When the time comes to purchase a vehicle, you certainly have plenty of choices. There are many different car manufacturers in the business today, and each of them offers their own unique characteristics. As you shop around and get ready to pick out the vehicle that will live in your garage, be sure to consider Chevrolet. With an extensive lineup of quality vehicles that offer both comfort and performance, it’s hard to go wrong with Chevy.

With this article, we’d like to present you with a few of the many benefits that are associated with Chevy ownership. And, of course, when you are ready to shop, be sure to stop by Taylor & Sons Chevrolet for assistance from our friendly team.

A Long History

When you buy a Chevy, you can feel good about the long track record of reliability and performance that stands behind this brand. As one of the world’s leading automakers, Chevrolet is proud to deliver quality cars and trucks to customers around the globe. Rather than trusting your money to a car company with a shorter history and lesser reputation, sleep good knowing you have invested in a vehicle made by a company with a great history and bright future.

Cutting-Edge Technology

With so many great high-tech features available in vehicles today, you don’t want to fall behind the times by investing in something that doesn’t include the tech you desire. While exact features will vary by model and trim package, it’s certainly common to find technology like navigation, entertainment systems, backup cameras, and more. As you shop, think about which specific technological features you would like to see included in your vehicle. With your list in hand, you should be able to shop on the lot here at Taylor & Sons Chevrolet and have no trouble at all finding everything you need.

Potential Gas Savings

Depending on what vehicle you are driving currently, and how long you have been driving it, purchasing a new Chevy may offer you the opportunity for significant savings at the pump. There are a variety of Chevy vehicles that offer impressive gas mileage – and great gas mileage is something that can save you money for years to come. Not only is it nice to save money by purchasing less gas, but you will also have to make fewer stops at the gas station as you go about your busy day to day life.

Make Room

If you are like many other drivers today, you aren’t just sitting alone in your vehicle as you make your way around town. Rather, you are taking other passengers with you – children, co-workers, etc. – and probably plenty of stuff, as well. To make the ride comfortable for everyone, be sure to select a vehicle that has a spacious interior. There are plenty of those in the Chevy lineup, so it will be easy to find a good fit, whether you are looking for something with passenger space, cargo space, or both. To get a good feel for how much space each of the Chevy models has to offer, you simply need to stop by Taylor & Sons Chevrolet to check them out for yourself.

A Great Price

There are two sides to every vehicle purchase. For one thing, you need to find a vehicle that suits all of your needs. You may have several points to consider on that checklist, such as performance, cargo and passenger space, gas mileage, etc. Also, you will also need to find a model that suits your budget while meeting your needs – and that’s where things can get tricky. Fortunately, Chevy vehicles cover a wide range of prices, meaning there are entry models for those on a tight budget, and luxury trims for those with more to spend on the bells and whistles. For a smooth and hassle-free buying experience, take the time up front to figure out your budget for the purchase. Knowing the total amount that you are willing to spend before you actually start test driving vehicles will help you save time and focus your search only on options that you can afford.

Minimal Maintenance

Few car owners actually enjoy the task of keeping up with their vehicle’s maintenance. Most of the time, this is seen as an unwanted, but a necessary, chore. While you’ll still have to keep up with a few maintenance tasks when you own a Chevy, most owners would agree that the maintenance needs of these modern vehicles are rather modest. The best way to tackle your ongoing Chevy maintenance is with regular service at Taylor & Sons Chevy. By bringing your vehicle to us at the prescribed times in the owner’s manual, you should be able to stay ahead of the game and steer clear of problems down the line.

Turn Some Heads

When shopping for a new vehicle, you probably have higher priorities than the look of the vehicle, such as the price, number of seats, engine specs, and more. But it never hurts when a car or truck looks great, right? There is something fun about seeing your vehicle parked in the driveway and being able to admire its looks for a while. If you appreciate great vehicle styling as much as you appreciate things like miles per gallon and 0-60 MPH times, you will love the Chevy lineup. These are beautiful vehicles feature styling touches that have kept up with the times as the years have passed. Even Chevy models that have been on the market for years – names like Silverado and Suburban, for example – have enjoyed many styling updates to remain relevant and attractive to buyers.

As you can see, buying and owning a Chevy is a desirable choice for many reasons. If you are like a lot of Chevy buyers, once you purchase your first vehicle with a Chevy badge, you’ll be likely to buy more in the future. Whether you are considering purchasing your first Chevy or you’ve owned many over the years, Taylor & Sons will be happy to serve you. Thanks for stopping by!

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Thanks to the overall quality of modern vehicles, there is very little you need to worry about as the driver and owner. Sure, you need to keep track of a few things, like keeping gas in the tank and having the oil changed periodically, but it’s a pretty short list. By working with a good service department – like the one at Taylor & Sons Chevrolet – it’s pretty easy to stay on top of everything your vehicle needs to do its job.
In this article, we’d like to highlight the importance of one maintenance point you may be overlooking at the moment – maintaining your tire pressure. It’s best to keep your tire pressure consistent within a range that is suitable for your vehicle and the tire itself. Let’s take a moment to highlight why this is a maintenance task worth keeping on your list.

