Charming Mutations.

Did you know that every 14 seconds someone in America drives off a dealership lot with a "small" car?

This article shows you that small doesn't have to mean predictable, lame or boxy.  In today's society everyone is downsizing.  Better gas mileage means less stops to the gas pump and more bang for your buck.  And we all know, small cars equal better gas mileage.  But who says that just because you drive something small it has to be a boring Corolla?  Not me.  

"...the Veloster is truly novel. The reverse-wedge roofline, the squat rear end, and the wide stance create an aggressiveness never before seen in Hyundai styling. That dynamic promise is carried through in details like the tall rear apron, the cantilevered roof, and the center-exit exhaust. The polarizing face -- quite possibly derived from an employee pumpkin-carving contest -- makes the profile and rear-quarter views the Veloster's most flattering. Those angles also reveal the Veloster's charming mutation: three doors. On the passenger's side, there are two conventional, front-hinged doors, while the driver's side has a single, longer door."  --Eric Tingwall, Automobile Magazine. 

Just thinking aloud here, but you really ought to come in and check out our stock of Velosters. 

You can even schedule an appointment.

Winterize Your Vehicle

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Check your Antifreeze.  

Antifreeze is coolant that doesn't freeze, antifreeze keeps your engine from turning into an ice block. If you try driving on a frozen engine you will have a broken car and will have to spend your Christmas money to buy a new engine or vehicle.  Since your vehicle contains a mixture of half antifreeze, half water, you want to make sure your car is full and the mixture is as close to 50/50 as possible.  Good news: most repair shops will check this for free.

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Tire Safety

Winter, of all times, is the worst to be cheap about your tires.  Who has used the penny test? That is what i have always heard was the tried and true way to check tire pressure.  Well, seems that the National Highway Transportation Safety Board (whew, long name!) says different.  If your penny test is just passing your tires are not winter ready.  Try a quarter test.  It's the right size for safety. Watch this video, it might help!

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Replace those Wipers

For some reason I, as a silly college Freshman, thought wipers lasted forever (or just the life of your car).  Ha.  There comes a time when wipers get so worn out the only thing they are good for are smearing much on your windshield...good luck seeing through that.  In the winter we drive on a lot of sand, salt and dirt to keep the roads safe.  This stuff WILL end up on your windshield.  Do you have the wipers you need to keep up visibility?

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Fill up on Windshield Fluid

other cars on the road kick up lots of extra junk leaving your windshield looking...grimy.  Make sure you have wiper fluid so that you can keep your windshield dazzling and this helps make the wiper jobs so much easier.

Polishing your headlights. Why it matters.

Ever asked yourself why you can't see farther than a couple of car lengths ahead of you?

Is one of your low beams burned out? Nope.

Is it foggy out? No.

Check out your headlights: are the assemblies frosted over?  Not just with dirt or grime but with a cloudy fog, like a mirror post shower...might need to call the pros for this one....

Why?  The outside surface of your headlight is made of polycarbonate plastic (like eye glasses).  Polycarbonate plastic is helpful - resistant to stones and chips and other things flying into the front of your car.  Good thing too, because you don't want your headlights cracking with every bug, rock and piece of gravel that flies at you on the open road. BUT! A few years of exposure to sunlight and chemicals in the atmosphere - polycarbonate can get hazy, foggy and dirty. Bummer.

These assemblies can be easy to replace but are ridiculously expensive...sometimes upwards of a thousand dollars. Yikes.  Lucky for you, Eckert Hyundai can polish these headlights without emptying your piggy bank.

FYI:  This process can take us about an hour, and $65.  BUT! If you join our monthly e-mail newsletter, you can receive a coupon for this headlight polish for $25.  Generous, I know.

Best Resale Value

All you Tucson owners, perk up your ears. 

According to a recent press release, the Hyundai Tucson was named one of Kelley Blue Book's Top Ten 2012 Best Resale Value Vehicles.  Not to mention Hyundai is the home of the Trade-In Value Guarantee which helps you feel supported.  Read what this exciting news:

Kelley Blue Book's annual Best Resale Value Awards recognize current and forthcoming vehicles for their projected retained value throughout the initial five-year ownership period.  Since depreciation (or loss of value) is typically a car buyer's primary expense during ownership, these awards are designed to help consumers make more informed car-buying decisions.

"Tucson does an excellent job of artfully combining state-of-the-art safety features, design and affordability, allowing it to retain a high value throughout the course of ownership," said Mike O'Brien, vice president, Product and Corporate Planning, Hyundai Motor America. "Hyundai is proud to offer its Trade-In Value Guarantee as part of Hyundai Assurance and this program is made possible due to the strength of Hyundai vehicles' residual values, like the Tucson."

