2014 Jeep® Patriot and 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan Receive 5-Year Cost to Own Award from Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com!

February 5, 2014 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com has named the 2014 Jeep® Patriot and the 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan winners of its 5-Year Cost to Own Award.

For a second consecutive year, the Jeep Patriot has the lowest 5-Year Cost to Own in the compact SUV/crossover category, while the Dodge Grand Caravan has the lowest 5-Year Cost to Own in the minivan/van segment.

“Chrysler Group is honored that Kelley Blue Book has named the 2014 Jeep Patriot and 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan winners of its 5-Year Cost to Own Awards,” said Reid Bigland, Head of U.S. Sales, Chrysler Group LLC. “These awards recognize our commitment to producing quality and reliable vehicles that customers love, while providing great value throughout the ownership experience.”

The 5-Year Cost to Own Awards honors the vehicles and brands with the lowest projected ownership costs, based on Kelley Blue Book’s 5-Year Cost to Own data for new cars for the initial five-year ownership period.  Kelley Blue Book calculates total ownership costs for new vehicles by applying a sophisticated valuation methodology along with critical financial data from third-party providers.

Jeep Patriot
The 2014 Jeep Patriot offers consumers segment-leading 4x4 capability and excellent fuel efficiency along with rugged exterior styling and clever interior features, all at an exceptional value.

With improved on-road performance compliments of a new-for-2014 six-speed automatic transmission, unmatched Jeep capability in all weather conditions, fuel economy up to 30 miles per gallon (mpg), more than 30 safety and security features and a starting U.S. Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $15,995, the 2014 Jeep Patriot is the best priced SUV in America.        
The 2014 Patriot is unmistakably a Jeep, designed to appeal to compact-SUV buyers who want traditional Jeep styling with best-in-class off-road capability at an affordable price.

Courtesy of Chrysler Newsroom: http://bit.ly/1e6Wlnt

5 Signs You Need Your Brakes Checked

Here are 5 ways to know that it is time to get your brakes checked or replaced!

1) Worn Pads: You'll have to estimate, but generally, your pads should be at least one-quarter of an inch thick. If they're any thinner than that, it's a good idea to get them changed.

2) Strange Sounds: One of the warning signs that your brakes need servicing can come from a small indicator in your braking system that emits a high-pitched squeal when your pads need replacing. And, while this sound is loud enough to be heard even when the windows are up, it might be tough to hear with Lady Gaga blaring from the stereo.

3) Pulling: Has your car ever felt like it has a mind of its own? As if it wants to make right- or left-hand turns while driving or braking? If so, this could indicate a problem with the braking system. Pulling, however, doesn't always indicate a problem with the brakes. The cause could also come from unevenly inflated or worn tires, poor alignment or a problem with your vehicle's suspension.

4) Vibrations: Generally, a vibrating brake pedal indicates warped rotors. Their uneven surfaces will thrum against the brake pads, and you'll feel the feedback through the brake pedal.

5) Temperamental Pedal: A mushy pedal, one that goes practically to the floor before engaging the brakes, could indicate worn pads or a problem with the hydraulic system, such as air in the line, an air leak or a brake fluid leak.

Courtesy of HowStuffWorks.com: http://bit.ly/1fEBTxd

Top 5 Audio Books!

Here is a list of our Top 5 audio books:

1. Imperial Life in the Emerald City

2. The Goldfinch

3. Sycamore Row

4. Lone Survivor

5. Divergent

There are tons of audio books out today, start with these and then check out some on your own! 

Three Easy Tips and Tricks to Maintain a Cleaner Vehicle

It's National Get Organized Month, and we wanted to show you a few ways to keep a clean car!

1. Use a cereal container for a trash can!

2. Use a shower organizer to keep a multitude of items in a safe spot, great for kids!

3. Use a water bottle to make your pizza box safe from potential disaster! Also, you can use your seat warmers to keep any hot meal good-and-ready.  

7 Common Reasons for an Oil Change!

Listed are seven reasons to get an oil change regularly!

1. Longevity - If you want to make sure your vehicle lasts for the long-run, an oil change is something you want to get done regularly!

2. Sludge - Your car parts can be ruined due to dirty cogs and then the engine can build up acidity which can cause further damage.

3. Stress - If you are going up steep terrain or going on a long trip your engine needs as much possible power as you can get.

4. Change - Get your oil changed about every 3,000 miles, especially in a moderate or dusty climate.

5. Driving habits - If you are an aggressive driver, typically you should look to change your oil more often because of driving style. If you are in traffic often, check your oil level.

6. Add more - While driving you constantly burn oil, so make sure that you change it out because sludge and other debris can cause expensive damages. 

7. Friction - Oil reduces friction, so if you hear your engine making noises when you start your vehicle, it is typically due to dirty or low oil in the tank.

 Courtesy of: Star Tech European http://bit.ly/1lFKrFA

5 Engine Oil Myths

We all know that our cars need engine oil in order to operate smoothly. The role of engine oil is to keep the moving parts of the engine lubricated, to protect them against rust corrosion, and -- with modern detergent oil additives -- to keep them free of sludge and general engine gunk.
But most of us also know some things about engine oil that aren't actually true. For instance, isn't it always necessary to change your oil every 3,000 miles (4,828 kilometers)? And when the color of your oil starts becoming dark, doesn't that mean that it's about to fill your engine with harmful sludge?

Well, no. These ideas are myths and over the next few pages we'll debunk them, along with a few other engine oil "facts" that don't happen to be true. A little knowledge isn't necessarily a dangerous thing, but a little knowledge that doesn't happen to be true could quite possibly ruin your engine, or at least cost you a lot of unnecessary expense.

Click here to get the truth behind the 5 Engine Oil Myths from HowStuffWorks.com.

From One Second To The Next A Film By Werner Herzog

Shows the Consequences of Texting While Driving

This past August, legendary filmmaker and historian Werner Herzog released "From One Second to the Next", a short, but poignant look into the consequences of texting while driving.

The film is a PSA sponsored by four major phone companies-- AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile, who originally approached Herzog to make the film in an effort to combat a growing cultural phenomenon where texting-related accidents are becoming increasingly all too common.

For Herzog, it's a sharp turn outside the norm from his usual works, which often focus on themes of isolation and wilderness, as can be seen in films like "Grizzly Man" and "Encounters At the End of the World". Nonetheless, "From One Second to the Next" is as much an accomplishment in cinema as it is an important message that should be adopted by anyone who gets behind a wheel.

Watch "From One Second to the Next" here