Optimize Gas Mileage

Even if you don’t drive a particularly efficient vehicle, we can all appreciate getting the maximum number of miles from each gallon of gas. Believe it or not, keeping your tires at an appropriate pressure can actually have a positive impact on your gas mileage. If your tires are underinflated, for example, you will create more rolling resistance as you move along. That means your vehicle will have to work a little harder than it would otherwise to go the same distance. Working harder means using more gas, and ultimately, your MPG number is going to drop. If it seems like you have been stopping at the gas station a little more frequently in recent weeks, it could be that your tire pressure needs a review.

Make Your Tires Last

This is another point that can help you save money in the long run. In addition to buying less gas, keeping your tires at the right pressure will also help those tires to last longer – meaning you won’t have to buy new ones as quickly. Underinflated tires are going to make more contact with the road than tires which are inflated properly – and making more contact with the road means more wear. A full set of tires will easily set you back a few hundred dollars, if not more, so making the current set last as long as possible is desirable. Of course, you should never put savings in front of safety, so be sure to replace the tires before they wear to the point of becoming dangerous.

Going Too Far

It’s more common for tires to be underinflated than overinflated, as many drivers just ignore their tire pressure as it gradually drops over time. However, it is certainly possible to overinflate your tires, and that mistake can come with its own concerns. If you drive around on tires which are holding too much air, some of the potential problems include the following.

• Rough ride. A comfortable ride is something that modern drivers take for granted. Most modern passenger vehicles are extremely comfortable, offering a mostly smooth ride with a combination of features working together to even out the bumps in the road. However, if you overinflate your tires, you may soon find that your ride is no longer so comfortable. Having too much air in your tires can make the ride rather harsh, which is something that will soon grow old as you go about your daily routine.

• Wear problems. As you add more and more air to your tires, you are going to be shrinking the amount of tire that actually contacts the road as you drive. This is known as the ‘contact patch’, and you want to strike a nice balance between too much and not enough. Without enough tire contacting the road, you might notice reduced control over the vehicle, especially in adverse weather conditions. And, even if control isn’t a problem, it’s likely that the center of the tire will wear out prematurely since it is bearing all of the burden as the car travels along.

• Potential blowout. When the tires are significantly overinflated, you may run the risk of a dangerous blowout. Obviously, having a tire blowout while the vehicle is traveling at a high speed is an extremely scary incident and one which can put both you and others on the road at risk.
There is plenty of motivation to keep your tires inflated at an appropriate pressure. Making a big error in either direction – too little air or too much – is going to cause your vehicle to operate at something less than its capability. Given the modest commitment required to monitor your tire pressure, it’s well worth your time and effort to make sure you have the right amount of air in each tire as you drive.

Getting Some Help

The good news is you don’t need to feel like you are out there on your own when it comes to tire pressure. Sure, it’s possible to manage this job yourself – both checking the tire pressure and adding air as necessary – but you don’t have to take the DIY approach if you’d rather have some assistance. Working with a shop like the one found at Taylor & Sons Chevrolet is an easy way to stay on top of this maintenance point. With our help, you can periodically check on the air in your tires to confirm they are staying on track. Of course, in addition to monitoring air pressure, we can also serve your vehicle in many other ways. With the help of our professional team, caring for your vehicle as the miles add up will be an easy task.

Taylor & Sons Chevrolet is proud to offer great service to each and every one of our customers. When your vehicle needs attention, please give us a call to discuss what we can provide. And, of course, when you are in the market for a new vehicle, we would love to be your first stop in the shopping process. Thank you for taking the time to visit our site, and we are excited to serve you!

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On a basic level, your vehicle needs to do two things properly – go and stop. Of course, there is more to it than that, as there are a variety of other functions required for your vehicle to be road-legal (lights, safety features, etc.). However, when you look at the big picture, your vehicle is only going to get you around town successfully if it manages to accelerate and stop properly. In this article, we are going to discuss the second half of that equation.

While the goal of every type of brake system is to bring the vehicle to a controlled stop, different types of brakes go about the job in different ways. Let’s take a look at some different types of brake systems below.

Drum Brakes

For many years, drum brakes were the standard method of stopping vehicles. And, fortunately, these kinds of brakes were able to get the job done in most cases. While drum brakes have taken a backseat to disc brakes in recent years – more on that later – they are still in use in plenty of vehicles.

The name ‘drum’ brakes comes from the fact that a drum-like housing contains the components that are used to apply stopping force to the wheels. The brake shoes inside the drum housing are used to slow the wheel when the driver presses on the brake pedal.

The notable issue to be aware of with drum brakes is heat. As in, the brake components tend to get hot after heavy use, and their performance fades as a result. So, if a driver is having to use the brakes aggressively for a period of time, those brakes may struggle to keep stopping the vehicle in a timely manner as the journey continues. The design of the brake system makes it difficult for heat to be dissipated, so the overall performance of drum brakes is limited in capability.

Disc Brakes

The most commonly seen type of brakes today on a passenger vehicle are disc brakes. Disc brakes offer an effective solution to the problem of bringing your car or truck to a stop, and their popularity is based on their effectiveness. There is a good chance that the vehicle you currently own features disc brakes.

