While spring is here, it’s time to put the snow boots away and fill up the propane or charcoal, because summer is around the corner. It’s also time to get your car serviced because of the temperate climate.

When it comes to auto care, spring is the best of all seasons. Maintenance and service now will undo winter’s wear and tear and prepare your vehicle for warm-weather driving ahead. The experts at the non-profit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) offer the following advice:

Read the owner’s manual, and follow the recommended service schedules.

If you are not a do-it-yourselfer, look for an orderly repair shop with modern equipment in the service bays and qualified automotive technicians as evidenced by trade school diplomas, certificates of advanced course and ASE certifications.

If you are having engine performance problems such as hard starts, rough idling or stalling, correct them now, before demanding stop-and-go vacation traffic.

For comfort in hot weather, now’s the time to have a marginally working air conditioning system serviced.

Flush and refill the cooling system according to the service manual’s recommendations. The level, condition, and concentration of the coolant should be checked periodically. (Make sure the engine has cooled down before removing the radiator cap.)

A qualified auto technician should check the tightness and condition of belts, clamps, and hoses, but you can look for signs of wear, cracking, or fraying.

Replace other filters (e.g., air, fuel and PCV) as recommended in the service manual.

Check the condition of tires, including the spare. Let the tires “cool down” before checking their pressure. Uneven wear, “cupping,” vibrations or “pulling” to one side indicate problems with your tires or suspension system.

Change the oil and oil filter as specified in owner’s manual. Often neglected, this simple service is one of the easiest ways to extend the life of your vehicle.

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Let’s face it, some folks derive immense pleasure from getting down on their knees and scrubbing away at their wheels with a toothbrush. What’s more, there are people who actually get into changing their own oil, swapping out air filters and even think it’s cool to add fluids to those enigmatic holes positioned all over their engines. And then, there are others who don’t give a rodent’s posterior about car care and can’t even manage to spray a hose on their vehicle once a month.

If you’re part of the former crowd, stop reading, this article isn’t for you. Go on and get back to your pristine machine and have at it with your dental instruments and filter wrenches. However, if you’re in the later group of grimy, clunking vehicle owners, this article is written to scare you clean and tune you up.

To get your motivation running, let’s hit you where you’ll feel it the most. No, not there – get your head out of the gutter. We’re talking about your wallet.

Do you realize that your lack of car care is going to cost cash money? Those Blue Book values that you drool over at trade – in or selling time are based on vehicles that have not been neglected. Not giving your car a bath on a regular basis is neglect. Not changing your oil according to a schedule is neglect. And, “neglect” translates to less money when it time to move on to a new ride.

The good news is, with a few minor tweaks to your regular car care routine, you can whip your vehicle into re-sale shape in no time. Warning: the following outline of suggestions isn’t the best practice, it’s what works for those of us that just can’t seem to find any sort of satisfaction in vehicle maintenance.

First, we’ll start with a little cleaning. Take your vehicle to a car wash. Touchless is best, but considering how you’ve maintained your vehicle in the past, even the scratchy gas station washes will do. You just want to get the bulk of the filth off.

Then, find yourself one of those parking lot detailers. For $10-$40, you get your vehicle looking pretty sharp. Plus, if there is a real problem with your exterior, such as paint oxidation, swirling, or fading, the detailer may have a solution like clay bars, rubbing compounds and even touch-up paint. Keep in mind, those extra services will cost a bit more. And, don’t skip the interior, your friends and family will thank you. By the time the work is done, you’ll be amazed at what your car is capable of looking like.

So far, you haven’t lifted a finger, other than pressing the car wash button and pulling a few bucks out of your wallet.

