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Pros and Cons to Owning a Hybrid Vehicle

go greenThinking about going green when it comes to your next car purchase? You’re not alone. Both on the streets and in dealerships the number of fuel-efficient, hybrid cars available continues to grow, as does their popularity. Before you decide if a hybrid car is the right choice for you, consider these pros and cons to getting a hybrid vehicle.

Pros to getting a hybrid:

1. Better gas mileage priusOne of the top reasons people are swayed to switch to a hybrid vehicle is the fuel efficiency of these vehicles, and the money that can be saved on gas. Take, for example, the Toyota Prius. The best-selling hybrid car on the market today, the Prius get an average of 50 miles per gallon. Compared to the 24.9 miles per gallon that you’ll get from the average new car, you’re talking double the mileage.

2. Insurance discounts and other incentives Many insurance companies offer discounts to drivers of hybrid vehicles. At Farmer’s Insurance, for example, you can get 5% off for driving a hybrid.

3. Feel good about what you drive Those who want to live a greener lifestyle can feel more at ease if they decide to purchase a hybrid vehicle. Though not completely emission-free, hybrids emit half the amount of carbon monoxide as traditional cars.

Cons to getting a hybrid:

1. Tax credits are dwindling (if existent at all) Many of the major tax credits and incentives offered for purchasing a hybrid ended at the end of 2010. Unless you’re looking into getting a plug-in hybrid or electric car, you’ll be hard-pressed to find tax credits or large discounts just for choosing to drive a hybrid. Though, as mentioned above, many insurance companies do offer insurance discounts for going green.

2. Vehicle maintenance and battery replacement costs The costs to replace parts or get work done on a hybrid can be much pricier than that of a regular car because of the lightweight materials hybrid cars are made of. The battery of a hybrid car, said to last 8-10 years, will cost a whopping $3,000 to replace.

3. Less horsepower Though newer models continue to bridge the performance gap between regular cars and hybrids, hybrids still do not compare to the horsepower you get in a regular car. The smaller engine in a hybrid may not suite those with a need for speed.

Just like with any car purchase, it’s important to consider your own driving habits, what kind of car you want and how often you’ll be using the car before making a decision about getting a hybrid vehicle.

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Keeping Your Family Safe in the Car

Vehicle_Safety_Features_for_Families_with_KidsGiving up your sport car for a family car or finding the right car for your growing family can be overwhelming. Keeping your family safe in the car is one of the most important responsibilities of a parent. If you’re making a car purchase as a first-time parent, you may want to consider some of the following car safety and child-specific car safety features:

    • Check crash test ratings.
    • Consider a sedan.
    • Reliability matters as much as safety.
    • Maximize space and fuel economy.
    • Invest in family-friendly car features for children.
    • Test before you buy.
    • Be smart about costs.

See more at: http://bit.ly/1dk2ItS

Three family-safe items to consider are a conversation mirror, booster seats and an app to assist in purchasing the right car seats.

Conversation Mirror. You want to keep your eye on your kids, but you also need to keep your eyes on the road. Turning around to talk to your kids or see what they’re doing puts your family at risk. Conversation mirrors help reduce that risk.

Booster Seats. You know your babies and toddlers need to be in car seats, and state lawbooster seat probably require it. To keep your kids safe when they outgrow their car seats, make sure they use a booster seat, even if it’s not required by law. Keep kids in booster seats until they are 12 years old or big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. A booster seat helps line your child’s body up with the seat belt, which allows the seat belt to properly protect the child in an accident. Without a booster, many seat belts won’t hit kids in the right place.

Itunes App. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has developed an app, for iphone and ipad, that assists parents in purchasing the best car seat for their child. This app is available on itunes for $1.99 and provides expert advice from the AAP on selecting the right car seat and safe installation.

This easy-to-use app makes it possible to quickly learn what car seat is right for your child based on

  • Age
  • Height
  • Weight
  • Price
  • Type
  • Size Limits

The app also provides:

  • Installation Instruction Videos
  • Audio Clips
  • Articles  on Seat Safety
  • Connection to Product Recalls
  • FAQ on Travel and Shopping

To order this app click car seat:car seat

We encourage you to pick up the phone and call today to schedule a free, 30-minute, no-obligation estimate for collision repair or vehicle restoration: (805) 466-2446 in Atascadero and (805) 239-8752 in Paso Robles. Our friendly customer care staff is available to discuss repairs for your vehicle, answer your questions and talk about how we can help you.

