Hi, my name is Mark.
My transmission was leaking and it was under warranty and I brought it here in Venice, Florida, at AAMCO. And I am very happy with the service they’ve given me. I recommend highly; bring your car to AAMCO.
Thank You.
Hi, my name is Miriam, and I live in Venice, Florida.
I had some problems with my car so I brought it in to AAMCO and they did a free analysis and told me I me I had some serious problems which I pretty much knew. That’s why I came here.
So, the transmission was replaced. It was a pretty complicated process. It wasn’t cheap but it was probably less than if I had not taken care of it. I probably would have had to get rid of the car and buy a new car.
So, everything took place and I am back in my car again. It is working great and I am happy. I hope I don’t have to come back here again for the same problem anytime soon, but they have taken great care of me. And I am happy customer.
Many people will ignore an engine oil leak which means it soaks into the ground which of course is bad for the environment and also costly since you will have to add more oil every once it awhile.
Engine oil leaks often occur from your engine’s rear and front main oil pan seals, which necessitates an expensive engine-out repair. Oil can also leak from the timing cover seals, valve cover gaskets, and intake plenum, all of which necessitate some amount of engine dis-assembly and a resultant hefty repair bill.
Engine oil leaks should not be ignored. Oil leaks can leave greasy ugly stains on your driveway. However, the real danger is potential engine damage or failure if your engine runs low on oil.
Often an engine oil leak will like Hot or Burning Oil. This usually signals oil that has leaked onto hot portions of the engine. If you have recently put oil in your car and spilled a little bit, this smell is okay. The smell will go away in a few minutes after the oil burns off, however if the smell suddenly occurs or persists, it could mean a leaky seal or something else. The best thing to do is look to see if oil has pooled up underneath your vehicle or is dripping steadily, and if so, it’s time to visit a mechanic.
An engine oil leak at the back of the engine may also cause the clutch to slip if your vehicle has a manual shift transmission. Oil can produce blue smoke and unpleasant odors if it drips onto a hot exhaust manifold or exhaust pipe.
The first sign of trouble is usually drips or stains under your vehicle after it has been parked overnight. If the color of the liquid is dark brown or yellow, and it feels slippery or greasy, it is probably mot
or oil. A pink or red slippery liquid would most likely be automatic transmission fluid, while green or orange liquid with a sweet smell would be antifreeze. A clear, oily liquid would be power steering fluid.
If you suspect an oil leak, check the oil level on the dipstick (engine off) to see if the oil level is low. If it is low, you probably have an oil leak. If the oil level is okay (between ADD and FULL marks on the dipstick), check the other fluid levels (ATF, coolant and power steering fluid) to see if any of those fluids are low.
Engine oil leaks can lead to major damage if you ignore them and continue to drive the vehicle. When faced with an oil leak that you simply cannot pay for, you can always try gingerly tightening up a compromised gasket by “snugging up” the mounting bolts. Sometimes the bolts have backed off by virtue of engine vibration and by gently tightening the bolts you can stop the leak without replacing the gasket.
You must be careful though — don’t over-tighten them because you may split the gasket and create a bigger problem. If tightening them still doesn’t stop the leak, then simply keep an eye on the oil level and fill as necessary until you are able to call on your mechanic for repair.
If you are traveling to, moving to or planning to spend an extended period in Florida, you may want to consider having your car professionally transported from your home for you.
Sometimes the cost of having your car shipped to Florida may be cheaper than renting a car for your stay in the Sunshine State. Be prepared to first get it ready in a manner that ensures that it does not get damaged on the way and if it does, then you have the evidence ready to make a claim.
Start by checking and recording any damage on your car before you transport it.
Empty out the insides of your car, you need to do this because your transporter will not compensate you if anything goes missing from inside your car. Check the batteries and tires be certain they are properly filled so when your car reaches the destination, you won’t find yourself in the position where it doesn’t start up or move up. Do not fill up the entire tank with gas, as that will add to the weight of the car.
Top up all the other fluids and check for leakages. Fold all mirrors, seal off the top, push in the antenna or remove it and switch off the appliances including the alarm.
You have transport options, which include transport by train, open carrier, enclosed van, hired driver and trailer hauling. 
Hire a Driveaway Service to drive the car cross-country for you. There are many companies who do all the background checks and offer to connect you with drivers who are seeking to travel one way.
You can transport your car by Train – Amtrak’s Auto Train offers very limited origins and destinations, but you can ride with your vehicle along the southeastern USA seaboard.
