Hot New Sports Cars

Posted on February 21, 2012 by jsokoloff
new-sports-cars

new-sports-cars

Motor Trend has published its list of new sports cars, and the roster is pretty thrilling. From the familiar to the unique, the new cars cover a range wide enough to suit any taste and almost any budget. Here, we hit a few highlights.

  • At the high end of the price range, Ferrari and Lamborghini offer exotic good looks, as well as performance and efficiency. If your auto budget exceeds $300,000, consider the 2012 Lamborghini Aventador. With a 6.5-liter V12 engine and sleek, aerodynamic styling, the Aventador gets 17 miles per gallon on the highway.
  • If you want to spend a little less, but still feel like James Bond, Aston Martin has several options.  For just over two hundred thousand dollars, the 2012 Aston Martin Virage comes in both coupe and convertible, stylish and sleek, with an average of 18 mpg on the highway.
  • The 2012 Porsche 911 offers excitement and luxury, the antidote to the dull drive. With a price tag of about half the Aston Martin, the 911 gets 26 mpg on the highway, and is available in convertible and coupe.
  • Lower on the price scale, but higher in unique style, the Lotus Exige offers a thrill—to those who can fit inside it! This small but exotic model has thrilling good looks, a $65,000 price tag, and gets 26 mpg on the highway.
  • The Audi S5 offers a smooth and quiet ride. With sleek styling and a supercharged turbo engine, this model offers powerful open-top fun.
  • Coming down from the luxury prices is the newly redesigned Volkswagen EOS. A unique hardtop convertible with a completely functioning power tilt, a slide sunroof and a comfortable leatherette interior, the EOS offers sporty style at 30 mpg on the highway for just under $40,000.
  • The GTI is another great offering from Volkswagen. Offering 31 mpg on the highway and priced under $25,000, the GTI has the distinction of offering cargo space to go with its sporty sensibilities.
  • The perfect combination of the familiar and the sporty, the Beetle is a true classic. Fun to drive, and reasonably priced, the 2012 Beetle is sleeker and sportier than ever.

Whether your style leans toward the Beetle, the EOS, or the GTI, Lewisville VW has you covered. Check us out for your next hot sports car, by dropping by the dealership or visiting our website. For a deeper connection, find us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

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Volkswagen: New Cars For 2012

Posted on February 20, 2012 by jsokoloff
New-Cars-For-2012

New-Cars-For-2012

It’s exciting checking out the various new cars for 2012…especially the lineup from Volkswagen! You’ll see some exciting new cars and revamped older models in the 2012 Volkswagen line:

2012 Volkswagen Eos

This sharp, sporty convertible comes with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and amenities like a PSI monitor for tire pressure, parking assistance, Bluetooth connectivity for your phone, and a cosmetic facelift that includes revamped headlights and body styling.

2012 Volkswagen Passat

The familiar Passat sedan is now longer, wider, heavier, and roomier on the inside—all that and thousands of dollars less! It’s available with a 170-horsepower 2.5 liter five-cylinder, 140-horsepower 2.0 liter turbo-diesel four cylinder, or 280-horsepower 3.6 liter V-6. The Passat wagon has been discontinued, as has the manual transmission option.

2012 Volkswagen Beetle

Completely redesigned for 2012, the Beetle now is lower and wider, with more interior room, revamped mechanical features, more horsepower, a bigger trunk, and a premium Fender sound system (among other new amenities). The Beetle retains its identity, though – it’s still unmistakably a Volkswagen Beetle!

2012 Volkswagen Routan

The big Volkswagen minivan remains fairly unchanged for 2012, with the same great safety features like knee and side curtain airbags, a rearview camera, and blind-spot protection for parking. It also includes great creature comforts like an eight-way power driver’s seat, second- and third-row sunshades, Bluetooth connectivity, power side doors, satellite radio, and digital music storage.

2012 Volkswagen Touareg

The SUV/crossover from Volkswagen still offers an amazing amount of refinement and sophistication, with either a gasoline V6 or Turbo Diesel V6 that offers amazing fuel efficiency. Things like a power liftgate, heated seats, eight-speaker sound system, dual-zone climate control, satellite radio, rearview camera and more are all standard on the Sport model – the Lux and Hybrid models offer even more well-thought-out features.

You can find all the 2012 VW models (all these and much more) at Lewisville VW! It’s easy to keep track of all things Volkswagen by connecting with us through Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

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Are You in the Market for Discounted Tires?

