How Cruise Control Works
When you’re on a long road trip, cruise control can quickly become one of your favorite features of your car. Instead of having to keep your foot on the gas pedal for lengthy stretches of time, you can simply set a speed, and your system will maintain that speed until you tell it to do otherwise.
Benefits of Cruise Control
Not only does the cruise control system help you keep from getting a sore and tired foot and ankle, but also it can help you avoid getting speeding tickets. When you’re out on the open road, it’s easy to have a lead foot if there aren’t a lot of other cars around. But cruise past a highway patrol officer and you may find yourself getting written up for speeding. When you lock in your speed with cruise control, you won’t be as tempted to keep accelerating.
Gas Grades Explained
Every time you roll up to the gas station, you probably notice there are several gasoline choices for your car. Most often, you’ll see regular, mid-grade, and premium, although several other ethanol/gasoline mixes are becoming more popular. The problem with these options is that few people know the difference between the grades of gas and aren’t aware of which is right for their car. To make matters easier, here’s a guide that will teach you everything you need to know about gas grades and which one is right for you.
Regular
Regular fuel, also known as 87 octane, is by far the most consumed gasoline grade in the United States. Before diving into this type of gas, you should know what the octane rating means. Very simply, this numerical rating measures a fuel’s ability to resist engine knock, which is the product of improper combustion within the engine. The higher the number, the more impervious the engine is to misfiring.
Because most cars newer cars don’t have a problem with engine knock, regular gasoline is the cheapest way to fuel your car. In fact, most owner’s manuals suggest regular as the preferred gasoline, as any higher octane levels don’t truly make a difference to your vehicle’s performance.
If you’re looking for a new car, you usually have a list of features you want. However, there’s one you may never have thought about: the drive system. Depending on the vehicle you want, it will come equipped with rear-wheel drive, front-wheel drive, four-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive. If those choices seem like gibberish to you, here’s a handy guide that will take you through the ins, the outs, the advantages, and the disadvantages of each. Once you understand them, you’ll have a better idea of which one is right for you.
Rear-Wheel Drive
Although rear-wheel drive is becoming less common on new cars, it still provides a number of advantages over other drive systems. While early pickups and SUVs offered this as the sole option, today it’s more often found on luxury cars and sports sedans. The reason this works on performance-based vehicles is that it provides better handling due to improved weight distribution. Because the front wheels don’t have to do the work, it also allows for a finely tuned sports suspension. The only downfall of rear-wheel drive is that it provides poor traction in adverse weather conditions.
4 Suggestions If You Lock Your Keys in the Car
There are a number of safety features in newer vehicles designed to help you avoid locking your keys inside. Many have a system that won’t allow the doors to lock when the keys are in the ignition. But even with these features, many people still accidentally find themselves outside the car without keys in hand. If you lock your keys in the car, follow these steps to get back on the road.
Check Every Door
Before you start digging around for tools to break into your car, be sure to check every door on the vehicle. It’s possible that one of them is still unlocked, making it easy to climb in and grab the keys. Check the trunk too, because many cars offer access to the cabin through the trunk. Look for a strap or knob that you can pull to release the backseat and create a passageway into the car. But if all doors are locked and you can’t get into the trunk, it’s time to get resourceful.
Toyota is phasing out its Scion vehicles, but the sporty, sleek FR-S is getting a brand new name and is staying around for interested buyers. The 2017 Toyota GT is a flashy car that is attracting a lot of attention.
Exterior Restyling
It may look familiar to fans of the Scion model, but the Toyota GT, also known as the Toyota 86, has a few new features to show off. Toyota showcased the vehicle at the New York Auto Show earlier this year. It includes new exterior features like updated LED turn signals and headlamps, a modified bumper, and a grille that aligns with other vehicles in the Toyota lineup.
On the rear of the car, you will notice a brand new look that includes a differently shaped bumper and LED tail lamps to complement the other LED lighting aspects on the front. The headlamps also incorporate the “86” logos, near the fenders, and a number of other elements throughout the interior and exterior stylings tie in the “86” theme.
3 Delicious Seafood Restaurants Near Norfolk
Although the James River and the Chesapeake Bay provide spectacular scenic views throughout Norfolk, they also offer a bountiful collection of seafood. With so many fishermen in the area, it’s no surprise this city is home to several of the best seafood restaurants along the East Coast. The next time you have the hankering for some great ocean fare, try one of these restaurants near Norfolk.
