF regularly! Although it may seem like this step would naturally follow the previous step, there are those of us (like me) who need the reminder. If your transmission fluid is dark, brown or muddy-colored, it's time for a professional to take a peek and probably perform a transmission fluid flush.

Please think twice before taking your car to a drive-through service for transmission fluid flushes. There are many reasons why these places don't always offer the best service for your money, but a certified AAA repair shop like Cars for Keeps will certainly give you a more thorough flush and overall checkup.

4) Listen to your car. As we've said here before, your car will usually tell you something is wrong before a major breakdown. Any out of the ordinary noises could be suspect, so bring your car in for inspection if you hear anything unusual. J.B. Herbert gives us a few pointers here:

Safe driving and healthy cars until next time!

A Woman’s Point of View: The Mechanic and What Makes Him Tick

by: Colette Cooley, Cars for Keeps Office Manager

Oct. 9, 2009

As an observer of human nature (as most women are), we notice personality types all the time. Consciously or unconsciously, we gather visual data about people so we know if we are in our safety/comfort zone with any person at any given time.

Now that I have covered the deep psychic stuff, let’s have some fun with it. Just remember, there are exceptions to every rule.

Mechanics with whom I have worked have a tendency to be introverts. They are much more comfortable with machines than they are with people. Every car they work on is a personal challenge. It does not seem to matter whether the job is large and complicated or small and simple. It is personal. It is what a blank canvas is to an artist. To be made into something beautiful. They are passionate about cars and how they can make each car run like a finely tuned instrument. They spend their lunch time watching “car things” on the computer and their weekends doing “car things”. They are always building. Always creating. Always solving. It is the epitome of the creative process in a most masculine way.

And who benefits from all this positive energy? Why, we women of course. Another perfect solution.

The Crew at Cars for Keeps Kicks Off A New Automotive Blog

Welcome to KeeptheCar.com!

Some auto shops offer mechanical expertise and some offer quality customer service, but seldom are these combined into the kind of comprehensive service you'll find at Cars for Keeps. As past and present customers of this Grand Haven, Michigan automotive shop will tell you, the crew at Cars for Keeps is not only qualified to service a broad range of European, Asian and American models (Volkswagen and Honda owners, look no further!), but they are also committed to providing the best all-around customer care in the industry.

As proof of their devotion to preventative maintenance and customer education, the entire crew has volunteered to take part in the company's new automotive blog here at KeeptheCar.com. They'll be blogging three times each week on automotive tips, advice, how-tos and stories from around the shop. As you might expect from an automotive garage, the crew is quite a group of characters. Each team member will contribute a unique perspective, from sales and customer service to master mechanic brake drum pet peeves. Let's meet the team:

Customer Service Manager Dennis Sweet

Owner and Manager Rob Hopp

Colette, the office manager (and token female presence in the shop) was camera shy, but will be contributing anecdotes and repair stories regularly.

And the shop mechanics:

Mike

Robert

Robert was kind enough to star in the shop's first YouTube video. "We fix your cars...for keeps!"

So stick around, subscribe, and stay tuned for tips, tricks and zaniness from West Shore Michigan's premiere auto repair shop.