Posted on February 16, 2012 by jsokoloff
discounted-tires

discounted-tires

We tend to not even think about our tires much until something goes wrong…and with money so tight, many people are looking for discounted tires when the time comes. There are plenty of good discounted tires out there (such as store brands for the major dealers), but remember that you’re getting what you pay for. You’ll be compromising on things like SIPE treatment and mileage warranties, as well as load ratings (important for light trucks or vans) and speed ratings. But if you’ve got an older model or high-mileage car that you don’t want to sink a lot of money into, it makes sense to look for discounted tires.

Remember that brands such as Firestone, Goodyear and Michelin all have sub-brand tires as well. They may not offer the same mileage warranty (and may be made from a different rubber compound), but they often offer a good deal in a quality tire nonetheless.

When you’re shopping for a discounted tire, you can hit the nationwide dealers such as:

  • NTB
  • Firestone
  • Sears
  • Discount Tire
  • Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club

And remember that all the dealers will run specials from time to time; in many cases, they will even meet or beat competitor’s prices.

It’s like any other purchase…you just need to do your homework and compare performance, prices, deals and reviews on discounted tires. One thing’s for sure, though…buying used tires is a roll of the dice, since you don’t know the type of maintenance or care used tires have had (i.e. regular rotations). Discounted tires often aren’t much more expensive than used tires, and having a warranty and road-hazard coverage makes them much more of a good deal!

If you’re driving a Volkswagen, your dealer can give you good advice on the best advice on brands that are a good fit for your car. Come on down to Lewisville Volkswagen if you’ve got any questions, and connect with us online through YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook!

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Just In Case You Missed The Volkswagen Commercial

Posted on February 15, 2012 by jsokoloff
Volkswagen-Commercial

Volkswagen-Commercial

Well, the football season’s over (congrats Giants!!), and as usual, people looked forward to the commercials as much as the Big Game…and as usual, the Volkswagen commercial didn’t disappoint. In case you didn’t see the game, the Volkswagen ad featured Bolt the dog getting himself in shape with a doggie diet-and-exercise regimen, followed by a sudden switcheroo involving Darth Vader…

Part of what keeps Americans coming back to football is the drama. It’s so much more than the game itself – it’s the personalities, the off-field stories, and the amount of pride that people put in their towns and their teams. Twenty years ago, who would have thought that the Patriots and Giants would go the whole distance? Or who would have thought that the season-finale game would be hosted in Indianapolis? That’s part of the beauty of the game. It’s always in a state of flux, and it never stays the same forever.

That’s why the Big Game consistently sets records for viewership and TV ratings. …And why the ads are so hotly contested (and expensive). And you’ve got to admit, the idea of an overweight dog diligently going on a diet-and-exercise program so that he can chase Volkswagens is pretty cute!

At Lewisville Volkswagen, we’ve got plenty more Volkswagen fun for you! We invite you to come down and have a look at the latest Volkswagen models, and take a test drive. Also, feel free to like us on Facebook, connect with us on LinkedIn, and explore some peace, love and happiness Volkswagen-style on our YouTube channel.

Oh, and one more time…congrats, Giants!

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How to Properly Install a Car Seat

Posted on December 20, 2011 by jsokoloff

At Lewisville VW, we’ll do everything in our power to keep you and your children safe. We’ve provided you with the most up-to-date car seat securing system, and we want to help you learn how to properly install a car seat.

Types of Car Seats

Infants must ride in rear-facing car seats in the rear seat of your vehicle. Babies/young children should stay rear-facing for as long as possible, as it is the absolute safest position. In the event of a head-on crash, the infant’s whole body is pushed against the back of the car seat rather than forward against the straps. Keep your child rear-facing until they reach the upper limit of your car seat’s weight restriction—the longer, the better. A young child’s neck is particularly susceptible to major injury if thrown forward during an accident, so protect children with a rear-facing seat for as long as you can.

A child can graduate to a forward-facing car seat with a harness once he or she has fully outgrown rear-facing seats. Once your child outgrows his or her forward-facing seat, they can graduate to a booster seat in the back seat of your car. Booster seats are designed for children weighing 40 to 100 pounds, ages 4 to 12, and up to 4 feet, 9 inches tall.

A child should only graduate to a seatbelt once they’re big enough that the seat belt rests across the top of the thighs, rather than on the stomach. According to the National Highway Safety Administration, even children large enough to ride secured with a seatbelt alone should ride in the rear seats until at least the age of 12.

