Tag Archives: Queenston on the Mountain

Child focused safety features for the exterior of your vehicle: PART 2

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PART 2: Child focused safety features for the exterior of your vehicle

Most family friendly vehicles come with a long list of child focused safety features, but what do they actually mean?

We have put together a brief list of vehicle safety features that you might want to consider when purchasing a child friendly vehicle. A lot of the features we mention are standard, but we want to explain what role they play in your family’s safety.

DOOR LOCKS – REAR CHILD SECURITY LOCKS: Child safety locks are built into the rear doors of most vehicles to prevent rear seat passengers from opening the doors, both during transit and while the vehicle is stationary. These locks provide the driver with a simple, safe & secure method of preventing unauthorized exit from the car.

 WINDOWS – REAR WINDOW LOCK-OUT FEATURE: A driver-controlled lockout switch prevents passengers (usually small children) from accidentally triggering the switches.

SAFETY RATINGS – NCAP 5 STAR SAFETY RATING: The New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) rates vehicles to determine crash worthiness and rollover safety. The safety ratings are gathered during controlled crash and rollover tests, which are conducted at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s research facilities. Five stars indicate the highest safety rating.

AIR FILTRATION SYSTEM: This system recirculates cabin air to help prevent exhaust fumes from entering the interior of the vehicle. The filters also remove dust, pollen and other airborne irritants from outside air that is pulled into the vehicle.

REINFORCED STEEL SAFETY CAGE: Helps diffuse impact energy in the passenger compartment and provides a stronger foundation structure.

CRUMPLE ZONES: Crumple zones literally crumple up in a collision by absorbing the energy of the collision and diverting it from the passenger compartment.  As a result the safety cage remains intact.

SIDE IMPACT BEAMS:Side impact cross-car beams help channel energy during a collision.

STABILITRAK:  Electronic Stability Control System intervenes automatically, helping prevent lateral skids and restore steering control.

PROCACTIVE ROLL AVOIDANCE (on most SUV’s):  Proactive roll avoidance reduces the vehicle’s tendency to roll over in a panic situation.

TRACTION CONTROL: A system that automatically applies brake pressure to appropriate wheels, limiting the wheel-spin and helping to re-establish traction.

FORWARD COLLISION ALERT:Forward Collision Alert is a crash-avoidance system that uses sensors to help detect when the driver is getting too close to a vehicle. The systems alerts the driver with visual cues on the dashboard, as well as an audible alert.

LANE DEPARTURE WARNING AND SIDE BLIND ZONE ALERT:A camera, mounted in the rear-view mirror, reads the lines on the road. Should the vehicle stray, the system alerts the driver via visible and audible cues.

REAR PARK ASSIST: This is designed to alert the driver of obstacles while parking. These systems use either electromagnetic or ultrasonic sensors.

REAR BACK-UP CAMERA: Back-up camera displays are activated on a monitor when the vehicle is set in reverse. This is alternatively known as ‘reversing cameras’ or ‘rear view cameras’ and it is specifically designed to avoid a backup collision.

HILL START ASSIST: The system prevents the car from rolling away when driving on an upward or downward incline. The system engages automatically when the vehicle is completely stopped on an incline; it then acts to hold the car stationary for two seconds after the brake is released, giving the driver time to apply the throttle.

TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM: A Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is an electronic system for monitoring your vehicle’s tire pressure. A tire pressure monitoring system will alert drivers when underinflated tires are detected.

SOME OTHER CONVENIENT SAFETY FEATURES TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A VEHICLE WITH A CHILD IN MIND ARE: Wheel mounted audio controls, DVD entertainment with headphones, auxiliary audio input jack, USB Port, flat-folding rear seats, fold-flat front passenger seats, remote start, cargo area security net, halogen headlamps, fog lights, cup holders, extra lighting, keyless entry, Bluetooth and a large storage area.

We hope you enjoy all the excitement that comes along with selecting a new vehicle with your family. Please remember to ask your sales associate what standard and optional features come with your vehicle of choice. Walk away with peace of mind knowing that your family is safe and secure.

2014 Cruze Diesel Named Car of the Year

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Its official, the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel has been named “Top Diesel Car of the Year”, as well as “Diesel Manufacturer of the Year” by Diesel Driver Magazine. Voted on by the readers of Diesel Driver, 59.3% of the 11,030 votes cast were for the Cruze, beating out competing models that included: Audi, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, BMW and Porsche.This isn’t the first award for the Chevrolet Cruze Diesel – earlier this year they were recognized by Wards Auto as having one of the 10 Best Engines.

