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  • The Best Test

    Mar 19, 2023

    Would you buy a jacket without even trying it on? Probably not, but it might surprise you that one study shows about half the people buy a vehicle after a short test drive around the block or none at all.  If you're in the market for another vehicle, make sure you check out the most important things so you'll know if that's the right vehicle for you.

    Check out the gadgets.  Love a good sound system? Then turn it up loud.  Does it have enough bass for you? See how you like its navigation system if it has one.  Try pairing your Bluetooth smartphone with the vehicle.  Test out how to set the cruise control and how steady it keeps the speed. Back up and check out the rearview camera. If you buy this vehicle, you'll have to live with all of these things every time you drive.

    Test the vehicle on roads you know.  See how it handles bumps and potholes, how it takes that tight curve that you drive every day to and from work.  Driving on familiar roads gives you a chance to compare what you know with what you're thinking about buying.

    Check the fit.  One suburban driver drove a full-sized SUV and loved it until they got it home and realized it was too high for her old garage.  Remodeling the garage would be the only answer! Try installing your child seats.  Size matters, especially in a vehicle.

    Gauge the fuel economy. Many vehicles have a trip computer that will calculate fuel economy quickly.  Here's a tip: you can reset it before your test drive and when you're finished, check it and see what fuel economy you got.  It will be a smaller sampling than would be ideal, but it will give you an idea.

    Take as much time as you can.  A lot of sellers will pressure you to restrict your test drive to 10-15 minutes.  Ideally, you'd like to have that vehicle for a week, but that's usually not possible. So try for something in between. Remember, this could be your vehicle for years to come.

    Keep in mind that every vehicle will feel strange to you at first. Buying a vehicle is a little like getting married.  You want that marriage to be happy, and you want it to last, so take the time to get to know it as well as you can.

    Affordable Transmissions
    31533 125 1/2 Street
    PRINCETON, MN 55371
    (763) 533-1169
    http://www.affordabletransmission-mn.com




    How Far We've Come (Newer Vehicle Technology)

    Mar 20, 2022

    Automotive design has come a long way since the days of the Model T, especially when it comes to safety technology.  You can thank computers for a lot of the latest innovations.  Here are a few that have been making their mark in recent years.

    Adaptive cruise control.  This is cruise control with a brain.  Not only will adaptive cruise control keep your vehicle going at a steady speed, it will also slow it down and even stop it if the vehicle ahead of you slows down and stops. 

    Automatic emergency braking.  We've all been distracted while driving, and you've probably been in a situation where the driver ahead of you has suddenly stopped.  Or maybe your attention wandered for a minute and you looked up to see your vehicle closing in fast on the car ahead of you.  (After all, there are a lot more distractions in your vehicle these days.)  New systems that use cameras, lasers and other types of sensors will warn you to start braking.  If you don't heed the warning, they'll put on the brakes for you. 

    Blind spot warning.  We all worry about hitting a car approaching from behind and on either side if we are changing lanes.  Rearview mirrors cover some blind spots but they're not foolproof.  Enter the blind spot warning system; it warns you with a noise or a light if a vehicle is in a spot you might not be able to see.

    Lane departure warning.  We all try to stay in our lane, but sometimes our attention wanders.  If you start to drift out of your lane, new warning systems using cameras and other sophisticated sensors will tell you to get back in your lane.  Some send an audible warning, others use a vibration or warning light. Some will even steer your vehicle back into the lane. 

    Rearview camera.  There was a time when trucks and SUVs were involved in horrible accidents because the drivers couldn't see what was behind them as they backed up.  Children and pets were among the tragic victims.  Now, inexpensive rearview cameras are required in the U.S. and Canada, saving lives and providing much more peace of mind for drivers of vehicles with rear visibility issues. 

    It's important to make sure this safety technology is working correctly for these systems to be effective.  Your service facility can check and maintain these systems as the manufacturer recommends.

    Affordable Transmissions
    31533 125 1/2 Street
    PRINCETON, MN 55371
    (763) 533-1169
    http://www.affordabletransmission-mn.com




    Lease or Buy?

    Nov 10, 2019



    Lease? Or buy? These are the options for PRINCETON drivers. It's always a tough question for auto owners, but here is some info that'll help you make an informed decision.

    If you buy, you'll pay the full cost of the vehicle, maybe an initial down payment, monthly payments on the balance that pays down the loan principal, and the finance charge.

    PRINCETON drivers who lease finance the portion of the cost of the vehicle that's used up during the term of the lease. You'll pay some money up front: fees, security deposit, first month's payment and maybe a capital reduction. The monthly payments include a depreciation cost and a finance charge. When the lease is up, you return the vehicle to your local PRINCETON area dealership. 