Try an Open Car Transport Trailer. This is the most common and least expensive option. You sometimes see these open car carriers on the freeway or heading to a car dealer. Remember with this method, your vehicle will be exposed to the weather during the trip along with about 2 to 10 other vehicles and may take additional time depending on weather conditions and unforeseen circumstances.
With the Enclosed Car Transport, you get door-to-door service but it is the most expensive way to get your car to your destination. Your vehicle protected from the weather and there is a reduced risk of theft. Many feel safer taking advantage of this personal service.
What ever method of transportation you choose, remember that preparation and the right paperwork will make the arrival at your destination a smooth transition Happy Travels!
Driving on the roadways, especially in Venice, can be a daring task. Make sure you re not guilty of one of the top five reasons people get in auto accidents.
Mistake #1: Improper Driving Position
The proper driving position is important because it helps you get the optimal feedback from your car’s chassis while also keeping you from getting fatigued.
First, your seat should be adjusted so that you are able to depress the clutch completely and perform heel/toe braking without banging your knee on the steering column. You should also be able to use the dead pedal for support through high-g turns. Your shoulder harness should be tight so that you do not need to rely upon the steering wheel for support.
Next, you should have a 90- to 120-degree bend in your elbows with your hands in the proper 3 and 9 o’clock positions on the steering wheel. Finally, your butt should be tucked firmly into the seat back so that you can get feedback from the chassis and up through the seat. This will give you a better feel as to what the rear end of the car is doing. You should become one with your car. Get comfortable, go faster.
Mistake #2: Failure to Look Ahead
The most common driving mistake is failure to look far enough ahead.
Most street drivers become lazy and look only between the A pillars, (those down posts which border the edges of our windshield).You must condition yourself not only to look much farther ahead, but out the left and right side windows as well.
The rule of thumb is, “The faster the car, the farther you must look ahead. Practice looking ahead every time you enter your car. If looking ahead becomes habitual, you are much more likely to use the technique daily.
Mistake #3: Improper Braking Technique
If you often brake too early for a corner, you may find that #2, looking ahead will cure your problem. When you know where the exact turning point is, it is much easier to know when to ease off the brake pedal and precisely how much to release it. However, you may have other braking problems that do not vanish so easily.
Some drivers brake hard enough in a straight line to slow their car down for the corner, but then they totally release the brake or go to the throttle before they get to the turning point of the corner. They transfer the weight off the front tires and onto the rear wheels just when they need their steering the most. This can cause the car to go into an under steer skid.
Mistake #4: Mirrors not Positioned Correctly
Mirrors allow you to keep your eyes on the road while still being able to see behind you when necessary. If mirrors are not positioned correctly then you will create a large blind spot. This can easily cause many accidents. When positioning your mirrors make certain that they allow you to see all around your vehicle. You don’t need to see your vehicle in your side mirrors. You need to see around it.
Mistake #5: Failure to Yield To The Right of Way
Often for many drivers, failing to yield while merging into traffic is the top cause of crashes. In a recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, older drivers simply fail to see the other vehicle they should be yielding. Drivers often misjudge whether they have time to proceed ahead of it. Failure to yield right of way was the fifth leading cause of fatal crashes in 2011.
Take care to avoid these mistakes and you will be a safer driver, and in the process, make the roads safer for everybody.
Hi, my name is Kathy Leavitt, and I’m here to tell you that once again Dallas Council and the crew at the AAMCO transmissions have come to my rescue.
I called Dallas on his cell phone last night, which was a Sunday night, to tell him about a challenge that I was having with my car and he came to my rescue. And today, here is it Monday at 12:15, and my car is ready for me.
I highly recommend them and I hope you’ll use their services. You won’t be disappointed.
Hi, my name is Rich Cady. I’m down here at AAMCO Transmissions.
I had decided I was going to have my transmission done up in Sarasota by another company, which I couldn’t get a hold of. So when I decided to go local with it, I heard about AAMCO and a lot of my friends I talked to kept telling me not to go there because they had heard some stories and this and that and the other thing. And I figured, you know what, I always give people a chance the first time and if I get screwed then it’s my own fault. But I got to tell, you these guys went nuts to bolts trying to figure out what was wrong with my transmission after they rebuilt it and they fixed the problem. And I am extremely happy that I didn’t listen to my friends. And I recommend them to anybody. Come on down
You get in your car and find that your car has an engine oil leak. You know you must quickly find where the oil is leaking. Oil leaks can happen in many places and it can be perplexing to find a difficult oil leak in your engine compartment.
