Car Chick

CAA SCO sponsors Eco-Drive Showcase at the Canadian International AutoShow

With gas prices in the GTA hovering around $1.27 per litre, drivers are looking for ways to improve their vehicle’s fuel efficiency while saving money at the gas pumps.

At this year’s Canadian International AutoShow, CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO) is sponsoring the Eco-Drive Showcase featuring clean and fuel-efficient vehicles and technologies. Visitors can test their eco-driving knowledge and skills in the DriveWise simulator and can enter CAA’s “Drive to Win” contest for a chance to drive off in AJAC’s Canadian Car of the Year.

“Motorists have a responsibility to help sustain the environment. Drivers making small eco choices such as combining trips, reducing highway speed and car-pooling can lead to significant changes that will help reduce the negative impact on the planet,” said Nick Parks, President & CEO, CAA SCO.

CAA’s Top 5 Eco-Driving Tips:
• Keep tires properly inflated and service your vehicle regularly.
• Remove excess weight such as roof racks, when not in use, and items from your trunk.
• Reduce highway speed; use cruise control. Fuel consumption increases above 90 km/hr.
• Avoid jackrabbit starts and hard braking.
• Combine your trips to save fuel and time; consider car-pooling.

CAA SCO is working with Plug’n’Drive Ontario to promote the use of electric vehicles (EV) as a way to reduce environmental impacts and educate consumers on fuel-efficient technologies. The benefits of an EV include:
• Significantly lower CO2 emissions
• Significantly lower fuel costs
• Lower maintenance costs
• Use local electricity instead of oil
• Safe and fun to drive

“By charging at night when both electricity prices and emissions are lowest, the EV driver can 'fill up' for less than $2 and at the same time reduce their CO2 emissions by about 90 per cent compared to a gas powered car,” said Cara Clairman, President & CEO, Plug‘n’Drive Ontario. “The Eco-Drive Showcase sponsored by CAA gives consumers a fantastic opportunity to view these amazing cars in one place and to learn more about how EVs are good for the environment and your wallet.”

Meanwhile, CAA members can save $5 on the price of admission to the AutoShow when purchasing tickets online www.caasco.com/autoshow.

Which province boasts the most confident winter drivers?

Overall, Canadians are confident, prepared and careful winter drivers, according to a new study commissioned by Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited.

Nearly 80 per cent of Canadians say they are at least somewhat confident in their ability to drive in snowy or icy conditions and more than 85 per cent of Canadian drivers take extra precautions on the road by leaving extra space and decreasing their speed.

Other survey findings include:

• Drivers in the Prairies and married couples tend to be more confident, better prepared and more cautious drivers when compared to the rest of Canada. Albertans are the most confident winter drivers – 43 per cent say they are very confident when it comes to braving winter road conditions.
• Remember, being prepared is half the battle. Drivers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan are the most prepared drivers in Canada as they are more likely to pack essential and emergency tools like an ice scraper, booster cables, shovel, first-aid kit and extra shoes and clothing.
• It’s always good to have an emergency stash. Drivers in British Columbia are more likely than drivers in any other province to have extra food and snacks on-hand in case of emergency.
• Cars need “winter shoes” too. Canadians in Atlantic Canada (76 per cent) are more likely to install winter tires on their vehicles than any other province (not including provinces where installation mandatory) while less than half of Ontarians (44 per cent) do – the lowest number when compared to the rest of the country.
• Two heads are better than one. Married drivers are more cautious than single drivers when on the road:
  - 90 per cent of married drivers decrease their speed in snowy conditions versus 78 per cent of single drivers.
  - Married drivers are more likely to install winter tires on their vehicles than single drivers (68 per cent versus 51 per cent).

Women Increasingly Buying Motorcycles, Starring in Freedom-Themed Montages

From Jezebel.com -- In this era of inside voices, Netflix Instant, and the infinite staying-in-excuses the Internet offers, some women are choosing instead to seek freedom and adventure outside, on the seat of a motorcycle. Yes, women are climbing onto hogs from coast to coast in record numbers, and not from the vantage point of sitting behind some dude who is driving them around; the number of female motorcycle owners increased 52% from 2003 to 2008. It's positively trendy to be badass!...

To read the entire article visit Jezebel.com.

