Vin’s Cloth Car Wash
After giving my client’s vehicles a good test run to make sure everything performs well, (see previous post) I like to get them looking fresh & clean again with some professional car car from Vin’s Car Wash
Full selection of wash packages to choose from:
Watch as your vehicle is safely carried down the car wash.
Look at all those drying jets!
And to assure that there are not spots, It gets a cloth wipe down from the energetic staff:
and NOW it is ready to deliver to my client. :)
Any time you need to get your vehicle looking better give Vin’s a call or stop in:
Vin’s Car Wash & Detail Center
185 South Street
Holyoke, MA
(413) 532-0076
As the owner Paul always says ”Wash your car…you’ll feel better” — it’s true! ;)
2005 Lexus RX330
My client was driving a Volvo XC70 that he purchased from me a couple of years ago when I got his call. The wagon was just over 100,000 miles and he was feeling that it was time for an upgrade. He was considering another Volvo, but a friend of his had a Lexus and he became very curious about those. I did some research for him (part of my initial free consultation) and met with him to go ver the details. The results showed that a Lexus would be more slightly more expensive than a similar year & mileage Volvo, but the interior space, performance, & ride of the Lexus may be worth it.
A couple of weeks after, A 2005 Lexus RX330 was up for bid at the auction with only 25,000 miles on it. I jump in and take it for a spin around the lot. Having driven Volvo XC70s before, right away I noticed a huge difference. The Lexus was very smooth and graceful with a feel more like a sports car than a SUV, whereas the Volvo feels more rigid, like a truck. I love Volvo’s, don’t get me wrong. And I like them FOR that reason: rugged and indestructible, like a tank! However, sitting in the plush interior and griping the polished wood steering wheel of the RX330 was a WAY more luxurious experience.
After thoroughly checking it over and finding out that it was a 1 owner vehicle, I sent several pictures of the vehicle and gave him my evaluation. All it really needed was some new tires. He replied that If we could score it for $25,000 (including the new tires) than “go for it!”
I did, and we got it–for less!
Not a bad looking machine, right? It doesn’t scream “I’m loaded” or “I’m a rock star celebrity” like some SUVs, but instead says “I enjoy comfort & style, am a little modest, and like to drive down roads that are smooth and fast, as well and rugged and slow.”
TEST RUN
As photographers, my wife Lisa and I always haul around our photography gear just-in-case that perfect photographic moment occurs. Typically, we’ll find these ideal spots down some down dirt road in the middle of the Berkshires. So, after I serviced the vehicle and installed new tires, I was very excited to give it a “final test run”.
With a press of a button the rear door automatically opens up:
The rear cargo area was very spacious. In fact, all of photography stands were able to fit into the first floor compartment and remain completely out of sight. I love the way the door lifts completely out of the way to allow easy access and also remains as protection from rain.
Plus, the interior lights up like a football stadium! Very easy to see at night 
Driving on the roads it was very smooth and had powerful acceleration. Take it off road, and you barely noticed the pavement ended. With plenty of clearance, we were able to drive down roads that most cars would not be able to make.
I would not have a problem getting around in this vehicle. On or off road, day or night.
How about you?
Personal Car Shopper.
The Real Deal
Another blue Mustang? Well, the one big difference between this one and the 2010 I previously posted (other than the 44 years) is that this one is not spoken for and is available and for only $9800 $8800?? Wow!
I’m going to keep this post light on words and let the images do the talking…
‘nough said?
email me (doug@merrillauto.com) to schedule a test ride
In the spirit of the 4th of July, I thought I would share some images of 2010 Mustang I located for a client recently.
In contrast the last post–which was a lengthy one about a search for a small foreign car that also took a bit of effort to find –this one will be a short post about a search for an American classic style car that was relatively swift! ;)
I received the call from Jeff in the middle of May inquiring about my ability to find him a newer Mustang and take is PT Cruiser in for trade. He was not looking for the large horsepower V8 GT Mustang, and instead wanted to get something a little better on gas and able to stay under $20,000!