You can save a lot of time and hassle by considering the most common causes of engine oil leaks. First, do a quick overview of the basics–oil filter, oil drain plug and the oil cap. One of these could easily be the source of the problem. Second, the most common cause of oil leaks is the valve cover gasket. This is a more difficult problem to diagnose.
Here are some ways to detect an oil leak
First, open the hood and look for an obvious oil leak. Yes, it sounds over simplified, but basic troubleshooting will tell you to check the simple things first. Look at any area where pieces are connected together. If there is a bolt holding two metal pieces together, there is probably a gasket between them. Gaskets are common places oil can leak from so look for a few minutes to find as many as you can and wipe each area clean with a rag, shop towels, or paper towels.
Next, clean each of the possible areas that could have an oil leak. The areas must be cleaned so you can see bare metal. Check each area daily to see if any new oil is building up. Look at the lines between engine parts. Look at the oil filter and the oil plug.
You can place clean newspaper or cardboard under your car when it is parked over night. Before you start the car the next day, look to see where the oil drips are located. The engine oil leak will be in that general area. Keep in mind that there are many small spaces and crevices in your engine compartment. The leak can be high in the engine and could run down and across many parts. This can make it hard to find the oil leak.
Found the oil leak – Now what?
All the work you did to find the leak is just part of the solution. Finding the engine oil leak, yourself is good and can save you money and time when you get to your mechanic. Make a note of where the leak is and make sure you tell them exactly where it’s located.
Can’t find the oil leak?
It’s a good idea to have your engine compartment thoroughly cleaned or steam cleaned. If the engine oil leak is slow, wait a day and take the vehicle to your mechanic for a complete diagnosis. If you find a fast leak, head
Having trouble finding the leak on your own? Click here and let us diagnosis it for you FREEstraight to mechanic. Do not pass go and collect $200.00 for saving your future self the cost of more repairs caused by an undetected engine oil leak.
Remember, the engine oil is a critical part of your automobile. without oil your car would die.
Do you know what happens when a person is ejected from a moving car? Rest assured they are injured and some even die. So why would a teen or half way intelligent adult stand on a car or sit on the back hood of a moving car? Could it be they have a death wish?
1. Car surfing
The act of riding a car by standing or sitting on the top of the car instead of inside has got to be one of the most dangerous stupid stunts that a person can do.
Car surfing became popular among reckless teens in the late 1980′s when the movie Teen Wolfe portrayed the lead character riding the hood of a moving van. Other teens decided to do it too. The only problem was, the other teens weren’t part wolf, weren’t shooting a film in a Hollywood lot therefore didn’t have special car-surfing abilities.
Car surfing returned to popularity in the late 1990′s when the result was portrayed in video games. It peaked again in 2005 when these stunts were performed on MTV.
Teen surfing isn’t only a stupid stunt for the person riding the car, but the person driving it is committing a crime. Should an accident occur, the driver will certainly be charged with criminal negligence or worse.
2. Planking
The newest form of surfing is when one proceeds to lie flat on a dangerous/unusual surface, like the top or hood of a moving car, with their hands by their sides. A photo is then taken of the planker, and posted online for all their friends to admire, that is if they live. It is a competition to plank in the most unusual/dangerous place. People are dying everyday trying this on moving vehicles.
3. Hill jumping
Is when a vehicle approaches the crest of a hill at rapidly accelerating speeds. When the vehicle hits the hill, it usually ends up going airborne. This may seem like fun and games, until the driver loses control of the vehicle and ends up hitting the ditch. Even worse, the crazy driver crashes head on into the car on the other side of the hill.
4. Drifting
Is a driving technique where the driver intentionally over steers causing loss of traction in the rear wheels, while maintaining control from entry to exit of a corner. As a motorsport discipline, professional drifting competitions are held worldwide and are judged according to the speed, angle and line taken through a corner or set of corners
Most all states and cities have strict laws against the reckless driving that one needs to undertake in order to properly street drift. This is not stopping the practice on our own city streets, all drivers need to look out for these reckless drivers.
Remember that street drifting is highly unsafe and illegal. As are all automobile stunts. Bear in mind that if you get caught you are probably going to have your car impounded and be fined a large amount of money, and more than likely you will also have your drivers license suspended. Only if you are lucky will you not have killed someone or yourself and have to pay with the rest of your life.