So, how do disc brakes work? It’s a surprisingly simple system –

• There are three main components to think about when trying to understand disc brakes – the brake rotor, the caliper, and the brake pads.

• The brake rotor is attached to the wheel, and the caliper and brake pads live adjacent to the wheel, waiting to clamp on to the rotor to slow things down.

• Each wheel will need two brake pads – one on each side of the rotor. Both of those pads are housed inside the same caliper.

• When the driver of the vehicle applies the brakes, a hydraulic system tightens the brake pads onto the rotor. The pads push up against the rotor – more and more firmly as the driver adds pressure to the brake pedal – and the vehicle is brought to a stop.

• Over time, the components involved in this system – specifically the brake pads and the rotors – will wear down and need to be replaced.

The notable advantage of disc brakes is the ability of the system to remain relatively cool even after consistent and repeated braking. Since the rotor and pads are pretty much out in the open – as opposed to being contained in a closed housing – they can use the air flowing past the car to cool themselves down. Less heat will build up with disc brakes as opposed to drum brakes, and in the end, the performance of the brakes is improved as a result.

Anti-Lock Brakes

You have probably heard the term ‘anti-lock brakes’ previously, even if you don’t know exactly what that means. Is this another type of braking system? Well, not really, but kind of. Often abbreviated ABS, this safety feature is found in most vehicles on the road today, although you should check to confirm it is included on your model.

Rather than a type of brakes – such as drum or disc – ABS actually refers to a safety system that is designed to help you maintain control of the vehicle during an emergency braking situation. On a basic level, it works as follows –

• The driver of the vehicle applies the brakes aggressively in order to avoid an upcoming hazard (such as traffic that has stopped suddenly, or an animal that has darted out into the road).

• The ABS senses that the vehicle’s tires locking up and jumps into action to help the driver maintain control.

• When ABS engages, it will pulse the brakes on and off rapidly so the driver can continue to steer while also stopping. The driver simply needs to continue applying the brakes firmly while attempting to steer in a safe direction.

Without ABS, it would be up to the driver to manually pump the brakes while also trying to steer. Thanks to the development and widespread use of ABS, drivers can take the natural action of keeping their foot down on the pedal to stop quickly.

A Combination

Often, passenger vehicles will feature a combination of disc and drum brakes when they roll off the manufacturing line. Typically, disc brakes will be in the front (since that’s where most of the braking work is done), while drum brakes will be employed in the back. If you aren’t sure about the braking configuration for your vehicle, consult your owner’s manual or speak with your mechanic for assistance.

At Taylor & Sons Chevrolet, we take pride in offering high-quality service to each of our customers. If you need brake repair work done on your vehicle, or any other kind of work, for that matter, we’ll be happy to assist. Contact us today to learn more about what our service department can offer, or to make an appointment. Thanks for stopping by!

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Most car owners don’t understand much of what goes on under the hood of their car or truck. And that’s just fine! You certainly don’t need to be a mechanic to get yourself around town in your vehicle of choice. However, picking up just a bit of basic knowledge along the way can be a big help when it comes time to have service performed. Armed with some information, you will be able to make smart choices about the care of your engine.

In this article, we are going to cover a topic which is an important one in the modern automotive world – synthetic vs conventional oil. In recent years, synthetic oils have become far more common in gas-powered engines, for a variety of reasons. You should know which one your engine requires, and also how often that oil needs to be changed. Let’s take a closer look at this subject below.

A Quick Explanation

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, it will be worthwhile to quickly explain what we mean by ‘conventional’ and ‘synthetic’ oil. As the name might indicate, conventional oil is the kind that has traditionally been used in vehicles with gas engines. It is a product that is derived from crude oil, and it has done an excellent job for decades providing the lubrication engines need to keep running effectively day after day. Considering the difficulty of the task that is keeping an engine running smoothly at high temperatures, conventional oil does an impressive job to be sure.

Synthetic oil is simply an oil that has been modified to provide it with added performance characteristics. The benefits that are offered by synthetic oils will vary from oil to oil, and not all vehicles will experience benefits in the same way. However, when you pair the right synthetic oil with the right vehicle, it is possible to get great results. Throughout the rest of this article, we will highlight some of the potential gains you can enjoy if using synthetic.

Less Breakdown, Longer Life

Without a doubt, one of the biggest selling points for synthetic oil is the fact that it will usually last much longer than conventional oil. That means fewer oil changes and less time you have to take out of your schedule to stop by an auto shot for service. Many people wind up skipping oil changes simply because they don’t want to bother with the hassle of visiting the shop and waiting while the work is complete. That’s a mistake, of course, as oil changes are very important – but it happens nonetheless. By using an oil that will last longer, you won’t need to make a point of having your oil changed nearly as frequently. It’s entirely possible that your synthetic oil will last twice as long – if not longer – than the conventional, you had been using previously.

Better Lubrication

The whole point of using oil in your engine is to lubricate the moving parts that need to operate at high speed, and high temperature, while the engine runs. Proper lubrication allows the engine to work as it was meant to when assembled at the factor. When an engine is well-lubricated, it should not wear down as much in the long run, meaning you may get a longer overall life out of it. Buying a car is a significant investment, so getting as many miles out of your engine as possible is obviously desirable.

