Archive for the ‘Portland Car Dealer’ Category
Portland Auto Dealer: Check Out Our Top 5 Minivans from Gladstone Suzuki!
Kids are going to fight on any long car ride, but the minivan was developed to create a little more peace. With ample room for large families, they’ve become the preferred vehicle for millions of parents. Every brand produces their own minivan, and Gladstone Suzuki is fortunate to provide a wide variety on our lot. Check out these five featured vehicles and consider coming in for a pressure-free test drive of one of them today!
2006 Toyota Sienna XLE Limited $19,900
2009 Dodge Grand Caravan SE $14,999
2010 Chrysler Town & Country Touring $17,995
Looking for your own reliable and affordable family vehicle? Browse our new inventory, pre-owned inventory, and internet specials 24/7 at gladstonesuzuki.com.
Portland Auto Dealer: 3 Qualities to Look for in a Family Car
It’s a question that’s plagued new parents almost since the Henry Ford assembly line: Is my baby safe in my car? The moment a child is born, protective instinct kicks in and moms and dads both start to view the world differently. Everything is judged by its risk and danger; every situation is analyzed with precaution. Highways and country roads suddenly seem more perilous than before, which is why many parents want to buy a safer, more family-friendly vehicle for their first child. Every brand and model has unique features that appeal to cautious parents, but the following criteria should be met for any family car.
1. Size. When General Motors released the H2, thousands of affluent families bought one to keep their kids safe. Their logic behind the purchase was simple: the bigger the car, the safer it is. To a degree this proves true. In a collision between a Smart car and a Hummer, the people inside an H2 are better off. But parents shouldn’t feel like they need to drive a behemoth just to protect their families. Sedans, minivans, and SUVs all have enough mass to hold their own in a crash; these vehicles also tend to have more seats in case more babies appear in the future.
2. Safety Ratings. Every model of every brand endures rigorous safety testing for a reason. Consumers, especially parents, should consult these reports to learn how a vehicle fairs in crash tests. Often, amenities like side air bags and back view cameras can bolster these ratings; so buyers should always be aware of the options and extras available.
3. Dependability. In vehicle ratings, this category seems like it relates more to ROI than safety, but it actually applies to both. Few would imagine their family is safe in a 25-year-old jalopy, but any car that has a history of breaking down poses the same dangers. Knowing how a car holds up year after year will keep families from being stranded on a desert highway. Parents wanting to protect their children should buy a family car that’s weighty, safe, and dependable.
Looking for your own reliable new or pre-owned vehicle? Browse our new inventory, pre-owned inventory, and Internet specials 24/7 at gladstonesuzuki.com.
Portland Car Dealer: For Better Fuel Economy, Check Out These 5 Diesel Trucks!
With current gas prices, people are carpooling, biking to work, and even buying new vehicles just to save any way they can. Trucks don’t have a strong reputation for great fuel economy, unless they’re diesel, that is! If you want to save at the pumps, consider these five diesel trucks from our Gladstone Suzuki Internet specials!
2007 Ford F250 King Ranch $27,777
2007 Dodge Ram 2500 SLT $26,999
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 Big Horn Edition $31,977
Looking for your own reliable and affordable vehicle? Browse our new inventory, pre-owned inventory, and internet specials 24/7 at gladstonesuzuki.com.
Portland Auto Dealer: For Your First Car, Pre-Owned Is Best
Whether it’s at sixteen, eighteen, or the year they finally get their own place, you know that at some age your kids are going to start driving. The years we spent changing diapers and packing nutritious lunches all seem to culminate at this moment. As soon as they get behind a wheel, they’re out of our hands. That can be terrifying, liberating, or both – and it usually entails looking for the safest, most practical car to let them drive. For the sake of money and savings, often the best car can be found on a pre-owned lot.
Boys typically want their first ride to be a pickup or sports car, and most girls hope for something flashy. With so many statistics about teenage car accidents, parents can’t help but consider how much value new vehicles lose in their first fender benders. Instead, they want to outfit their kids with something sensible and inexpensive—two adjectives no high school boy wants to use to describe his car. There can be a lot of conflict in this first car purchase, but buying a used vehicle can relieve the tension. The price point of used vehicles drop significantly, which allows parents and kids a middle ground for their decision.
Many parents also encourage that their kids partially invest in the car. This might not be your parenting technique, but the logic behind it makes sense. Sharing half-ownership with your kids doesn’t just save you money; it makes them more aware of the cost and therefore more cautious driving. Buying used allows kids to own a larger portion of their first car. Hopefully, then, they’ll be less prone to drive recklessly, which protects them and their new car. Because the models they want and safety features you want are also available for less, a pre-owned vehicle is often the best choice for their first car.
Looking for your own quality new or pre-owned vehicle? Browse our new inventory, pre-owned inventory, and internet specials 24/7 at gladstonesuzuki.com.
Portland Auto Dealer: Five Security Tips for Keeping Your Car Safe
It’s a dreaded scene everyone fears: walking back from a restaurant to find shattered glass and a gaping hole where your passenger side window used to be. Break-ins are expensive, a violation of privacy, and so common that many of us have experienced them or know friends who have. They can happen to anyone at any time, so to help our customers keep their cars safe, we’ve assembled a few tips for protecting against break-ins.
1. Know the neighborhood. If you’re driving someplace new, you can’t always judge by the businesses or houses whether or not it’s safe. Many thieves target more affluent areas particularly for that reason: possessions in those vehicles are often more valuable. If you’re visiting friends or business associates, don’t only trust your instincts. Ask them where you should park your car.
2. Never park near broken glass. Lightning may not strike the same place twice, but break-ins reoccur in the same spot all the time. Often, a single space in a lot or on the street will be riskier than others. If you see any shards on the curb, get back in your car and find another spot.
3. Hide all possessions. This warning used to just include valuables, but even a duffel bag in your back seat can attract unwanted attention. If you use a GPS, always store it in the glove compartment, and if you have a bag, keep it in your trunk or under a blanket. The off-chance that it holds a computer has led to many broken windows and thefts.
4. In the summer, use a sun shade. The less people can see into your car, the better. A sunshade will prevent passersby from seeing inside, and it protects your dashboard from sun damage.
5. Be wary of parking garages. We tend to think that parking inside anywhere is safer, but parking garages actually have some of the highest numbers of car thefts. Being dark and mostly abandoned, these garages are prime real estate for break-ins. If you have to park in one, always use utmost precaution and choose a spot near light or a window, even if that entails driving up another level.
When you’ve invested in a car, you naturally want to keep it as safe as possible for as long as possible, and following these tips is a great place to start.
Looking for your own quality new or pre-owned vehicle? Browse our new inventory, pre-owned inventory, and internet specials 24/7 at gladstonesuzuki.com.
