Automobile Retailers

Have you ever taken your car to a local mechanic for something that seems like a small problem only to end up having it cost hundreds of dollars? If you’re like me, you feel ripped off when that happens. In fact, I’m almost afraid to go to the service station because I don’t know what they’re going to charge me.

But there is one website that just launched that strives to help you, the consumer, pay more realistic prices for car repairs. At HonestAutoEstimates.com, you can get a basic figure of how much repairs SHOULD cost if the mechanic is being honest.

Here’s how it works. Take your car to the mechanic. Let them look at what’s wrong and give you a written estimate complete with the parts needed to do the job. Go home and log on to the Honest Auto Estimates website. For a small fee (around $6.00 right now), the experts at that site will tell you if the mechanic is trying to overcharge you for the parts and labor. They base their estimate on “nationally recognized labor times that are multiplied by the average hourly rate in your area.” They also search for parts in your area to get an accurate estimate for the price of the entire repair service.

In addition to that, they have a list of “verified shops” all over the nation. These shops go through a rigorous process to get verified by Honest Auto Estimates and they agree to fix your car for the price the website quoted to you. Isn’t it nice to know that somebody’s working on your side?

Of course, if it costs too much to repair your vehicle or if it’s just time for a new one, you can forget about repairs and visit your local Buick dealer. With the new and certified pre-owned vehicles in their inventory, you’re sure to find something you like. Visit one today!

Imagine the following scenario: You’ve just left your local Mercedes-Benz dealer with the car of your dreams. You’re driving down the road and somebody thinks you’re driving too slow. Instead of simply going around you, they get mad and they want to confront you. This type of behavior is called road rage.

As the cooler head, how do you diffuse the situation before getting a dent in your Mercedes or, worse yet, getting hurt or injured? Here are some things you can do to diffuse the situation before anybody gets hurt.

Stay out of the person’s way. Chances are that they will try to get your agitated enough to reciprocate the rage. But if you just try to stay out of the way, they often just get angry and drive away while giving you an unmistakable hand gesture.

Don’t keep driving your normal route. If the person is angry and following you, don’t keep driving toward your destination. You never know what type of person they are and they might just show up one your doorstep or at your workplace ready for a brawl.

Stay calm. When people get angry behind the wheel, they typically want to draw you in and make you act the same way. But staying calm and civil is the best way to diffuse any road rage situation.

Don’t pull over and get out of your car. Pulling into a parking lot or on the side of the road is only asking for trouble. The other person might think you’re looking for a fight. Keep driving but try to stay as far away as possible.

Call 911. Pull out your cell phone and call 911 if you feel threatened. Know where you are so they can send a police car to the area. Many times, the sight of a black-and-white is enough to make the person settle down.