WHAT WERE YOU THINKING WHEN YOU NAMED YOUR CAR?!

Last night was a rough night for Sophia – she hates driving in the snow! Every time we came to a stop she would skid to a halt, but that’s because she hasn’t gotten her snow boots, I mean snow tires put on yet.  We’re planning to get that done ASAP.   In case you are wondering who Sophia is, that would be my car.  YES, I named my car…well actually, my girlfriend named my car when I bought her in September.  For as long as I have known my friend, we have been calling her car “Heidi the Hyundai”.  So naturally, when my other friend purchased her Rogue only a couple weeks before me, she was called “Rosie the Rogue”, followed by my beloved “Sophia the Sonic”.

 

Now, you’re probably doing one of two things – either you’re laughing at the fact I have named my car or you’re relating to me because you, too, have named your vehicle.  Here at the dealership, everyone knows who Sophia is.  I frequently get asked, “How is Sophia?”  In fact, my boss even texted me a couple weeks ago after a major storm, to ask if “Sophia made it safely to work”, sparking some laughs amongst my co-workers who drive SUVs!

Your car is a big investment – you spend hours in it every week, typically have it for many years and you invest a lot of money maintaining it.  Your car is even there for some of the biggest moments in your life!  Maybe it got you to the hospital for the birth of your child or took you on the best road trip of your life.  Whatever the reason may be, naming your car is not uncommon.  In fact, I know just as many people who name their car as those that don’t.  So for all of you people who are ashamed to admit that you have named your car, I say embrace it!  At the end of the day, it always sparks some laughs and you will be surprised how many people will call your car by its name!

If you would like to show your car some love, visit our service departments at www.queenstonchev.com or www.imagehonda.com

By: Amy Cochren

Next Generation MyLink wins ‘Best Car Tech Award’ at CES 2013

Next Generation MyLink wins ‘Best Car Tech Award’ at CES 2013

At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show or CES 2013, the 2014 Chevrolet Impala equipped with the next generation MyLink infotainment system was on display.

Similar to a smartphone, the first thing you notice about the MyLink system is the similar looking icons. Not only do the icons look similar to that of an iPhone but they can be rearranged in the same way as well. You simply hold down the icon and move it wherever you’d like. For quick access to the driver’s favourite functions, there is a top bar similar to a favourite bar which allows you to choose which icons you would like to use no matter where you are in the system. The MyLink system offers everything from navigation to phone to weather to apps like TuneIn and Pandora.

Making your drive safer, you can operate the system from your steering wheel itself. And a smaller display appears next to the speedometer, so you don’t necessarily need to look away from the road to see your MyLink.mylinkGM Chief Infotainment Officer Phil Abram had this to say about the upcoming MyLink system,

“There will be a category of apps that will be unique to our cars and very different from what people use today on their smartphones or tablets. It’s not just taking phone apps and making them functional in a car, which most car companies do in some form now. Instead, GM may approve applications that stem from vehicle ownership. For example, customers can choose to download applications that assist them in driving more safely or in a more fuel efficient manner, possibly decreasing the costs of vehicle ownership.”

We can expect to see this new MyLink system in the 2014 Chevrolet Impala later this year. Be sure to keep checking Hamilton Auto Blog and www.queenstonchev.com for more news on the release date.

By Nerissa Mohamed

Source: GM

The All New 2013 Chevrolet Trax

Leave Your Worries Behind with Added Protection!

Buying a new car is always an exciting experience.  Nothing is more satisfying then driving a new vehicle.  As we know, those first few months we would do anything to keep it looking like new.  You wash it once a week; make sure people wipe their feet before they get in your vehicle.  You probably even park at the back of the lot so you don’t get anyone opening their door and scratching yours.  What if we told you, we could offer you additional protection to keep your car looking and feeling like new?

At our dealerships we offer a wide variety of additional protection for your car.

Paint Protection:

Just because your car is new, doesn’t mean that your paint is protected.  Over time your vehicle will experience fading, oxidation, pollution, tree sap, bird droppings, road salt and rain.  These factors are destructive to your paint finish.  Through Diamond Kote we offer you paint protections that will bond to the vehicle’s surface and protect it from the elements. In addition, our dealerships offer protection against paint bubbling.  With paint protection, you will never have to wax your vehicle again!

Fabric & Leather/Vinyl Protection:

No matter how much you love your vehicle, we all know that over time we will experience spills, stains, discoloration – perhaps even odor from having a pet.  You can protect your car from all of the above with the Diamond Kote Fabric & Leather/Vinyl Protection. Our dealerships also exclusively offer protection against, rips, tears or burns.

Rust Protection:

Fact – Rust shortens the life of your vehicle and reduces its re-sale value. The Diamond Kote rust protection penetrates to where the corrosion begins and even protects against surface rust. In addition to the great packages we offer, the products we use are safe for the environment.

