DON`S DENTS - Lloydminster Source
Transcription
DON`S DENTS - Lloydminster Source
Special Supplement of the DON’S DENTS Paintless Dent Repair Specializing in: Auto Hail Damage, Door Dings, Minor Dents DRIVEN BY YOU. THE RIGHT TIRE CHANGES EVERYTHING. ™ SGI RECOGNIZED Don Scott, Owner / Operator 5515 - 52 Street, Lloydminster, AB Shop: (780) 875-4449 or Cell: (306) 441-2215 donsdents@hotmail.com Wheel Alignments, Major Tire Brands, Tune-ups, Front End, Brakes, Shocks, Struts, Rims, Complete Automotive Service 6207-43 St., Lloydminster (780) 875-8473 tirecraft.com 2 GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNIN’ LLOYDMINSTER SOURCE I WWW.LLOYDMINSTERSOURCE.COM I Tuesday, April 26, 2016 Motorcycles — it’s a female thing LOH a close-knit group by Jaime Polmateer jaime@lloydminstersource.com Motorcycling at one point may have been considered a man’s game, with the “old ladies” only seen riding on the backseat at best—but times have changed. Proof of this can be seen with the Ladies of Harley (LOH), a subset of the larger Harley Owners Group (HOG), which is a club of enthusiasts sharing a common love of the Harley Davidson motorcycle. “Basically we just try to encourage females riding motorcycles,” said Melanie Kizlyk, representative of LOH’s Border Town chapter. Photo submitted Bordertown’s own Ladies of Harley “Every HOG chapter has a Ladies of Harley group.” LOH meets each Thursday night when they go for ride and get together once a month during the winter months to keep in touch and socialize. The Thursday night rides are also a way to ease new members into the lifestyle and help them learn to ride without the added pressure from the rest of the club watching. Getting used to riding with that much power on just two wheels could be daunting for anyone, so LOH often takes it easy by staying in town and on highways that are no faster than 80 km/h. “It’s fun when we’re out on our Thursday night rides because you get people who drive past and they see a group of motorbikes, and then they drive past and realize, wait a sec., they’re all women,” joked Kizlyk. She estimates that LOH is standing at 20 members, and if you’re a lady without a Harley, she said there’s no need to worry because some of the riders are welcome to cruise along on scooters. “We encourage anybody and everybody who’s a lady to come out riding with us,” she said. “You kind of get a few looks, but you know what, they’re part of our group and we love them all.” To join LOH one just has to get their national membership with HOG, which is offered when you buy a bike from your local Harley Davidson dealership. From there you can join the local chapter, and if you’re a female, you’re an automatic member of LOH. Kizlyk encourages all female motorcycle enthusiasts to join the group, if only for the sense of friendship and community that comes with it. “It’s such a close-knit group that you really enjoy it,” she said. DON’T JUST PROTECT IT IT BEDLINERS. ACCESSORIES. PROTECTIVE COATINGS. STOP BY LINE-X TODAY AND SEE WHAT’S POSSIBLE. LINE-X OF LLOYDMINSTER 2301 - 50TH AVENUE LLOYDMINSTER, SK S9V 1Z7 (306) 825-3555 LINEX.CA LLOYDMINSTER SOURCE I WWW.LLOYDMINSTERSOURCE.COM I Tuesday, April 26, 2016 GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNIN’ 3 Tidy Truck tops in accessories by Geoff Lee geoff@lloydminstersource.com Tidy Truck Boxliners and Line-X protective coatings is a busy one stop shop for the latest truck accessories for the truck aficionado and fleet owners. The Lloydminster business is located at 2301 50 Ave. with a second standalone Tidy Truck shop in Medicine Hat under the ownership of Jim Barnett. “We are a full line accessory dealership,” said Barnett, who is celebrating 25 years of business in Lloydminster in 2016. “One of our focuses is the fleet business, which is dealing with a lot of oil and oil related companies, rigging up their trucks to go to work.” A typical fleet truck package would include floor mats, seat covers, a box liner, a tool box and mudflaps. The company is known for designing, fabricating and installing wood tool box liners and tool boxes for oil-related fleet trucks along with metal tool boxes and truck covers. “Those guys are on mud roads so they need things like mudflaps and things like that as well,” said Barnett. “That’s a big part of our market.” A custom wood tool box made in-house provides customers with more storage options than an off the shelf steel or checkerplate product could. The downturn in the oil market has led Tidy Truck and Line-X to refocus with a smaller, cross-trained staff and on developing new market opportunities and