The next week, the day before the auction, I sent him a list of some Mustangs that would be up for bid. Not having concluded all the financing yet, we decided to see what a few of these went for and report back to get a better idea of what we can get for under 20 G’s. A 2010 convertible that was in excellent shape and only had 14,000 miles, would have been just a hair over his budget. He decided to go with a hardtop to save a little and also because he was planning on driving it through the winter.
So the following week I set out on another search and this time found a blue 2010 hardtop with 18,500 miles:
I snapped a couple of pics on my phone and emailed him and then drove it around the auction parking lot to listen for anything suspicious. Feeling that we found a good one, I did a Carfax on it and saw that it had a good clean history and was just serviced 1000 miles ago. This one was a rental, which if it was the incredibly fast GT version, I would have recommended that we pass on it. But because it was the gentler V6 base model, and I did not see any neglect or abuse, I sent Jeff the Carfax report, attached the NADA pricing and gave it the thumbs up–as long as it didn’t go over $19,000 including my fees.
The auction lanes opened at 9:30 and this one came through just 20 minutes later. Biding against a few other dealers I was able to outbid the last guy and score the vehicle for about $500 below our cut off amount! Woo Hoo!
Only 2 weeks after Jeff’s call and he was driving his new Mustang! A classic looking American beauty in a color that he absolutely loves…as do plenty of women! Looks like he got the perfect car 
Happy Independence Day everyone! — What is your American Dream Car?
“What’s right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity – intellect and resources – to do some thing about them.” ~ Henry Ford
The Request
When Angela Lussier of 365 Degrees Consulting sent me a message on Facebook that read “I’m thinking about getting a Mini Cooper convertible and wondered if you could help me with that” and went on to state what her budget wishes were, I quickly replied “Ok, looks possible–unless you want the faster S model and are hoping to get an automatic transmission–but a base model with a 5 speed manual transmission and around 50,000 miles can stay within your budget.” I then marked the vehicle in my auction search list to keep an eye out for arrivals while she scheduled a test drive in a red one she found for sale locally. I then received an email from Angela stating “I would really really like an orange Mini”and ”I would like to get an S model!” So we reassessed her budget and then I began my search process.
Mini Madness!
I kept an eye out to see what was coming through the auction, and although there were a few convertibles, most of them had more miles than desired, and NONE of them were the orange that she so strongly wished for!
So I widened my search to a 200 mile radius and found only 1 Orange S model that was out in Framingham MA. I called the dealership and spoke to one of the salesmen about the car I was viewing on the Autotrader website. He reported that the car had a lot invested into the brakes & tires and was “showroom ready”. There were many images online, and from what I could tell, it looked like it was in good shape. I negotiated a deal with the salesman to purchase it wholesale and called Angela to give her the information that I received, calculated the final price after my travel fees & commission, and she said “go for it.” So I called the best source I know for a 90 mile ride…my dependable, and retired Dad. He just loves a good car ride adventure.
We arrived to the dealership on a beautiful sunny Wednesday morning, and the first thing I notice is that the tires are almost worn out. They may barely pass Massachusetts Inspection! Ok, not good. THEN, as I am inspecting the exterior, I discover 2 large flaws:
This is really not good! Right away I emailed Angela the images and sent her a text. I took the vehicle for a test run, inspected it over mechanically, and then called Angela about the issues. We decided that if we gave them $1000 less for the physical flaws and worn tires (which, technically, all together cost more than that) she would still be happy to have that car in her driveway. I sat down with the salesman expressing my irritation with driving 1.5hrs for a vehicle that was suppose to be “show room ready” and gave him my offer. He had to get his sales manager, who also explained that they invested a lot in this vehicle and that the price we discussed on the phone was as low as they would go. Wow! Is this what most people have to deal with? Why is everything exaggerated and nothing clear?!? He went on to say that he’ll just send it to auction and get more than I was offering. Doubt it! My Dad & I drove over to the Wholefoods next door to get some lunch, and give them some time to consider my cash offer. After no response from them, I called Angela back and stated “we can do better–let’s see what coming up at the auction next week.
