Vehicle Accessories – Top 5

Everyone loves to put their own personal touch on things they own, a vehicle is no different.  Beyond the decals, stuffed animals and dashboard bobble heads, these are the top five accessories that can give you a better driving experience.

OnStar

You may have seen the commercials for OnStar — one push of a button connects you to a live operator who can help you with directions, roadside assistance, and can even remotely unlock your car should you happen to leave your keys inside. But what makes OnStar really worth having is its collision detection system. If you have an accident, OnStar automatically calls for help, reporting your car’s exact position using a built-in GPS (Global Positioning System), allowing the OnStar people to send help. Even if you don’t know where you are, OnStar does. OnStar is standard on General Motors cars.

Bluetooth

Most Provinces have a hands-free mobile phone law, including Ontario.  Bluetooth hands-free system should be considered a must-have. Many cars offer built-in systems that turn the car into a giant speakerphone, but a small headset that fits into your ear works just as well. Bluetooth allows you to keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road, where they belong.

Navigation

Navigation systems use Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites to pin-point the car’s location and built in maps to find addresses and determine directions. Some can even route you around traffic jams! With a navigation system, it’s virtually impossible to get lost — if you make a wrong turn, the system figures it out right away and updates the route. Many new cars are offered with navigation, but there are a plethora of portable add-on units that offer more features at surprisingly low prices. Newer units also give details about gas prices at nearby stations, menus for nearby restaurants, and posted speed limits.

Rear-View Camera

Years ago, when cars were lower, longer and wider, it was a lot harder to back into something — but today’s more aerodynamic designs and safety regulations mean that rear visibility has taken a back seat. Side and rear-view windows are sometimes smaller and tilted in a way that hinders a clear view of what’s around your car. A rear-view camera (also known as a backup camera) lets you see what is immediately behind the car; they can prevent you from backing over something or, more importantly, someone. And they also make parallel-parking a cinch.

Tire Pressure Gauge

This may seem like a rather low-tech device for this list, but it’s important. Tires lose air pressure over time (around 3% per month) and as the temperature drops (3% per 10 degrees). Low tires use more fuel and are more likely to have a blowout. With a tire gauge, you can check the pressure yourself and ensure that your car drives more efficiently — and more safely. To learn your car’s optimum tire pressure, check the owner’s manual, or the driver’s side door jamb, which usually has a sticker stating correct pressure for both front and rear tires.

Make it personal with Certified GM Accessories, they’re made for your Chevy.

Bennett GM
445 Hespeler Road,
Cambridge, ON N1R 6J2
1 866 892-8483

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Think ‘Winter Driving’

Winter driving, fun for some, a little scary for others.  Here are 8 tips to help you make it through this winter as confidently as possible.

1. Be prepared – keep a blanket, boots, gloves and a flashlight in your vehicle. A bag of kitty litter is always handy, it could help you if your tires are spinning and need grip.
2. Nothing beats a set of maintained wipers in a blizzard or sleet storm, and make sure your washer fluid is topped up, you don’t want to be that person on the side of the road throwing snow on your windshield to clean it off!
3. Keep your fuel tank at least half full, this can prevent your fuel line from freezing up when things get really cold.
4. Take your vehicle to your service technician and have them look at your battery & coolant system. Older batteries & weak antifreeze might not protect as well in cold weather & can actually cause damage to your vehicle when it’s not running.
5. Understand how your breaking system works. If they’re anti-lock brakes don’t pump them, instead press firmly on the brake                                                                    pedal and let the system do what it was designed to do.
6. Keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to avoid situations where you may have to break suddenly on a slick surface.
7. Winter tires are very strongly recommended… they are designed with snow and ice in mind & we have snow and ice on our roads for 5-ish months.
8. If you really aren’t very comfortable driving during the winter, you might be interested in taking an advanced driving course that teaches emergency driving skills… give yourself the confidence you need to get to your destination safely.

If you would like one of our service technicians to take a look at your vehicle please call us 1 866 892-8483 or book an appointment online

At Bennett GM, we are committed to providing you with service excellence in our first-rate GM service department in Cambridge.