The Trade-In Value Guarantee is the newest addition to the Hyundai Assurance suite of programs. It eliminates concern about depreciation by giving Hyundai owners a guaranteed value for their vehicle in months 24 through 48 of ownership.

The 2012 Tucson is one of the smartest compact crossover choices available, delivering better fuel economy and range for consumers needing the utility of a CUV without sacrificing fuel efficiency. The Tucson improved fuel efficiency of up to an estimated 32 miles per gallon on the highway can be attributed to a new Active ECO System, low rolling resistance silica tires, high efficiency air conditioning and a larger capacity fuel tank. The Tucson also features safety technologies as standard equipment such as Downhill Brake Control (DBC) and Hillstart Assist.

 

Read more here!

Cooler Weather and Tire Pressure.

Friday morning, I was warmly welcomed in my 2008 Hyundai Sonata with a (!).

What does that mean?  An exclamation seems critical and urgent!!  I sat on edge all the way to work, a whopping four miles.  Luckily, I work at Eckert Hyundai and they immediately pulled it into service.  Not a worry.  My tire pressure dropped with the cooler morning weather and the handy service team aired them up.  The best part?  FREE!  And not just for me, folks!  

If all you need is some air they'll check out your tires to make sure there are no serious problems and air them up, if there is not.  All while you enjoy hot coffee, a cozy couch, cable TV and free wifi.
Sounds good to me...

Want to know why this happens?  

Me too.

Cool temperatures in fall, winter and, let's face it, the occasional spring months, causes the air in your tires to contract.  And your poor tires will fluctuate pressure.  You have GOT to ensure proper air pressure so your tires have optimal traction on those [sometimes] icy roads.  When the temperatures rapidly decline your air pressure will also rapidly decrease.

This website tells you to check tire pressure often.  Lucky for you, Hyundai installed the light on the dashboard for the convenience.  No crawling around in the cold to check tire pressure!  

However you may want to check the tire pressure on your spare tire if you are hitting the road! 
Happy Monday!

Foggy Morning Window Ideas



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Is everybody ready for Thanksgiving, because it's creepin up real fast! All this change in weather has created some pretty foggy driving conditions, particularly on my windows.  It's the worst when you have to rush out to work and you can't see anything.  Not to mention dangerous.

The Basics
All air has moisture in it, "humidity."  The higher humidity, the more fog.  Fog happens on  your windshield when humid air comes into contact with a cold surface, the moisture condenses and comes out of the air onto your windshield.  This can happen on a rainy day, after a rainy day or when a warmer morning comes after a cool night.

Inside vs Outside
This is easy!  If your condensation occurs on the outside of your car you can use the windshield wipers, a rag or a squeegee to get the excess water off.  Slide your other windows up & down, this will help eliminate the condensation after a dewy morning.
The key to eliminating moisture on the inside is reducing moisture in the air.  Using the recirculation setting on the temperature control system for a long period of time will probably make the problem worse...so try to avoid its usage.  Make your car cabin a little bit cooler than you'd like and this will help you too!  If the air is drier inside your car - use recirculation, if drier outside, vent (...windows down).

Solutions
Other than mentioned above, you can purchase chemical solutions that leave water repellent on glass surfaces, making accumulation on glass minimal.  What a way to start your morning!
The basic idea is getting warmer, drier air onto your windows to make the fog disappear.

Veloster + Pandora = Awesome.

So, I know, I cant stop talking about the Veloster.  But last night something came up in conversation with friends and after being bombarded with questions, I thought I'd do some research. And share. 

Everyone seems to be talking about this new car and it's awesome features.  This car is seriously targeted at those of us in the "digital age."  You know, the ones Oprah begs to bag their phones while at the wheel, yea, me too.  So aside from Bluelink, this puppy is chock-full of coolness.

When you purchase a new Veloster you get awesome standard features, such as the first Bluelink package, which is much like OnStar on steriods, and this car also offers Pandora as a FREE and STANDARD feature.  Wow.

You know Pandora?

It's the "radio" that only plays songs you like.  Seriously, if you don't like it they will say, "we're sorry, we'll never play anything like that again," how thoughtful.  I also find it important to share that I'm currently listening to it and it's the perfect work and driving (and cleaning and jogging) music to narrarate your life.

All you have to do is connect your iPhone to the dash and you can stream Pandora live through your blue tooth while you drive.  Cool.

"Veloster is a fun-to-drive, three-door coupe that exemplifies Hyundai's commitment to offering drivers the latest and greatest in-vehicle connectivity and technology," said Scott Margason, director Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America.  "Having Pandora internet radio easily accessible in the Veloster enhances the drive experience, allowing Veloster customers to listen to their favorite music everywhere they go."

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