LATCH

LATCH, or “Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children,” is the standardized car seat attachment system now required by law in all new vehicles. The system consists of two “lower anchors,” similar to steel U-bolts, that are built into the bight (crack) between the back rest and lower seat. These are usually accompanied by a top tether that secures the top of the child safety seat to another anchor behind the car’s seat. This system is designed to make proper car seat installation intuitive and standardized between cars and safety seats. Still, it is important to always read the manuals for both your safety seat and your car in order to ensure that your child is safely secured in the event of an accident.

Seat Belt Installation

In older cars that don’t have the LATCH system, the seat can be installed using the seat belt to owner’s manual specifications. Once the car seat is installed, try with serious force to rock the seat from side to side. If you can move it more than an inch in either direction, use the locking clip that came with the seat to secure the seatbelt more tightly. If you’ve misplaced the locking clip, contact the manufacturer to order a new one before you use the car seat.

Know the Law

Car seat laws vary by state, but all states require safety seats for very young children. In Texas, children younger than 7 years old (and 57 inches tall) MUST be restrained in an appropriate child safety seat. Check the Governors’ Highway Safety Association page on Child Passenger Safety Laws to make sure you’re following the rules when you cross state lines. Don’t risk fines, fees, or your child’s safety.

Want to know more about car seat safety or about Lewisville VW? Keep up to date by following our blog or join one of our social networks on Twitter or Facebook.

 

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New Car Buying Strategy – Buying A New Car From the Dealer

Posted on December 15, 2011 by jsokoloff

At Lewisville VW, we’re proud to give our customers an edge. When you shop with us, the largest-volume VW dealer in Texas, you’ll know you’re getting the best VW has to offer. From products to service, we’re here for you. To prove it, we’re letting you in on a few tricks of the trade for buying a new car in today’s market:

  • Know what’s up-and-coming. The vehicle industry is making major changes. For example, VW recently introduced a diminutive new fireball called the Up! for European markets at this year’s Frankfurt Auto Show in Germany. If you want stunning gas mileage and unprecedented style, and have the luxury of waiting a bit for your next purchase, lay low and keep your ears open for news of a U.S. launch.
  • Know which models most interest you and why. Ready for that new car smell now? Take the time to do research. Understand the pros and cons of each vehicle, and which ones have the features that best fit your lifestyle and budget. VW has a car, truck, or van for everyone. Come in and talk to a sales representative if you need some help getting started, or do some online research on your own.
  • Know the Kelley Blue Book value for your chosen model(s). This is your baseline invoice price for a vehicle. You can always expect to pay over Blue Book value for add-ons, especially with financing options. Factor in convenience, padding, and exactly how much you want that car when deciding to haggle out the difference between the invoice value and the dealer’s “suggested retail.” Knowing the Blue Book value gives you a good starting point and keeps you from being taken for an unreasonable ride by an unscrupulous dealership. Here at Lewisville VW, you can trust us to steer you right every time.
  • Take your time. Don’t make snap decisions. Time frames are different for everyone – some buyers have all the options laid out before they enter our showroom for the first time and leave their first meeting with keys in hand, feeling like they’ve made a reasoned purchase. Others come back several times to make sure they’ve found the perfect fit. Do your homework – a car is a major purchase that will stick with you for a long time. Make sure you’re financing at the best possible rate for your qualifications and don’t jump in without thinking things through. Consider taking a trusted friend along to help you make a decision you’re as happy with when the car is paid off as you are when you drive it off the lot.

Nobody can help you through the car buying process like Lewisville VW. We pride ourselves on selling the right car to the right person at the right price, day in and day out. Keep up to date with our current offerings by following our blog, or join one of our social networks on Twitter or Facebook.