Sources:

autos.yahoo.com

truecar.com

healthychildren.org

 

 

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Tips To Avoid A Vehicle Collision

Screen shot 2014-08-21 at 2.52.12 PMHere at Davis Body Shop we pride ourselves in being the best in the business when it comes to collision repair. But just because we’re the best doesn’t mean we want everyone to have a damaged vehicle. In fact, we want you and your family to drive safely and avoid accidents as much as possible – while knowing that if the time ever comes when collision repair is needed we’ll be here for you.

Listed below are the top ten tips from the editors of Edmunds.com, on how to avoid a vehicle collision.

1. Avoid the “fast lane”
2. Keep your eyes scanning the area ahead.
3. Beware of blind spots.
4. Drive with your hands in the 9 and 3 o’clock position.
5. Get racecar driver control of the wheel.
6. Judge a driver by his/her car’s condition.
7. Know your car’s limits.
8. Keep your car in good shape.
9. The nighttime is not the right time.
10. Learn how to drive a racecar.

Screen shot 2014-08-21 at 2.54.09 PMTo read more about these top ten tips click here.

We hope these tips help you and your family stay safe on the road. Feel free to give us a call at our Atascadero location at (805)466-2446 or the Paso Robles location at (805)239-8752 for more information on how we can help serve you.

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4 Quirky cars you have to see to believe

These vehicles are ones you certainly won’t find at your local dealer! These 5 quirky cars prove that a little creativity an ingenuity and go a long way.

1. Lithuanian man uses foam, cardboard in impressive car transformation.

We’ve seen some incredible car transformations before, but considering this man relied solely on expandable foam, cardboard and some paint to get this junkyard beater to the finished result, we’re pretty much left speechless! You can see the full vehicle transformation documented HERE.

Screen shot 2014-09-19 at 9.33.43 AM

 

Screen shot 2014-09-19 at 9.32.30 AM

2. Man in Russia completely covers car in Canadian Bison Leather

Screen shot 2014-09-19 at 9.08.24 AMWhile many see the luxury in a leather interior, we’re note sure this is exactly what they meant. A man in Moscow, Russia as completely covered a vehicle – including the exterior, interior and even the engine, in Canadian Bison Leather. The design includes hand-etched leather, expensive natural furs and Swarovski crystal inserts. If nothing else, it’s certainly a unique take on the traditional leather interior? You can see more photos of the vehicle HERE.

3. Body painter creates Fiat 500 Abarth out of contortionists

Screen shot 2014-09-19 at 9.15.07 AMThough not an actual running vehicle, this image, advertising the sporty Fiat 500 Abarth, will have you looking twice! Renowned body painter Craig Tracey spent 5 days working with a team of female circus performers to map out the design and then meticulously hand paint all the details to achieve the final effect? Regardless of how effective the advertising campaign was, the image itself is nothing short of amazing.

4. Old BMW converted into pool on wheels

Screen shot 2014-09-19 at 9.35.26 AMA man in Germany has found a unique way to stay cool on the hot summer days with a vehicle you won’t need air conditioning in. A 27 year old German driver transformed a BMW into a pool on wheels. Unfortunately, the car wasn’t exactly legal to drive, and the driver ended up having to turn himself into the police. More photos and the whole story can be found HERE.

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How Do Eggs Damage Car Paint? (and TIPS to fix it!)

egged-car

Eggs are the arsenal of choice for vandalism due to the almost irreversible damage they cause to painted surfaces if not dealt with immediately. House paint, car paint, painted signs, mailboxes and any other painted surfaces of value are all susceptible to damage caused by eggs.

 

Egg White

The egg white (also referred to as the albumen) is made up of 15 percent of proteins. Its main purpose is to protect the yolk while providing nutrients to the embryo. Because of its protective composition, egg whites are used for several purposes, including waterproof glue, so it’s easy to understand how this part of the egg can dry and then stick to the surface of car paint. If it is not dealt with quickly, it can become extremely difficult to remove from the surface of the car without wet sanding and repainting the damaged area.

