Back To School Driving Tips
The end of summer means many St. Louis children will soon return to school.
Following these simple tips can help your children reach school safely and help drivers avoid costly fines and tickets.
Tips for Driving in School Zones
- Put away your cell phone.
- Always obey school zone speed limit signs. Remember, traffic fines in school zones can be expensive.
- Drop off and pick up your children in your school’s designated areas, not the middle of the street.
- Keep an eye on children gathered at bus stops.
- Be alert for children who might dart across the street or between vehicles on their way to school.
Tips for Children Walking or Biking to School
- Always cross at intersections and designated crosswalks. Look left, right and then left again before proceeding.
- Look for traffic when stepping off a bus or from behind parked cars.
- Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street.
- Always obey crossing guards.
- Always wear a helmet when riding a bicycle.
The 2017 Buick Encore – Everything You Want to Know!
Have you spotted the stylish, compact Buick Encore on the roads of St. Louis, and want to know more? This great little SUV blends the functionality of an SUV, with the luxury features of a Buick, and fuel economy of a compact car.
Interior and Technology
Each seat is in the 2017 Encore is designed to fit the curve of your back for a comfortable ride. Add a touch of luxury, with the available leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel and heated seats. The spacious interior boasts seating for 5, while still allowing 18.8 cubic feet of cargo space. Going camping? Moving? Hauling gear? Simply fold down the rear seats, and open up over 48 cubic feet of cargo space! The Buick Encore may be affordable, but it isn’t devoid of advanced tech features. Stream your favorite music, send and receive text messages, call your friends, with voice recognition with Buick IntelliLink™.
Other available features include:
- Keyless open and start with remote start
- Onstar® 4G LTE and built-in Wi-Fi® Hotspot
- 6-way power front seats
- Power moonroof
Performance
Either of the two engine choices are sure to make the Buick Encore fun to drive. The available all-wheel drive system, StabiliTrak®, and Traction Control and will give you confidence in the inclement weather that we usually get here in St. Louis. With up to 33 MPG, filling the tank in your Encore won’t drain your bank account.
Safety
The Buick Encore has a 5-star Overall Vehicle Score for safety from the NHTSA. Your Buick Encore features wide array of driver-assistive technologies, and comes with a standard Rear Vision Camera, so you’ll be able to see behind you as your park, or back out of a parking space. The available Rear Cross Traffic Alert feature will help to prevent parking lot collisions. Never be caught off-guard when switching lanes, either, with the available Side Blind Zone Alert. You can enhance your 2017 Buick Encore with safety features that include:
- Lane Departure Warning
- Front and Rear Ultrasonic Park Assist
- 10 air bags
- Forward Collision Alert
Want to see how this stylish, and functional SUV can benefit your lifestyle? Stop by Dave Sinclair Buick GMC, or give us a call to schedule a test drive!
Forget St. Louis winters, summers can bring the heat to Missouri, including St. Louis and surrounding areas. Hot weather means it is time to think about driving in the heat and how that affects your car or truck before you hit the road for all your summer adventures. Dave Sinclair Buick GMC recommends having your vehicle inspected by a certified service technician one to two weeks before your trip to so you have a piece of mind and don’t get stranded by car issues.
Common car issues during the summer can include coolant issues, radiator leakage and the air conditioner dying.
A/C System
Chances are that you weren’t cranking the air conditioning during the cold winter months. The system may need new filters, a cleaning, or a re-charging. If you’re not a do-it-yourselfer, the service team at Dave Sinclair Buick GMC is available to making sure you remain comfortable on the road with a working A/C system.
Check Your Fluids
You can save yourself a lot of hassle in the hot-weather months by monitoring your car’s fluids. Fluids that you should check include:
- Coolant: This is the big one. If your coolant/antifreeze level is too low, it can cause overheating.
- Motor oil
- Transmission fluid
- Brake fluid
- Power-steering fluid
- Windshield wiper fluid
Monitor Tire Pressure
A freezing winter can take a toll on your tires. If you use one set of tires year-round, now is a good time to bring your car in for a tire rotation, a check on the tread, and to ensure that they’re inflated properly. If it turns out that your tires need to be replaced, we can help you choose tires that suit your vehicle and are built to last.