The Search Continues…
Again, the Mini convertibles coming through the auction the following week were not the right ones, so I instead located one out in the Levittown, New York and sent Angela the info. Unfortunately it was not orange, but a really classy grey. After reviewing the images, she replied “I just got a chance to look at the pics on a real computer screen (not my phone) and I LOVE it! I just wanted to convey my love for it so you know that I really want it, not just kinda want it. I actually like that color a lot more than the orange, which I didn’t think was possible.” I love when that happens: An original plan (which seemed so right at first) completely bombs so that the better plan can present itself with wonderful surprise! I always say when things don’t go right that “it was meant to be” and this was looking to be beautiful evidence….so far.
Let’s go to Levittown!
After I confirmed several times with the owner of the small dealership that the vehicle was in great shape , and explained my last “Mini” event (and that I was not going to be able to handle driving 3 hrs to find a car that is nothing like it looks like online) I called my trusty father and we headed out on another adventure. My father Martin who is now 80 has been all over the nation (especially in his retired years traveling in a RV with my mother) and was about to discover a place he has never been to. Exciting for both of us!
We arrive to NY, and to my delight, I find a great condition vehicle! YES! Ok, 1 small dimple located on the hood in middle of one of the cool signature racing stripes, but for a 6 year old vehicle with 60,000 miles, it looks great. The dealership, Six Stars Auto Sales , is a small family owned business and was a pleasure to do business with. While I filled out the paperwork with one of the sons, my dad spoke to the father and shared some stories. One of the younger sons (who located the current Mini I was purchasing) came over with his iPhone to show me the Mini Cooper he owned and was driving. “I love these cars” he exlaimed.
Once the transaction was complete, I filled it up with gas and my Dad & I headed back out on to the maze of roads in NY. A moment later my dad called me to see if I was behind him and doing ok. “Yea” I said, “just heading up the ramp for rt 678 now…almost missed it” I hung up and looked to my left where I saw my dad’s red Toyota truck on the road below heading into a traffic jamb. “Oh man–he missed the on ramp. Hopefully he can find his way to I95 that way” I said to myself and checked back in with him after I got over the Whitestone Bridge. He told me he was totally lost…and loving it!
I knew I didn’t have to worry about him, so I continued on my way and when I got into CT I received a text from Angela “Hey send me a pic when you get home…I wanna see how it looks in Massachusetts ”. After a really long and slow drive on I95 in bumper-to-bumper traffic, and then thankfully a faster moving ride on I91, I decided to pull over and snap a pic on my phone before it got dark and emailed an image to Angela who, at that moment, was enjoying a concert. I texted her ” check your email :-0″.
She texted back “Aaaaaahhhhh I’m so excited! I love it so much! Thank you”
What a rewarding feeling to get that text message while driving up I91 in a very sharp & quick 6 speed Mini Cooper S. I love the heated leather seats and awesome sounding stereo that has a direct hook-up for my iPhone. The soft top also retracts part way to be a sunroof too. Very cool!
Prep & Deliver
One of the things I did notice on the drive back was a shake in the wheel when going over 75mph–hey, everyone in CT goes even faster than that!! Also, I noticed that the ABS and low tire light were both coming on & off, so I spent the next morning at Dressel’s Service Station checking it out.
Balancing the tires
After I replaced a tire that had a small bubble in it, re-balanced the other 3 tires, got the trouble code for the ABS light and then inspected & cleaned the right front wheel speed sensor, I called Angela and told her to come down and see her new baby and take it for a spin. She didn’t hesitate and was there moments later!
A perfect fit! They definitely seemed to bond without any problems, and thankfully, she resisted the urge to keep driving and not return back to the garage! I still needed to change to oil, retest the ABS operation, and clean it up after another good test run.