products. “It’s oil that drives the market for what we are dealing with,” said Barnett especially about the custom tool box market. He said they are fortunate that farmers and ranchers in the region have been having some decent years to bring in new business. “They are making up a bigger percentage of the business than they have in the past. Tidy Truck operates out of a 10,000 sq. ft. building with a showroom loaded with must-have aftermarket parts and accessories. The shop in Medicine Hat is about 6,700 sq. ft. The available goodies at both locations range from nerf bars, box rails, headache racks and running boards to fuel tanks and hitches with a lot of interest these days in LED lighting. “Three years ago, it was a market that was very high end, and now there’s a number of companies out there so the pricing has come down,” said Barnett. He said for the young at heart and those who want a little more of custom look, they stock aftermarket headlights and taillights that can really change the look of a truck. “LEDs have found their way into headlights as well so that’s been a great market for us,” said Barnett. They’ve been applying Line-X box liners for the past 13 years at the Lloydminster location. “Line-X has been a great product for us and a great complementary line to other things that we are doing,” said Barnett. Line-X is a spray on product made from specially formulated polymers that permanently bond to the truck’s bed, protecting it from just about anything you or Mother Nature can Geoff Lee photo Mark Stieb shows the easy way to open truck cover he just installed at the Tidy Truck Boxliners’ and Line-X shop. dish out. From start to finish the whole application process takes about three hours inside the shop. What Line-X can do for truck beds, it can also do for truck covers, rocker panels, fenders, bumpers, etc. “It gives some impact protection as well from dents and things like that,” said Barnett. He noted they have also applied Line-X to the complete exteriors of about 15 vehicles for the ultimate overall protection. “Our most recent one was a purposebuilt rock crawler Jeep that we just did in the last week or two,” said Barnett. Other purposes for Line-X are light industrial coatings and protection for rock chipped areas of vac trucks and flushbys after they’ve been repainted. With the arrival of spring. Tidy Truck and Line-X are generating lots of traffic from customers looking to replace broken mudflaps and other essentials . For the truck owner, box covers are a very popular accessory and with that floor liners to protect the inside of the trucks. “We do work on a lot of new trucks, but we can make the old new again too,” said Barnett who can suggest a vehicle makeover with custom grills, grill inserts and seat covers. MOTORCYCLE & VEHICLE SEATCOVERS Single Seat, Double Seat Cool When Its Warm & Warm when its Cool, EASES backaches and cushions your butt, so you can ride with extra comfort for longer hours. Visit the Store that makes you SMILE Find these and other fine SHEEPSKIN products at SHEEPSKIN LOFT 4305-57 Ave just EAST of the Husky Truck Stop on HWY 16. Call 780-875-4044 + Like us on or www.sheepskinloft.com 4 GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNIN’ LLOYDMINSTER SOURCE I WWW.LLOYDMINSTERSOURCE.COM I Tuesday, April 26, 2016 Blown Smoke ready to compete by Jaime Polmateer jaime@lloydminstersource.com A lot has happened with local racing truck Blown Smoke since the machine and its driver, Brian Spooner, graced the pages of Get Your Motor Runnin’ last October. Over the winter, Spooner and his team did some extensive engine work on the truck and now they’re gearing up for testing in the coming weeks. Some of the work includes a change to top fuel hemi heads, a whole new piston design and Blown Smoke now runs four fuel pumps instead of just two. “From an engine standpoint it’s not even the same engine,” said Spooner. “It’s totally different.” Spooner said the team feels really good about the improvements, but until they get the truck on the dynamometer to put it through its paces, do a little tuning and gain some data, they won’t know exactly what she’s capable of. Once all that’s sorted out, however, they’ll be taking Blown Smoke to the Castrol Raceway in Edmonton at the end of the month and do some further testing, then it’s off to the first race of the year in Colorado. “We’re just finishing now, really it was about six months waiting for parts,” Spooner said. “We had to repair the crank this year, it had a crack in it; it was kind of a long expensive winter.” He and his team are hoping to pick up a full second on the