Replace Your Battery
If your car has an old battery, extreme summer heat can spell trouble. To avoid expensive repairs, it’s worth having your car’s battery tested, or even replaced. Getting a new battery altogether will cost you less than it would to have a dead battery serviced if your car breaks down.
To make your service appointment, you can schedule service online or call (314) 272-4063 to make an appointment. Our certified mechanics and state-of-the-art facility makes sure your service is done right the first time. We feature GM Certified Service technicians. We look forward to helping ensure that you enjoy the summer with no vehicle issues!
Introducing the 2016 Buick Cascada Convertible
Warmer weather is just around the corner, and what better way to enjoy the sunny months than by cruising with the top down? Just in time for the summer, the 2016 Buick Cascada Convertible is landing in the St. Louis area. This luxury convertible has a lot to offer to any driver who appreciates attention to detail, high-tech features and the sheer joy of the open road. So what exactly does the all-new Buick Cascada Convertible bring to the table? Take a look at some of our favorite features:
- The exterior: With sculpted lines and a muscular body, the 2016 Buick Cascada Convertible looks every bit the part of a luxury car. Subtle details include chrome accents, a stainless steel exhaust tip and aluminum wheels add the right amount of elegance to the profile. Meanwhile, the soft-top drops in a mere 17 seconds, taking you quickly from the quiet interior to being able to feel the wind in your hair.
- The interior: The 2016 Buick Cascada doesn’t just look luxurious; the inside effortlessly blends comfort with class for an unforgettable ride. Settle back into leather-appointed seats that are 8-way power-adjustable, so you can get the fit just right. Dual-zone climate controls extend the comfort a step further, so much so that you’re likely to forget that you’re even riding in a car.
- The technology: Enjoy updates to technology, like the available OnStar 4G LTE with Wi-Fi hotspot, that offer groundbreaking innovations in keeping connected. Make hands-free calls and play your music easily with the Buick IntelliLink touch screen, and enjoy the OnStar RemoteLink App, which allows you to both lock and unlock your car and remotely start it.
- The ride: The 2016 Buick Cascada Convertible will have you feeling the joy of the open road, whether the top is down or not. The ride benefits from features like StabiliTrak technology, 20 inch wheels and HiPer Strut suspension, which make for a ride that’s incredibly responsive. Top all this off with the high-performing 1.6L 200-HP turbocharged engine, and you’ll be looking for any excuse to hit the road.
With all these features and more, we couldn’t be more excited for the all-new 2016 Buick Cascada Convertible. Come explore this state-of-the-art ride with us today!
Car Tax Cuts
Have you ever wondered what types of tax breaks you are eligible for? Want to learn more? Read on.
On the off chance that you utilize your auto only in your business, you can deduct auto costs, as indicated by the Turbo Tax site. In the event that you utilize your auto for both business and individual purposes, you should separate your costs based on mileage. Auto deductions are for a car, van, and pick-up or board truck utilized for business as indicated by the IRS web site. It is important to be aware that the commute between one’s home to work is a personal expense and not deductible.
However, if you drive from your usual work spot to another work related site whether it be a meeting in a different office, the store to buy office supplies or the airport, those are tax deductible miles. However if your employer pays you back for mileage, your miles are not deductible.
If you use your car just for work then you will be able to deduct 100% of your expenses are deductible. This includes parking fees, registration fees, gas, and insurance. It’s important to keep your receipts to keep tabs on your expenses.
If you unfortunately happen to be in a car accident and the other driver isn’t able to fully reimburse you for the damage done to your car, you might be able to get a deduction for the amount you were reimbursed for as a casualty loss. This includes if the the value of your car goes down as a result of the accident.
Please refer to refer to IRS Publication 463, Travel, Entertainment, Gift, and Car Expenses https://www.irs.gov/uac/car-and-truck-expense-deduction-reminders). For a list of current-year and prior-year mileage rates see “Standard Mileage Rates.” There’s is also a table included for those who lease their vehicles.
New Year Car Resolutions
What are your new year resolutions this year? Share with us on Facebook. Our resolutions are below.
1. Make dirty windows your canvas.
If you can’t wash your vehicle, don’t worry. Look at the dirt as an opportunity to make someone smile. Create art with dust and mud until you have time to wash your vehicle.
2. Go explore.
Life can keep us busy, but this year we’re going to find extra time to explore with our vehicles. See new terrains and towns.