Avoid Unwelcome Deposits

When you use conventional oil, you are going to see a breakdown of that oil over time, and deposits are likely to be left on various surfaces in the engine as a result. This problem can be mitigated to some degree by doing a good job of keeping up with your oil changes, but you are still likely to have some issues with it as the miles add up. With synthetic oil, deposits are less likely to occur. You might even be able to select an oil that actively works to remove the deposits already present in your engine. When long-term care of your engine is one of your top priorities, a synthetic oil makes a lot of sense.

Stable for Various Conditions

Do you let your vehicle sit for long periods of time between uses? Maybe you travel frequently, and your car doesn’t get used while you are away. Whatever the case, synthetic oil tends to be more stable than traditional oil, meaning t can hang on to the parts of your engine even while not actively being used. This is important because you will want the oil in the engine to be ready to do its job when you fire it up after a long layoff.

An Important Point

So far, it all sounds pretty good with regard to synthetic oil. And, without a doubt, there is a lot here to like. On the downside, we have to mention that synthetic oil is significantly more expensive than conventional. That probably isn’t a surprise, considering the extra steps required to make this type of product. So, when you are factoring in the reduced number of oil changes you’ll need with synthetic oil, remember that those oil changes will be costlier. In the end, it’s a good idea to consult your owner’s manual as well as speak to your mechanic about the right oil for your engine. Each vehicle has its own story, so there is no one-size-fits-all solution here.

At Taylor & Sons Chevrolet, we make caring for your vehicle an easy task. You won’t have to worry about anything because our experienced team will handle the job properly from start to finish. Now that you understand some of the key differences between synthetic and conventional oil, and you have probably determined which one your vehicle requires, the next step is to keep up with your service visits to improve the chances of keeping your vehicle healthy over the long run. Contact Taylor & Sons today to make an appointment!

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Buying a used vehicle is a good idea for a number of reasons. You might be able to save significant money over buying a new car or truck, meaning you may be able to buy sooner than you would have been otherwise. Also, it might be possible to select a vehicle with an upgraded trim package, where you wouldn’t have been able to afford all those features on a new model.

Of course, on the other side of the coin, there are some potential drawbacks to consider. You’ll be purchasing a vehicle which has already experienced some degree of wear and tear. You won’t know exactly how the vehicle has been treated in its time out on the road, either, although you can have it inspected. In the end, it’s up to you to decide if the financial savings is worth buying a car that isn’t brand new off the production line.

In this article, we are going to offer some basic tips on things to consider when shopping for used vehicles. Following these tips will not guarantee that you come away with a reliable, long-lasting vehicle, but they should be a good start. Of course, if you want to pick from an excellent inventory and work with experienced professionals, stop by Taylor & Sons Chevrolet during business hours.

See the Vehicle’s History

You will want to get a report on the history of the vehicle for any car or truck that you are considering. This is an important step in the process because it will outline if there has been significant damage repaired at any step along the way in the history of the vehicle. That doesn’t mean that you can’t ever purchase a car that’s been in an accident, but you will want to take that knowledge into consideration. Also, a clean report doesn’t mean that the vehicle is in great condition. Don’t think of this kind of report on the vehicle’s history as the final word on which one you should buy – it’s just one piece of the overall puzzle.

A Nice Interior

While what is under the hood is certainly important, don’t forget to value what you see on the inside. After all, this is where you are going to spend all of your time while driving, so you want it to be nice and comfortable. If the seats are badly worn, or the dash has been beaten up over the years, you may want to keep looking. Also, if a vehicle is worn out significantly on the inside, what does that say about the way the previous owner took care of it? Ideally, you would like to find a car or truck that has clearly been respected and valued throughout its life.

Modest Mileage

This one should go without saying. As you shop, compare the age of the car in years to the number of miles on the odometer. You’d like to see that the vehicle was picking up miles at a relatively modest rate until it arrived at the point of being put up for sale. No vehicle is going to last forever, so every mile driven is one mile closer to the end of the line for a given car or truck. Again, just as was the case with a car report, mileage is not the final word in which vehicle you should buy, but it is an important factor.

A Clean Inspection

You always want to have a used vehicle inspected by a capable mechanic before making a purchase. Fortunately, this is happening more and more in advance of buyers considering their vehicles – sellers are taking it upon themselves to assess the condition of the vehicle and price it accordingly. If you have a mechanic that you trust and would like to have him or her check on the vehicle before making an offer, ask the seller if you can make that happen. Remember, the purchase of a vehicle is a big decision, so you don’t want to rush into it before having all the information you need.

A Fair Price

Obviously, you are going to want to find a vehicle that is being offered for a fair price. There is no reason to pay more than market value for the car or truck that you want, so do some research and come into negotiations prepared to make a fair deal. This is far easier when you work with a respected and trusted company like Taylor & Sons Chevrolet. Lesser businesses may try to take advantage of you and squeeze every last penny from you on the transaction, but that isn’t how we do business. We want you to come back again and again for all of your automotive needs, so you can expect to be treated fairly right from the start.