Diesel Facts

The all-new Chevrolet Cruze is a 2.0L clean-turbo-diesel-powered model, and has a fuel consumption rating of 4.2L/100km highway. This new diesel achieves a better fuel consumption rating than any non-hybrid or gasoline passenger car in North America.

While there is much excitement still surrounding the 2014 model, Chevrolet just revealed the 2015 Cruze Diesel at the New York International Auto Show. Making revisions to the exterior styling, as well as enhancements to the interior convenience of the vehicle, Chevrolet has made available a diesel powertrain that still maintains its class-leading fuel economy.

If you are interested in reading what Diesel Driver had to say about the Chevrolet Cruze, visit http://www.thedieseldriver.com or visit us at one of our 2 locations Queenston on Centennial or Queenston on the Mountain to experience this award winning vehicle for yourself!

Credit: Chevrolet Canada, The Diesel Driver

Child-Focused Safety Features For The Interior Of Your Vehicle – Part 1

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car safety

Most family-friendly vehicles come with a long list of child-focused safety features, but what do they all mean? We have put together a short list of vehicle safety features that you might want to consider when purchasing a child-friendly vehicle. A lot of the features listed below do come standard, but what roll do they play in your family’s traveling safety?

3-point belts: A 3-point belt is a ‘Y’-shaped arrangement, similar to the separate lap and sash belts, but unitized. Like the separate lap-and-sash belt, in a collision, the 3-point belt spreads out the energy of the moving body over the chest, pelvis, and shoulders.

Safety belt pre-tensioners: Reduces slack that may exist in a seatbelt system at the moment of a collision.

Shoulder belt height adjusters: Simply aligns the seat belt comfortably away from the neck of the passengers when properly positioning the height of the seat belt.

LATCH (Lower Anchors and Top Tethers for Children) Rear Seats: Also known in Canada as, LUAS (Lower Universal Anchorage System). LATCH is a way to secure a child safety seat to the vehicle using straps from the child safety seat that connect to special metal anchors in the vehicle. LATCH consists of lower anchors and top tethers, which are built-in to your vehicle, and connecting hooks that are built-in to your car seat. Lower anchors are used instead of the vehicle’s safety belt to secure the child seat to the vehicle. Tethers are used in addition to the lower anchors or the vehicle’s safety belt to secure a forward-facing child safety seat to the vehicle.

Vehicle LATCH Anchors:
Lower Anchors: These are a pair of metal “u-shaped” bars that are often hidden in the crack of the vehicle’s seat.

Tether Anchors: These are metal rings that are found behind each rear vehicle seat.

OnStar In-Vehicle Communications and Assistance Service – Subscription-based communication that provides customers with peace of mind through auto security and safety features -these include:

Automatic Crash Response
Emergency Services
Crisis Assist
Stolen Vehicle Assistance
Remote Door Unlock
Roadside Assistance
Remote Horn and Lights
Turn-by-Turn Navigation
Hands-Free Calling
Vehicle Diagnostics

Sliding rear seat: The rear seats have the ability to slide back and forth to give more leg room or more rear cargo space.

Tinted glass: Solar-absorbing tinted windows that are UV-filtered to limit children’s sun exposure.

Driver and Front Passenger Frontal Air Bags: Front air bags that help restrain the driver and front passenger in moderate to severe front impact crashes. Dual-depth units automatically adjust the deployment of the air bags based on the severity of the collision, the seat position and other factors.

Airbag Deactivation: The purpose of the switch in the OFF position is to disable a frontal air bag in order to transport occupants who are at increased risk for air bag-related injury due to age, size, or medical condition.

Head Curtain Side Impact Airbags: Seat-mounted and head curtain air bags help provide additional protection in moderate to severe side impact crashes.

ABS (Anti-Lock Brake System): ABS helps the driver maintain proper vehicle steering control during hard braking, even on slick surfaces. ABS is standard equipment on most GM and Honda vehicles.

Hill Start Assist: This system prevents the car from rolling when trying to pull away on an upward or downward incline. The system engages automatically when the vehicle is at a complete stop on an incline. It then acts to hold the car stationary for two seconds after the brake is released giving the driver time to apply the throttle.