3. Drive with extra caution.
This one is more of a reminder as we automatically tend to pay extra attention to bikes, motorcycles and mopeds. They can pop out of nowhere and maneuver in tight places, which makes them hard to see.
Remember when A/C was a luxury?
Oh, how cars have changed over the years. The evolution of technology has greatly influenced the development of modern vehicles. What is considered standard tech these days didn’t even exist as options. In light of new technology and our own nostalgia, we’d like to take a look back into the past.
Power steering
Some of you might have been lucky enough (or unlucky) to experience driving without power steering. While many of us have grown used to it and expect to see it in every vehicle, it wasn’t introduced until 1951 by Chrysler and it didn’t become standard until many decades later.
Anti-lock Brakes
Anti-lock brakes started to appear on some higher-end vehicles in the 1970s but they didn’t become standard until much, much later.
AM/FM Radios
The first car radio was introduced by Chevrolet in 1922 and it wasn’t a small in-dash unit as we know it today. By the 1930s, technology had evolved somewhat and more cars offered small Motorola AM radio units, but the AM/FM radios as we know them today weren’t standard until the 1980s.
A/C
Many of us have grown used to A/C cooling us during hot summer days, but in the not so distant past, this convenience wasn’t available. Before the 1950s, many of us were cooling ourselves by rolling the windows down and dumping water on our heads. While the first car air conditioners became available in the 1950s, they didn’t become standard until the past decade or so.
Power Windows and Locks
Power windows and locks were available on most high-end cars from the 60s on, but it wasn’t until the 90s that power locks and windows were pretty much standard – technically some base models might still have roll down windows.
2017 Buick Encore
Rick Hayes, the BDC manager at Dave Sinclair Buick GMC is an Olympic torch runner for the Special Olympics. So for the month of August we interviewed Rick to highlight his experience with torches and the Special Olympics.
Question #1: How did you get involved in the Special Olympics?
In 1995, my supervisor and now great friend asked me to “go on a run with him”. At the time, I had no idea the run would be for the Special Olympics; when I stood among all the other runners and Special Olympic athletes I was hooked.
Question #2: How long have you been involved in the Special Olympics?
I have been involved in some way or another for 21 years.
Question #3: How did you get selected to carry the torch?
Each state and each country involved in The “Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics” gets to submit one person to represent them for the Torch Run that raises awareness in the country and area where the games are going to be held. The final day of the run is into the stadium where the Torch is lit signifying the opening of the games, just like the regular Olympic Games. I was selected for my year round commitment to Missouri Special Olympics.
Question #4: How long did you have to run for?
My team and I ran 60 miles in 8 days in Washington State, Idaho and Canada.
Question #5: Did you train for it?
I trained for about 9 months to be able to run a certain mile pace over a certain distance per day.
Question #6: Did you get to keep the torch?
We had one torch assigned to our team and we had a Special Olympic Athlete from Australia with our group and we gave the torch to her to represent all of us. I have lots of pictures and it was very emotional.
Question #7: What was your favorite part about the ceremony?
My greatest memory was seeing all 50 states in the US represented, all provinces of Canada represented and 39 other countries from around the world who were able to send athletes to participate in the games. I escorted the athletes from the country of Tunisia into the stadium who had never seen snow before. I will never forget their smiles.
The All-New Buick Envision
What is the Buick Envision? It’s the SUV in a world of wannabe SUVs. It is literally a vision to look upon.
While the finely-crafted luxury interior of the Envision draws inspiration from the Enclave, the Envision’s platform is not shared by any other U.S. vehicles. Noticeably smaller than the Enclave, the Envision only seats five, but its slimmer body enhances fuel efficiency and maneuverability.
What powers the Envision? A direct-injected turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that properly balances the need for power and fuel efficiency. This four-cylinder engine produces 252 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque while yielding 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.
What else does the Envision feature?
You’ll find premium materials and top technology. Dual power seats, front and outboard-rear seat heaters, a heated steering wheel, Bose audio, a power liftgate, three-zone climate control and lane-keep assist are all standard features.
The Envision’s Intellilink infotainment command center is offered in a 4-inch or 8-inch touchscreen and gives drivers Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, AM and FM radio – plus apps like Pandora.
Want to learn more? Reach out to Dave Sinclair Buick GMC and schedule a test drive.
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