Predictions of $4 gas this summer have failed. Gas in Portland this week was around $3.55 and the price of crude oil–for the moment–is dropping. Nonetheless fuel economy remains a top priority for new car shoppers–more so than in decades–despite relatively affordable gas. There’s some fantastic technology available now, and most of it is heaped […]
When it comes to chrome, there are a number of other uses beyond auto rims. Chrome is commonly used on appliances, furniture, bicycles, boats or more. It’s used because it looks good and it’s generally easy to clean. Chrome plating itself is a finishing treatment that involves the application of the metallic sheen to a […]
What to do when your car is dusty, but not dirty enough for a car wash. We have reached the two months we all wait for in the Northwest: August and September. Sunshine, picnics, convertibles, fresh fruit…good times! This is a unique time for your car as well. You won’t see much rain, so your […]
We have all experienced it. You’re driving down the road and all of a sudden a rock hits the windshield, creating a chip in the glass. What most people don’t know is that the majority of these fractures can be repaired — if caught in time — keeping repair costs to a minimum and keeping […]
Dusty brown wheels–caused by brake dust accumulation–are a major irritant to people who make the extra effort to keep their cars clean. No matter how clean the glass, the paint, the trim is…the first thing to go dirty is those wheels. BMWs in particular are infamous for brake dust build up because of the “soft” […]
A new CNN report advises car owners that some simple, inexpensive cosmetic fixes can add up to $2000 more to the sale of your used car. The reasons all these small fixes make such a difference: buyers perceive small things like dirty carpets, dented doors, and more to be signals of owner neglect. That is, […]
Do you ever find yourself “kicking the can down the road” when it comes to washing your car? “I’ll do it tommorrow, first thing.” “Could rain tommorrow…I’ll do it the following day.” “Too tired. I’ll wait ’till the weekend.” The can goes down the road, and your car serves as a mobile billboard of your […]
With some poor luck (and poor choice of car), you could have to pay outright for a repair (transmission replacement, for example) that costs more than the price of an extended warranty. On the other hand, if you don’t buy a warranty, you’ll have the cash set aside for those big repairs. Many car owners […]
We repair a lot of scratches and rock chips on our customers cars using factory-paint-matching paint and a variety of brushes, squeegees, scratch fillers, and excess paint removers. Most of the general public isn’t aware that paint chip and scratch repair is a subspecialty of the automotive business. One big reason: body shops don’t want […]
The summer is the most-driven season of all. And in most places, it’s the toughest season on your car: the heat beats down on your paint and your car’s interior and tests your radiator and air conditioning systems. In 5 simple steps, you can minimize, if not eliminate, the odds of a major catastrophe. Check […]