Navigating a Downpour

Rain is essential.  It helps vegetation flourish, provides nutrients to soil, and is an overall integral part of life here on Earth.  But when it’s hitting your windshield and the pitter-patter of raindrops causes you to clench your teeth, it’s time to take precaution.  Rain can be attributed to thousands of car accidents a year.  Accidents can be preventable by drivers who weather (pun intended) the conditions of the road, using their intuition and defensive driving skills to stay safe during their commute.  When the road is wet, a film is created on the asphalt, causing your tires to lose traction.  Another problem during a downpour is your perception.  You can’t see as far into the distance as normal, so this decreases visibility of other cars and the road itself.

In today’s blog, we discuss some options to driving safely when the roads are wet.

Be careful when it rains after a dry spell.  Engine and oil grease cake up on asphalt over time.  When this is mixed with rainwater, it can cause the road to be extremely slick. 

Allot more time for your commute.  This allows for a steady drive to your destination.  The last thing you want to do is rush, it also compensates for delays, flooding, and unexpected accidents.

No Cruise control!  If you go into a hydroplane, there’s a slight chance your car could accelerate.  Reaction time is crucial and you’ll need your foot close to the pedal at all times.

Turn on your headlights.  This helps you see the road, and also lets motorists see you.  Blasting your high beams however can prove detrimental.  It can obscure your view further, reflecting water droplets in the air. 

Hydroplaning.  The first rule to avoiding the dreaded hydroplane is to avoid braking suddenly or turning the wheel, which can cause your car to spin or skid off of the road.  According to Edmunds: “Release the gas pedal slowly and steer straight until the car regains traction. If you must brake, tap the brake pedal (unless you have antilock brakes, in which case you can put your foot down).”

Defog your windows.  Rain causes your windshield to fog up fairly quickly.  Turn on your defrosters and make sure you're A/C is turned on.  Most vehicles climate control systems will automatically engage the A/C when the windshields defrost is selected. 

5 Reasons your Grandfather didn't know why you should lease your car

My grandfather was never a fan of purchasing a new car, however he didn’t understand computers either.  I think you would agree that we are a lot smarter than our Grandparents were.  We are in the information phase.  We know more now than ever before so why do so many people insist on purchasing a new car and think like our Grandparents…”Lease Bah! Humbug!  You’ll never own it!” my grandfather would say.  If he were around today I would argue 5 strong points on why a lease is the way to go. 

Reason 1.) You only pay for the ½ of the car you’re using.  The average driver trades in their vehicle within 3 years of using it.  You don’t own the car until it’s paid for.  The bank owns your car for typically 5 years.   So leasing provides you freedom to walk away.

Reason 2.) Walking away is sometimes better! If for whatever happens in the auto industry that makes a vehicle become less of a value than Kelley Blue Book, there is a risk for losing money on a purchased car. If you lease you give up the car after the lease is over without it affecting you. A vehicle aslo depreciates in value the second you drive it off the lot. With a leased car, you aren’t soaking up the negative equity. The moral of the story is “Cars are not investments Grandpa”!

Reason 3.) You can’t put over the mileage on them.  The average commuter only racks up 12K miles per year on their vehicle. The leasing programs tailored the allotted mileage based off the averages.  If you think you might drive more than 12k per month then ask us about other incentives for driving more than 12k.  Most manufactures offer a higher mileage program.

Reason 4.) You are always in warranty and never have to worry about repairs when you lease.  Almost every manufacturers warranty is 3 years of 36k miles whichever comes first.  The lease is in line with the warranty for good reason.  This makes the manufacturer eligible to sell the vehicle again after it passes a 100point inspection.

Reason 5.) You can purchase and sell your leased car.  That’s right you can purchase the car if you decide to keep the vehicle.  If you should decide to purchase your leased car, you will then be buying a used car.  So essentially the manufacturer absorbed the negative equity the car may have had. You can also sell your leased car to someone. Track down the exact dollar amount you'll need to pay to purchase the car at the end of the lease. In many contracts, this means the car's residual value plus a purchase-option fee ranging from $300 to $600.  Call us today and we’ll tell you the rest! 

P.S. Grandpa was smart, but he wasn’t always right!