The Goods
It really is a fun car to drive, with a very quick 168hp 1.6l turbocharged engine that averages 25mpg. The Engine has a very deep and sporty growl to it even with the stock exhaust. Edmunds confirms that it is a little tough to see what is behind you (especially with the top up), but you really only need to see what is coming up when everyone else is left behind in your dust. It is very responsive when cornering and braking, too. I love its stylish interior, despite it being pretty cramped (my wife & I would hit elbows when moving around). It also has a really cool control panel of toggle switches – although it kind of reminded me of an old blender! Fresh smoothie anyone? Now that would be a great feature for a fun summer car like this!
2005 Mini Cooper S Convertible
2005 Mini Cooper S Convertible
It was a beautiful Saturday and we headed out for a drive–I needed to put around 50 more miles on it to see if the ABS light would stay off. It did for most of the ride, but unfortunately it returned . 
Also, as I tried to adjust the passenger seat position, there was a “snap”. A piece of weld landed on the carpet and the seat would not click into any usable position–all the way back, or all the way forward! Guess I had a little more work to do. Oh well, nothing I couldn’t handle. I Rigged up the seat temporarily and continued on my drive.
I got it back home and the next day I took apart both seats so I could see how they were supposed to work. I made some adjustments and got the passenger seat back in action! On Monday I changed the oil, contacted New Country Mini of Hartford (the closest Mini dealer around) and then ordered a wheel speed sensor, an additional key and a new grip for the emergency brake handle (it was missing a small piece of trim).
Now, before I hand it over and pick up Angela’s 2003 Hyundai Elantra that I agreed to take on trade, I need to clean it up and give it a “loving bath”.
Yeah…I care that much about your car
Check out Angela’s Awesome Testimonial! ~ thanks Angela
What is YOUR dream car?
“When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it” ~ Henry Ford
Gratitude!
The other day I was reflecting on how it came to be that I am making a living being a “car guy” that helps people get the vehicle they need, want, and deserve. It’s fun & I love it! Well, I owe a big THANK YOU to my family for giving me the opportunity to help run the family business we have owned and operated since 1962! I personally have been there for the past 20 years and have learned A LOT about vehicles AND about customer service!
Ch ch ch ch changes!
Turn and face the strange! Dressels Service Station has been serving fuel since the 30′s!
post card from 1947
A significant part of who they have been–offering “Full Service Gasoline” for over 70 years!
But nothing is forever, and this spring, change is in the air! Dressel’s has had to make the difficult decision of discontinuing dispensing fuel in order to be compliant with DEP & EPA regulations. To pull into the driveway and not have someone to come out to greet you saying “what can I get for you?” is…well…kind of strange. They are very grateful to ALL of their full service gasoline & diesel customers that they have served over the years and look forward to being able to continue serve their automotive repair needs!
Service, Service, Service!
So, without the fuel business, this means they will have more time and less interruptions to focus more intently on offering top quality automotive repairs! That can’t be bad, can it? Already having an excellent review on Cartalk and other great testimonials posted on their website, Dressel’s Service Station is positioned and ready to grow into one of the best places for all of your automotive needs: Tires, Alignments, Brakes, Exhaust, Air Conditioning, Computer Diagnostics and much more!
Great Customer Service
4 bays & 5 lifts
Free Car News!
Dressel’s now offers a great monthly newsletter too! But you need to sign up to receive it! Go to their home page and half way down on the left side is a box to enter in your email. Stay informed on great car tips and specials they are offering! Plus, they always include a good auto related joke for your amusement Check them out on Facebook too!
Drive safe ~
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THE REQUEST
A few weeks ago, someone contacted me to help him find a vehicle for his family. Currently they were driving a 4 door Honda Accord and were desiring something safer in the snow and large enough to haul 7 people around. However, it must definitely be a dependable vehicle and be fairly economical on gas! (as efficient as a roomy All Wheel Drive SUV can be)
Well, given a budget of $22,500, that rules out the Toyota Highlander Hybrid. And desiring something economical, that rules out a Lincoln Navigator. So I started by recommending a Nissan Pathfinder–especially since the last 2 clients I shopped for were very pleased with the performance and room inside (see previous post). However, Nissan was not the quite the look they had in mind. Then we talked about Hondas. They were very happy with the sedan they were currently driving–so we agreed to stick with Honda and chose to seek out a Pilot!
