6 tips to avoid flat tiresFlat tires are the worse – no one will argue about that. They always happen at the worst possible time and are guaranteed to ruin your day. Incredibly, many drivers don’t know how to change a flat – but that’s not what we’re here to talk about today. We’re going to list out some tips to help you prolong your tire life and hopefully avoid getting a flat in the first place. So here’s what you need to do:

1. Keep Your Tires Inflated

Check your owner’s manual for the recommended PSI and be sure that your tires are inflated to the correct pressure. If your tires are over-inflated, your vehicle will be difficult to handle and the ride will be rough. If your tires are underinflated, they’ll wear out sooner, and will wear unevenly.
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5 essential car maintenance tipsYou’ve spent thousands of dollars on your car… doesn’t it make sense to take care of it? It’s pretty amazing how many Americans ignore simple vehicle maintenance, especially considering that a car is usually the second biggest purchase a person makes behind a house. Drivers ignore simple maintenance and don’t even think about servicing their car until a warning light pops up on the dashboard – and that’s a horrible habit to get into.

Keeping your car in great shape is actually very simple. Not only will your car run longer and be worth more when you finally sell it, you’ll save hundreds or even thousands of dollars in expensive repair work. Here are the five most important car maintenance tips you can follow to keep your car or truck in great condition for years to come:

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beware of false advertisingThere’s been a lot of media attention lately about the FTC coming down on car dealers for false advertising, and for good reason. In a recent FTC settlement, five car dealers around the country agreed to stop running ads in which they promise to pay off a customer’s trade-in – no matter what is still owed on the vehicle.

Most customers were completely mislead by the ads… the dealers were actually rolling any negative equity (where the loan balance was greater than the value of the car) into the new vehicle loan. When this happens, you’re not getting any sort of deal – you’re actually making the deal on your new purchase even worse!  If you owe $10,000 on a car with a trade-in value of $7,500, then you’d end up inflating the loan on your new purchase by $2,500…

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car battery maintenance tipsCar batteries are expensive and always seem to die at the most inconvenient time possible. With proper care and maintenance, you can help your car battery last much longer, saving you money and the inconvenience of calling your friend who has a set a jumper cables. Follow these 6 easy tips and you’ll squeeze as much life out of your car battery as possible.

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7 Motor Oil MythsMany of our customers ask us about oil changes – most drivers don’t know much about them. Whether you ask your friends or family or you ask a mechanic, you’ll get a different recommendation every time. There’s all sorts of contradictory information out there, both word-of-mouth and online. Here’s a list of the top oil myths and the real story behind each one…

1. Change your oil every 3,000 miles or 3 months – whichever is first

For most modern cars, this is completely untrue. The myth of the 3,000 mile oil change still hangs around because quick oil change shops want to get you in their service bays as often as possible. Check your owners manual and follow the schedule listed – you’ll go much longer between changes.

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used cars Plano - Lone Star CarsWe’ve worked hard over the years to establish ourselves as one of the best used car dealers in Plano and the DFW area.  We’re absolutely committed to making every single customer feel like a member of our family. We know that the car business is a “people business” – if you make your customers happy, and give them a good deal, not only will they come back and do business with you again, they’ll tell all their friends about you. Since a majority of our sales are to customers who have never seen the vehicle in person, it’s absolutely vital that we sell only the best cars and provide the highest level of service possible.

That’s the reason we try so hard to make sure that every customer is completely satisfied. Whether you’re looking for used cars in Plano or Dallas, we’ve got the best used cars in town.  We’ve worked hard to form close relationships with several local and national lenders so that we’re able to offer the most flexible financing options in town. Whether you’ve got perfect credit or you’ve had a few bumps in the road, we’re able to help!  We also offer excellent extended warranty coverage to help protect your investment.

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We found this awesome infographic and just had to share it with you. One of the big parts of buying a car is considering how much your insurance costs will be for the new vehicle.  The more dangerous the car, the more you’re going to pay for insurance coverage. This infographic has a ton of great information – check out the top section showcasing the 8 most dangerous cars ever made.

Anyone who’s at least 30 years old probably knows about the Pinto’s exploding gas tank… but have you ever heard of the Peel Trident or the Bricklin SV-1? What about the Corvair from the early 60′s?

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It’s Valentine’s Day, and you’re probably planning a heartfelt gift for that special someone in your life – but don’t forget about your car. Your car needs love and attention, just like your special sweetheart. If you want your car or truck to run smoothly for years to come, you’ve got to shower it with little gifts of regular maintenance and routine cleaning.

Preventive maintenance is the key to keeping your car running for hundreds of thousands of miles. Unfortunately, many drivers ignore their regular maintenance schedule. You go to the doctor every year for a physical – you should do the same thing for your car.

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We found this great infographic (thanks to www.car-insurance.com) that shows the breakdown of how insurance companies determine the rates for car insurance. There’s a lot of info here, but it’s really insightful to see all of the factors that the insurance companies use…

An interesting fact:

The average American spends $1,560 a year on car insurance.

This one will blow you away:

The average American adult spends about $80,000
for car insurance in their lifetime!

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One of the easiest do-it-yourself car maintenance tasks is checking your oil. Surprisingly, many drivers don’t know how to check their oil and simply rely on the 3 month/3,000 mile change schedule myth. Most modern cars can go much longer between oil changes, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be checking your oil regularly.

Your engine oil lubricates your car’s engine, allowing it to run with less friction and a lower temperature. If your oil level drops, you could end up with serious engine problems, so it’s important that you know how to check your oil in between your scheduled oil changes. Just follow these easy steps and you’ll be an oil-checking pro in no time! continue reading…