Egg Yolk

The egg yolk is suspended inside the egg by the egg white. The yolk contains fatty acids and is responsible for the fat, cholesterol and most of the calories found in an egg. Egg yolk was once used to make paint because of its natural ability to harden and stick to almost any surface. The chemical composition of the egg yolk will eat through clear coat on the surface of car paint–in addition to staining the paint–if not removed from the surface of the paint immediately.

get_egg_off_car_xxxlargeEgg Shell

Egg shells break relatively easily, and when thrown at high velocity, the shells will shatter into sharp shards. The shards of the shells can cause superficial scratches to the surface of the protective clear coat on a car and, in some cases, penetrate the clear coat, scratching the paint.

Egging and the Law

Anyone who has ever had their car egged knows how difficult it can be to remove. Most vandals attack under the veil of night to prevent being seen or caught. Since most victims sleep at night, they find the unpleasant surprise in the morning, long after the egg has had the time to cause permanent damage. Laws against the crime have been stiffened in the past few years, and the punishment to those caught in the act of egging cars and houses is much more severe than it used to be.

TIPS — How to Get Egg Off of Car Paint

Though car paint damaged by eggs is a hassle to deal with, there are ways to minimize the damage caused by acting fast!

Vinegar Method

  1. Gently pick away any egg shell that you can. Do not try to pry egg shell off, as you may take off some paint. If the shell is in small pieces, leave them for step two and three.
  2. Fill a spray bottle with distilled white vinegar. Alternatively, you may soak a towel in a bowl filled with white distilled vinegar.
  3. Spray the vinegar onto the egg or place the vinegar-soaked towel on the egg.
  4. Gently wipe away the egg from the car paint. Rinse the egg off the towel often and repeat steps two and three.

Clay Magic Car Detailing Kit

  1. Spray egg spot with Clay Magic Clay Lube. This bottle of liquid comes with the car detailing kit.
  2. Form Clay Magic into pancake shape that will fit easily into your hand.
  3. Press the clay onto the surface of the car. Repeat the steps of spraying and pressing clay onto egg spot until all the egg is removed.
  4. Dry the area with a micro-fiber cloth.

Goo Gone Automotive

  1. Spray egged area with Goo Gone Automotive spray.
  2. Let the Goo Gone Automotive sit for a few minutes to loosen the egg.
  3. Gently rub the egg with soft cloth. Be gentle as you may need to do this process a few times to get all the egg off and you do not want to pull away paint as you pull off egg.
  4. Repeat this process until the egg is gone.

Important Warnings

Get to the egg as soon as possible. Egg that is left to sit on car paint causes more damage. The sooner you remove the egg from your car paint, the better.

We hope that these tips assist you!! Want more car tips and content?  Then please connect with us on Facebook or Twitter and stay connected!

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Child Heatstroke in Unattended Vehicle is a Real Danger

Child safety in the car is often a huge concern for parents, and the summer months are no exception. With the hot weather comes an increase in children getting dehydrated or overheating, which is why they should never be left alone unattended in a vehicle. Here are some scary statistics that show why even just minutes alone in a car can be dangerous:

  • Screen shot 2014-07-24 at 9.11.59 PMA child’s body temperature can rise up to five times more quickly than an adults.
  • Heatstroke in small children can happen when the outside temperature is as cool as 57 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Outside temperature in the 60’s can still cause your car’s interior to heat up to a whopping 110 degrees Fahrenheit!
  • In only 10 minutes time, the interior of a car can see an increase in temperature of up to 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Cracking the windows does little to keep the car cool.

The statistics are enough to scare anyone. With over 600 child deaths related to overheating in a car since 1990, heatstroke is a problem that should not go ignored.

So, what should you do? Always employ a “no exceptions” policy when it comes to leaving your children unattended in the car, no matter how cool it may seem outside. If you seen a small child unattended in a locked car on a hot day, wait no more than 5 minutes before calling 911. If they appear unresponsive, call for help immediately.

Screen shot 2014-07-24 at 9.14.11 PMSummertime is a great time for road trips and family vacations. However, it’s important to understand the risks that come with the hot weather, and be proactive in keeping your children safe in the hot summer months.

All statistics in this article courtesy of safercar.gov.