THE RESULT
2008 Honda Pilot EX-L
I located a 1 owner 2008 EX-L with 51,000miles, sunroof, and leather interior at the auction and stayed under $22,000 including new tires! (NADA suggested retail price was $25,500)
It is a great SUV that performs really well through the snow! The trick though is to shut off the VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) to get more power to wheels. In most cases, the VSA is a good, safe feature to have on. However, when in the snow and the wheels begin to loose traction, the VSA will cut the power from the engine and will apply the brake slightly (to prevent from loosing control). This creates a loss of momentum and speed and could cause the vehicle to get stuck .
So, if I was to own a Honda Pilot, I would would head out on a great snowy night, disengage the VSA, use a low gear, put the heated seats on, turn up the great sounding stereo and cruise on some nice back roads…and if 6 more of you want to join me — there is room!
What SUV would you want if you had $22,000 at your disposal? What if you had twice that?…or 3x that? Don’t be afraid to DREAM BIG – “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” ~Henry Ford
2005 Nissan Pathfinder LE
This winter I had the opportunity to locate a couple of Nissan Pathfinders for 2 separate clients. One I found in late December, and the other in January:
This gave me time behind the wheel of this particular model for several hundred miles of total driving experience and thought I would share some stories on a finding these vehicles, and info about the performance of these SUVs– in case you were curious about getting one for yourself–and I think you should!
Both vehicles were found at Southern Auto Auction . The first one was a 2 owner 2005 vehicle with 75000 miles. It was a dark gray exterior LE 4×4 model with dark gray leather interior, power seats with heat for front 2, rear heating & air conditioning and enough room for 7 passengers! It also was equipped for towing, had a power sunroof, running boards, and a Bose sound system(which sounded really really good!): This was a great set up–and exactly what the client wished for! :)
Equipped with new brakes (I could tell by looking through the wheels and assessing the condition of brake rotors & thickness of brake pads) the only thing that it was going to need was a set of tires. Well, and here is one of the major issues with the Nissan Pathfinder (and the Exterra): the “Check Engine” light comes on and the fuel gauge reads incorrectly because of a defective fuel sending unit. The cure is to remove the fuel tank from the vehicle and replace the sending unit. (NOT under dealer warranty!) The good news was I was able to replace the fuel sending unit, replace the tires,change the oil & filter , get it registered, and get the MA inspection…ALL for $15,900!! (including the auction fees and my commission) Not bad at all considering that the NADA recommend pricing was over $19,000! (BEFORE fees & sales tax)
So, because of its great value, I recommend this as a great vehicle choice when looking for a 7 passenger 4 x 4 SUV in that price range: It handles good, is fairly quiet on the highway, great in the snow (see below) and, with the seats in the folded/down position, there is plenty of room to haul something(s). Here are some more images:
2005 Nissan Pathfinder LE
2007 Nissan Pathfinder Interior w/7 passenger seating
Lets Do it Again! :
So, after a customer from Dressel’s noticed me with the 2005 Pathfinder, and took it for a spin, he decided to hire me to locate another one for himself. However, he had a little more to spend and didn’t care about getting a leather interior or the Bose stereo system, so we focused on a 2007 with around 50,000 miles…and found one…in a BLIZZARD!!
That’s right! On Wednesday January 12,2011, during one of New England’s first big Nor’easters, I drove down to Connecticut in the morning to get a one owner 2007 Pathfinder SE with 51,000 miles on it. The roads were a little tough–although, not a lot of people were on them–most of them got stuck on the on ramps! However, the 2001 all-wheel-drive Subaru Legacy got me down safely.
cruising through a Nor'easter
Once I arrived at the auction, it was quite the trek to get out onto this 300+ acre lot which wasn’t plowed where the Nissans were located, so I was “finding” my own “path” (get it…path-finder…ok, sorry about that) in the knee deep snow. It was awesome to see the snow drifted between vehicles –up to my waist in a lot of spots! :
drifted snow at the auction
This is what it looked like when I found it:
buried 2007 Pathfinder
Fortunately there was a missing car next to it and the wind blew the snow off of one side–though it made a pretty good size drift in front of it Dark blue exterior with a dark gray cloth interior, power windows,power drivers seat & sunroof, running boards, and a Bose stereo system, My client said to “go for it” …if we can stay in budget.