The Features You Want

Remember to look for all the features that you would like to have when you pick out a used vehicle. These are things that aren’t essential to the operation of the vehicle yet will improve your enjoyment of it on a day to day basis. For example, make sure it has the technology you want, such as perhaps a backup camera or Bluetooth capability. Also, check on the presence of any safety features that you feel are important. You might not get an upfront accounting of everything on the vehicle like you would with a new car or truck, so it may be necessary to do a little research in order to discover what is present on the vehicle and what is missing.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by our blog. At Taylor & Sons Chevrolet, we are proud to carry many quality used vehicles for our customers to consider. Whether you wind up with a used vehicle or a new model, you can count on having a great experience from start to finish. Thanks again and we hope to meet you soon!

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Driving in the winter months can be a bit more complicated than driving in the spring or summer. When temperatures are warm and precipitation is scarce, conditions for driving are usually pretty good. That story changes in the winter, however, when cold temperatures are the norm and snow flies through the air regularly. Winter driving can be dangerous in poor conditions, so it is up to each driver to make good choices for everyone’s safety.

In this post, we are going to look at a few basic winter driving tips. These tips might not make winter driving enjoyable, but hopefully they’ll at least help you make better decisions along the way.

Slow Down

The first – and perhaps most important – winter driving tip to keep in mind is simply to slow down. When conditions are clear and temperatures moderate, you can often travel safely at the speed limit during the winter months. However, as temperatures drop and rain or snow move in, slowing down should be your first adjustment. Traveling at a slower speed provides you with more time to react to unexpected situations, such as cars around you behaving in a way that you did not anticipate.

It is important to remember that you don’t need to be driving in a snowstorm to encounter dangerous conditions on the roads. For example, if overnight temperatures drop below freezing, you might find patches of black ice on the roads even if they appear to be clear. Pay attention to winter temperatures and keep your speed at a reasonable level so you can hopefully stay out of trouble.

Give Other Cars More Space

This is an important adjustment anytime you are driving in adverse conditions, no matter what time of year it may be. By increasing your following distance, giving yourself more space when merging, etc., you make things easier on yourself and those around you. Again here, as was the case when talking about driving slower, it’s all about reaction time. If you keep more distance between your vehicle and others, you will be better able to avoid the kinds of accidents that are so common in bad conditions.

Begin Braking Earlier

The last thing you want to do when the roads are potentially slick or icy is to slam on your brakes to stop in a hurry. Locking up your brakes in this way could lead to a skid or slide, where the vehicle will be mostly out of your control. As you approach a stop sign or red light, begin braking earlier than normal so you can gradually slow down in a controlled manner.

Obviously, if you do need to use your brakes aggressively to avoid danger, do so. That is not the best case for winter driving – or driving anytime, for that matter – but you have to do what you have to do given the situation at hand. Hopefully, with proper management of your speed and a little bit of thinking ahead, you can avoid this type of circumstance.

Check the Forecast

In the winter, you certainly can’t assume that the conditions in place for your trip out will be the same for your trip back home. Watching the weather forecast is important because it can help you learn of any storms that may be moving into the area during your travel times. What starts out as an easy drive could turn into a real problem if heavy snows are on the way. Weather forecasting is not a perfect science, of course, but arming yourself with whatever information is available is a smart move.

Equip Your Vehicle

Before venturing out in some potentially difficult weather conditions, make sure that your vehicle is ready for the journey. For starters, you want to have the right tires for the job. The tires on your car or truck are the only piece of equipment given the task of maintaining contact with the road, so they need to be well-suited to this challenge in the winter months. For those who do a lot of driving in snowy conditions, buying a set of snow-specific tires is a worthwhile investment.

In addition to tires, it’s a good idea to keep up with your vehicle service and maintenance so you can feel confident when you head out that the car or truck is ready for the challenge. Even simple things like oil changes can go a long way. Also, you’ll want to confirm that your battery is in good condition, since cold winter temperatures can make it harder for the battery to perform.

Stay Home

At some point, the best way to deal with winter driving conditions is going to be to simply stay home and out of the elements altogether. This might not be your preferred choice, depending on what you were supposed to be doing for the day, but taking the risk of driving in dangerous conditions just might not be worth it. When trying to make this decision, take into account all information you can access – news reports, recommendations from local government agencies, etc. You can also just look outside your window, or walk out to the road in front of your home, to get a good sense of the conditions. Don’t put yourself in danger or in an uncomfortable situation when it can be avoided.

Winter driving doesn’t have to be a harrowing experience. As is always the case when driving – no matter what time of year it may be – it’s important to make good decisions based on the conditions you encounter on the roads. Be patient out there, play it safe when in doubt, and give other cars plenty of room. We can face some pretty nasty winter conditions in Idaho from time to time, so be smart and get home safely. If you need any service or repair on your vehicle to get it ready for winter driving, or if you need to shop for a new vehicle, please stop by Taylor & Sons Chevrolet for assistance.

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When you park your car, you just take for granted that it is going to be right where you left it when you return. And, of course, that is how it works almost each and every time. Unfortunately, there is a small possibility that your car will be stolen, and you will be shocked to walk out with your keys in your hand only to find no vehicle anywhere in sight. With this article, we want to offer you some simple tips that can help reduce the chances of you becoming a victim of this kind of crime.

Lock the Doors!

