Come and celebrate the Holidays with Santa!

Santa will be taking time out of his busy schedule to help Members AutoChoice benefit the Toys for Tots program! Santa will be at our
Buford location on December 21st from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to celebrate Christmas giving. You (and the kids!) will get free pictures with Santa and free BBQ simply by bringing in a toy for Toys for Tots.

Ho, Ho, Hope to see you there!

Should you find yourself in this situation, here are a couple of tips to consider:

• Evaluate your budget as to what you can afford

• Obtain a complete understanding of your current credit status

• Secure your auto financing before you go to a Auto Dealership

• Familiarize yourself with the current vehicle market by doing your research

• Take advantage of any Car Buying Services or resources that may be offered through your Credit Union or Bank

Purchasing a vehicle is a major transaction which should not be rushed into, so take your time to gather the most relevant information possible in order to make a great car buying decision.  Consult with a Members AutoChoice Sales Consultant should you find yourself in the above mentioned situation and need help navigating through the car buying process.

• Change your oil and oil filter every three to five thousand miles. Oil is the life blood of your engine (you wouldn’t run too well without blood!). Do this on a regular basis and you will avoid break downs and expensive repairs. It’s 30 bucks every three months, no excuses.

• Rotate your tires every other oil change. It will prolong the life of your tires (since nowadays tires cost as much as a weekend in Vegas!) and your vehicle will stay handling and riding much better than if you don’t do it.

• Have your battery tested once a year. Nothing is worse than missing the first day of your new job because your battery is dead (or maybe leaving that someplace that maybe you shouldn’t be at in the first place and you have to call someone to get a jump!).

• Replace your wiper blades once a year (like you would your contacts). Consult your mechanic (or ophthalmologist!).

• Service your automatic transmission once a year, by doing so it will keep it shifting properly and smoothly. This is the backbone of your car—we all know how we get old and are not able to move around like we used to! Luckily, having your transmission serviced will help you car last (but maybe not your back!).

• Change your coolant once a year. It will keep your vehicle operating at the correct temps and help to avoid overheating and breaking down (on that dark lonely road that Jason and Freddy happen to live on!).

• Change your air filter and in-cabin filter every three months. This keeps the right amount of air flowing to the engine and helps to maximize your fuel mileage. The in-cabin filter is for your health as it filters the air you breath that’s coming into your vehicle, so you get fresh, clean air (verses turning on your A/C and feeling like you just walked into the smokers lounge at the airport!).

• Keep your car clean by going to the car wash every couple of weeks. Not only does it keep your car looking good, but it also helps to maintain your resale value. (Besides, your fellow drivers don’t want to have to look at something that looks like it just came off safari in the outback!)

So just follow these tips and you should experience joyous automobile ownership. (Of course you could choose not to do these simple things, in which case I’ll honk as I roll by you sitting in the emergency lane.)

Need help finding a car to extend the life of? Contact Members AutoChoice today!

We offer a competitive compensation package with benefits.

Please send info about yourself including your resume to jobs@membersautochoice.com.

I started the application process with Georgia Brown at the NIADA and it was a very easy. Georgia walked me through everything that she needed from me and after I sent all of the required paperwork, within a few days I received an acceptance letter for the program.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the class because after being in this business for over 10 years I began to fool myself into thinking that I already knew everything about the car business. Boy was I wrong!

From day one of the class, Joe Lescota, the instructor lets you know that you are in a class and not a seminar. The difference of course is passing the tests.

As I sat back and listened to Joe’s teaching, I took notes and learned pretty quickly that there was so much more about this business that I needed to know. His teaching style leaves you wanting to learn even more. Yes, I was getting valuable information about the used car industry but I was also learning about relationships and how they factor into our lives as well as our businesses.

Speaking of relationships, I was impressed that the class also had several employees from AutoTrader there just to learn more about Independent dealers and how we do business. Since they are not dealers, they were not even eligible to receive the CMD certificate. Their dedication to our industry made me take a closer look at Autotrader as more of a partner instead of just a vendor. Some vendors are just that, and others become business partners that are invaluable to your day to day operations.

Not only did I gain insightful information from Joe, I also had an opportunity to network with other Independent dealers from all around the country and I learned from each of them as well. Our class seemed to bond well with each other, which made learning the material easier and a lot more fun.

Also since I have been out of school for quite some time, I lost my study rhythm. There were three students from Northwood University’s Automotive Marketing and Management Program there to assist all of us with regaining our rhythm. I can honestly say that each of those young men worked diligently with all of the CMD candidates to ensure that we understood the teaching. Some of the study sessions were very long indeed!

Three days and three tests later I can honestly say that I, without a doubt, made the right decision
to go through the CMD training. I made new friends and gained a wealth of knowledge that I didn’t have before about the used car industry. The CMD program makes you want to get out of your office and learn more and more about this exciting and ever changing business that we are in. It makes you want to get more involved.

In conclusion, since going through the CMD program I have made a commitment to get more involved with the used car industry and not just sit behind my desk all day. I want to continue gaining knowledge and lose the fear of changing as our industry changes. If you are considering getting more involved yourself and would like to learn more about the used car industry as well as reach an awesome goal, the CMD program is right for you.

Michelle L. Groover
President/CEO
Members AutoChoice, LLC

The study was overseen by the Governors Highway Safety Association, a nonprofit organization that represents highway safety offices in every state and territory, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Here are a few highlights from the study:

1)      There are four basic types of distractions: visual (e.g. looking away from the road), auditory (e.g. listening to something that’s unrelated to driving), manual (e.g. fiddling with something other than the steering wheel or gear shift, like the radio or a mobile phone), and cognitive (e.g. thinking about something other than driving).