quarter mile with the new modifications and also smash the world record time, which is currently 7.46 seconds. He said they’re hoping Blown Smoke will reach somewhere into the high sixes, which is the team’s present goal. The first race of the year in Denver, Diesels in the Mountain, is unique in that the altitude of 6,000 ft. 1.800.825.8963 HWY 17 SOUTH LLOYDMINSTER Photo supplied Brian Spooner’s Blown Smoke had its engine completely revamped for the 2016 racing season and is gearing for Diesels on the Mountain, taking place in Denver on June 4. makes the air thinner and slows down time a bit. “It’s a one day race and it’s probably the nicest that we compete at all year; the facilities are top notch,” he said. “Because it’s pretty central between the south and the north, we usually get a good turnout with a lot of trucks there.” For any gear heads interested in seeing Blown Smoke in action, but can’t make the trek down to Colorado, Spooner and his crew will be tearing it up at the Canadian Nationals in Edmonton on August 6. CAMPING SEASON IS NOW! Choose from our MASSIVE INVENTORY AT ROCK BOTTOM PRICES! LLOYDMINSTER’S LONGEST RUNNING RV DEALERSHIP NO DOC FEES! NO HIDDEN CHARGES! LARGEST PARTS & SERVICE DEPT IN THE MIDWEST NEW 2016 JAYCO 265RLSW TRAVEL TRAILER NEW BLOWOUT PRICE 27,987! $ BLOWOUT 33,850 1ONLY! 1-800-825-8963 www.sellerRV.com SERVING YOU FOR OVER 37 YEARS! JAYCO 29REKS WHITEHAWK TRAVEL TRAILER LLOYDMINSTER SOURCE I WWW.LLOYDMINSTERSOURCE.COM I Tuesday, April 26, 2016 GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNIN’ 5 Tips for buying a fuel-efficient vehicle (NC) The last thing you want to do while gas prices are low is sabotage your savings by driving a gas guzzler. Consider these tips from Natural Resources Canada for buying a greener, more fuel-efficient vehicle. The long-term savings will be worth it. 1. In most cases, the smaller the vehicle, the better. Don’t buy a large vehicle if you do not need it. Rent a trailer or larger vehicle when needed for hauling heavier cargo or more passengers. 2. Consider a manual transmission. M a n u a l transmissions are generally more fuel-efficient than automatics, e s p e c i a l l y combined with a tachometer or shift indicator. 3. Gear up an automatic transmission. The more gears the better. Ask about a Continuously V a r i a b l e Tr a n s m i s s i o n (CVT) that uses belts and pulleys for an infinite amount of gears. 4. Simplify your drivetrain. Four-wheel and all-wheel drives are less efficient, adding up to an extra 10 per cent to fuel consumption. Unless needed, two-wheel drives are your more fuel-efficient alternative. 5. Rein in the horsepower. This can be tricky. A mid-sized car with a two-litre, four-cylinder engine burns about 2,066 litres every 20,000 kilometres. The same car with a threelitre, six-cylinder engine burns 2,244 litres — 178 litres more. 6. Avoid unnecessary extras. Car-starters, air conditioning and roof racks can increase fuel consumption. 7. Request fuelefficient features. A l u m i n u m wheels, a block heater, cruise control, navigation system, removable roof racks, sun roof, tachometer, tinted windows and trip computers have the potential to reduce fuel use. 8. Consult an impartial, trusted source. Natural Resources Canada, The Canadian Automobile Association and others can provide unbiased tips on their websites. Don’t count on a cooling off period after you buy that new car Things to know before you go car shopping (NC) If you wake up in a sweat with a case of car-buyer’s remorse the morning after 6001-63 Avenue, Lloydminster AB www.cando.mechanicnet.com QUICK LUBE SERVICE WHILE YOU WAIT! • Complete Automotive & Light Truck Repair Facility • Licensed AB and SK Inspection Station Call (780) 875-7735 / Toll Free (888) 875-7735 or stop in to see us North of UFA! Check out our Facebook page for specials. We will match or beat any estimate! • Dodge, GM & Ford OE Diagnostic Scan Tools • Foreign Diagnostic Scan Tools Locally owned and proudly serving Lloydminster and area since 1984! visiting the showroom, don’t count on a cooling off period to get you out of the loan contract you signed to buy the vehicle. Some contracts have a cooling off period to allow consumers to cancel within a short period of time without facing any penalty. Examples include contracts for health clubs, funeral and cemetery services, timeshares, condominiums and door-to-door sales. However, in most provinces and territories there is no “cooling off” period for financing agreements such as car loans and lease agreements. Once you’ve signed the contract, you are committed and bound by the