Tires are perhaps the most important component on your vehicle. They are however, among the least understood features. Here are a few common misconceptions about tires.
I have a tire-pressure monitoring system in my new car so I will just know that my tires are adequately inflated.
The truth: the tire pressure monitoring system isn’t required to issue a warning until pressure is 25 percent below the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation. That is way below the pressure required for safe driving, according to AAA and not even close to adequate in carrying the vehicle’s maximum load. The tire pressure monitoring system is intended as a last-minute warning before impending tire failure, so pay attention to your tire pressure on a regular basis.
Buy a quality tire gauge and set your tire pressure to at least the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation found on the driver’s doorjamb. It is preferable that you set your tires 3 or even 5 psi high rather than 1 low. Tires can leak as much as 1 psi per month. If you’re like many drivers, you may not bother to check your tires again for six months.
When replacing only two tires, the new ones go on the front.
The truth: The rear tires that provide stability, without stability, steering or braking on a wet or damp surface might cause a spin. With the new tires up front, they will easily disperse water while the half-worn rears go surfing. The water will literally lift the worn rear tires off the road. If you’re in a slight corner or on a crowned road, the car will spin out so fast you won’t be able to control the car.
There is no what if to this one. Regardless of owning a front, rear or all-wheel-drive car, truck, or SUV, the tires with the most tread go on the rear.
A tire is in danger of bursting if pressure exceeds the max press number on the sidewall.
The truth: The max press number has nothing to do with a tire’s burst pressure. The max press and max load numbers indicate the pressure at which the tire will carry the maximum amount of weight. A new, quality tire will not pop at an even multiple of the max press.
Low-profile tires on large-diameter wheels improve handling. 
The truth: The short sidewalls of low-profile tires enhance the tires’ response when the driver first turns the steering wheel. That gives the driver the sometimes-false feeling the tire has a solid grip. After that initial movement, it’s the tread compound; the stickiness of the rubber that determines how well the tire grips the road.
All tires with the same designation are exactly the same size.
The truth: Think all 225/35R19s are exactly 225 millimeters wide and their sidewalls are exactly 35 percent as tall as the tire is wide? Don’t count on it.
All the tires of a specific part number or stock keeping unit (SKU) can be can be slightly wider or narrower than the nominal width and their profile can be slightly taller or shorter than the stated percentage. Remember that a wider, taller tire puts more rubber on the ground so it is imperative that you not your car tend to your tires on a regular basis. Monthly is best.
To every driver there is a season, and in Venice Florida there are seasons that absolutely must be experienced, to be understood. Many have been brought to fits of dashboard thumping while navigating this fabulous city. To drive on these paradise roads one must be prepared for the myriad of auto progression interruptions that avails itself on the Venice Florida driver. Knowing the seasons of this driving paradise will help you to relax and enjoy the ride.
When you think of Venice Florida, the usual seasons-winter, spring, summer, and fall don’t often come to mind. Everyone thinks that South Florida has only two seasons: the sunny season, and the rainy season. The latter of which never really lasts long and it seems to refresh absolutely everything. That’s two of our seasons, now the other two seasons are the ones that make every person brave enough to get behind the wheel with a desire to travel from one place in Venice to another looking down at their white knuckles and questioning their very sanity.
If you arrive in Venice in the beautiful month of September, the undeniable eye candy of high-end luxury sedans and sports cars strolling thru the streets will surround you. We locals love to show up dressed for the occasion, and what better way to dress the streets of a growing Arts and Humanities community than in a just Eager Beaver Washed car of your dreams. This time of the year is the short-lived time of road rage freedom, where the streets belong to the locals who are rested and relaxed after the summer. Sit back and enjoy the open road where time is on your side and even if you had somewhere to be, there is plenty of time to get there. But don’t get too relaxed, because before you turn the next corner, another Sarasota season will begin, and this season will sneak silently up your taillights in the form of a car loaded transport carrier.