Okay – so this is a pretty obvious place to start, but it needs to be said nonetheless. When you leave your vehicle, be sure to lock the doors behind you. There is really no excuse to skip this step, as most vehicles today have remote door locks, meaning you just have to press a button as you walk away to make sure it’s locked up.

A big part of avoiding becoming a victim of a crime – no matter what type of crime it is – comes down to making things harder for the criminal. Sure, the criminal could still pick the door lock or break a window to get in, but why bother with that when it’s possible to just keep looking for another vehicle that isn’t locked? By taking the simple step of locking your doors, you will be putting an important barrier between a prospective thief and the driver’s seat of your car.

One more point that needs to be made on this topic – it’s important to lock your doors anytime you are going to leave the vehicle, even if you are at home. Some people take more precaution when they are out in public, only to leave the doors unlocked while the vehicle is in their driveway. Don’t take that chance. It takes just the push of a button to lock it up, so why not?

Park Strategically

When you park your car at home, you probably don’t have much choice as to where it sleeps. You park it in the driveway, in the garage, or maybe along the street by your house. When out around town, however, you will have a variety of options available to you while looking for a place to park and leave your vehicle. And, believe it or not, where you park can play a role in how likely it is that your vehicle will be stolen.

For starters, do your best to park in a place where your vehicle will be in the light. Criminals, generally speaking, hate light. They want to operate under the cover of darkness, for less chance of being discovered in the act. In a parking lot, try to park under a light, or at least as close to one as you can. Or, out on the street, look for a street light that will keep your vehicle easily visible at night.

When parking at a business, try to park up as close to the front of the business as you can. That is the area which is likely to have the most traffic, and therefore it will not be as attractive to criminals. More likely, a car thief is going to work near the back of the lot, staying out of the way and not drawing too much attention. There are no guarantees here, of course, but being near the front of the lot and under a light is going to go a long way toward keeping your car safe.

Don’t Leave Anything of Value

Yes – this is an article about how to avoid having your car stolen, not about how to avoid getting things stolen from your car. However, those two can go together, as it might be something left on the seat that attracts a criminal to your vehicle in the first place. For instance, if something of value has been left on the passenger seat – a cell phone, a purse, etc. – a criminal may decide to try and break in if the opportunity presents itself. From there, the criminal will be inside the vehicle and may decide to see if it will start. Don’t even invite this kind of criminal activity near your car. Take anything valuable out of the car when it is parked, or at least hide those things out of sight.

A Patient Warm Up

One of the classic car theft scenarios is the one where the vehicle owner goes out on a cold morning, starts the vehicle to warm it up and defrost the windows, and then goes back inside to wait. While the owner is inside, the criminal simply hops into the driver’s seat and takes off. It’s a relatively simple crime, as long as the opportunity presents itself.

Quite obviously, what you can do here is not give the criminal that opportunity in the first place. Resist the temptation to warm the car up while you are inside doing other things. Instead, just sit in the car and wait for a minute or two while it warms up and gets ready to go. That might be a little inconvenient, but it’s not nearly as much of a hassle as dealing with everything that comes along with having your vehicle stolen. Letting a criminal have access to a running vehicle is just asking for trouble, so don’t even go there.

With any luck, you’ll never have to deal with the frustration, and inconvenience, that comes along with having your car stolen. While some of this comes down to nothing more than luck, you can do your part by making smart decisions and taking simple preventative measures.

Thank you for stopping by the Taylor & Sons Chevrolet blog. If you would like to shop for a new vehicle, or if you have service needs to be met, contact us right away for assistance. We look forward to seeing you!

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As a car owner, you know that your vehicle needs periodic service to stay in top working order. That’s no big deal – but where should you take it to have the work performed? There are plenty of options available, of course, as you don’t have to drive far around the Ponderay area to find a few auto shops that would take your business. If at all possible, it’s nice to settle on one shop to do all of your maintenance and repair work, so you don’t have to shop around each and every time. At Taylor & Sons Chevrolet, we’d be happy to show you why having your car serviced at a dealership is the right way to go.

With this post, we are going to highlight a few of the many benefits that come with selecting a dealership for your service. When you are done reading, give us a call to set up your appointment!

The Right Knowledge and Experience

Experience is critical in the automotive service and repair business. When you turn your vehicle over to a technician for service, you want to know that the individual working on your car or truck is fully prepared to handle the task at hand. Fortunately, when you pick a dealership for your service, that is exactly what you should find.

The first step here is training. When you work with a dealership, you can rest assured that the technicians employed at that dealership have been specifically trained to work on the kinds of vehicles that business specializes in selling. For instance, here at Taylor & Sons Chevrolet, you can be sure that our team of technicians knows how to work on all of the various Chevy models that roll into our garage.

As a result of being trained to work on specific types of vehicles, and as a result of working on those vehicles day after day, a technician working for a dealership is quickly going to become an expert on that kind of work. While a technician who works at a shop that services any kind of vehicle may only work on a particular make once in a while, someone working at a dealership gets regular practice with those cars and trucks. In the end, the benefit is obvious – you gain the peace of mind that comes with knowing the person working on your vehicle has the knowledge and experience necessary to get the job done.