terms of the agreement. Here are some things to consider. • Don’t go shopping for a new car until you’ve established a budget. • Establish a budget for the total cost of the car over the life of your loan, not just your monthly payments. • Shop around for the best price on the vehicle and the best term and interest rate on the car loan. • Before signing a loan deal, check the contract to understand the total cost of borrowing • Avoid signing a partially completed contract. • Keep a copy of all documents you have signed, ensuring that you have the contract and loan agreements. Ask your provincial or territorial transportation ministry whether there is a “cooling off” period for the purchase or lease of a car, including for any relevant financing agreement, and keep that in mind when you’re shopping. Before you sign any contract, read 10 things you need to know on FCAC’s website. Also use the budget calculator on the website to help plan your next car purchase. You can also visit ItPaysToKnow.gc.ca for more information. w w w. n e w s c a n a d a . com. 6 GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNIN’ LLOYDMINSTER SOURCE I WWW.LLOYDMINSTERSOURCE.COM I Tuesday, April 26, 2016 HOG members share love of hawgs Its membership comprises everyone from lawyers, financial advisors and realtors to mechanics, tow truck drivers and oilfield workers. There’s even a high ranking RCMP officer in the mix for good measure. So what could pull such an eclectic mix of characters into one club? Only a sheer love and passion for the Harley Davidson motorcycle. This is the machine that unites the members of the Harley Owners’ Group (HOG) Border Town chapter. “It’s quite varied where people come from and what they do for careers and what their life path has been,” said Murray Getty, director of the Border Town chapter. “There are also people that grew up on the east coast and west coast and ended up in Lloydminster for whatever reason, and like I say, share that common thread and common interest— which is the love Harley Davidson motorcycles.” Getty, whose day job is a facilities consultant at Canadian Natural Resources, said despite the range of personalities, everyone gets along great. Aside from riding and admiring their bikes, the HOG group has a more serious mission, which is centred on philanthropy. They take part and organize a number of fundraisers each year and donate thousands of dollars to those in need. The big one each year comes in the form of the Toy Run, which at last year’s event alone the group raised more than $67,000 in cash and $5,000 in toys. “The cash was given to Big Brothers/Big Sisters Lloydminster, the Lloydminster Community Youth Centre and Kidsport,” said Getty. “Then the toys were given to the Gift of Christmas and the Goat’s Christmas Wish, and also Ronald McDonald house in Saskatoon and Edmonton received toys.” The Border Town HOG chapter is holding a steak night at the Canadian Brewhouse on May 12 Source file photo The Harley Owners Group Border Town chapter participates and organizes many charity events each year, including the SPCA’s poker run, Hogs for Dogs. to raise funds to put toward this year’s Toy Run, and with last year’s steak night selling out, Getty encourages people to buy tickets early. The group’s kindness isn’t limited to one event either, as its support has been given to places like the Salvation Army, anti-bullying campaigns and the MS Society’s poker run, which is coming up on August 13. “We also work closely with the SPCA and we participate and help them organize their poker run, which is coming up June 4, called Hogs for Dogs,” said Getty. With all of that fundraising the group does find time here and there to just relax and cruise the asphalt, which was its main activity when the chapter opened back in 2009. Every Wednesday night in the summer the members get together and hit the open road, then find a place to hangout after, grab a coffee and socialize. They also meet up at the Husky Truck Stop each Sunday at 9 a.m. to grab breakfast together, a tradition they’ve also held onto since the group’s inception. “Usually 15 or 20 of us meet for breakfast every Sunday morning, that’s all year long, and again, that’s something we currently do,” said Getty. The road ahead for the Border Town HOG chapter looks promising, as the group has expanded from just a handful of members in its first year to roughly 115 at last year’s count. Its also been asked to host the Prairie Regional HOG rally beginning Aug. 18, with an estimated 300 to 500 riders from across Canada and the US expected to ride into Lloydminster for the event. Getty