Oh yes travel loving companions, now is the season of discontent. It is the time of year so affectionately referred to by Florida residents as the Snowbird season, and it begins about two weeks into October. These Snowbirds are happy escapees from the north that had a taste of the cold wet white stuff and took off for the south at lightning speed. They follow the migrating path of the freckle-breasted thorn bird. They escape by sense of instinct, smelling the salt air, soaring south on giant silver wings. Leaving the driving, for the time being, to those tired and weary transport drivers that invade paradise roads like love-bugs in their season. Once settled in, all snug for the winter, these happy escapees from the north come not just for rest and relaxation, Oh no! They come for the shopping, the food, the theater; the symphony, the opera, the arts, the beach, the people and the daily dose of heliotherapy those locals so often take for granted. They fill the roads like a gaggle of early birds after the last shrimp on the barbie. The statistics, if any exist, would say that the instances of non-verbal vehicular communications in Sarasota County raise ten fold during this season. This is the time of year, when the young grow restless and the old get even. It’s also the time of year, when mirrors and turn indicators become optional equipment. So, if you manage to get through this long season of DWIP (driving while in prayer), and wishing you had eyes on the back of your head, yet through it all, you have managed to maintain some form of politeness and dignity, you will soon be rewarded.
Most people question the Easter Bunnies existence. Not Venetians, he definitely exists here; and he comes in the worlds largest transport carrier picking up all the cars with northern plates through the night, sending the snowbirds flocking to the airports, plucking at each others tail feathers for the next flight north. Ahhh! Let the festivities begin you say. That’s right, it is that hard earned reward mentioned earlier, so for the next six to eight weeks its go gently into the night, for the roads of paradise belong to the locals once again. Don’t take your half of the street out of the middle just yet. There’s one more season you’ll soon be aware of.
This season comes in the form of a convoy of minivans. You’ll need to brush off those eyes in the back of your head, because as we all learned in drivers education, where there’s a ball there’s a kid. Therefore, when June brings the season of Summer Vacation to Venice Florida, all eyes have to be kept on the road. As well as the beach balls, gecko chasers, sand buckets, little brothers, little sisters and the numerous lost parents, miss-placed driving directions, potty stops, teasing, crying and the inevitable untied shoelace that must be retied while smack dab in the middle of the crosswalk. So, I urge you to relax, once more, and try to remember how much fun it was watching your little brother or sister trying to get all that sand you put in their swimsuit out. Besides, school cant stay out forever, and when August arrives, those darling little creatures return to their learning institutions and the streets once again glow with the intensity of purring Porches, BMWs, Audis and the like. Freshly shampooed, and playing the roads of paradise like the finely tuned piano, that sits in the Van Wezel, almost lonely, once again waiting for the seasons to roll around again, and the standing ovation of those who in their season come to share our Paradise Roads.
Tell us about your favorite roadway experience in the comments section…
If you find yourself in an automobile accident or happen to be the person witnessing one, be assured you will be asked to describe the incident to the police upon when they arrive. With the crash happening so fast and so many people rushing around in the aftershock, you’ll need some tips to help you get through it all.
After the crash has occurred, everyone involved who can be, has been moved safely away from the vehicles and 9-1-1 has been notified, take a deep breath, relax your thoughts and try to assess the situation.
STAY CALM
When you are anxious about the incident, you won’t be able to remember detail information as accurately.
If the police are on the way and nobody was seriously injured, don’t touch anyone involved in the accident. Helping someone in danger, however, should always take priority.
Provide assistance if asked, but gather as much information as you can at a distance. This prevents you from being subjected to anyone else’s experience.
STAY PUT
Never leave the scene of an accident, even if you weren’t directly involved, yet feel you may be able to assist on what happened.
If you were involved in the crash, do not every admit that you were at fault until the police arrive to question participants individually. Some people, such as someone who gets rear-ended, may feel at fault and say as much without realizing there may be other factors involved.
If the accident is not bad enough to warrant a call to the police, stay on the scene until everyone has calmed down and exchanged information.
Write down the names of any driver involved in the crash and get license and insurance information.
DETERMINE WHAT HAPPENED
Figure out who was involved in the accident. Who appears to have caused it? How many people were involved?
If you witnessed the crash from afar, take a mental note of which vehicle caused the crash. Was the person speeding? Had they been swerving or acting erratically? Is there any reason to suspect drunken or impaired driving? Were they trying to avoid another careless driver who was not involved in the crash but most likely caused it?
If you were the person hit, who was the first person that came to your assistance? Was he or she a passerby or someone else involved in the accident?
GATHER THE EVIDENCE
With with most cell phones having the ability to snap photos, it’s likely that someone on the scene will have access to a camera.
Take pictures of the scene while waiting for law enforcement. Pay particular attention to damages left on cars, bodily injuries, and even skid marks on the road. These may be helpful in an investigation, if one is needed. Your evidence can assist the police.