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10 Questions To Ask When Buying a Used Car

10-questions-ask-before-buying-a-carWhen you’re looking at buying a used car, the last thing you want is to get ripped off. You want a vehicle that is reliable, reasonably priced and can get you from point A to point B without problem. Before you go online for a great deal, you might want to consider how you intend to use the vehicle. Will it be driven around town for short trips to the market, a second car to transport you to and from work, or is it a family car, maybe one you intend to keep for a few years? Asking yourself these questions at the onset will give you the power to resist an impulse buy later.

Now, you’re ready to roll with a search that fits your needs and your lifestyle, but keep in mind that in order to avoid the pitfalls of buying someone else’s problem, you’ll need to ask some questions about the vehicle you intend to buy, so here’s a handy checklist to get you started:

  1. Mileage: Ask how many miles the vehicle has on the odometer. 12,000 miles per year is standard.
  2. Ownership: Is the seller the original owner? If so, they’ll be your complete source of information.
  3. Service Records: Does the seller have records of repairs and maintenance?  Can they present service receipts?
  4. Reason for The Sale: Is the owner relocating out of the area, buying something new or something else entirely? Buyer Beware: note the seller’s response and check your intuition meter. If the answer doesn’t feel right to you, it probably isn’t. Remember, the seller is in the business of selling and so may not reveal that it leaks oil like Niagara Falls or that it shakes like a wooden roller coaster when it reaches 35 mph.
  5. Accidents: Has the vehicle ever been involved in an accident? Hopefully, you’ll get an honest answer. If you’re in doubt, Davis Body Shop can check the car for signs of accident repair or you can research this information on-line or via CarFax and AutoCheck car history services.
  6. Check It Out: Ask to take the vehicle for a test drive and possibly to a local service garage for a once over.
  7. MPG: These days, it wouldn’t hurt to ask about fuel economy and miles per gallon. Also ask about E85 fuel. Some vehicles with smaller engines use this flex fuel, which is a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.
  8. Price: How much is the asking price? If it doesn’t fit your budget, is the seller willing to haggle a bit?
  9. Happiness Factor: Was the owner happy with the car? This is the question you should never fail to ask and the one that’s met with the most surprise. If the owner has been happy with the vehicle, you can see it in their eyes; there’s just no getting around pride of ownership.We certainly hope that these tips are helpful in conserving fuel and saving you some dough!
  10. Athumbt Davis Body Shop, we are ready to discuss any car-related topic with you! Drop by or simply ring us…. Our numbers are: Atascadero (805) 466-2446 or Paso Robles (805) 239-8752.  Also, please stay in touch with us on Facebook!
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Hit the Road this Summer – Three Awesome Local Road Trip Ideas

Summer is here! School is out, the weather is hot, and it is the perfect time to get away. Living on the central coast, we’re lucky enough to be surrounded by a wide variety of road trip destinations. Whether you’re looking for a quick weekend getaway or a longer  adventure, you won’t be a loss of places to go or things to see. Here are three of our favorite central coast road trip destinations.

For the Wine-o’s – Paso Robles Wine Country

Screen Shot 2015-06-13 at 5.18.26 PMMany joke it’s the “new Napa” – we’re so fortunate to be so close to so much delicious wine in Paso Robles. Perfect for a romantic day trip or a fun getaway with friends, you won’t be at a loss of delicious wines to try and gorgeous views of sweeping hills and green vines. Just remember to always plan ahead and have a designated driver for the day. You can learn more about Paso Robles Wine Region HERE.

For the Beach Bums- Pismo and Avila Beach

Looking for a family-friendly getaway? Pismo Beach and Avila Beach are both excellent options with fun the whole family can enjoy.

Screen Shot 2015-06-13 at 5.20.37 PMEnjoy the sandy beaches and watching surfers and marine life from the pier. Kids and adults alike will delight in the tide pools at both Pismo and Avila. If you plan to bring your four-legged family members along, Avila has a great dog-friendly beaches and hotels. The oceanfront bars and restaurants in Avila are ideal for taking in the coastal sunset while enjoying delicious food and drink.

