Archive for the ‘Portland Car Dealer’ Category

An object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an outside force. So goes Newton’s First Law of Motion, and so goes your vehicle. You look down the highway at 65MPH, and then there’s a jam. An accident ahead, or too many people trying to merge at once. You press the brake pedal and avoid disaster. But, like every other moving part in a vehicle, brakes don’t last forever. Here are five signs that your car’s brakes need to be replaced.

Squealing, Grinding, or Growling When brake pads wear down, a small metal indicator shim rubs against the metal rotor, making a high-pitched squeal every time the brakes are applied. This is the first sign that the pads need to be replaced, and shouldn’t be ignored. If, however, this is allowed to go on too long, the pads will wear away completely and the disc and caliper will rub against each other directly. This leads to scoring of the rotor, and makes a simple repair much more costly, as the rotors may need to be replaced.

Reduced Response If the brake pedal sinks to the floor, or your vehicle’s usual stopping distance isn’t enough, there may be an air or fluid leak in your brake line. Brake fluid is just as important as the pads and rotors, and should be monitored just as the other parts are.

Pulling When particulates enter the brake fluid or the brake linings wear unevenly, the vehicle may pull to the side while braking. If your vehicle is doing this, and your tires have been aligned recently (wheel misalignment is another cause of pulling), you may need to have your fluid line serviced or your brakes adjusted.

Vibrating Towing heavy loads, driving down mountains, and otherwise using brakes for long periods of time causes the metal rotors to heat and warp. Because the pads cannot grip a warped rotor evenly, the brakes vibrate when applied, feeling similar to a panic stop in a vehicle with anti-lock brakes.

Worn Pads Look at your brake pads between your wheel’s spokes. If there’s less than 1/4 inch of pad left, don’t wait for the squealing to start, take your vehicle in for service.

If you’re in the market for a safe, efficient new car, have a look at our Internet Specials, plus new and pre-owned vehicles on our website 24/7.

Minivans aren’t usually considered performance vehicles, with their cup holders and seating for seven and kid-friendly in-vehicle DVD players, but the 2011 Nissan Quest combines form and function in a way that many other minivans can’t or won’t.

In a time when other manufacturers are ditching their minivan models entirely, Nissan chose to keep the top-ranked Quest around, and with good reason. An 11-inch screen drops down from the ceiling – much like in an airplane – to visually entertain backseat passengers. 260 horsepower and electrohydraulic speed-sensitive steering make it more like driving a luxury sedan than a small bus. The sport model comes equipped with a performance-enhancing overdrive-off button, allowing for additional power on winding roads or down steep hills.

Are you in the market for a new family car? Looking for another innovative vehicle? Have a look at our Internet Specials, plus new and pre-owned vehicles on our website 24/7.

sources: motortrend.com, caranddriver.com

Many vehicles come standard with DVD players these days. iPads and other tablet PCs can be mounted to the back of headrests and used as in-car media stations. But what do we do if we don’t want to use or don’t own these devices? How do we keep each other (and ourselves) entertained on the long trip to Grandma’s house or the slopes? Games, that’s how! When technology fails or you simply need a break, consider playing:

License plate games. Find every letter of the alphabet before anyone else. Spell as many words as you can with the letters from the next ten plates you see. Add, subtract, multiply, and/or divide the numbers on each plate, or a combination of the next three or five or ten plates. Who can find the most states along the way? Name as many foods, animals, places, or people as you can that start with the letters in the plate of the car in front of you. Find an out-of-state plate and name as many cities from that state as you can; what’s the capital of that state?

Song games. Turn the radio on for a few seconds and see who can name the title and artist of the song that’s playing. How many other songs by that band can you think of? How many other songs with a similar title can you think of? Name a song that starts with the letter that the current song ends with. Use a random word and name as many songs with that word in the chorus or title that you can think of.

Alphabet games. Start with A (or Z if you want to challenge everyone to go backward) and name animals, foods, cities, countries, celebrities, and cars in alphabetical order (Q, X, and Z always hang people up).

How do you entertain each other in the car? Do you have favorite games that you play? Are you the family on I-5 the day before Thanksgiving, stuck in traffic, playing Barbie in the Little Mermaid on your DVD player?

Looking for a great vehicle to play these games in? Have a look at our Internet Specials, plus newand pre-owned vehicles on our website 24/7.

In thinking about our favorite things to do in a new Nissan, parallel parking doesn’t exactly crack the top ten. This is especially true for those of us living in urban areas – we’re constantly faced with having to squeeze our vehicles into tight spaces. Nissan is implementing an innovative and exciting new solution to this dilemma with its Around View Monitor, which is making its debut in the crossover category in the Nissan Rogue.

The Around View Monitor is armed with four separate cameras that act like four helpful spotters pointing you in the right direction as you back up. Located on the front, rear, and underneath both side mirrors, the wide-angled cameras create a virtual overhead view of your vehicle and its surroundings. Simply shift into reverse and the split screen provides both a rear and overhead view. Colored lines provide a snapshot of the distance between your Rogue and the vehicles you are positioning between, and when you shift into drive, it automatically displays the front view. Furthermore, you have complete control over which camera angle is being displayed in case you want to see how close you are to the curb or another object on the rear or opposite side of the vehicle.

This latest technology advancement is one of the most convenient features in the top-rated Rogue, which continues to receive positive reviews from the industry’s most respected auto publications. Best known for its versatility, efficiency, and fun driving experience when compared to its closest competitors, the Rogue is armed with the same 2.5-liter engine present in the Altima for increased fuel efficiency. Check out this video review of the 2011 Nissan Rogue from Consumer Reports.

More driver’s license tests have probably been failed due to the applicant’s inability to parallel park than any other task. It’s anxiety provoking at best, and risks damage to a vehicle and surrounding property at its worst. Around View® Monitor now comes to Rogue drivers’ rescue. - Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan North America, Inc.

Looking for another innovative vehicle? Have a look at our Internet Specials, plus new and pre-owned vehicles on our website 24/7.