    So how do PRINCETON drivers decide?

    First, how much do you have for a down payment? A lease usually requires a smaller down payment.

    How much monthly payment can you afford? Again, lease payments will be much lower for any given down payment.

    A lease needs requires better credit, so that's a factor.

    How long will you keep the vehicle? PRINCETON drivers who keep their vehicles around for a while will pay less if they buy. But just two or three years? Then leasing is the way to go.

    If your car might suffer a ding or two, like a work truck would, then buying's better. The auto leasing company will want their vehicle back at the lease end in tip top shape, and if repairs are needed, you'll pay.

    How far do you drive in and around the PRINCETON area? Important to consider because leases have a mileage limit; if you go over, you pay a hefty charge per mile/kilometer when the lease is up. So high mileage MN drivers should definitely buy.

    Will the car be used in your business? Check with your accountant, but both financing options have different tax benefits, depending on your circumstances.

    Over the short term, leasing is much cheaper. Medium term, leasing and buying costs are about the same. Over the long haul, leasing always costs more.

    Leases may sound a bit complicated, and the typical lease decision weighs more on the monthly payment rather than price. So sometimes PRINCETON leasers may pay on a higher purchase price than a buyer would.

    Here is a tip: If the salesman asks if you'll be leasing or buying, say you're not sure yet. Make your best deal, then look at your financing options.

    Here's another: With a buy or a lease, if you total the vehicle, you'll owe the full amount of the loan, or the balance of the lease payments. Usually, it's less than the vehicle's fair market value, and that's all your MN auto insurance company will pay. But ask your PRINCETON agent about gap insurance, which pays the difference between fair market value and what you owe. Big consideration for a lease.

    Remember, you have to return your leased vehicle in excellent condition and may need to do all the vehicle manufacturer's recommended service and maintenance or face penalties. So see your local advisor at your PRINCETON auto repair shop  or Affordable Transmissions on a regular basis, get the required work done and save the service records. It's well worth it.

    Affordable Transmissions
    31533 125 1/2 Street
    PRINCETON, MN 55371
    (763) 533-1169
    http://www.affordabletransmission-mn.com




    Protecting Your Vehicle from Theft in PRINCETON, MN

    Dec 23, 2018



    Every car in PRINCETON, MN, is at risk for theft. So it's up to us to make our cars a less appealing target and more of a challenge – hopefully sending potential thieves to look elsewhere.

    The National Insurance Crime Bureau recommends a layered approach to protecting vehicles:

    1. Common sense
    2. Visible and audible devices
    3. Immobilizing devices
    4. Tracking devices

    Let's review each of these. One is common sense; you would be surprised how many vehicles are stolen in MN where the keys were left in the ignition with the doors unlocked. Always take your keys and lock the doors. In fact, in some places it's against the law to leave a vehicle unattended with the keys in the ignition.

    And don't leave spare keys in the car or hide them outside – because a thief will find them. PRINCETON drivers would be wise to park in well-lit areas that have a lot of foot traffic. If possible, park near the end of a row and near a light. Back your car into a parking space or your driveway to make your car more visible to passersby and harder for a thief to work under the hood without being seen.

    People in PRINCETON should know that it's important to roll up their windows completely and avoid leaving their car in public lots for a long time. If you park in a lot that has an attendant, only give them the ignition key.

    Keep valuables out of sight; purses, wallets, cell phones, clothes and even change are attractive "smash-and-grab" targets. And pay to have your Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN, etched into your windows – it makes your car less attractive to a thief who wants to send your car to a chop shop.

    There are lots of visible and audible devices available for PRINCETON drivers. A steering wheel lock is highly visible and will deter some thieves. Loud alarms can alert you and others that your vehicle is being tampered with. But if your alarm does go off, be careful. Observe what's going on; get descriptions of suspicious people and vehicles, including license plate numbers.

    Now, if you catch a thief in the act, call 911 but don't approach the person. Your safety is more important than the car.

    And here's a great one - immobilizing devices. They actually shut off your car's electrical or fuel supply. So without a key, or knowing where the hidden switch is located, a thief can't drive your car away.

    Finally, drivers can also get a tracking device that allows PRINCETON police to track their car down and recover it quickly.

    Remember, where you live, work and drive around PRINCETON, MN, has a great impact on your decisions. If you're in an area with high theft rates, you may want to spend more money on security systems. And check with your auto insurance company to see if they offer discounts for adding any of these items.

    Of course, the common sense suggestions from Affordable Transmissions don't cost anything and go a long way toward keeping your car safe from thieves.

     Affordable Transmissions
    31533 125 1/2 Street
    PRINCETON, MN 55371
    (763) 533-1169
    http://www.affordabletransmission-mn.com




    Are There Blind Spots in PRINCETON?