Some other convenient features to consider when buying a vehicle with children are: Steering wheel mounted audio controls, DVD entertainment with headphones, auxiliary audio input jack, USB ports, flat-folding rear seats, fold-flat front passenger seat, remote start, cargo area security net, halogen headlamps, fog lights, cup holders, extra lighting, keyless entry, Bluetooth and a large storage area.
We hope you enjoy all the excitement that comes with selecting a new vehicle for you and your family. Remember to ask your sales associate what features are standard and which are optional when you are selecting a vehicle. Give yourself peace of mind and leave our dealerships knowing your family is safe and secure.
Coming soon- PART 2: Child focused safety features for the exterior of your vehicle.

photo credit: http://www.mymetroparents.com

Reason`s Why You Need to Consider the 2014 Buick LaCrosse

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Buick has long been associated with luxury, reliability, affordability and style. It is precisely these traits that have made Buick the oldest American brand of automobile. We have seen many models come and go throughout the years, but the LaCrosse has always proved to be a favorite.

Image

This year, Buick has updated the flagship LaCrosse, giving it a slightly new look and adding some luxurious features. The basic frame of the car remains the same, however, there were modifications made to the suspension.

In terms of styling, the front features a new waterfall grille and an update to the rear end. The 2014 LaCrosse also features new wheel designs that are sure to garner attention. The inside of the vehicle takes on a new look and feel with numerous revisions such as: new 8 inch reconfigurable TFT screen and restyled centre stack. Newly available is the option to purchase the New Ultra Luxury Package. The package provides you with semi-analine leather upholstered seats, arm rest and door panels. This leather is the same leather that is used in Aston Martin vehicles.

New and exciting to the 2014 LaCrosse are the Xenon High-Intensity Discharge Headlights that wrap around redesigned LEF Taillights linked with chrome moulding for added style.

When it comes to safety, the 2014 LaCrosse provides you with a number of options to keep you informed and alert no matter the situation. The available options include:

Forward Collision Alert: Senses when you are approaching a vehicle too quickly, alerting you with audio and visual warnings.
Adaptive Cruise Control System: Helps the driver to maintain a safe following distance.
Side Blind Zone Alert and Lane Change Alert: This feature will alert you with a prompt, which is visible in your rear-view mirror. It also alerts you when a vehicle has entered your blind spot or is quickly approaching in the lane beside you.
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert: This alert shows a view of the area behind the car on the colour touch screen. It also notifies you when an object or person is about to cross the rear of the car from either side.

With all the 2014 Buick LaCrosse has to offer, it’s no wonder we’re selling so many. The luxury and affordability of this vehicle outweighs all others in its class. Come and see us at Queenston on the Mountain today and take advantage of our loyalty programs and current offers. We would be happy to schedule you a test drive in the 2014 Buick LaCrosse. Visit us at www.queenstononthemountain.com or call us at 905-528-7001.

2014 North American Car & Truck Of The Year! (NACTOY Awards)

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If you haven’t heard the news already, allow us to share the excitement!  Today, it was announced that the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and Silverado were named 2014 North American Car and Truck of the Year!  This win marks GM’s first double win in the same year.  The last time the Silverado received this award was in 2007.  The Corvette has not received this honour since 1998.  These awards are voted on by 49 automotive journalists from Canada and the United States.  The votes are based on factors such as; design, innovation, safety and value among other things.

03-2014-chevrolet-silverado-fd-opt2014-chevrolet-corvette-stingrayGlobal Chevrolet senior vice president Alan Bately, when asked about the award, had the following to say, “Chevrolet is in the midst of the most aggressive product transformation in the brand’s more than 100-year history.  The Corvette and Silverado truly embody the passion, commitment and focus that is driving us to deliver the most expressive designs, innovative technologies and engaging performance in every vehicle that wears the bowtie. It is a distinct honour for the entire Chevrolet team to have both the Corvette ad Silverado recognized with the prestigious North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards.”

Please take a look at our blogs for more information on the award winning 2014 Silverado and 2014 Corvette Stingray.  If you would like to speak to one of our reputable sales people or take a test drive in one of our award winning vehicles, please visit http://www.queenstonchev.com

Credit: GM Canada

New Years Resolutions – For You and Your Car!

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It’s a new year and a new start.  You’ve probably already made your own New Year’s resolutions, but what about when it comes to your car? This year, let’s resolve to take better care of our vehicle and be a more conscientious car owner.