Image via Igor Sheremet/Shutterstock

Sweetie Girl Racing Events September and October

Join Sweetie Girl Racing (SGR) for these exciting events in September and October:

Intro to Kart Racing and Advanced Driving at Grand Prix Kartways
Sunday, September 11, 2011
9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
 
Feel the need for speed? Come join us for a half day comprehensive racing and advanced driving course. All levels of drivers are welcome, and instructors will go through both in-class and on-track driving instruction. Not just for those looking to become the next Indy 500 racer, the course is great for improving everyday driving confidence and skills for the street. Learn more…

Advanced Driver Training at Toronto Motorsports Park
Saturday, September 24, 2011
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 
Team SGR is excited to present our next 2011 track event, powered by Sailun Tires. PLUS come experience the new Scion TC on a race track in the hands of a professional race car driver! Learn more…

Girls’ Night at the Garage – Basic Car Care & Maintenance
Thursday, October 13, 2011
6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Tired of feeling the pinch in your purse? Regular preventive maintenance can save you from unexpected and expensive repair bills. We'll talk about the importance of maintaining your car properly and explore basic maintenance items you can do yourself. Learn more…

How Drivers Kill Their Cars

A car is an expensive and sophisticated piece of machinery. But many drivers hop in their car each and every day and drive away without ever thinking about caring for their vehicle...until there is a problem.

"What makes those of us who drive a car every day think we are immune to mechanical breakdown?" says Tom Torbjorsen of Yahoo! Canada Autos. "And what makes us think that we can drive our vehicles indefinitely without regular maintenance?" Here are a few of the ways drivers can “kill their cars” -- from poor driving habits to ignoring the warning signs -- and how to avoid these issues.

It basically comes down to common sense and taking the time to properly maintain your vehicle. If you care for your ultimate accessory, it will keep running smoothly for you. Read more...

How to Choose a Mechanic You Can Trust

A car is one of the biggest purchases you'll ever make. And the cost of keeping it running smoothly can really add up. I often tell the story of how I took my car in for an oil change and was told the timing belt needed replacing –- a $30 service turned into a $500+ repair bill! It turned out my car actually did need this service as a regular maintenance item, but unfortunately such tales -- with some unhappy endings -- are far too common in the auto industry.

The question is: how can you choose a mechanic you can trust? 

“It’s easy for all of us to say we're trustworthy,” says Emily Chung (pictured), a mechanic and owner of AutoNiche Women’s Auto Repair Service. “A shop needs to demonstrate that they are.”

Here are a few tips for finding the ultimate mechanic for your ultimate accessory.

Do your homework now. When you need a major car repair is not the time to start searching for a mechanic -– you need the repair done immediately to get you back on the road as quickly as possible.  Start your search early.

Start with smaller jobs. When you find a mechanic you like, try a smaller maintenance job first. Take your car in for an oil change or a tire changeover. Notice how you're treated, how quickly the work is completed, the cleanliness of the shop. If you like them, you can move on to bigger jobs. If not, keep looking.

Ask for referrals. When looking for a dentist, massage therapist, lawyer or other professionals, you will usually go to friends and family for referrals. Do the same thing with your mechanic. Be sure to ask about the service they receive, can the shop respond in a timely manner, if the prices are good, and why they like dealing with this particular mechanic or shop. Ask for a personal introduction -– it is natural to treat people better who you know personally.

Review your owner’s manual. Be sure to check out your owner’s manual and become familiar with your car’s maintenance schedule. That way if a shop tells you that your car requires a particular service you will know if that’s true. And if they try to push a service on you that you don't need it’s time to search for a new shop.

Know your car. The more you know about your car the less likely you will be taken advantage of. Now that doesn't mean you have to take a full auto mechanics course. But a car care clinic that covers general maintenance and explains what is involved in some of the more common repairs can really help.

Stay with the same mechanic. Once you find a mechanic or auto service centre you like, stay with them –- they are like the family doctor for your vehicle and it is helpful if they know the car’s history. “It’s beneficial to see the car consistently to establish a baseline for how the car wears,” says Emily.

 

We have a CarChick Contest Winner!

Congratulations to Stephanie Hanik of Christina Lake, British Columbia, the winner of the Gas Saving Goodie Basket Giveaway -- the first-ever CarChick.ca contest. Stephanie was delighted to win.

Christina Lake is a popular summer vacation spot, and Stephanie says "I travel frequently, and in the summer I go to the next town over to sell things I make at a farmer’s market, so back and forth can get costly! Thank you for the chance at this giveaway.” Stephanie's business is called Sumthing Purdy, handmade artisan jewelry -- you can check it out at www.facebook.com/sumthingpurdy.

