ATG Auto Repair

Think your car's life is pretty much over at 150,000 miles? You can thank GM's Alfred Sloan for that idea, as we travel back to the 1920's for #TBT when Sloan developed the concept of "planned obsolescence," designed to make car owners dissatisfied enough to trade in their vehicles long before their cars were actually toast. Today's vehicles are designed to go up to and beyond 300,000 miles IF the owner follows the manufacturer's recommended service intervals. Speaking of which, what is the longest you have gone without an oil change?

Gas prices have been steadily (but slowly) climbing and should continue to do so according to AAA. (National average is $2.19 a gallon.) So is it more fuel efficient to have your AC on or your windows down? Easy peasy. AC off and windows down at slower city speeds and AC on and windows up on the highway. Do you ever do both at the same time? (You may want to stop doing that!)

Smile (and dress for the party!) it's FRIDAY! :) Have a great weekend!

Today's #TBT is da bomb, literally, as we travel back to 1957 to a Ford concept car that actually used a small nuclear reactor (is that an oxymoron?) and uranium fission to power a steam engine, not unlike today’s nuclear submarines - or the DeLorean in 1985's Back To The Future. Speaking of which, if you could travel back in time using that car, what year would you travel back to, and why?

Facial Recognition Technology - now offered in some vehicles for theft protection - also measures a driver's level of alertness and warns the driver when it "sees" you not paying attention. This rapidly advancing technology will soon be able to warn drivers when they appear too tired, too drunk or even too upset to drive. Would you feel comfortable telling a driver they aren't "fit" to get behind the wheel?

Today's funny bumper sticker: "Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what the heck happened." :) Have a safe Monday!

Smile - it's FRIDAY! :) Have a fantastic weekend!

For #TBT we motor back to New York state circa 1901 and the first required license plates, which were actually made by the car's owner (using their initials) out of leather or metal. (No waiting in the line at the DMV!) What is the funniest or most unusual personalized plate you have seen on a vehicle?

Today's funny bumper sticker: "Don't get in the car with me if you're going to scream every time we almost wreck." :) Have a safe Monday!

Smile (and jump on in!) - it's FRIDAY! :) Have a great weekend!

For #TBT we plug into 1890 and the first practical (rechargeable) electric car, which had 24 battery cells that needed recharging every 50 miles and a top speed of 20 mph. While it doesn't exactly scream PRIUS, this groundbreaking vehicle is an important forerunner to the over 5 million hybrid electric vehicles that have been sold in the U.S. since the first Honda Insight hit the market in 1997. What do you like - and dislike - about a hybrid?

DID YOU KNOW - your tires have a "born on" date, if they were manufactured after 2000. The tire date code can be found on the sidewall. Find "DOT," then move clockwise (to the right) until you get to the last set of four numbers. The first two signify the week the tire was made, the last two are the year. Why does this matter? Tires are made of organic materials that degrade over time. Any tire six years or older may be unsafe - and that includes your spare (if you have one).

Think your car's life is pretty much over at 150,000 miles? You can thank GM's Alfred Sloan for that idea, as we travel back to the 1920's for #TBT when Sloan developed the concept of "planned obsolescence," designed to make car owners dissatisfied enough to trade in their vehicles long before their cars were actually toast. Today's vehicles are designed to go up to and beyond 300,000 miles IF the owner follows the manufacturer's recommended service intervals. Speaking of which, what is the longest you have gone without an oil change?

Gas prices have been steadily (but slowly) climbing and should continue to do so according to AAA. (National average is $2.19 a gallon.) So is it more fuel efficient to have your AC on or your windows down? Easy peasy. AC off and windows down at slower city speeds and AC on and windows up on the highway. Do you ever do both at the same time? (You may want to stop doing that!)

Today's thought-provoking bumper sticker: "If you push the envelope it will still be stationary." :) Have a safe Monday!

Smile (and dress for the party!) it's FRIDAY! :) Have a great weekend!

Today's #TBT is da bomb, literally, as we travel back to 1957 to a Ford concept car that actually used a small nuclear reactor (is that an oxymoron?) and uranium fission to power a steam engine, not unlike today’s nuclear submarines - or the DeLorean in 1985's Back To The Future. Speaking of which, if you could travel back in time using that car, what year would you travel back to, and why?