    Apr 3, 2018

     

    All PRINCETON drivers have blind spots – and no, I'm not talking about the fact that you really don't sing like Adele. I mean the areas of the road that you can't see when you're driving around PRINCETON.

    First let's talk about our own blinds spots, and then we can talk about others...

    To begin, we can greatly reduce blind spots by properly adjusting our mirrors to give the widest coverage possible. Make the adjustments in your vehicle before you start to drive.

    First, PRINCETON drivers should adjust their rear view mirrors to give the best possible view directly to the rear of their vehicle. PRINCETON folks don't need it to get a better view of either side of the car, the kids in the back seat or their dazzling smile. It's pretty obvious, the rear view mirror should reflect the rear.

    Next, lean your head until it almost touches the driver's side window. Adjust your side mirror so that you can just barely see the side of your car. Now, lean your head to the middle of the car and adjust the outside mirror so that you can barely see the right side of the car.

    When PRINCETON drivers adjust their mirrors this way, they'll have maximum coverage. Of course driving is a dynamic process – things change every second on MN roads and busy highways. So it's wise to take a quick look to the side when passing to make sure that another vehicle hasn't moved into an area you couldn't see in your mirrors.

    As you drive around the PRINCETON area, avoid staying in others' blind spots. You can't count on them to be watching their mirrors and looking out for you.
    Here are some tips for passing a heavy vehicle on MN roads:
    Avoid the blind spots. If you can't see the drivers face in one of his mirrors or in a window, he cannot see you!
    Don't follow too close. If you can't see one of the truck's mirrors, you're too close.
    Make sure there is plenty of room to pass. Trucks are long and take time to get around. If you're on one of our local two-lane highways, wait for a passing zone.
    Don't linger when passing. Because the blind spots are so big on the sides, you want to get through them quickly. If you can't pass quickly, drop back.
    Pass on the left whenever possible. A trucks' blind spot is much larger on the right.
    The team of automotive professionals at Affordable Transmissions want you to watch those blind spots – but feel free to sing in the shower all you want.

    Affordable Transmissions
    31533 125 1/2 Street
    PRINCETON, MN 55371
    (763) 533-1169
    http://www.affordabletransmission-mn.com




    What to Do in Case of an Accident in PRINCETON

    Mar 13, 2017

    Screeching tires, crunching metal – it's an accident! If you've ever been in a car accident in PRINCETON, even a minor one, you know how upsetting it can be. It's hard to think straight and know what to do.

    Let's review what PRINCETON drivers should do in case of an accident:

    When an accident occurs, you should always stop. Leaving the scene of an accident in PRINCETON is considered a crime - even if it's not your fault. And hit and run penalties are fairly severe, possibly resulting in steep fines, loss of your MN driver's license or even jail time.

    Your jurisdiction may require that you try to help someone who is injured by calling for help or performing first aid if you are able. Warn other motorists by putting out flares, using your flashers or lifting your hood. Call PRINCETON emergency services as soon as possible. Tell the operator if medical or fire help is needed.

    You should always file a police report. It's tempting to skip this if everything seems to be ok. But without a police report, the other guy can say whatever he wants about the accident later, and you won't have an objective report to help defend yourself. Discuss the accident only with the police. Emotions are strong after an accident and we naturally want to talk about it – don't. Never admit fault or guilt to anyone including the PRINCETON police officer. Sometimes we may feel at fault, but in the eyes of the law, the other guy may be responsible.

    Truthfully give the officer the facts: such as, "I was going 30 miles an hour," or, "I was going 55 kilometers per hour," not, "I wasn't speeding." Remember, anything you say to the officer or anyone else can be used against you. Also get the officer's name and ID number and ask where you can get a copy of the accident report.

    Get the facts on the driver and owner of the other vehicle:

    • Name
    • Address
    • Phone number
    • Date of birth
    • Driver's license number and expiration
    • Insurance information

    Also take down a description of the other vehicle, license plate and vehicle identification number (VIN). Most MN auto insurance companies don't record license plate numbers, so the VIN is the best way to track a vehicle in MN.

    Ask witnesses, including passengers, to wait for the police. If they can't wait, ask for contact information and request that they write a brief description of what they saw. If someone refuses to leave their name, write down their license plate number so the police can track them down later if necessary. Always call your insurance agent or your insurance company. Call or see a physician if you think you may have been injured. For vehicle repairs, call Affordable Transmissions at (763) 533-1169.

    Contact Affordable Transmissions to learn more about what to do in case of an auto accident.
    You can find us at:

    31533 125 1/2 Street
    PRINCETON, MN 55371
    (763) 533-1169
    http://www.affordabletransmission-mn.com