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AskPatty.com, Inc. announced the launch of their all new version 3.0 Certified Female Friendly Interactive Training Center for automotive retailers to effectively deliver interactive online training on how to attract, sell, retain and increase loyalty with women.

Visit a demo of the AskPatty.com Certified Female Friendly virtual interactive training here: http://www.certifiedfemalefriendly.com

The new online training was developed to provide new and used car dealerships, tire dealers, collision centers, franchised and independent repair shops and service centers with the more cost effective solution to train the entire staff. The new platform provides an opportunity for automotive retailers to train a larger percentage of their staff which has proven to be an advantage for both sales and service.

“Our goal is to provide training for automotive retail locations that is beneficial to the entire staff to help women have a great experience with all aspects of the car buying and automotive ownership experience. By utilizing this web based platform we can deliver timely video training along with testing to provide the participants with the necessary tools to increase sales and customer satisfaction with women,” according to Jody DeVere, Founder and CEO of AskPatty.com.

Certified Female Friendly helps automotive organizations build, develop and maintain a high-performance workforce aimed at improving communication with women by offering online interactive training that transforms workforce performance management into an ongoing, dynamic process.

The new Certified Female Friendly online interactive training design and functionality are another industry first from AskPatty.com; the company, which initially developed the most comprehensive solution available to automotive retailers for engaging, selling and retaining women customers.

Automotive retailers can sign up to get Certified Female Friendly here

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Photo Credit: Grandpa@50 from flickr.com

Here is our second set of tips for you and your vehicle this rainy season. We really need to be careful when the road is wet and knowing these might just be helpful to let you know what to do in these situations.

Wet roads and Brakes

Please make sure that your brake pads (for disc brakes) and brake shoe (for drum brakes) are still in good shape. Also check your brake fluid and make sure that it is at the maximum level. Have your mechanic check this regularly so you can be sure that your vehicle would stop when it needs to.

Check on your wheels as well. Good brakes can only perform well if you have good tires.  Make sure that your tires still has groves that would still be able to grip the road. Otherwise, you will just slide and might probably hit something or another vehicle.

When your  vehicle has just passed a flooded area, do not accelerate right away and be very gentle on the gas pedal.  Your brakes have been soaked in water and might not work properly since it is wet.  You have two approaches to solve this problem.  You can lightly press on the gas pedal and step on the brakes simultaneously (easier for automatic transmission vehicles) until you feel that your brakes have regained its stopping power or you can choose to let the vehicle move slowly a few meters and try double or triple pumping the brakes and continue repeating this step until your brakes have been restored.  Please do take note that disc brakes dry faster than drum brakes so try to get a feel first if your brakes are working fine before you decide to speed up again.

Rains tend to make puddles on the road. You can find these long puddles on uneven roads or along the side or on the shoulder of the road. You also have to be alert not to drive over these puddles when you are speeding. Driving over them at high speed might make your car hydroplane causing you to lose control of your vehicle. When it’s raining, try to drive moderately slow and always be careful and alert. A few minutes late is a lot better than meeting an accident on the road.

More tips for the rainy season next time…

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When it comes to American Muscle cars, the matter of addressing the proper suspension to support the overall body structure is placed in doubt. But now, it looks like all of these things will be laid to rest as the new 2010 Camaro comes fully equipped with a bolt-on Hotchkis Sports Sway Set.

Available for all 2010 Camaros, the system includes a track-tested, high-strength tubular steel 1.25-inch front bar (210% stiffer than stock SS) and three-way adjustable 1.00-inch rear bar (+80, 120 or 170% stiffer than stock SS) that allows you to dial-in the way the car responds to throttle steer and driver input. Finished in durable gloss black powdercoat, the bars also include mounts, greasable Polyurethane bushings, all necessary hardware and complete installation instruction. Like all Hotchkis products, 2010 Camaro Sport Sway Bars are designed, tested and manufactured in the USA.

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Photo Credit:  ehow.com

Driving during the rainy season may pose some problems for you if you are not careful and your vehicle is not ready for the wet weather. Here are some tips on how you can have your vehicle ready and some driving tips as well to help keep you out of danger when it is raining. Check out these series of tips which may help prepare you during these conditions.

Windshield and Wipers

To be able to drive well, you should be able to see the road and your surroundings. Make sure that your windshield wipers are working well and can wipe off the rain water as it hits your windshield. The summer heat can cause it to wear out and possibly crack so by the time the rainy season comes, the rubber on your wipers are already useless, just spreading the rain water all over your windshield and not really wiping it off. Replace old wipers with new ones that you can purchase from most car accessories shop. Just make sure you get the right lengths for your wipers. Some wiper pairs may not have the same length. Check the size of your wipers before you make any purchase. Also, there are two types of connections, a screw type and a clip type. Make sure you get the ones that are applicable to your vehicle. Also make sure that your windshield washer is working fine and has a good amount of water and mild detergent mixture just to help your wipers wipe the dirt off your windshield.

When it rains, your vehicle’s air conditioner tends to be a lot cooler, thus, creating a mist on your door glass and back glass, making it hard for you to see your sides and your rear. You can pull up to a covered area or a gas station temporarily, roll down your door windows and roll them up again to clear the mist on the sides. If your vehicle came with a built-in defogger, then all you have to do is push on the defogger switch and wait for the back glass to clear and you’re ready to roll again. But if you don’t have a defogger, using the palm of your hands to wipe the back glass and the door glass might clear it temporarily but the mist will be back again after a short while. You need to have a clean piece of cloth to wipe off the mist on your door glass and back glass then lower the temp of your air conditioner and make the louvers face downward to help prevent the mist from coming back. It will be a much clearer view for you after doing this making it a lot easier to drive.

