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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (June 28, 2017)
2 B SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017 Summer Car Care Keep your car on the road this summer COURTESY PHOTOS Topics to discuss before hiring your next mechanic F ew decisions weigh as heav- ily on automobile owners as their choice of mechanic. A good mechanic goes a long way toward ensuring drivers and their passengers stay safe on the road and that those drivers’ vehicles perform at their peak for years to come. That’s an important role to play, and it’s why choosing a mechanic is a decision that should not be taken lightly. You don’t need to be a car guy or gal to find a trustworthy and talented mechanic. You might just need to open a dialogue, dis- cussing a handful of topics that can help you feel more comfort- able and know you have made the right choice in automotive service provider once a final decision has been made. Certification can go a long way toward helping drivers find mechanics they can trust. A certi- fied technician should have his or her credentials readily avail- able to prospective customers, and these credentials should list each profession- al’s area of certi- fication. When shop- ping for a new mechanic, make sure that he or she is certified. In addition, dis- cuss with the mechanic his or her work history, including any additional areas of expertise. Many mech- anics offer free estimates, but that should not be taken for granted. When bringing a car in for an estimate, drivers should confirm with the mechanic who will conduct the examination if the estimate is free or if they will be charged an inspection fee. In addition to any fees regard- ing estimates, drivers should also inquire about labor costs and the payment policies at the facility. Labor can be quite expensive, so it’s best that you know these rates in advance of any repairs being conducted on your vehicle. It’s also impor- tant to get a run- down of the company pay- ment policies, especially if your vehicle is in need of poten- tially costly repairs. You don’t want the bill to shock you once the work has been complet- ed, so don’t hesitate to be inquis- itive before leaving a car at the garage. Replacing parts on a vehicle is a cause for concern for many drivers, and rightfully so. Consumer advocacy groups have exposed many mechanics who pass off used auto parts as new parts, charging their customers new part prices along the way. AUTO CARE MARKETPLACE Celebrating 72 Years! Drivers can inquire about com- pany policies regarding vehicle parts. Does the garage even install used parts? If so, do they let drivers choose either new or used parts before any work is done? If the garage only uses new parts, ask for parts with solid warranties. The preowned vehicle market is thriving, and drivers who take care of their vehicles have earned the right to reap their rewards for being good owners when it comes time to sell the car. When interviewing prospec- tive mechanics, ask if they are willing to provide detailed docu- mentation of any work they do on your vehicle. Such documen- tation can then be shared with prospective buyers when you want to sell the car, and it also serves as a way to keep the garage accountable for all the work they have done on the car throughout your relationship. — Metro Apps make driving, trip planning ‘smarter’ Smartphones are a conven- ient tool that few people can now imagine living without. Smartphone-toting moms and dads know they always have a camera on hand to take quick snaps of their young- sters, while foodies rely on their smartphones to find nearby restaurants or read reviews of eateries while out on the town. But drivers also can benefit from smartphones thanks to the following apps. • Waze: Commuters who download Waze to their smartphones may wonder how they ever navigated their daily treks to the office with- out this useful app, which allows drivers to share real- time traffic and road informa- tion with their fellow motorists. Drivers can use Waze to save time and gas money and make their com- mutes less stressful. Drivers who use Waze can actively report accidents and find the least expensive gas prices posted by fellow drivers in their community. • GasBuddy: Drivers are conditioned to find the most affordable gas prices around. The GasBuddy app makes it easy to do just that, as users can share gas prices in their community, which fellow drivers can then peruse to find the most affordable fill- ing stations along their driv- ing routes. Drivers can enter a city, ZIP code or postal code to find the cheapest gas in their vicinity. • AAA Mobile: AAA mem- bers can use the AAA Mobile app to access AAA services Your guide to quality car care in the Florence Area! Ace Johnson’s Auto Sales 1870 N. Highway 101 • Florence, Oregon 97439 541-991-2274 Hoberg’s Serving Your Auto Needs Since 1945 Complete Auto Repair J & J Automotive Service and Repair 1885 42nd Street • Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-3260 ACR Automotive Serving fl orence for 35 years 1736 West 15th Street • Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-6700 • acrauto.com Napa Davison Auto Parts www.hobergsautorepair.com on their smartphones. Such services include trip plan- ning, member discounts and roadside assistance. The app also includes a mobile ver- sion of the motor club’s pop- ular TripTik Travel Planner, which makes it easy for smartphone users to find club-approved hotels, restau- rants and attractions. Drivers can even create and share trip itineraries between their desktop and mobile devices. • Insurance: Nearly every auto insurance provider now offers its own mobile app to policy holders. Such apps may allow drivers to pay their bills, view their insur- ance identification cards, peruse their policies, arrange for roadside assistance and report claims among other things. These apps put your auto insurance provider at your fingertips and can make it much easier to manage your policy. • TripCheck: Locally, driv- ers are encouraged to check Oregon Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) www.TripCheck.com for cur- rent conditions before head- ing out the door. In addition, drivers can take extra precautions by packing a roadside emer- gency kit, including: roadside flares, first-aid kit, jumper cables, warm blankets, flash- light, basic tool kit, tire-pres- sure gauge, spare tire and jack, snacks and water, extra car fluids, cell phone charger and important phone num- bers. — Metro 4480 Hwy 101 Bldg A Florence, OR 97439 541-997-3428 Les Schwab Tires Doing the Right thing matters. 4325 Highway 101 • Florence, OR 97439 541-997-7178 • LesSchwab.com Seabreeze Motors Quality Used Vehicles 1775 Highway 101 • Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-6612 Florence RV & Automotive Kevin McMullen Complete RV & Auto Repair 4390 Hwy. 101 • Florence, Oregon 97439 (541) 997-8287 3rd Generation Owner hobergsautorepair@gmail.com Hoberg’s Complete Auto Repair 345 Hwy. 101 541-997-2413 Serving your auto needs since 1945 345 Hwy. 101 • Florence, Oregon 97439 541-997-2413 18 Mon th, Unlimi ted Mileag e Warran ty acrauto.com • Repairing all makes and models • Serving Florence for 36 years 1736 West 15th Street • Florence 541-997-6700 joel@acrauto.com Tony’s Garage Auto Service and Repair ASE Certifi ed Master Technician 1730 W. 21st • Florence, OR 97439 541-902-1955
