Is Rustproofing Your Car Worth It?

Is rustproofing your car worth it? In short, yes!

Rust is a car’s natural enemy. More than just a discoloration of metal, rust is the corrosive result of a chemical reaction between oxygen and iron. Though rust technically corrodes just the surface of iron or an iron-based alloy (such as steel), fresh iron is exposed during this process of corrosion, which in turn can become “infected” with rust. Given enough time, this cycle will repeat over and over to the point when the rust completely disintegrates the metal.
Put simply: Rusted metal is not as structurally strong as rust-free metal. Since most cars are made of metal (especially steel) we can rightfully guess that a car with a rust problem is not as structurally sound and, therefore, more dangerous than a rust-free car. Rust isn’t much of a problem for those who live in dry, arid climates. However, cars constantly exposed to wet weather, humidity and corrosive road salts are more likely to suffer from potentially disastrous rust problems.
To combat vehicle rust, many manufacturers use a variety of rust-proofing techniques to keep rust at bay. Often, rust proofing measures will include the use of galvanized steel (steel that is coated in rust-unfriendly zinc) and PVC-based undercoatings. Paint itself is also considered a rust proofing measure, as it acts like a protective barrier against the elements. Some aftermarket rust-proofing treatments -- including wax-based surface treatments -- are also available.

RUST PROOFING ON AM

Though there is no way to completely eliminate the threat of rust, rust proofing is the best way to extend the life of a vehicle and all its components. As we mentioned earlier, rust will structurally weaken any piece of metal it has infected, so rusty car parts are often dangerous car parts. Rust proofing helps ensure that our vehicles won’t suddenly disintegrate as we drive down the freeway.

RUST PROOFING FACT

Sometimes, the best way to rust proof a car is to keep it clean. Waxing your car does more than just make it look good; a good wax job will serve as an extra layer of protection between the sheet metal and oxidizing elements like oxygen, salt and water. For those who live in snowy climates, not tracking massive amounts of snow (which will melt and form pools of water in a vehicle’s crevices) into the car is a good way to prevent rust build-up. Though it’s tough to do in the winter, keeping a car’s undercarriage free of road salts will also extend the life of any factory-engineered rust-proofing methods. A quick rinse of the undercarriage can do a lot of good.

Read more: http://www.askmen.com/cars/keywords/rust-proofing.html

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Not sure if you should buy or lease?

We can help with that! Follow the link http://www.buygmdirect.com/LeasevsFinance take a 10 question quiz and it will help you with your decision.  If you have more questions  about Leasing vs Buying a car give us a call at  (925) 566-7361.

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Paint-Care Fact and Fiction

Do you think you can tell myth from reality when it comes to your vehicle’s care?  Check out these myths and facts from Motortrend and test your know how!

With so much misinformation out there surrounding car care, it's no wonder people get confused about what's truth and what's fiction. Paint care is definitely one area that can raise a lot of questions. To sort the myths from the reality, we talked to Mike Pennington, director of training for Meguiar's. Active with detailing professionals, show-car owners, and amateur enthusiasts, Pennington conducts regular paint-care classes and seminars and acts as technical consultant for many auto manufacturers and their dealerships-including BMW, Lexus, Nissan, Infiniti, and DaimlerChrysler-as well as such automotive paint manufacturers as DuPont, PPG, and BASF. Here's his insight into the paint-care quagmire.

Myth: A wax made of 100-percent carnauba is superior to those using lesser amounts.

Reality: Carnauba wax has been a favorite among car enthusiasts for years, but don't believe that any wax is made of 100-percent carnauba. As the hardest natural wax known, carnauba is much too hard to apply directly to automotive paint. It comes in bricks that must be melted and added to a company's formulation. If a paint protectant advertises "pure carnauba," it means the part of the formula that is carnauba is pure, not that it's 100-percent carnauba. According to Pennington, today's synthetic polymer technology actually provides better protection than carnauba.

Myth: Avoid a silicone-based wax. If used, the vehicle can't be repainted.

Reality: It's true that silicones are a bane of the auto painter. For instance, if particles of silicone are on the sheetmetal when it's painted, they can keep the paint from adhering to the surface, causing defects known as fisheye. That's why some professional cleaners and polishes intended for shop use are formulated without silicone. However, once paint is on the car, silicone is no longer an issue. In fact, virtually every wax on the market uses some kind of silicone in its formula because it enhances the product's ease of application, gloss, and durability. If repainting is necessary, a body shop can easily take off the wax as part of its normal preparation.

Myth: You can assume that a finish that looks glossy is in good shape.

Reality: There are different degrees of glossiness, and a paint can dull so gradually you may not realize it's happening. For this reason, don't rely just on reflectivity to judge your paint's condition. Use your sense of touch, as well. Place your clean, dry hand flat against the paint and slowly rub it along the surface. Feel with both palm and fingertips. A well-maintained finish should feel smooth as glass. Any roughness could be due to oxidation, tree sap mist, or adhered grit, all of which degrade a paint's gloss to some degree.