Although there were about 10 HUGE tractors trying their best to get the lot clean…
clearing the auction lot / iphone with Tilt-Shift ap
…they never made it over to the Nissans, so the lane that they were being auctioned off was done via large screen display of images instead. After I won the bid (yeaaah!) it was now time for the fun: getting this SUV out of the snow it was buried in!
1) I kicked away most of the snow that drifted in front of it and, 2) used my arms to push off all the snow from the hood & glass, 3) put the transfer case into 4WD low, 4) took off the VSA (vehicle stability assist)–which, is important to do to get the proper amount of power to all the wheels, 5) hit the gas pedal–and didn’t let off! This Nissan “found” its own “path” down the isle in the 20″ of snow. Then, as I approached the HUGE bank of snow at the edge of the lot where it was plowed, I increased my speed a bit more, and prayed that I wouldn’t get stuck! “POOOF”–an explosion of snow and I was on the other side–no problem! AND, these tires were 80% worn!! I was VERY impressed with its performance already couldn’t wait to get it back to the shop and put on some new tires with great traction!
2007 Nissan Pathfinder SE
Made it home safely, put some tires on it, front & rear brakes, got it registered and MA inspection, and didn’t go over their $20,000 budget! EVEN including sales tax, auction fees, and my commission! The only complaint I had was a “creek” coming from the shifter area every time I went over bumps, or when torquing the engine from a stop. I used a transmission jack to lift the weight off the transmission mounts and lubricated them with a lithium grease. Took it for another spin–no noises! Another great experience with a good 4 wheel drive SUV.
So far, this is a turning out to be a great winter…especially for my 2 customers that now have 4 wheel drive!
I hope 2011 is starting off well for you and your family, and are keeping safe on these wintery roads. Of course, if you are feeling the need for 4 wheel drive to get you through all this snow we are getting (WOW!)–I am here to help!
snowy roads
Are you ready to head into winter driving?
Personally, I enjoy driving on snow covered backroads–when there is a layer of packed snow, the noise of the road disappears, nobody else is out, and the common scenery has been transformed by banks of snow that make it look like a whole new street you’ve never been on before. Of course I do take steps to prepare for this kind of adventure, and so should you.
1) TIRES: This is where it all counts. You can have the best all-wheel-drive (AWD) vehicle for winter, but if you don’t have good tires, you’re going to be sliding around and risking your life. a) Make sure they have good tread depth: New tires are about 10/32 of an inch in depth, and to drive in the snow you will want 6/32″ minimally — you can use a penny to help you determine the depth :place it into the tread and with the memorial facing you, it should come to edge of the memorial building, if you see more of the penny than that, change your tire(s). b) Use winter tires: all season tires, as odd as it may sound are not necessarily ideal to be using all year long. Look for tires with a snowflake emblem:
And for best results, use c) Studded snow tires. This is the best way to get around and the way I prefer to go, especially with a front wheel drive (FWD)vehicle. NOTE: do not think that only putting 2 on will do the trick–in fact, that may cause more danger of the front or rear end to slide out, or “fish tail”, especially when braking or cornering (depending if it is front wheel drive or rear wheel drive). I chose to mount 4 studded snows on separate rims to make it easy to switch back & forth at the beginning and end of the winter season. MA laws permit the use of studded tires between November 1 and May 1. Check your state for usability. NOTE for AWD vehicles: Make sure all 4 tires, no matter what type you end up using, are ALL the SAME tread style & depth. If all 4 wheels are not spinning at the same ratio, than it may cause major damage to the transmission/transaxle. I’ve seen a Subaru owner come into Dressel’s with 1 odd size tire complaining of a moaning/rumble sound. She had been running with that odd tire for over a week, and resulted in damaging the transmission which was a $2000 repair. Do not avoid spending the $100-500 on tire(s) and risk spending a great deal more!