I resolve to use rubber mats seasonally to protect my car

Rubber floor mats protect your interior from dirt, water, mud, and more.  At Queenston Chevrolet Buick GMC and Image Honda, we sell mats that are custom fit to your vehicle.  These floor mats not only provide you with the satisfaction of having OEM quality protection, but you won’t have to worry about them slipping underneath your pedals, which can be a serious safety risk.

I resolve to invest in seasonal tires

Sliding, slipping, zero traction….the list goes on.  Winter tires are critical, especially with our Ontario winters.  Not only are they a good investment that give you added safety and peace of mind, but they save you wear and tear on your all-season tires.  Swapping them out twice a year gives you added life on your wheels!

I resolve to schedule regular maintenance appointments

Our certified technicians at Image Honda and Queenston Chevrolet Buick GMC are trained to know your vehicle inside and out and are able to spot things that you might otherwise have missed.  Bringing your car in at least twice a year for regular checkups and preventative maintenance may cost you in the short term, but will save you in repair costs and increase your resale value.

I resolve to check for fluid leaks at least once a month.

This is always a good idea and one of the easiest things to check for.  We recommend taking a pizza box and placing it under your car for the night – in the morning, bring the box into the dealership and show us your art work.  We will be able to tell what is leaking based on the colour and where it dripped on the box.

I resolve to be a more fuel efficient driver

This year, don’t use the old excuse that your vehicle isn’t fuel efficient!  True, it may not be the best on gas, but there are always ways to improve your fuel efficiency.  Watching your speed, maintaining your vehicle, carpooling with people co-workers are all easy ways to save on fuel costs.

I resolve to kick my idling habit

There really is no reason to leave your car idling – it is bad for the environment, increases your gas consumption and will cost you extra money each year.

I resolve to wash and keep my car clean.

I make this resolution almost every time I clean out my car.  Not only will cleaning your car make it look better, but it will extend the life of your car, protect the paint and increase its resale value.

I resolve to be a more patient driver,

Most importantly, don’t rush!  Leave plenty of time if you need to be somewhere at a specific time.  If you are running late, evaluate the circumstance – will you really be that late if you don’t make the green light?

I resolve to learn new driving skills

No one is a perfect driver and there are certainly driving skills we can all work on.  Perhaps, you want to learn how to back into a spot or even parallel park.  Whatever it is, work on it – you’ll be glad you did.

I resolve to check my tire pressure and tread regularly

Watch our video: How to check your tire pressure

Watch our video: How to check your tire tread

Please feel free to call us anytime for all of your automotive needs or visit us at http://www.imagehonda.com or http://www.queenstonchev.com

By: Amy Cochren

How To: Changing Your Wiper Blades

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There is nothing worse than getting to your car in the morning when you are late for work, only to find your windshield frozen over.  Often times, people will run their blades over the frozen windshield in order to clear it. This severely reduces the life span of your wiper blades. Wiper blades frequently get neglected on most cars and yet, they are constantly used and exposed to harsh conditions.  We recommend that you change your blades at least once a year, preferably every 6 months.

If your wipers are rattling, streaking or simply not cleaning your window, it is time to replace them.  This also goes for wipers that are cracked, torn, nicked or damaged.  Winter especially can have an effect on your blades with cold/freezing temperatures, causing them to crack and split.  If you are unsure whether or not it is time for a change, perform a simple check with your washer fluid.

Changing your wiper blade yourself, believe it or not, is one of the easiest maintenance jobs that can be performed on your vehicle.  I discovered this myself last week when I realized it was time for new blades, and had our friendly service advisors show me how.

Please watch our quick “How To” video on changing your wiper blades – you’ll be happy you did!

If you are in need of new wiper blades, please call our service centres and we will be happy to assist you! www.queenstonchev.com

The 2015 Chevrolet Colorado Reveal

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We all know this has been a big year for Chevrolet and their entire full-sized truck line.  With the reengineering of the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, we saw a lot of big changes and truly got a sense of what Chevy meant when they said “finding new roads”.  Well, on November 20th at 12:30pm ET at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Chevrolet will be revealing the final piece to Chevrolet’s pick-up truck portfolio with the reveal of the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado.

Re-defining what a midsize pick-up is, the new Colorado has been designed to be the “most capable, most versatile and technologically advanced midsize truck in the market”

We are inviting you to join us on our AutoHwy Facebook page on November 20th at 12:30pm for the LIVE reveal in Los Angeles!