That’s it for now. More tips for the rainy season next time…

Photo Credits: Associated Press

The new Z4 is the first roadster in BMW history with a retractable hard top so it replaces both the Z4 roadster and the Z4 coupe. It’s also a slick package with more masculine exterior styling and improved head and elbow room than the predecessor Z4s. And there’s a first-for-the-Z4 dual-clutch automatic transmission with seven speeds, too.

For all this, there’s a price. Starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, is $46,575 for the non-turbocharged six cylinder and manual transmission. The lowest-priced 2009 Z4 with automatic starts at $47,900 and with leather seats and other options it easily jumps to more than $50,000.

In comparison, the starting MSRP, including destination charge, for a 2009 Audi TT is $42,895 with V-6 and standard all-wheel drive. The 2009 Porsche Boxster has a retail starting price of $47,550.

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As far as the Volkswagen Routan is concerned, you can chalk up another glaring feature from this new minivan. Normally you would be looking at the interiors and the technological advancements. But if there is one thing that now places it along the lines of Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep, it has to be the WiFi feature that has been added to it.

Thanks to Autonet mobile, people who find themselves on the road can access the web anytime that they please. This adds another dimension towards the benefits motorists can get from certain vehicles, a minivan in this case, which is known to be a family-type of a vehicle. Placing a Wi-Fi access only adds to the various thing they can do while on the road which can become boring at some point, especially in long trips.

“Volkswagen is committed to delivering vehicles that epitomize and enhance our digital customers’ lifestyle, and the Routan is a modern family vehicle” said Mark Barnes, COO of Volkswagen. “Internet access is a clear benefit to our customers. We’re excited to work with Autonet Mobile to bring connectivity to our Routan customers.”

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Penske Automotive Group, Inc.,an international automotive retailer, announced today that is has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with General Motors regarding the Saturn brand.

Under the terms of the MOU, if the transaction is completed, Penske Automotive Group would obtain the rights to the Saturn brand, acquire certain assets including the Saturn parts inventory, and have the right to distribute vehicles and parts through the Saturn Dealership network. General Motors would continue to provide Saturn Aura, Vue and Outlook vehicles, on a contract basis, for an interim period.

“We have agreed upon a framework that we believe will build momentum for the Saturn brand,” said Penske Automotive Group Chairman Roger Penske. “Saturn has a passionate customer base and outstanding dealer network. For nearly 20 years Saturn has focused on treating the customer right. We share that philosophy, and we want to build on those strengths.”

Saturn began selling cars in 1990 and has sold more than 4 million vehicles. More than 80 percent of those vehicles are still in operation, according to data from R.L. Polk. Saturn has regularly scored among the industry leaders for non-luxury brands in customer satisfaction surveys. Commenting on the proposed deal, Saturn general manager Jill Lajdziak said, “This is the combination of two iconic teams: Saturn and Penske. GM had the vision to create Saturn and has the desire to see it succeed in the future.”

Further details of the transaction are not being released at this time. The closing of the transaction is expected to occur during the third quarter of 2009 and is subject to customary conditions, including the completion of due diligence, regulatory and other approvals.

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To coincide with a national observance this month, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is urging everyone to show a caring attitude toward their tires.

National Tire Safety Week, held during June 7-13, is a period that emphasizes the simple steps drivers can take to ensure their tires are in good working condition. Research reveals that motorists rank tires as the second-most important safety feature in vehicles next to brakes, yet only a third of consumers properly check their tire inflation pressure.

Improper air pressure in tires can lead to a multitude of problems – from uneven and accelerated tire wear, to structural damage in a tire. An underinflated tire also has the potential to affect tire performance, including making a vehicle less fuel-efficient. With temperatures rising and vacation travel commencing, the attention given to the care and maintenance of tires should be heightened, according to Goodyear officials.

“Checking tires for proper inflation and tread condition is one of the most critical – and easiest – maintenance procedures for a consumer,” said Joey Viselli, Goodyear brand director. “It doesn’t take much time or sophisticated equipment. Drivers can check their tires by themselves, or any of our retail outlets would be happy to provide the service.”

Goodyear-owned retail outlets and participating independent Goodyear retailers offer a service known as “Free Air,” in which consumers can stop in without an appointment for a free tire check. This includes an inspection of the tread condition and tire inflation, with air added at no charge if the inflation level is down.

According to recent research by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), not only do most drivers ignore their tires, most simply do not know enough about how to care for the tires correctly.

Goodyear recommends that motorists should check tire inflation at least monthly or before a long trip. Tires should be inflated to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations printed on the vehicle door placard or in the owner’s manual, not the maximum limit stamped on a tire sidewall.

In addition to proper inflation, according to Viselli, another way consumers can potentially benefit from increased fuel efficiency is by choosing a tire such as Goodyear’s new Assurance Fuel Max. Available at Goodyear retail outlets since April, Assurance Fuel Max has a fuel-saving tread compound that helps reduce energy loss as the tire rolls. This helps to save 2,600 miles’ worth of gas over the life of a set of tires.

Among other initiatives from Goodyear during National Tire Safety Week are these:

• Goodyear outlets will distribute the RMA’s “Be Tire Smart, Play Your PART” consumer booklets. Those guides stress the importance of inflation pressure, wheel alignment, tire rotation and visual checks of tire tread.
• On www.goodyeartires.com, visitors will find extensive information on tire care, product selection and more. Through a link, visitors can request a copy of the “Goodyear Tire Buying Made Easy Guide.”
• With their lighted message boards, Goodyear’s famous blimps continue to spread the tire care message while in flight, urging consumers on the ground to check tire pressure and treadwear.

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