All In A Days Work

As you know winter is on it’s way – or for some, it’s already here! We know there are probably harsher conditions to come, so making sure your car is prepared for the winter weather is always a good idea! Here are a few must do tips for preparing your car for winter.

GET A TUNE UP. Winter or not, regular vehicle maintenance is always a good idea. But harsh temperatures and weather changes can affect your car – in a bad way, if you are not prepared. Make sure everything is in working order and have your mechanic do a winter check up, such as making sure you have wiper fluid, winter-grade oil, your battery is in good shape, all hoses are top notch, and the cooling system is working properly. I always ask for them to put an extra bottle (or I go buy one) of wiper fluid, because I always run out before my next oil change.

DO A WALK AROUND. Make sure your headlights and taillights are in working order.; we usually change the bulbs after our winter tune up just to make sure – and clean the fixtures as well! They can get grimy and its hard to see. Also make sure that your wiper blades are working properly – if you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself, check with your local dealership and just set up a a maintenance appointment or ask them to check for you during your tune up.

DON’T FORGET THE TIRES. As the temperature falls, so does the air pressure in your tires. Tires can lose pressure at a rate of about one pound per 10 degrees! It can also effect the handling of your vehicle, so make sure that they are at the correct pressure. If you are in an area that has a lot of snowfall, getting special snow tires would be a really good idea s well!

MAKE SURE YOUR EMERGENCY KIT IT UP TO DATE. Most of us throw a box or bag of ’emergency items’ in the back of the car and then forget about it. THIS is the time to make sure that you have everything you need, including blankets, maybe extra gloves, a flashlight, etc. Getting stranded in the summer is a whole different ball game then in the winter. . winter can definitely mean life or death. So make sure your kit is up to date; charge your extra battery charger for your phone, get a portable jumper (and make sure its charged) throw in some non-perishable snacks and some bottled water. You won’t be sorry!

A lot of people get confused when it comes to 2WD and 4WD and what the uses are. Four wheel drive vehicles is where the engine power goes to all four wheels at the same time. Sometimes 4WD vehicles do allow you to switch back and forth between 2WD and 4WD depending on the need. If you like off-road adventures, settle into 4WD and buckle up!

TRY NOT TO SPIN THOSE TIRES
Though it looks like all fun and games, you need to maintain control and be careful about spinning. The grip needs to remain spread to all wheels – if you can – just go soft on the throttle and gently give it some power. Spinning without control will leave you STUCK and as much fun as it can be to get use out of your winch, it can be harmful to your Jeep (and whoever is pulling you out!)

THINK AHEAD 
Try to focus on the vehicles or terrain ahead of you to avoid damaging your Jeep. You may be gunning it to get out of a possible sticky situation, and your friend in front of you may be taking it slow trying to get out of a pit. That’s when accidents happen when off-roading, when you aren’t paying attention to what is going on in front of you. We usually let someone take lead and get through a pass before starting; this also helps cut down on more than one vehicle being stuck! Think smarter, not harder!

GEAR UP 
A winch alone won’t get you out of a tough spot – you need to make sure you have everything you need just in case. In a pinch a rugged floor mat under each tire or even stacking rocks or filling holes could help get you free, but for a major ‘sticky’ situation, you’ll need the heavy duty wide tow strap with the fabric loops on each end. The straps can be secured using the strong clevis at each end and attach directly to the frame or tow hook. (don’t ever ever ever wrap around a suspension arm, axle or bumper – just trust me on that!)

LOWER YOUR TIRE PRESSURE 
Lower tire pressure equals increased traction for nearly every off road trip. Dropping the pressure allows your tire sidewall and tread to be able to flex and mold itself around obstacles. The Jeep will have more grip, and the quality of your ride that much better. Just be careful – it can also pinch and cause a flat tire!

GET A CHECK UP 
After a major off road adventure, always take your baby in for a check up! Making sure that you keep up on maintenance and take care of any minor damages that could occur during an off-road trip can help keep major damages from occuring!

When it comes to Jeeps, (and if you are a Jeep person you know) Jeeps are rated based on their bad-assery. We start with the Wrangler, then we have the Grand Jeep Cherokee, and the list goes down from there, with the little under dog / little brother of the group, the Jeep Compass. Now don’t get me wrong – it’s a nice vehicle, I own one myself (my army green one is sitting out in the parking lot as we speak). But Jeep lovers have never really considered a Compass inclusive when it comes to the rugged reputation of Wranglers. (shoot, I don’t get even the Jeep wave in my Compass, but no one stops waving when I’m in the old Wrangler!) But Jeep has stepped it up with the all new Compass, and I have to say, I’m impressed.

