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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