If any witness, or even a driver involved in the accident starts to leave the scene before police arrive, write down license plate numbers or car descriptions. Try to get names, addresses, and phone numbers in case the police or insurance agents need to contact other witnesses.
TAKE NOTE OF THE LOCATION
Do you know the road well? Was there any road construction or detours that may have confused drivers?
Could the weather have affected the accident? Was it foggy? Raining?
OBSERVE THE DETAILS
If you were one of the drivers involved, at what point along the road were you hit and where did the car ultimately end up? Did you experience any type of memory loss or blackout before the car came to a stop?
If you rear-ended a vehicle, had they stopped suddenly? Try to remember if their taillights, blinkers, or brake lights were working properly.
If a driver caused an accident but raced away, try to recall any information about the vehicle. What was the make and model? What was the color? Were there any representative characteristics about it such as a decal, a spare tire attached to the back-end, bumper stickers, or ornaments hanging from the rear-view mirror?
File an Accident Report Immediately and Contact Your Insurance Firm!
This is Felix S and I am from Venice Florida here.
I had a little problem with my Dodge 2006 Dodge Van – lights were blinking off and on, speedometer was way out of whack, and it would shut down on me.
I took it to the Dodge garage here in Venice and they worked on it three or four different times and they couldn’t get the problem solved.
So, I had a friend of mine tell me about AAMCO down here and they said they would have a good electrician down here that would help me and they referred me to Ron. And I came down to the place here and told Ron about it. So they kept it for a couple of days and they got it fixed. And, Praise the Lord, I drove it home and everything is fine.
So, I thank you for this time I’ve had with you and hopefully we all learn from this.
OK
When you buy a car, you consider things like cash or finance, you include finance fees and auto insurance and the cars mileage into the total cost of ownership. However, it is the rare buyer, who also considers the cars need for maintenance and auto repair.
Auto repair isn’t cheap and we shouldn’t expect it to be. The cost of repairing a vehicle is based on several factors. The make, model and year of the vehicle affect the cost of auto repair. Of course, the type of auto repair needed determines how much it will cost. Some repairs cost more because the parts involved are more expensive. The cost of auto repair is also determined by the labor rates in your area.
According to one recent study, the average American household spent $5,477 on gas and automotive expenses last year. Of that, $2,208 was for gasoline, the rest a monstrous $3,269 — was for expenses like dealership maintenance, service station fixes and body shop repair. That comes out to $272 a month, which is almost a second car payment [source: Paskin].
Understand that figure is an average, which includes cars of all different makes and model years. Most of us are not paying that amount per month. How much you pay in the end depends on what you choose to purchase. Buy a brand-new Honda Civic or Jeep Grand Cherokee, and your repair costs will likely be lower than if you invest in a 1960s Jaguar sports car or something similar. Remember, buying a brand new car means that a warranty will cover the cost of many auto repairs for a set time.
If you take care of your vehicle, you’ll prevent serious problems down the road. Everything from oil changes to brake pads and tire rotation could save you thousands of dollars down the road, be sure to consult your owner’s manual and your mechanic frequently to see what’s next on your car’s maintenance schedule.
There are benefits to controlling your auto maintenance costs, similar to those you experience when gaining control over any area of your money. Proper budgeting for auto repair and maintenance will allow you to:
* Have a better relationship and better communication with your auto mechanic
* Prepare/plan better so you don’t have to race to get oil changes before your next trip
* Reduce your maintenance expenses going forward
* Relax in the knowledge that you’re prepared
You can achieve all of these things simply by setting aside enough money to cover your expenses. That way you won’t have to stress or worry about where the money Your mechanic can help you know ahead of time on repairs that can be expected early or here are a few tools to help you figure out exactly how much you’re spending so you can budget.
* The Total Cost of Ownership Calculator from Edmunds
* The Car Operating Cost Calculator
The Edmunds tool is only for current car models, the other one works in all situations. Note these tools are very comprehensive, even taking into account depreciation. Have fun, save
This is Scott Dowdy, I live here in Venice. Dallas and Ron here at AAMCO have taken very good care of me with my car. I had some transmission problems and I put in a used transmission and it is working great and I’m very happy with the service and what they have done for me.
Thanks!
According to Dr. Walter Bortz, a professor of medicine at Stanford University there are four key areas to the health and vitality of both you and your car.
