The Horrors of Granny’s Used Car

Posted on by Greenwood Collision Auto Body Shop Seattle

When it comes to buying used cars, the image of the “little-old-lady” car is a trope old enough to be called a cliche. Everybody likes the idea of purchasing a vehicle that some sweet, elderly woman only drove a few blocks every week, keeping the engine in near-perfect condition. Unfortunately, the reality of such cars is not what it’s cracked up to be. Our Seattle auto body shop advises that you stay away from the car that granny would only drive to church every Sunday.

The fact is that a short trip can actually be more brutal on your car’s engine than a long drive. This is because a short trip is not enough to make the crankcase hot enough to boil away the condensation that forms in the engine oil. Over time, this condensation turns into an acid which serves to corrode your engine components. Do yourself a favor, and take a second look at any used car that boasts a low mileage.

What’s With All the Car Recalls?

Posted on by Greenwood Collision Auto Body Shop Seattle

We’ve all been hearing a lot about automotive recalls lately. Car recalls in 2013 were up 20% from the year before, and recalls in 2014 have already reached 220. This makes 2014 the biggest year for recalls since the record 224 set by 2004. With that in mind, should you be concerned about the safety of modern cars? Is buying a new car today a quick ticket to our auto body shop in Seattle?

In truth, the high level of recalls is actually a positive development. It is indicative not of a decline in the quality of cars being made today, but of an increase in our standards. The first thing to understand is that most of the cars being recalled are older models with recently-discovered defects. Meanwhile, tighter safety standards are forcing action on unsafe vehicles that have been on the market for several years. So, if the recent trend of recalls is preventing you from buying a new car, put your worries to rest.

The Importance of Avoiding Distractions While Driving

Posted on by Greenwood Collision Auto Body Shop Seattle

When you get into an automotive accident, it’s always good to not be the one at fault. To this end, it’s important to eliminate distractions as much as possible while you drive. If you don’t want to make any unexpected trips to our auto body shop in Seattle, be mindful of the following driving hazards.

The fact is that any form of multitasking behind the wheel is depriving you of not only focus, but also at least one of your hands. Dialing your phone while you drive triples your risk of getting into an accident. If you try to reach for an object rolling around on the floor, the risk goes up nine-fold. The worst, however, is texting, which sends your risk factor up by a full twenty-three times. When you get in the car, be prepared to devote all your focus to driving until you shut off the engine again.

Getting a Good Price at the Dealership

Posted on by Greenwood Collision Auto Body Shop Seattle

Nobody likes having to deal with car salesmen. If you go into the dealership unprepared, you never know whether or not you’re getting a good price for what you’re buying. To help assure that you get the best for your buck, our auto body shop in Seattle offers the following advice.

Fortunately for consumers, we live in an age of readily available information. There are resources available to you to tell you what kind of price you should be paying for whatever car might appeal to you. Firstly, you might consider going the traditional route of checking the Kelly Blue Book; this is the industry standard for information like current listings, resale value, and depreciation. Additionally, you might consider checking the websites of the manufacturer of the vehicle you are considering; they should be able to give you their recommended price for all of their models. By arming yourself with such information, you can enter negotiations for your new car from a position of strength.

Recycle Your Tires!

Posted on by Greenwood Collision Auto Body Shop Seattle

Used tires represent a significant source of waste in our country. We’re all familiar with the sight of a hulking tire yard, occasionally plagued with the kind of poisonous tire fires that are nearly impossible to put out. This is why effort is being put into recycling our old tires, and why our auto body shop in Seattle encourages you to seek out a tire recycler when your own tires finally expire.

Though the rubber used in tires has historically been a very difficult substance to recycle, there has been a number of advances in the way of putting our inexhaustible supply of ruined tires to good use. Rubber mulch costs a fraction of the price of wooden mulch, while simultaneously saving many trees from being harvested for use as ground cover. Rubber particles can be used as a raw material for molded rubber goods, adhesives, and more. Some fields are able to use materials derived from old tires as aggregates, landscaping, or fuel.

Look for a tire recycle location near you to learn more about how you can put your old tires back to productive work.