Build a Relationship

Consistently bringing your vehicle to the same dealership for each service visit – and for any other repairs that may happen to be needed – is going to help the dealer get to know your car better. The entire history of the car will be right there for them to access each time you arrive, making it easier to watch for potential trouble spots, keep track of all the work that has been done, and more. If you value simplicity while still ensuring that your vehicle gets the care it needs, a dealership service department is the way to go.

Warranty Issues

If your vehicle runs into problems while still under warranty, you may find that it is easier to have the work completed by sticking with the dealership. The dealership service department will be familiar with the warranty process and should have no trouble telling you what is covered and how things will work from start to finish. Going elsewhere is only likely to complicate the picture, and complications are not what you are looking for at this time. When you buy your vehicle and obtain a warranty, ask specifically what is covered and what the process will look like when you bring the vehicle to the dealership service department for repairs. It’s good to understand these things in advance so you are prepared if they should arise.

The Right Parts

It may be the case that you can have your vehicle serviced or repaired at another shop which is able to offer cheaper parts for your car or truck. That’s great – at least at first. But, if you think about it for a moment, it might not feel like such a good deal in the end. After all, why is that shop able to offer you parts at such a low price? Most likely, it’s because those parts aren’t of a very high quality. If you want the right parts in your vehicle – the ones that were intended by the manufacturer to be used – you’ll stick with the dealership service department and the original equipment parts they offer.

It’s All in the Name

When you decide to visit a dealership for service, you are going to be working with a business that has a big brand name right out there on the front of the building. In our case, that name is ‘Chevrolet’. There is a certain expectation and standard that comes along with doing business under such a well-known banner. Typically, the service departments you find in dealerships are going to be held to a high standard because it is not going to be acceptable to put out sub-par work while representing a major brand. Independent auto shops don’t have this kind of pressure. Sure, they want to keep customers coming back, but there are a variety of ways to do that. Maybe a shop will compete on price, instead of quality, just opting to do the work for as little money as possible. Whatever the case, you might not know what to expect when you pick a private shop. With a dealership service department, on the other hand, there tend to be very few surprises.

If you make the decision to have your vehicle serviced at a dealership, your choice is Ponderay is easy – come see us at Taylor & Sons Chevrolet right away! With an experienced and friendly team ready to assist, you will be happy with the care your car receives from start to finish. If you have any questions about our service, or if you’d like to schedule an appointment, please feel free to contact us during business hours. Thanks for stopping by!

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If you own a gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicle, that vehicle is going to require oil to run. While the car or truck might technically burn the gas or diesel to make it move forward, you aren’t going anywhere without oil. Not only do you need a sufficient quantity of oil in your engine to keep everything moving, but you also need the right kind of oil for your vehicle. In this article, we’ll talk about how you can pick out the right oil for your engine. This is a relatively simple task, but it is one you want to be sure to get right.

Start with the Easy Option

There is no reason to make this harder than it has to be, so the first place you should start is with the owner’s manual. Most likely, you have an owner’s manual resting in your glove box that you can consult for a variety of pieces of information. One piece of information that is sure to be waiting inside is the type of oil which is recommended for your vehicle. Use the table of contents to track down this information and you will be off and running.

Why use the owner’s manual to find the answer to this question? Simple – the company that made the vehicle knows more than anyone else about what kind of oil is going to serve the engine best. If you don’t have your owner’s manual anymore, or you still have it but can’t manage to find it at the moment, you can probably track down the information online. Be careful, however – you don’t want to trust random information you find on some website you’ve never heard of. Try going through the manufacturer’s official site in an attempt to get the information you need.

A Couple of Options

It’s quite likely that there will be a couple of options listed for oil in your owner’s manual. This reflects the fact that the owner’s manual does not know exactly where you are driving your vehicle, or under what conditions. Therefore, you may see that one oil is recommended for relatively typical conditions, while another oil is suggested in a harsher environment. Obviously, it will be up to you to figure out which situation applies to you, and you can then select the appropriate oil to add to your engine.

Age is a Factor

As your vehicle ages, you may wish to slightly alter the oil you choose. There are some oils on the market which are formulated specifically for high-mileage engines, and while these aren’t required, you might find that they are helpful. Specifically, these formulas often target the seals in your engine, helping to condition them so they can continue to do their job as the months and years go by.

If you do pick a high-mileage oil, be sure to confirm that it still matches up with what your engine needs in terms of oil weight. You don’t want to start using something which is dramatically different from what you’ve been using all along, just because you switch to a high-mileage blend.

Timely Changes

No matter what kind of oil you need to use in your engine, be sure that the oil is changed on a regular basis. Again, you can turn to the owner’s manual for help, as it is going to provide you with a recommended mileage interval to have your oil replaced. It used to be that 3,000 miles was the standard for oil changes, but today’s more efficient engines can typically go much further. If you own a relatively new vehicle, you might be looking at something like a 7,500-mile interval between oil changes. Once you have retrieved this information from your owner’s manual, make a note of when you’ll need your changes and do your best to have them completed as close to the recommended mileage as possible.
We understand that it is easy to put off something like an oil change when your engine is running well and your life is busy. Do your best to resist that temptation and instead try to keep up with your oil changes as best as possible. Providing your engine with fresh oil on a regular basis is one of the best things you can do to care for your car, and it really doesn’t cost much in terms of time or money.