2) Vision: So now that you are sticking to the road with the appropriate tires, what good is it if you can’t see out the window? a) CLEAN the inside of the window! With the sun at a lower angle during the winter season, any film/dirt/moisture on the inside of the glass can severely impair your vision of the road in front of you. b) Defrost/Defog operation. When there is moisture building on the windshield from all the melting snow on your feet, you can use the Air Conditioning on the “hot” setting to help dry the air. Also, make sure the air flow IS NOT on re-circulate. Most newer vehicles will automatically use these settings just by pressing the Defrost/Defog button. c)Wipers. replace the wipers if you notice any streaking on the outside of the glass. This is an easy step that you can do yourself. I prefer to use the new contour style blades as they are an all rubber design that has more surface to push the snow, stick to windshield when there is wind, and less likely for ice to build up on. d) Washer fluid. When most roads are treated with salt, all that road spray will collect on you windshield leaving a white film that is hard to see through. Make sure your washer fluid tank is full before heading out on your drive. Also, make sure it is rated for winter temperatures, otherwise it may freeze in the hoses and never make it to the windshield.
3) Lights: Make sure all of your lights are working and that the glass/plastic of the headlights & tail lights are clean. It is very common for the headlights to become covered with the same salty film or snow & ice that you get on your windshield, thus reducing the amount of light considerably. To make sure you are visible to others, keep your rear lights clear & clean as well.
There are more great tips from Edmunds. Of course, they suggest that the BEST tip is to just stay at home until all the roads have been plowed & sanded, which is great advice if you don’t feel you are well equipped or confident enough with your skills. However, you can bet that come that first good snow fall, I’ll be out experiencing the stillness & quietness of those backroads.
Some of the best times I had on winter roads was in an AWD Volvo XC70 that I was selling:
Drive safe ~ Doug
That’s right! I am here to help…and “Service” is the appropriate word here because of how Merrill Auto came to be:
For the past 20 years I have operated my family’s automotive repair shop, Dressel’s Service Station where I was the “Service” writer/shop manager. I gained a lot of experience helping customers who, the majority of the time, were experiencing a huge inconvenience because of their vehicle “breaking down”. Many times, it would seem as if there was going to be other “break downs” when they found out how long it would take to get back on the road, and how much money it was going to cost.
However, I have always come from a place of compassion for what others were going through, and when it came time to help people in difficult situations (ie: no car to get to work–to make the money they would need — to fix their broken car so they could get to work!) I would listen closely to their needs and find a solution to help them get back to normal as smoothly & quickly as possible. The customer’s needs are very important to me and it gives me GREAT satisfaction when I can deliver more than what they expected.
So naturally, when many of Dressel’s customers expressed that they wish there was an easier way for them to REPLACE their vehicle, I developed a great solution:
“Merrill Auto“– a car shopping & consulting service that locates new pre-owned vehicles for clients WITHOUT taking away any of their valuable time or adding any stress or worries to their lives! Using my 20years of automotive experience, I will help people figure out which vehicle would be best for their needs & budget and search for the right one from the auction or, in some cases, from other dealers. I physically inspect each vehicle and use tools such as Carfax & NADA to determine if it is a good vehicle to bid on, and what price I should bid. I have created a simple and convenient way for people to get that car or truck they have been wishing for, and even save money too!
I look forward to sharing my knowledge & experience of the automotive world, and would LOVE to hear back from you about what kind of car topics you would like to learn about, or questions you may have pertaining to my services. My goal is to bring you an entertaining blog that can ”shine some light” on the topic of cars & trucks in the places that you might have always felt left “in the dark” about.
Drive Safe ~ Doug