If you are interested in purchasing some or all of our protection packages, please visit us at www.queenstonchev.com or www.imagehonda.com

By: Amy Cochren

AIR MILES REWARDS PROGRAM

Queenston Chevrolet Buick GMC is excited to announce the launch of our AIR MILES REWARD PROGRAM. Running between now and February 28, 2013, if you are an eligible Air Miles Collector, you can earn up to 3,000 Air Miles Reward Miles when you purchase or lease a new GM vehicle at one of our Dealerships.  If you are not currently an AIR MILES member and would like to become one, click here to register!

What is even more fabulous is that this program is combined with 0% Financing and Lease rates for up to 72 months on select vehicles.  Queenston on Centennial and Queenston on the Mountain both have a huge selection of qualifying, award winning vehicles including: The all-new Chevrolet Trax, the Chevrolet Spark, Malibu, Volt Cruze and Silverado; GMC Acadia and Sierra and the all-new Buick Encore.

With AIR MILES there are more than 1,500 rewards to choose from, such as electronics, home accessories, toys, leisure, entertainment & more.

Here are just a few of the products you can redeem!

Sony PRS-T2 Reader WiFi – 1,600 AIR MILES reward miles
Bosch Tassimo Suprema Coffee Maker with T-Discs – 1,800 AIR MILES reward miles
TomTom VIA 1535M 5” Portable GPS Navigator with Lifetime Maps – 2,500 AIR MILES reward miles
Canon Vixia HFR300 Full High Definition Camcorder – 2,775 AIR MILES reward miles
Round Trip Flight from Toronto to New York – 1,150 AIR MILES reward miles
Round Trip Flight from St. John’s to Toronto – 1,475 AIR MILES reward miles

There are so many great offers for you to take advantage of when you collect Air Miles.  What’s even better is you can enjoy them while driving your new GM vehicle!

For further information on this program or if you are interested in the purchase of any of our vehicles, please visit us at www.queenstonchev.com

By: Amy Cochren

The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette

The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette

The North American International auto show in Detroit is almost one week away and Chevrolet fans, Corvette fans and car enthusiasts alike are eagerly awaiting the debut of the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette. Since the first teasers and renderings were released, there have been a lot of questions surrounding the C7. Will the new installment of v8 engines live up to expectations? Will it be as light on its feet as previous versions? Will it maintain its ‘affordable sports car’ reputation? All of these questions and more will be answered next weekend in Detroit.

In collaboration with Polyphony Digital and their acclaimed racing video game, Gran Turismo 5, Chevrolet allowed for a first time privilege to give their gamers the opportunity to test drive the 2014 Corvette  in the Gran Turismo 5 game.  What has been seen of the C7 in the game is about as much as Chevrolet has released.

The iconic American sports car will make its debut on January 13th, 2013 in Detroit. We know it will be everything the world is anticipating, and more.

Chevrolet has released a series of dramatic teaser trailers that give us a brief look at the conception, calibration, and interior of the 2014 Corvette. Take a look at the initial trailer here, and be sure to visit Queenston on the Mountain or Queenston on Centennial at www.queenstonchev.com for more information on the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette.

By Nerissa Mohamed

KEEPING YOU AND YOUR VEHICLE SAFE THIS WINTER

No matter how many times we do it, driving in wintery conditions never gets easier or less frustrating. Driving in snow can be risky and you must always be prepared for the unexpected. When bad weather does strike, we recommend staying off the roads if possible. 

Did you know that snow and ice are more slippery at 0 C than at -20 C or below? It’s a common misconception that the colder the temperature the worse the roads – be aware this isn’t the case.  Even at 4 C there can be black ice on the roads. Always keep a safe distance between yourself and another vehicle as sudden braking can cause skidding.

Few things are more annoying than when you need to get somewhere and you find your car buried in snow.  Although it is tempting to quickly clear your windows and go, it can be dangerous for both you and those driving around you.  See and be seen – make sure that you properly remove all snow and ice from your hood, windows, lights, roof as well as the rear part of your vehicle.  It is also a good idea to take the brush and clear any snow or ice between your wheels and under your bumper.

Transport Canada has put together a highly informative booklet on Winter Driving Safety Tips.   This book is free and highly useful.  It can be viewed online or printed off to keep in your glove compartment.

Some tips in the booklet include:

  • Preventing problems before they occur
  • Getting your vehicle winter ready
  • How to prepare for driving in poor weather
  • Avoiding collisions

To view or download a copy please visit Transport Canada http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/roadsafety/safevehicles-safetyfeatures-winterdriving-index-693.htm

If you are interested in purchasing winter tires for your vehicle or would like to make sure your car is ready for winter, please visit us at www.imagehonda.com or www.queenstonchev.com

By: Amy Cochren

Credit: Transport Canada