1. 456 Fish
If you’re looking to get away from the traditional menu items offered at most seafood restaurants, give 456 Fish a try. Winner of the Best of Norfolk for its creative seafood concoctions, 456 Fish isn’t your average eatery. When you get to your table, start with an appetizer such as fried calamari, sesame seared tuna sashimi, or if you can’t decide, the chef’s sampler. Main dishes include crab-stuffed jumbo flounder, skillet-seared Atlantic salmon, or cashew-encrusted mahi-mahi. The best part here is that no matter what you choose, it’s delicious. Prices range from about $11 to $30 per person, making it affordable to boot.
Where Do You Go Wine Tasting Near Cheasapeake?
You may think of Chesapeake, Virginia, primarily for things like water sports and seafood. It’s certainly known for those things, but it has an appealing and growing wine industry. Whether you already have a well-developed understanding of excellent wine or want to start introducing your taste buds to great local wines, there are plenty of ways to do so in the area.
General’s Ridge Vineyard
Located in Hague on an estate that boasts over a century of history, General’s Ridge Vineyard features three tasting rooms. Furthermore, the staff is very knowledgeable about the wines they stock, so it’s a good place to go if you’re looking for a gift for someone who loves wine, or you want some ideas for beverages to put in your wine cooler.
Many of the wines manufactured at this venue are award-winning. If you find one you really love, consider signing up for the Executive Wine Club, which gives you discounts on future purchases.
Celebrate July 4th with this show stopping Red, White and Blue Flag Cake! At Priority Toyota Chesapeake, we love summer just like everyone else, and when July 4th rolls around we can’t help but think of the good times with family and friends and oh yeah, the food. Hamburgers, BBQ, Corn on the Cob and dessert… oh the sweet desserts. So we figured we’d share a classic Betty Crocker favorite red, white and blue flag cake that will make you the hero of any Independence Day get together. If you make this sweet treat, hope on over to our facebook page and share a picture of it! We’d love to see.
Ingredients Read the rest of this entry »
What You Need to Know About the Prius Prime
Since taking the automotive world by storm in 2000, the Prius has taken strides to offer an array of efficient hybrid vehicles. However, none look as promising and exciting as the Prius Prime. Shedding the original Prius appearance with a bit more flash and flair, the Prius Prime makes a concerted effort to make the entire hybrid experience more visually stunning, as well as more fun to drive. If you’re looking for the ultimate hybrid experience, the Prime is a car that you need on your radar. Here’s a glance at all that the new Prime has to offer.
Plug-In Capabilities
The Prime ushers in a new era of Prius by becoming the first in the family to include a plug-in option. Unlike its siblings, the Prime uses a larger battery and more powerful motors to go further on battery power. Using a normal, 120-volt home outlet, the Prime charges in just 5.5 hours, but using a public, 240-volt charging station gives it a full charge in just 2.5 hours. On a full battery, the Prime goes up to 22 miles, but when coupled with the gasoline portion of the engine, it travels 600 miles on a single tank. According to EPA estimates, this gives the Prime and miles per gallon (mpg) equivalent of 120. With these capabilities, the Prime is the perfect commuter car in electric mode, while the hybrid option gives you an affordable road trip machine.
What To Do If Your Car Breaks Down
You’ve probably had it happen at one time or another in your life. You stick the key in the ignition, turn it, and nothing happens. Or perhaps you’ve gone about your regular routine only to see smoke spewing from the engine of your car. Both situations provide a stressful and nerve-racking scenario, as your malfunctioning car costs you time and money. However, if you know exactly what to do when your car breaks down, you can avoid some of the headaches associated with the situation. The next time your car breaks down, follow these steps to avert a total crisis.
Get Off the Road
If you’re lucky when your car breaks down, and I say lucky very loosely, you’re already in a parking lot, your driveway, or somewhere out of the way of other motorists. If that isn’t the case, you need to get your car off the road as soon as possible. Even if it requires a push or help from some good Samaritans, moving it off the road is just as important for your safety as it is for other drivers. Sometimes, you won’t have this option because the car won’t start. In this case, stay seated in the car, turn on your hazards, and call AAA or an auto body for help.
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