We would like to thank Stephanie and all entrants, and everyone who took the time to share the contest with friends. And a very special thank you to Canadian Tire for donating the goodie basket.

Stay tuned for our next giveaway, coming soon, featuring an exciting new car product.

Car Financing for New Credit, No Credit or Bad Credit

Besides a home, a car is one of the biggest purchases a person can make. In many cases, buying a car, whether new or used, will require financing. But how can you qualify for a loan if you're young or are new to the country and have not yet established your credit rating? Or perhaps you’ve made some financial mistakes and have a bad credit rating? CarChick.ca spoke to Auto Broker Nishad Kassim (pictured) of cars4u.com who offers these suggestions

New Credit for Young People
The first step when applying for a car loan is to determine how much of a loan you will qualify for. To do this, go to a bank and apply for a loan on a car with the approximate specs of the one you want to buy –- the same year, options, etc. The bank will evaluate your financial situation and let you know if you're approved.

If you are not approved they will provide you with a list of restrictions in terms of the amount of money the bank is willing to lend you, the lending rate, term of the loan, and inform you if you will require a co-signor. You may need to lower the loan value by reducing the price of the car, either by removing some of the options to lower the overall price, choosing another car, or putting more money down.

No Credit for those New to Canada
For people who are new to Canada, some banks offer special programs to help you establish a home here. For example, there is the ScotiaBank StartRight Program for landed immigrants. This program covers mortgages, investing, credit, chequing and saving accounts, plus the StartRight Auto Loan Program, offered through selected car dealers.

When searching for a car, you will need to ask the dealer if they participate in the program, or contact Nishad Kassim who can help you with your auto purchase or recommend a dealer.

Bad Credit
If you have a bad credit rating due to missed or late payments or defaulting on loans, credit card payments or other financial commitments, you will need to re-establish your credit rating, which can be a lengthy process.

Most banks offer prime and non-prime lending rates –- generally, the better the credit rating, the lower the rate you'll receive. If you have a bad credit rating you may be declined, and if you are approved, you will likely receive a non-prime rate which can range from approximately 9.9% to 28.9%.

To begin the process of re-establishing your credit rating, you will need to be sure to make your loan payments on time, as well as ensure all other payments of your rent or mortgage, credit cards, etc. are made before the due date. After 12 consecutive months of on-time payments, you can try to refinance your loan at a better rate. To do this, contact a broker like Nishad Kassim who can help you arrange the repayment of your existing loan and obtain approval of a new loan at a lower rate. This will cost you a small refinancing fee, but considering how much you could save in interest over the period of the loan, could be well worth it.

Whether you have new credit, no credit or bad credit, talk to an auto broker about your situation –- they have resources and can help you. For more information, e-mail Nishad Kassim,follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/nisha_thecargal or check out her blog http://nishathecargal.blogspot.com/

 

Win a Gas Saving Goodie Basket from Canadian Tire and CarChick.ca

With gas prices skyrocketing, bring your fuel spending back to earth. Enter the Gas Saving Goodie Basket Giveaway.

You can win a bunch of cool products from our friends at Canadian Tire that will help improve the fuel economy of your vehicle -- and best of all, save you money. The Goodie Basket is a $65 value!

Enter now! Or enter via Facebook. Contest closes July 15, 2011.

Eco-friendly Autos Revealed at Our Greener Side Celebration May 28

Come out to the Our Greener Side Celebration this Saturday, May 28, 2011 to check out the latest eco vehicles. On display will be the Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i-MiEV. These cars are paving the way to a cleaner future, and this is your opportunity to get a sneak peek and see what’s under the hood of these innovative vehicles that will soon be available in Canada.

Our Greener Side Celebration
When: Saturday, May 28, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Kortright Centre for Conservation, 9550 Pine Valley Drive, Woodbridge, ON L4L 1A6

Inspired by the idea that small changes add up to make a world of difference, Our Greener Side Celebration was created to enable change-ready individuals to learn about local and convenient choices that support an eco-friendly lifestyle.

This one-day community event features family-friendly activities and engaging demonstrations designed to help residents from York Region and other GTA communities live sustainably, from reducing waste and minimizing water usage to eating locally and travelling "green". It also showcases many environmental and sustainability programs and services offered by a variety of local government and non-government agencies.