The Compass has similar headlights and streamlined grille that gives it the appearance of a scaled down Jeep Grand Cherokee. But the similarities don’t end there, the styling continues to the cabin where it blends form with function.

The Compass sub models include Sport, Latitude, Altitude, Limited, and the Trailhawk. The standard equipment includes 16′ dark steel wheels, push button start, power and adjustable heated side mirrors, dual-zone temperature control, a rear cargo area with tie down loops, and even a height adjustable rear cargo load floor! It also features a 3.5″ black and white digital driver’s display and standard 7 inch touchscreen which runs Jeep’s UConnect infotainment system, which is now standard across all 2019’s. Including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Check with your local Dodge Chrysler Jeep dealership for more info!

The standard is  2.4-liter four-cylinder engine powers. . It makes 180 horsepower and 175 pound feet of torque. A 6-speed manual transmission or available 9-speed automatic transmission routes power to the front wheels. Four-wheel drive (4WD) is also available.

Fuel economy for the FWD Compass with the manual transmission is 23 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, 26 combined. Adding 4WD to the manual-equipped Compass returns 22 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 25 combined. With the automatic transmission, the FWD Compass returns 22, 31, and 25 combined. The 4WD Compass with the automatic transmission returns fuel economy of 22 mpg city, 30 highway, 25 combined.

Standard safety features include electronic roll mitigation, hill-start assist, a tire-pressure monitoring system, and a reversing camera with active guidelines. The Compass is available with driver-assistance features such as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, adaptive headlights, and forward-collision warning and avoidance.

And here is what I am super excited about – WHEN EQUIPPED WITH THE AVAILABLE TOW PREP PACKAGE and 4×4, IT CAN TOW UP TO 2,000 POUNDS.  I am excited about the tow option for the Compass, and it shows that Jeep really is ready to get back to it’s rugged roots – even for the little brother under dog the Compass!

The Volvo Group is a Swedish multinational manufacturing company headquartered in  Gothenburg. They produce, distribute and sell trucks, buses, and construction equipment. They are also one of largest manufacturer’s of heavy-duty trucks. They also are on the prowl to bring in younger, premium minded buyers to their market with their class and  tech in their crossover vehicles – such as with the Volvo XC40.

This crossover is stylish, yet practical. The design is what you’d come to expect from Volvo – upscale without dismissing the need for comfort and space.

Under the hood
All XC40 is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder making either 184 or 248 horsepower (T4’s and T5’s).  The more powerful T5, which receives all-wheel drive as standard can go from zero to 60 mph in about 6.3 seconds. ‘Nuff Said. 

Fuel economy
With a good turbo sized engine like mentioned above, you don’t except to get the greatest gas mileage. However, the fuel economy is about average to other comparable cross overs, which is good enough in my book.

Interior space 
The boxy upright design allows for an airy feel (which is good for travel). High end materials, and comfortable seats. Passenger space in the front and rear are spacious, especially compared to their counterparts, even though the rear backseat is positioned pretty much upright.

Cargo space and storage 
As far as cargo volume goes, the XC40 appears to be average, however Volvo did give a lot of attention to detail with some pretty cool cargo features that makes it a mark above to me. They have giant door pockets, numerous bins and cubbies throughout the cabin and cargo area and you can stash a whole lot of small items (which is great if you have kids). The features such as hooks that flip out from the glovebox to hold bags, a divider for the cargo area, and removable garbage bin with a hinged door in the center console is a big plus in my book.

Audio and infotainment
The XC40’s dashboard is not centered, but positioned slightly left for an easier reach for the driver. It uses the Volvo’s Sensus Connect infotainment system and it’s projected on a 9 inch touchscreen. It’s a pretty well laid out system compared to similar models. 
Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and onboard Wi-Fi are a apart of the system, and it also allows real-time weather updates, along with a smartphone app that allows you to remote access. It even allows Amazon to deliver packages directly to your car when it’s parked (WHERE DO I SIGN UP??!) Navigation with traffic monitoring is optional on some models, and BONUS – it has a wireless charging pad for smartphones on the center console (for the premium package).

Safety 
Volvo offers plenty of active-safety kit as standard, including automated emergency braking; more advanced features including a semi-autonomous driving mode are optional.

Warranty and maintenance  
Volvo’s warranty is about the same as others in the market, nothing special there, however the three years of complimentary maintenance is definitely a great perk!