puts it simply, “The future looks good.” LLOYDMINSTER SOURCE I WWW.LLOYDMINSTERSOURCE.COM I Tuesday, April 26, 2016 GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNIN’ 7 Many benefits with new exhaust Improved performance, visual appeal and a better sound. That’s what you get with a performance or custom exhaust from Exhaust Masters in Lloydminster and there’s no better time than now with the arrival of warmer weather. It’s almost a rite of spring to drive a car or truck with a custom exhaust and hear that rumble with the windows rolled down according to Exhaust Masters’ owner Ray Tatro. “The performance sound from the exhaust is a big part of the automotive and truck business in the spring,” he said. Exhaust Masters is the go-to shop in the region for performance mufflers by Flo Pro, Dynamax, Thrush, Diesel Performance, Flowmaster, and Magnaflow. “We have clients that come from Red Deer, Edmonton, Cold Lake, Lac La Biche, Meadow Lake, the Battlefords, Kindersley, Provost, Macklin, and Unity,” said Tatro who is celebrating his 25th year in the business this year. Tatro will have a product display at the Just Kruzin Show N Shine June 18 at the Servus Sports Centre and the Lloydminster Auto Club’s specialty vehicle show in July 16. Tatro’s customers can take their pick of chambered mufflers or glass packed mufflers to produce the sound they are seeking from mild to aggressive. “It’s definitely a different distinct sound that you get from a chambered muffler and a fibreglass packed muffler,” said Tatro. “I talk with customers to try to determine what kind of a sound they call good because people have a different option of what the good sound is.” Tatro said the after market product is aimed at young people with their first vehicle and baby boomers who want to recreate the sound they remember from muscle cars of the 60s and 70s like a Mustang or a Camaro. “They want to match that sound that they had then,” he said. A custom exhaust system can make those dreams real on a truck like Tatro’s 2014 GMC Sierra. “I love the thing and I’ve got Flo Pro stainless steel Max on it and I am proud of the sound of it,” said Tatro. The Max produces a deep sound quality of a glass packed muffler along with enhanced performance. “I think I am getting up to five per cent better fuel economy because of that exhaust system,” he said. Tatro and some of his employees with performance exhausts can fire up their engines to help customers pick the right sound for them. “They say they want it to sound good so I have to ask ‘what’s your definition of good?,’” he said. Exhaust Mufflers has some of the best design and installation pros and mechanics in the business for gas or diesel powered vehicles. “They really put together a good product and they really have a lot of pride in their work,” said Tatro. With emission controls on new vehicles, Exhaust Masters can design a system that gives the customer the closest tone to their desired sound without hurting the efficiency of the engine or the pollution control devices. Journeyman mechanic Ryan Wilson considers his work fabricating and installing exhaust systems to be an art form. “It’s not something you just pick up and do right away,” said Wilson. “I’ve been doing now about 18 years and I still haven’t figured it all out.” He said for a custom exhaust system he’ll put either one or two mufflers on depending on if they want a true dual exhaust or a single to dual system. A dual system includes twin tailpipes usually Geoff Lee photo Ryan Wilson, a custom exhaust specialist at Exhaust Masters, dry fits a tailpipe to a 2013 Dodge for a single to dual installation. equipped with custom chrome tips. “We are pretty much able to locate anywhere under the back end within reason,” said Wilson. He said the art part starts with bending the pipe and using your brain to make it fit. “You get to work in three dimensions so it’s not just up and down and back and forth,” said Wilson. “You got to make sure you’re around and about things.” If he could, Wilson would sign his name to his creations. He likes his job that much – but not the really loud sounds as he used to. “I’m getting older so loud’s not as cool as it used to be, but I still like the sound of a duel exhaust system with a good kit on it” he said. Exhaust Masters located at 5905 — 44 St. also sells and installs performance related air intake systems, tuners and suspension levelling kits. “We have journeymen mechanics that will do a great job of front end alignment, suspension, shocks, struts and brakes,” said Tatro. CUSTOM EXHAUST SPECIALISTS .COM by Geoff Lee geoff@lloydminstersource.com 5905 - 44 Street Lloydminster (780) 875-8851 exhaustmasters.ca See store for more details. 