2)      Most major distractions involve at least two of the above factors.

3)      Shockingly, the majority of drivers admit to being distracted between 25% and 50% of the time they are behind the wheel.

4)      Roughly 1/3 of all drivers regularly use a mobile phone while driving.

5)      Roughly 1 in 8 drivers have said that they text and drive.

6)      Between 15% and 30% of drivers involved in auto accidents have admitted to being distracted (and the figure may actually be higher due to reporting inconsistencies).

7)      While texting is almost certainly more dangerous than talking on a cell phone, the GHSA study insists that “there is no conclusive evidence on whether hands-free cell phone use is less risky than hand held use.”

8)      Laws prohibiting talking and texting on mobile phones result in reductions of those activities immediately after the law goes into effect, but there’s no sign that they have any long-term impact or that they reduce the total number of crashes.

Despite point #8, the GHSA recommends that states continue to implement anti-talk/text laws, but stress that unless those laws are regularly enforced, they’ll do no good.

As technologies in telematics and collision-avoidance become more common place, hopefully we’ll see distracted driving become a more manageable problem. For now the problem lies with us, the drivers. We have to take responsibility for our actions and put away the phones while driving and encourage our kids, co-workers, and spouses to do the same.

*Portions of this taken from GHSA study

There are various types of extended warranties, each differing by the type of coverage provided as listed below:

• Full Coverage (Bumper-to-Bumper)
• Modified Full Coverage
• Basic Coverage (Power Train)

The cost can vary based on the coverage type and the length of time covered (i.e.: 12, 24, 36, 48 or 60 Months). This is where customizing an extended warranty for your pre-owned vehicle is important. When choosing an extended warranty you may want to consider your driving and maintenance habits (number of miles you drive annually, unexpected repairs you are willing to cover should they occur, and the frequency of normal vehicle maintenance).  These factors are all important in coming up with a cost-effective extended warranty product for your pre-owned vehicle.

For example, you purchase a 2009 Dodge Charger with 60,000 miles on September 1, 2011. All original manufactures warranty has expired (both original Bumper-to-bumper and Power train) on the related vehicle and your past driving habits indicate that you normally drive 20,000 miles per year.  As such, look to see which of the following terms would be most cost effective and meet your driving needs:

A)

A bumper-to-bumper extended warranty that expires after 40,000 miles or 48 months (4 years) after the date of purchase,

whichever comes first (miles or time)
B)

A bumper-to-bumper extended warranty that expires after 40,000 miles or 36 months (3 years) after the date of purchase,

whichever comes first (miles or time)
C)

A bumper to bumper extended warranty that expires after 40,000 miles or 24 months (2 years) after the date of purchase,

whichever comes first (miles or time)

Have you determined your answer? If you thought option C would be the best extended warranty product for the related customers driving needs, then you are right because of the 20,000 mile annual driving habits. Both options A & B would cause the customer to pay more for the longer coverage periods (36 and 48 months), however, due to the customers driving habits (20,000 miles per year) the extended warranty would expire after 2 years because, based on their driving habits, the customer would have reached the addition 40,000 miles first.

Choosing the right extended warranty product should take some careful thought and planning in order to get the best results and protection at the most effective price.  For more guidance on this issue, contact your local MAC car buying consultants.

(1) Make a lane change into a lane not adjacent to the authorized emergency vehicle if possible in the existing safety and traffic conditions; or
(2) If a lane change under paragraph (1) of this subsection would be impossible, prohibited by law, or unsafe, reduce the speed of the motor vehicle to a reasonable and proper speed for the existing road and traffic conditions, which speed shall be less than the posted speed limit, and be prepared to stop.

(b) The operator of a motor vehicle approaching a stationary towing or recovery vehicle or a stationary highway maintenance vehicle that is displaying flashing yellow, amber, or red lights shall approach the vehicle with due caution and shall, absent any other direction by a peace officer, proceed as follows:

(1) Make a lane change into a lane not adjacent to the towing, recovery, or highway maintenance vehicle if possible in the existing safety and traffic conditions; or
(2) If a lane change under paragraph (1) of this subsection would be impossible, prohibited by law, or unsafe, reduce the speed of the motor vehicle to a reasonable and proper speed for the existing road and traffic conditions, which speed shall be less than the posted speed limit, and be prepared to stop.

(c) Violation of subsection (a) or (b) of this Code section shall be punished by a fine of $500.00.

This new law in Georgia says drivers must move over for emergency vehicles stopped on the side of the highway. This law is meant to keep officers and traffic violators safe from crashes with passing cars. We have seen these incidents on the local news many times.

This law passed after a growing number of police, emergency technicians, and DOT workers were being killed during routine traffic stops, crash responses, and highway construction projects around the nation. Right now more than thirty states have move-over laws on the books, with fines that range as high as one thousand dollars or more in some jurisdictions. The move-over fine in Georgia is an “attention getting” five hundred dollars.

Failure to obey this law can lead to consequences far more serious than fines. According to FBI statistics, traffic crashes claim the lives of more police personnel than any other cause of death in the line of duty, including shootings. According to the FBI last year, forty nine officers died in crashes across the country. Thirteen of those were struck and killed by passing vehicles while they worked outside their patrol cars.

This law was meant to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities to police officers, paramedics, and firefighters, tow truck drivers and highway maintenance workers according to the office of highway safety. Reports show emergency vehicles of all kinds have been struck while parked on Georgia highways—even with emergency lights flashing.

The Georgia MOVE-OVER law requires drivers to move over one lane when possible. Don’t worry about those people who are flying past you, think about yourself. SLOW DOWN below the posted speed. Think SAFETY FIRST.