 

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Smart Driving Strategies to Keep You Safe

Posted on December 9, 2011 by jsokoloff

We at Volkswagen build our vehicles to protect our customers, but your best defense against an accident is smart driving.  Here are some dangerous scenarios and smart driving strategies designed to keep you in control:

Dangerous Driving Conditions

  • Fog: Never drive in dense fog unless absolutely necessary. If you must drive, use your low beams to minimize the light that’s reflected back at you by the fog. Roll your windows down and turn off the radio to hear what you can’t see. Take your time; don’t switch lanes needlessly. Take it slow and be patient.
  • Wet Pavement: Slow down to minimize chances of a skid. Even after the rain has stopped, wet pavement can cause a dangerous loss of control. Once upon a time, Driver’s Ed wisdom told drivers to “turn into the skid.” It’s sound advice, but seemed to “confuse people more than help them,” according to an article in Parents Magazine. Instead, take your foot off the gas immediately. Pick a focal point well down the road and steer gently toward that point. Don’t over-steer, as wild swings of the wheel can take automobiles, especially SUVs, into a roll.
  • Flood Conditions: “Turn around – don’t drown.” If you can’t see the bottom, you don’t know how deep the water is. Don’t take your car into any unknown water, especially if you can physically see that water in motion. If you find yourself in rising waters, abandon the vehicle and head for higher ground on foot.

If an Accident Occurs

  • Inundation: If you land in deep water, stay calm. Unbuckle yourself and climb into the back, if necessary, to unbuckle children. Wait until water stops entering the vehicle – this tells you you’ve allowed enough water to enter the car to equalize the pressure inside and outside, so that a sudden rush of water won’t pin you in. Roll down manual windows or, if you have electronic windows, break the glass and swim to safety. Ideally, keep a hammer or a 5-inch spring-loaded punch in the car to break window glass.
  • Blowout: If a tire blows out while driving on a highway, it may feel as if you’ve hit a speed bump. Don’t crane your head to find the problem; focus on the road ahead. Take your foot off the gas and let the car coast to a stop, as far off the road as possible. Hit the brakes only to help at the very end of your car’s coast, not before.

If you are involved in an accident, stay safe. Don’t move anyone who may be injured. If possible, move vehicles off the road to a safe location. Call the authorities on your cell phone or ask a bystander to do it for you. Exchange insurance information and call your insurance provider while you’re still on the scene. If the police aren’t called or don’t come (for example, if you live in a metropolitan area where police only visit injury crashes), call the local police station and file an accident report as soon as you get home.

We want to keep you and your car in one piece. If you’re looking to hop in the seat of a new or used car, see our large selection of vehicles at Lewisville Volkswagen. For more tips, along with huge specials and promotions, follow us on Twitter and “like” our Facebook page.

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Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI Compared to Toyota’s Prius V Three

Posted on November 29, 2011 by jsokoloff

In July, Edmunds’ Inside Line looked at the Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI compared to Toyota’s new Prius V Three wagon. Both are billed as eco-friendly, high-efficiency upgrades—the Prius as a gas-electric hybrid and the SportWagen as a turbo diesel. The VW Jetta SportWagen TDI was the clear winner of Edmunds’ head-to-head challenge. Here’s why:

Body

These two cars are designed to appeal to space-conscious, eco-conscious families who still want some bang for their buck. The VW 2012 SportWagen has a lower, sportier profile than the Prius while sacrificing only 0.4 cubic feet of space with someone in every seat, and only 1.5 cubic feet of space with the rear seat down. The VW is a crossover made for eco-conscious families that still want to feel the power and adaptability of a real “car.”

Brains

In the Edmunds’ comparison, the VW’s inner workings blew away the Prius when it came to handling and power. According to the Edmunds’ comparison, “the Prius V feels slow nearly all the time, while the Jetta SportWagen never feels underpowered, even on hills.” The VW’s 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine and six-speed automated double-clutch manual transmission give it a feel that’s “more like a car and less like a driving appliance.” The Prius V does get slightly better fuel economy, but its continuously variable transmission (CVT) gives it an odd feel and “rubber-band” response. Add to that the Prius’ loud, unmistakable drone at highway speeds below a 70-mpg cruise (louder than the VW at full throttle by 2 decibels), and the VW is the clear winner.

Business

The Prius V Three will be priced at $27,165, just over Edmunds’ estimated value of $27,000 back in July. In their estimate, it would take about two years to recoup the higher cost of the Prius over the VW, even with the Prius’ lower gas mileage costs.

According to Edmunds, the VW Jetta SportWagen TDI is “simply more rewarding to drive in every situation.” With a better bottom line, better performance, and a body built with the family in mind, it’s time to accept it – diesel’s back!

We want to keep you and your car in one piece. If you’re looking to hop in the seat of a new or used car, see our large selection of vehicles at Lewisville Volkswagen. For more tips, along with huge specials and promotions, follow us on Twitter and “like” our Facebook page.