8 GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNIN’ LLOYDMINSTER SOURCE I WWW.LLOYDMINSTERSOURCE.COM I Tuesday, April 26, 2016 Get the best price for your vehicle (NC) Spring is a hot selling season for housing, but vehicle sales also see a significant increase at this time of year. Much in the way a real estate agent will recommend staging a home prior to listing it on the market, experts agree that there are a few things you can do to ensure you get top dollar for your ride. Telltale signs Excessive wheel scuffs or door dings may not seem like much, but they are telling clues as to how the vehicle was treated during your ownership; touching them up before putting your ride up for sale will be worth the limited investment. Paperwork prep Being prepared with all of the associated paperwork, ownership and maintenance records will demonstrate that the vehicle was well cared for and set it apart if buyers are looking at other models. Make sure to only accept payment via registered money order from a trusted financial institution and only sign over ownership once a deposit has been secured. Make it easy Proactively having the vehicle certified by a licensed mechanic and tested at one of your province’s registered e-test facilities will make the process simple and easy for someone looking to buy. If you are selling your vehicle, browsing through comparable listings on social sites will give you an idea of what’s out there. Sharing information on these values with potential buyers will help you negotiate a fair price. AUTO REPAIR Brakes • Shocks • Struts • Tune-Ups • Exhaust Air Conditioning • Complete Automotive Service Saskatchewan & Alberta Safety Inspections $66 Front End Wheel Alignments Darren Castellan, Owner 3116 - 50th Avenue Lloydminster, Alberta T9V 1H4 957213 AB Ltd. O/A With over 20 years of experience, we are your film specialists! AUTOMOTIVE COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL TINT • Paint Protection Film • Packages for All • Installation Requirements (780) 214-TINT (8468) 4736 - 44 St., Lloydminster, SK Free estimates & onsite evaluations Got TINT Got 3M Got TINT Got 3M Got TINT Got TINT Got 3M Got TINT Got 3M Has got you covered! Got TINT Got TINT Got 3M Got TINT Got 3M Got TINT Got 3M Got TINT Got 3M 780-875-7022 Got TINT Got 3M Got TINT Got 3M Got TINT Count to 5 for fuelefficient driving (NC) Fuel-efficient driving can not only save you hundreds of dollars in fuel each year, but it can also improve road safety, prevent unnecessary wear on your vehicle and lower harmful greenhouse gas emissions. You can count on one hand the number of steps it takes to achieve your vehicle’s fuel consumption ratings and save money at the pump. 1. Accelerate gently. Did you know about half the fuel you consume is used just to accelerate your vehicle? You can conserve up to 15 per cent of fuel by accelerating gently and gradually. To maximize your fuel efficiency, take about five seconds to accelerate from zero to 20 km/h. 2. Maintain a steady speed. Varying your speed up and down between 75 km/h and 85 km/h every 18 seconds can increase your fuel use by 20 per cent. On level roads and when safe to do so, consider using cruise control. On hilly terrain and where traffic permits, you’ll consume less fuel by allowing your speed to drop when you travel uphill and building momentum when driving downhill. 3. Anticipate traffic. Read the road ahead, anticipate road disruptions, monitor pedestrians and other vehicles and maintain a comfortable distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you. 4. Avoid high speeds. Most cars, vans, SUVs and pick-up trucks perform most fuel efficiently when travelling between 50 and 80 km/h. Above this speed, vehicles consume increasingly more fuel the faster they go. 5. Coast to decelerate. By anticipating traffic slowdowns as early as possible, you can lower your speed, save fuel and money by simply taking your foot off the accelerator. Today, most vehicles have fuel-injection systems that automatically shut off the flow of fuel to the engine when the accelerator is fully released. In other words, a decelerating vehicle is coasting without using any fuel. When the engine speed drops to idle, the injection system restarts the flow of fuel to prevent the engine from stalling. These five steps were created by the Office of Energy Efficient for Vehicles at Natural Resources Canada. SPORTS POWER ABSORTED GLASS MAT T E C H N O L O G Y Ideal for ATVs, Motorcycles, Personal Watercraft & Snowmobiles