2015 Colorado reveal

As always, we encourage you to contact us if you are interested in any of the vehicles in our award winning line-up by visiting us at Queenston on the Mountain or Queenston on Centennial.  For the latest and up to date information make sure to follow us at Hamilton Auto Blog.

Getting Your Little Monsters Ready For Halloween?

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Halloween is an exciting time for kids of all ages, but the rules of the road can be easily forgotten!  We want to take this time to remind everyone to be extra alert while driving on the road and keep in mind that the most active times for trick-or-treaters are between 6pm – 9pm. Here are a few friendly road safety tips to keep in mind.

  • Stay below the speed limit in subdivisions and leave extra time while traveling to your desired destination.
  • Remember using your cellphone without a hands-free device is not only unsafe and distracting – it’s illegal.
  • Pay close attention when pulling in and out of driveways to ensure all the ghosts and ghouls are well out of the way.
  • Yield for pedestrians, they may cross the street anywhere and this can be unpredictable.
  • Use your mirrors, turning signals and hazard lights – communicate with the other drivers on the road by using eye contact.

We at Image Honda, Queenston on Centennial and Queenston on the Mountain would like to wish everyone a safe Halloween full of tricks and treats!

car freshener costume

Why You Should Consider Leasing…

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Do you love the feeling of getting into a new car, experiencing new technology, knowing that you are in the safest of vehicles?  Then leasing might be right for you.  Unlike finance, where you pay for the entire value of the vehicle, leasing provides you with the option to only pay for a portion of the vehicle known as the residual value (value you expect to use over a set period of time), plus a borrowing charge and applicable taxes.  Leasing also provides you with flexibility, especially when it comes to the end of term process.  You, as the customer, are given the option to purchase and keep, purchase and sell, or drop off the keys and shop for a new vehicle.

There are many benefits to leasing that people are unaware of:

  • You only have to pay for the portion of the vehicle that you intend to use
  • You only have to pay tax on your monthly payments
  • Lease terms are shorter than typical finance terms, which allows you to drive a new vehicle more often
  • You don’t have a trade in obligation
  • With leasing you can drive upgraded models with more features for a lower monthly payment then if you were to finance.  Your payment is often lower because you are only paying for the depreciation of the vehicle over your lease term
  • If you lease, often times you can deduct payments from your taxes if you use your car for business more than 50% of the time – please see your accountant for details
  • Leasing often provides you with the option for better products and lower interest rates.
  • Peace of mind since most leases will fall within the factory warranty period

At Queenston, we provide you with both GM and in house lease programs to accomodate you, no matter your circumstance.  Combined with an award winning product line-up and outstanding GM program lease offers, there really is no better time to consider leasing your vehicle.
Chevy Buick GMC

General Motors has won 8 best vehicle awards in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Survey, with all GM brands ranking above the industry average this year!  Topping the chart at number 2 is GMC, followed by Chevrolet, who jumped 10 spots from last year to land at number 5.  Cadillac tied for 13th and Buick came in at 15.  What is even more exciting is that GMC and Chevrolet are the only two non-luxury brands to make the top 5.  Click here to read more about the Survey

Consumer Reports has named the 2014 Chevrolet Impala as Best New Sedan, which has also received a five star safety rating from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s New Car Assessment Program. 

The 2013 Chevrolet Trax has been recognized by Vincentric as a “Consumer Best Value in Canada” in the Compact Sport Utility Vehicle segment. The 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and High Country and the GMC Sierra produce the most power and torque of any light duty pick-ups currently on the market.  Lastly, just announced, the 2013 Buick Encore has been recognized by Vincentric as “Consumer Best Value in Canada” in the Premium Compact Crossover Segment.  These awards are only a few and we encourage you to visit our dealerships (Queenston on Centennial and Queenston on the Mountain) for more information or visit Hamilton Auto Blog for the latest updates.

This recognition combined with outstanding fuel economies, state of the art technologies like MyLink, voice recognition, Stabilitrak, Lane Departure Warnings, Forward Collision Warnings, Park Assist and additional airbags that come standard on most models, make the 2014 GM line-up one of the best ever!

If you are interested in leasing, we encourage you to visit our website for the latest Sign and Drive Event – we’ll make your first payment for you!  Visit Queenston on Centennial and Queenston on the Mountain today and get into the vehicle of your dreams!