There is DESIGN:
Designed improperly with little thought or care a car will quickly fall apart. Look at the Honda Civic, a best seller for many years. This vehicle was designed with very strict standards. It was tried and tested many times over before it was made available to the public. Now take the Chevrolet Vega, a poorly engineered car notorious for rust and breakdowns. By its third recall, ninety-five percent of all Vegas manufactured before May 1972 had critical safety flaws.
For your Human design, it is mostly concerned with your inherited genes. Genes are something we can generally do nothing about, however they only add up to about 15% of our total health. Knowing what you have inherited knocks that percentage down even more.
Then there are ACCIDENTS:
These unfortunate incidences happen and you have little or no control over them. When your car accidentally leaves the road and hits a tree or is rammed by another run away driver your car will be hurt or mangled and its health will suffer. This is similar to the human body. You fall from a tree, are hit by a thrown rock or catch a virus or bacteria your body will hurt and your health will suffer. However today there are many advancements and an accident doesn’t have to mean death. A highly trained mechanic can repair your car and you can have it for many years as well.
Now we look at MAINTENANCE:
For your car this means having a good mechanic do oil changes, tire rotation, fluid checks, engine tuning and replacing the worn parts. Ignore these things or do them poorly and you will be significantly lessening the life of your car. Our own human body needs regular maintenance as well. This means eating healthy, not under or over using the body and having regular check ups to maintain your health.
Lastly, we look at AGING:
We’re eventually going to die no matter what we do. Same with our cars, although you could theoretically replace every single part with a new one and still think of it as the same car. However, how well we do maintenance can have a big impact on the rate of aging of our cars and our bodies.
Compared to a car our bodies are far more complex systems and experience much more complex lives. With good care and maintenance both car and driver can have a long healthy life.
Statistics show that most accidents are caused by the driver being distracted. Distractions can come in many forms when behind the wheel of a car; one of them is anger. Being human people do get angry and being angry in your car is one more distraction you do not need. It could cause you to make some rash decisions. Avoiding a driver behaving aggressively is also a chief distraction that could cause actions putting you and the drivers around you in danger.
Aggressive driving is defined as: “A form of automobile operation in which an operator will deliberately behave in such a manner as to increase the risk of an automobile accident” (Wikipedia). Aggressive driving includes behaviors such as running red lights, recurrent or sudden lane changes, speeding, following too close, flipping off other drivers, slamming brakes and just general idiocy.
A driver behaving aggressively becomes not only a danger to themselves and the driver who is the target of their rage but everyone around them. Aggressive behavior and distractions lead to mistakes and accidents. Incidents of aggressive driving can also quickly escalate in to “Road Rage” which usually leads to physical violence. According to American Automobile Association, aggressive driving is a key factor in 56% of crashes with 
fatalities. That is just too high of a number. Insurance payouts to claimants of accidents caused by others bad behavior, especially uninsured drivers, add on to all drivers insurance rates.
More than costly aggressive driving is dangerous; it could lead to serious charges such as manslaughter or murder. Eleven states have passed laws that address aggressive driving behavior. Interestingly enough, Florida is prohibited from enforcing their aggressive driving law by state statute.
In Florida to be considered driving in an aggressive manor you must be ticketed for at least two of the following: speeding, unsafe or improper lane changes, following too closely, failure to yield right of way, improper passing or failure to obey traffic control devices. There is however, a check box on the traffic citation indicating it was aggressive driving. If an officer should write a ticket for one of the qualifying traffic offenses, he can check the box but it would be for data collection only.
As always the best protection is not to get in a situation in the first place, there are steps you can take to avoid being the target of an aggressive driver and they can be summed up as: Don’t offend, Don’t engage, and Adjust.
Don’t offend, avoid cutting someone off, don’t tailgate, don’t make a rude gesture, stay off the horn and if you do offend on the road…. apologize!
Don’t engage, steer clear if you see a situation starting to develop. If you are being followed, pull in to a safe or crowded spot and ask for help or dial 911. Don’t react back, avoid eye contact and avoid anything that would cause the aggressor to take a next step. If you see a driver who is acting dangerously report it, you may save a life.
Adjust again simple things like leaving enough time to get where you are going. You won’t have to speed, you won’t have to tailgate to push people out of your way, follow the 3 second rule. Defuse, if someone should cross your path, take that deep breath or count to ten.
Aggressive driving bad behavior behind the wheel affects us all by putting us in danger. We pay for it through increased auto insurance rates. Driving is hard enough but it is really nothing to get angry about.