PROFESSIONAL BATTERIES SPECIALISTS IN: automotive industrial burglar PCS (digital) phones calculator camcorder camera cellular medical motorcycle notebook computer solar chargers commercial power tools communications R.V. & marine cordless phone specialty forklift trucks hearing aids wheelchair Unit #1, 5911 - 44th Street Lloydminster, AB T9V 1V6 Tel: (780) 875-6030 Email: lloyd@batteryworld.net Visit us at www.batteryworld.net Mon - Fri 8:30 am to 5:30 pm Sat 9:30 am to 4:30 pm SAVINGS for YOU Everyday! LLOYDMINSTER SOURCE I WWW.LLOYDMINSTERSOURCE.COM I Tuesday, April 26, 2016 GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNIN’ 9 Do this one thing to save at the pumps Solid financial advice can help you with the car buying process (NC) Most Canadians don’t have enough cash in the bank to buy a car outright, so they must finance their purchase to eventually own the vehicle. Financial options include bank loans arranged through car dealerships, and loans or lines of credit obtained directly from a financial institution. Financial decisions of this magnitude can be intimidating and as a result lead us to make rushed, impulsive choices. Here are some tips on how to put yourself in the best position when looking to finance. Dealers may seek and receive offers from multiple lenders interested in financing your loan; the chosen lender may pay the dealer a commission for arranging your business. Ask the dealer to show you all the financing options they received, and to discuss them with you. Also compare the financing options available through different dealers. Before or after you visit the showroom, ask your own bank or other financial institution about the terms and conditions they’d offer on a loan or line of credit. You may be able to negotiate a better rate than those offered by the dealerships. If that’s the case, then you have the ammunition to haggle. Car buyers should also be aware that dealerships are increasingly promoting long-term car loans lasting 72 months (six years) or more, compared to more traditional car loans of 60 months (five years) or less. The longer you stretch out the loan term, the lower your monthly payments—and the more interest you will pay over the long run, adding greatly to the overall cost of your car. Keep in mind that if you take out an eight-year loan to buy a vehicle, you will likely decide to sell the car long before the loan term is up; this typically happens around the four-year mark. After the trade, you will need your bank’s approval to roll the remainder of that debt into a new loan for a new car. This is the start of a car-loan debt treadmill identified by the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) as an increasing concern. Use FCAC’s budget calculator to help plan the purchase of your next car. You can also visit ItPaysToKnow.gc.ca for more information. (NC) You might call it the best kept eco-driving secret of all — using fresh air while driving in the city instead of air conditioning to keep you cool. Aside from giving you a nice, cool blast of fresh air while you drive, driving with the windows down, or with your sunroof open, is easier on fuel compared to using air conditioning. In fact, air conditioning can increase fuel consumption by as much as 20 per cent. Even with the low price of fuel these days, who wants to spend an extra 20 per cent unnecessarily? The Office of Energy Efficiency at Natural Resources Canada has compiled these tips for cooling off without turning on the A/C. Chill out and turn it off. Consider whether you really need the A/C for cooling. If not, turn it off. Hit the re-circulation button. Recirculated air uses less energy because you’re only cooling the air already in your vehicle, not bringing in warmer outside air to be cooled. Let the air flow. Try using the flowthrough ventilation when you’re on the highway and open your windows and sunroof while driving in the city. Be cool and don’t over air-condition. Adjust your thermostat settings the way you do at home. Aim to be comfortable not cold. Find a little shade. Park your vehicle in the shade as it will requires less cooling from the A/C at start-up. If you can’t find a shaded area, use window shades to lower the heat intake of your vehicle when it’s parked. Also, never use the A/C on startup. Instead, open the windows for the first few minutes and allow the hot air to escape. Be a knowledgeable buyer. Elliott Insurance Services Ltd. We insure all types of RECREATIONAL VEHICLES in Saskatchewan & Alberta! Many choices for stand alone policies available. 112 Main Street, Maidstone, SK (306) 893-2461 elliottinsurance.ca