Read all the myths and facts here:http://www.motortrend.com/womt/112_0004_paint_myths_and_reality/viewall.html#ixzz1Xq9mnl9H

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The 2012 Verano Starting At $23,470

The 2012 Verano pricing starts at $23,470.

Standard equipment for the Verano includes 18-inch wheels, fog lights, a touch-screen audio system, 10 airbags, remote start, plus Bluetooth and USB connectivity. The Convenience package adds a power, heated driver’s seat and rear parking sensors. The Leather package builds on that with keyless entry and push-button start, a heated steering wheel, a Bose sound system, and leather upholstery. All models use a 2.4-liter inline-four engine rated for 180 hp and 171 lb-ft of torque, and a six-speed automatic transmission.

The Verano is set to become the smallest current Buick model. Based on a Buick sedan that has been sold in China for some time, the Verano is intended to draw younger customers to the Buick brand. Even though it’s a smaller and cheaper Buick, the Verano won’t skimp on style or comfort. The taut exterior looks like a scaled-down Buick Regal, while the interior has attractive, soft-touch trims and extensive sound-deadening materials designed to make the Verano’s cabin as quiet as possible.

The 2012 Verano will reach Buick dealerships before the end of 2011.

Read more: http://wot.motortrend.com/2012-buick-verano-priced-from-23470-114841.html#ixzz1XkP3lFhR

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Is texting while driving really worse than drunk driving?

Is texting while driving really worse than drunk driving? That’s the question that  Christopher Neiger from “How Stuff Works” asked. Read more to find out his conclusion. 

Texting, or short message service(SMS), is a quick form of communication that allows users to send 160 characters or less to and from their cell phones and smartphones. A study by the Pew Research group in 2009 and 2010 reported that out of the number of Americans who have cell phones, 58 percent of adults and 66 percent of teens use them to text [source:Motavalli]. With these high percentages of Americans using text messaging every year, many are bringing the habit along with them when they drive. The same Pew study showed that 34 percent of teens who use their phone for texting said they've done it while driving, and 47 percent of adults who texted said they had done it while driving, too [source: Motavalli].

In 2008, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that almost 6,000 fatalities and over half of a million injuries were due to accidents caused by drivers who were distracted [source: Motavalli]. The study wasn't focused on texting, but it does show the seriousness of driving while distracted. Like many other driving distractions, texting involves a certain amount of mental attention as well as physical application which may be why 28 states have banned drivers from texting while operating a vehicle [source: Motavalli].

But is there really proof that texting while driving is more dangerous than drunk driving? Even though research is just now being done to measure the effects of texting while driving, some in the automotive industry and others in research circles say that texting is definitely more dangerous than drunk driving. Mainly because taking a driver's eyes off the road significantly cuts down on his or her ability to react to changes.

In 2009, Car and Driver conducted a driving test with their editor-in-chief and an intern to prove or disprove that texting while driving was more dangerous than drunk driving. The first step of their experiment was to test and measure the reaction times of both drivers while driving sober with no distractions, and then while reading and sending text messages on their cell phones. A light mounted to the front windshield simulated a car braking in front of them [source:Austin].

As they read and sent text messages, their response time was measured based on the time it took between when the brake light came on and when the driver applied the brakes at both 35 miles per hour (56.3 kilometers per hour) and at 70 miles per hour (112.7 kilometers per hour) [source: Chang]. Both drivers had a longer response time while reading and sending the text messages when compared to driving without any distractions. After the initial test, both drivers then consumed alcohol and reached the legal driving limit for intoxication in their state. After running the same test again while driving drunk, response times for both drivers were better when the driver was drunk, compared to when they were reading or sending text messages while sober. Car and Driver writers mentioned that the test was performed on a closed airport runway, with no road signs and no turns. Although this test was performed on a closed course, slow response times due to texting could result in serious consequences in real-world driving situations.

Another test conducted by the Transport Research Laboratory in London took it a step further. It found that drivers who texted had slower response times, were more likely to drift in and out of lanes and even drove worse than those who were driving while high on marijuana [source: Nugent]. The study found that reaction times for those who texted while driving were 35 percent worse than when they drove without any distractions at all. When driving while intoxicated, the reaction time was only 12 percent worse than when the driver was sober and driving without any texting distractions [source: Nugent]. The researchers also found that there was a significant decrease in ability to maintain a safe driving distance between vehicles while texting and steering control dropped by 91 percent compared to driving without distraction [source: Nugent]. One of the study's commissioners eventually concluded that texting while driving is one of the most dangerous things a driver could do while behind the wheel of a car.

Read the full article: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/texting-while-driving-worse-than-drunk-driving.htm

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