Comment & tell us about encounters you’ve had with aggressive drivers.
We Americans have been having a love affair with our cars for centuries. We have pampered, wrecked, washed, altered, painted and pined for our cars for our entire lives. One can only imagine it for our vehicles and someone has attempted it. Below are just 10 incredible facts about cars and drivers since the first car was created in 1672 by Ferdinand Verbiest.
1. Perhaps the strangest attempt at renewable energy sources for cars is Cappuccino. The ‘Car-Puccino’ costs around 50 times more to run than the standard fuel powered cars, and uses up around 56 espressos per mile!
2. In 1972, the average speed driven by cars in Los Angeles was 60mph. By 1982, that number had dropped to 17mph. They call this progress…
3. The most expensive car ever sold was the 1931 Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe, which sold in 1987 for a whopping $8,700,000.
4. On average, every American will spend approximately two whole weeks of their life stopped at red lights. Except in Florida during season…
5. The first speeding ticket ever issued was in 1902, when most cars could barely reach 45mph.
6. The first cars didn’t have steering wheels. Drivers had to steer with a lever! This surely led to the gaming console that is in most homes today.
7. Sixty-two percent of car owners believe car appearance is essential. However, 53 percent wash their cars less than once a month – and 16 percent never wash their cars at all! To top that off, 61 percent of survey respondents admitted to leaving garbage in their cars, and 27 percent say their car just stinks.
8. The Bugatti Veyron takes ten seconds to stop from its top speed of 253mph. Thus the term “Stops on a Dime”.
9. The best-selling car of all time is the Toyota Corolla, which sold a staggering 30 million before its replacement by the Toyota Yaris in 2007.
10. The Rolls Royce hood ornament is called the Spirit of Ecstasy.
And one Bonus Car Fact… Most American car horns beep in the key of F. Make sure your mechanic tunes it correctly!
Someone’s car is totaled once every 5 seconds in the US. Avoiding accidents can save you a lot of time and money. If you want to stay safe on the road, the message is clear–stay sober and pay attention. There are a number of actions you can take, to increase your chances of making it through your daily commute accident-free.
1. Keep your car in good condition:
Keep the tires properly inflated, the brakes adjusted, and the windshields and windows clean. Replace windshield wiper blades when they begin to streak, and all make sure all the lights are working properly.
2. Use your signals properly:
Always use your signal, even if you think no one is there. When changing lanes on the freeway, don’t signal as an afterthought or during the lane change. Signal at least a couple of seconds in advance so others know what you’re going to do before you do it.
3. Position all Mirrors for Good Vision:
Every time you get in the car, you should check the positioning of your mirrors. While driving, Periodically shift your eyes to the side-view mirrors, the rear-view mirror, and ahead to where you’ll be in 10-15 seconds. Doing this, you can spot a potentially dangerous situation before it happens.
4. Judge a Car by its Cover:
If it looks like it is never been cared for, you can bet it cares not for you. More important then rust or fading paint, look for a fair amount of dings, dents and hanging parts. This driver, in general, has a perchance for accidents or at times may not even realize they have caused one.
5. Know Your Blind Spots:
Every car has at least one. It is just a fallacy in design. One usually finds their cars blind spots just when you need them to not be there, like when you are changing lanes or backing up. It only takes one long loud horn blowing at you to find your cars blind spot. From there on your blind spot should be forever etched in your brain.
6. Avoid the Left (Fast) Lane:
Most highway accidents happen in the fast lane. Everyone has encountered the car in the left lane that drives just at the speed limit or below and will not move from that left lane for anyone. Don’t be that driver!
7. Never Tailgate:
No matter how slowly traffic is moving, follow the 3-second rule for distance between you and the car ahead. Any less and you won’t be able to stop in time if the driver ahead slams on the brakes.
8. Let others pass you:
Defensive driving means letting others go ahead-not defending your position in traffic. Avoid the urge to have a vigilante, “you’ll see how it is to be cut off now” attitude. Accept the fact that someone is always going to think they’re in more of a hurry than you. The road is not a place for driving competition.
9. Other Drivers:
Pay attention to other vehicles actions, in so doing you can anticipate a hazardous driver and avoid them.
10. Looking both ways:
Before executing a turn, it is important to check both your left and right side for oncoming vehicles Then do it again, in case you missed something the first time. When turning, remember to look right once more to catch any pedestrians that may have appeared suddenly.
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