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Our State Rolls Out the New Texas Driving Laws

Posted on November 28, 2011 by jsokoloff

Lewisville VW is proud to be a Texas-based VW dealership. The new Texas driving laws were rolled out starting at midnight on September 1. Now that we have had some time to watch the changes take effect, here’s the lowdown on exactly what changed – and what the changes mean for you.

Speed Limits

A barrage of new speed limit laws went into effect with the new traffic policies. Speed limits on beaches were lowered to 15 mph. School buses with commercial vehicle inspection stickers will now be able to go 60 mph on highways, while school buses without those stickers will be allowed a maximum speed of 50 mph. Large trucks and school activity buses will now be able to travel the same speed as cars on the highways, while lower speeds for large vehicles will continue to be maintained on back roads.

Perhaps the most widely-reported change is the new maximum highway speed limit of 85 mph. TxDOT is in the process of conducting a speed study and will raise the speed limit on appropriate roadways where it is deemed safe. If you’ve got a new (or new-to-you) VW to test, that higher speed limit could be just the ticket. Just be safe out there!

Expect to see changes made over the next few months. Keep a close eye on speed limit signs in your area, as many of them could change from one day to the next. You’ll see minimum speed limit signs changed and nighttime speed limit signs removed across the state. Remember that a higher speed limit does not equal permission for dangerous or unsafe driving practices.

 Seatbelt Laws

Previous seatbelt laws were extended in the new provisions to include every child in the vehicle, no matter where they are seated. Any child younger than the age of 15 must be restrained in a manner suitable to their size and weight. No exceptions! Children over 12 years old or 4 feet 9 inches tall may graduate from booster seats to seatbelts as long as that seatbelt fits them securely – across the upper thighs, not across the stomach.

Other Tidbits

Legislation to increase the driving age was introduced but not passed; the legal driving age remains 16 in the state of Texas. The DWI threshold has been dropped from 0.10 to 0.08 blood-alcohol concentration. Vehicle inspection fees have been increased; and new driver’s license and ID cards will include a writeable surface where card holders can fill in an emergency contact number, along with space for physician instructions and/or drug and allergy warnings.

Want a hand staying up-to-date on changing traffic safety laws? Keep up to date by following our blog or join one of our social networks on Twitter or Facebook.

 

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Car Travel With Children

Posted on November 16, 2011 by jsokoloff

At Lewisville VW, we know that many parents dread car travel with children. With a long car trip ahead, parents worry about balancing family time with electronic distractions and arriving as a family that still loves one another. Here are a few tips for keeping kids engaged during long rides in the car:

Infants/Young Children

The key to a successful trip with a small child is timing. If possible, leave in the early afternoon so that your infant or toddler can have his or her usual afternoon nap on the road. Plan to stop for dinner so that the little one(s) can have a little time out of the car seat. Stop regularly to change diapers and feed snacks – a child who is clean and well-fed is more likely to stay in a contented mood. Your child will most likely fall asleep again after dark, so plan to drive late into the evening – but be sure to stop for the night while you’re still alert and awake at the helm.

Resist the temptation to feed an infant or young child a bottle or snack foods on the road. These are a guaranteed distraction, but the reward is simply not worth the risk. If your baby chokes, the chances that you can pull over, get into the back seat, and remove your child from the safety harness in time to deliver the Heimlich maneuver are slim to none. Though snacks are a great distraction for older children, they simply aren’t a viable option for young infants and toddlers.

Bring a few beloved toys along for the ride and keep them at the ready. Offer them one at a time so that each one receives your child’s full attention. Hold a favorite toy or stuffed animal in reserve in the front seat as a last-ditch comfort mechanism when nothing else works.

Older Children

Once the afternoon nap is a thing of the past, it’s less likely that your kids will sleep for a substantial portion of the trip. The least expensive option for entertaining your children is finding a car game that engages the whole family – such as “I spy” or “Spotto.” You can find suggestions for such games at how to save money.

Let older kids pack a small bag of books and activities for the trip that they’ve chosen and that they enjoy. If you have a little money to spend, consider investing in audiobooks that the whole family can enjoy. The iPhone “Audiobooks” app is an excellent, cost-effective option.

As a last-ditch option, consider the purchase of a DVD player or video game player for the car. DVDs are the ultimate distraction but will keep children from interacting with each other or with you. Consider the pros and cons carefully before installing a video game/DVD player, and you’ll have made a decision that’s best for your family.

Need a little help with that next vacation? For information on contests and promotions, join us on Twitter or like our Facebook page.

 

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