Getting Some Help

There is no need to worry about changing your own oil when you can work with a friendly team like the one at Taylor & Sons Chevrolet to get it done. Our service department will be happy to handle your oil change needs, along with everything else you require to keep your vehicle out on the road. Thanks to the significant experience we have in this business, you can expect us to get the job done right the first time, every time. We offer fair rates and are always happy to explain the work that needs to be done on your vehicle. Coming in for an oil change is a great way to see the quality of the work we provide before trusting us with a bigger job. Soon enough, we believe that you’ll choose to bring your vehicle to our service department for all maintenance and repair tasks. 

Putting the wrong oil in your engine is a serious mistake – but it is also a mistake that should be easy to avoid. As long as you take a little time to seek out the right information, and ask for help if necessary, you should have no trouble at all picking out an oil which will suit your vehicle nicely. Of course, the experienced and knowledgeable team here at Taylor & Sons Chevrolet will be happy to help if you need assistance on this matter. Contact us right away for all of your service and repair needs. Thank you for stopping by, and we look forward to serving you!

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In the modern world, we take transportation at night for granted. With all of the technology we have available – lights, navigation, etc. – it seems like traveling at night should be just as safe as travelling during the day. Unfortunately, that isn’t exactly true. When it comes to driving, heading out onto the road at night does pose some dangers that aren’t as prevalent during the day.

Even with great headlights, you’ll really only have illumination in front of you. That means it’s nearly impossible to see off to the sides – unless you are on a lit street – and some people struggle with their vision at night. Of course, the schedule you keep in your day to day life may require you to drive after the sun has gone down, so you’ll need to have a plan to do so safely.

To do your best to stay safe out there, consider the night driving safety tips we have presented below.

The Biggest Key, Day or Night

We are going to start with a driving safety tip that applies no matter what time of day or night it may be. You probably know where we are going with this one, as it has been a frequent topic of conversation in recent years – you need to pay attention! This is one of the single most important things you can do to improve safety on the roads, both for yourself and for others. If you are paying attention to what you are doing while driving along, you’ll be more likely to respond in a timely manner when something unexpected occurs.

The big culprit here is, of course, cell phone use. If you are in the habit of using your phone to send text messages or perform other tasks while driving, it would be best to make a change right away. Most of the time, whatever you are doing on your phone can wait. If it really can’t wait, take a moment to pull safely off the roadway into a position where you can be parked while dealing with your phone. If you commit yourself to paying attention at all times, no matter when you are driving, you’ll become a safer driver right away.

Give Yourself More Room

You should not expect to have the same reaction time during the night as you do during daylight hours. So, to make it easier to stay safe in the dark, give yourself some extra room to work with in terms of things like following distance. In other words, just try to keep your car a bit farther away from other cars, when possible. Even though your lights are showing you the way, you still aren’t going to have the same perspective on things going on around you as you do during the day.

It should be mentioned that this same concept applies when driving in adverse weather conditions. Just like when it is dark, you may need a little more time to react when the weather is particularly rough, such as when there is a downpour covering your windshield with water. Even with your wipers working at full capacity, you probably won’t have the same view you have on a nice day.

Stay Off the Road

If you run into trouble during a nighttime drive, such as getting a flat tire, do not make the potentially deadly mistake of putting yourself physically onto the roadway while outside of your vehicle. When you step out of your vehicle and onto the road on a dark night, you will be nearly invisible to approaching drivers. Even if they do see you, it might be too late to stop. The first objective when you realize that you have a flat tire or some kind of mechanical trouble is to do what you can to get out of any dangerous areas. Only when you feel you are safe should you start to think about what needs to be done to get your vehicle up and running once again.

Equipment Working Properly

It’s never a good idea to venture out onto the roads with some of your vehicle’s equipment not working correctly. This is a particularly bad idea, however, when it is dark. Obviously, you need your headlights and brake lights to be working correctly in the dark, but that’s just the start. Other equipment, such as your windshield wipers, needs to be functioning properly, as well. Make it a habit to address any equipment issues as soon as they come up so you can be sure to have everything available to you that was meant to be on the vehicle.

Never Drive Tired

Driving at night can put you in a dangerous situation if you are too tired to operate the vehicle safely. This is one of those areas where you should always err on the side of caution. If you think you might be a little too tired to drive, find another way home or make another plan. Falling asleep at the wheel is very dangerous for obvious reasons. It’s easy to think that you will be able to keep yourself awake for the duration of the trip home, but that might not be the case. Don’t put yourself and others at risk by pushing the envelope on this point – if there is any doubt as to whether or not you are too tired to drive, just don’t.

At Taylor & Sons Chevrolet, we want all of our customers – and everyone throughout Idaho and beyond – to stay safe on the roads. Whether you are driving at night or in the middle of the day, paying attention and exercising caution is always a good plan. To make sure your vehicle is up to the challenge of driving around town safely, feel free to stop in to Taylor & Sons Chevrolet for your service and repair needs. Nothing can guarantee safety on the roads, but a properly working vehicle and an attentive driver are a good start. Thanks for visiting and stay safe out there!

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