For the Adventurers – Big Sur

Screen Shot 2015-06-13 at 5.23.09 PMThe coastal views along the stretch of highway 1 between Morro Bay and Monterey alone is worth a trip north to Big Sur. The winding road along the steep hills offers gorgeous, unbeatable views of the central coast. If you’re the adventurous type, Big Sur is an ideal road trip destination for you! There’s an endless number of hiking trails and excellent camping spots suitable for all levels. The McWay waterfall trail is a must-see while you’re in the area. If you’re looking to camp or book lodging for your trip, be sure to plan ahead. Campgrounds fill up fast, especially in the summer months.

 

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing trip to local wineries in Paso Robles or hiking above the clouds in Big Sur, be sure to get out this summer and enjoy all the amazing road trip options we have available to us here on the central coast.

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“Talking Cars” Could Mean Insurance Discounts

With vehicles programmed to communicate and stop before hitting an object, collisions 1_GM_AutonomousDriving could virtually disappear and mean insurance discounts. As more automobile manufacturers include wireless technology in their vehicles letting them communicate with each other and warn drivers of potential danger, more accidents could be prevented in the future. Vehicle liability insurance could become the responsibility of the product manufacturer and their vendors with the cost  being included into the price of a driverless vehicle.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that this technology could help avoid 70% to 80% of automobile crashes involving unimpaired drivers. “This new technology could benefit consumers because insurance companies would likely give substantial discounts for driving a car with Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) communications capabilities,” said insuranceQuotes.com senior analyst Laura Adams.

“Customers would potentially have a lot to gain if they are choosing to drive a car with these features and insurance companies may offer substantial discounts to consumers who drive these cars,” she said.

Some consumers are already expressing concerns that it would pose privacy issues and could result in authorities tracking your speed, whether you are following too closely to another car and other movements. “The technology has worked very well in the real world during tests,” Adams said. “There are more pros than cons that can come out of this. Consumers can stay safe and save money if they are willing to give up some information to let people know where they are on the road.”

graph“The insurance industry will react to driverless cars by retooling their offerings to sell product liability insurance to vehicle manufacturers,” said Valerie Raburn, vice president and chief innovation officer of insurance for Xerox, the technology company based in Norwalk, Conn. Another added benefit is that the concept of a “distracted driver” will cease to exist, which means less accidents and lower insurance rates.

If you have a collision – contact Davis Body Shop for top quality repair and restoration.  Our numbers are: Atascadero (805) 466-2446 or Paso Robles (805) 239-8752.

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Automakers Seeking Common Safety Regulations

Automaker lobbyists are calling for the U.S. and the European Union to seek common safety regulations into one overarching standard.

Car company  lobbyists claim that automakers are charged the equivalent of a “25-percent or more” tariff when exporting cars across the Atlantic due to the higher costs of meeting standards in one or both regions.  “The U.S. and Europe have the most advanced auto-safety regulations in the world, and in many cases, the differences between the standards are very modest,” Rob Strassburger, a representative of lobbyist group Auto Alliance, said in a statement.

Automakers are hoping to unify crash tests and thousands of similar laws that could work in both Europe and the U.S. Seeking common safety regulations, they’ve commissioned a study between the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute and its Swedish counterpart at Chalmers University.

Outside of the U.S. and E.U., automakers have been selling cars with substandard or deleted safety equipment in the name of higher profits. Unified regulations could help stop such practices if a free-trade agreement could also be developed.

Safety_CarsA single set of regulations for Europe and U.S. will be very difficult to put into place. For instance, European crash tests require automakers to meet standards for pedestrian impacts, whiplash, and infant protection—even infant dummies and car-seat installations are evaluated for each car.  The U.S. government necessitates these tests but their performance in them isn’t even scored. The Feds can’t agree on how to test active safety features, but the IIHS is mirroring European tests for evaluating auto-braking systems.

Competing interests among automakers, governments and the insurance industry are hampering efforts to standardize safety requirements worldwide. That means extra engineering to make different versions of vehicles for different markets.

“Each party negotiating this has their own views about their own standards being better,” said Ronald Medford, senior associate administrator of vehicle safety at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which sets U.S. standards. “But as long as we can show we’re not lowering safety and we’re lowering cost, we’re all interested in that.”

Perhaps if they can agree on safety standards automakers just might pass on the savings to consumers, if not at least shareholders would reap the benefits.

We hope our blogs keep you informed.  Davis Body Shop is committed to keeping you and your family safe on the road. We invite you to join our community and stay connected on Facebook, Instagram and  Twitter!

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