Next, the big step in the car care conundrum – going under the hood. Of course, you’re not going there, and here’s why – it’s cheaper and easier to pay the guy at the quick change oil place to do your dirty work. If you find a reputable place, they’ll get you fixed up in a jiffy (no pun intended). They can perform many services at a reasonable cost. And, you can bet they’ve seen some pretty ugly stuff, so you don’t have to be embarrassed when they point out that your battery terminals have corroded into nothing more than flaky, white gunk. They’ll probably swap out your air filter, which, depending on how long it’s been, will improve your gas mileage. They may start with the “flush your cooling system” or “change the transmission fluid” routine and, honestly, you may need it. But be careful, because if they recognize you as a sucker, they’ll keep working it until you walk out with a $300 bill, spoken from experience.

Now, thanks to a little car care your vehicle is looking and running better than ever. Your father-in-law isn’t scowling at you like you’re some sort of dirt bag any more. You’re no longer embarrassed about offering rides to co-workers. Heck, you can even take a date in your vehicle. Do you like that? Would you like to keep it that way? It’s really quite simple, just follow the steps mentioned earlier – wash it and get the oil changed every-once-in-a-while.

Once car care becomes a regular practice and then a habit, it’s not so bad. You might even start venturing out by adding custom aftermarket accessories such as an air intake, seat covers or even an exhaust system. Whatever the outcome, just remember that a little car care goes a long way.

[from the team at]

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With so many people hitting the byways and highways this summer for vacation, work, barbeques and family outings, vehicular travel is sure to rise. So, why spend more than you have to on gasoline?

The following tips, from the non-profit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), will help save more of your money for fun times at the beach or mountains as you head out on your summer vacation.

Before setting out

Check your tires. Under-inflated tires or poorly aligned wheels waste fuel by forcing the engine to work harder. Out-of-line wheels, as evidenced by uneven tread wear, should be aligned by a professional.

Follow the service schedules listed in your owner’s manual. Replace filters and fluids as recommended, and have engine performance problems (e.g., rough idling, poor acceleration) corrected at a repair facility. Given today’s high-tech engines, it’s wise to have this type of work done by auto technicians who are ASE certified in engine performance.

On your trip

Break the speeding habit. Speeding to your destination can decrease your miles per gallon by 15 percent or more.

Sudden accelerations guzzle gas, too. Anticipate traffic patterns ahead, and adjust your speed gradually. Use cruise control where feasible.

Use windows and air conditioning wisely. Your mileage should improve if you keep the windows closed at highway speeds, since air drag is reduced. This is true even with the air conditioning on -; assuming that the system is in good working order. But try to avoid using your air conditioner in heavy, stop-and-go traffic.

When you get back

Make sure you remove all vacation items and clutter right away to reduce the weight your vehicle’s engine must push.

And take off that rooftop cargo carrier. Like closed windows, this will reduce air drag and increase your mileage.

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Last month, at the North American International Auto Show, Japanese automaker Subaru unveiled the latest version of the Forester. On February 26, the company announced the pricing for the new Forester. Interestingly, after the improvements made to the Forester, it is priced more than a thousand dollars lower than the outgoing model.

The new Subaru Forester will soon be available at Subaru dealerships across the country starting this April. The automaker announced that the new Subaru Forester will have a starting price of $19,995.

The said crossover vehicle will be available with either a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated or a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine. The naturally aspirated powerplant is available with either a manual or automatic transmission. The turbocharged engine on the other hand is only available with an automatic transmission.

There are overall five variants of the new Subaru Forester. For the Forester with a naturally aspirated engine, there are three trim levels while for the turbocharged engine, there are two available trim packages.

Subaru Coupes/Sedans/Wagons 1985-96; Covers All U.S. and Canadian Models of Subaru Brat, Impreza, Justy, Legacy, Loyale, Outback, Sedan, Covers all U.S. and Canadian models of Brat, Impreza, Justy, Legacy, Loyale, Outback, Std., Sedan, SVX, Wagon, XT and XT-6

For the Forester with the naturally aspirated engine, the three variants are X, 2.5X Premium Package and the 2.5X L.L. Bean. The third variant comes only with an automatic transmission while the first two can either be coupled with either a manual or an automatic transmission.

The turbocharged Forester meanwhile can be bought in either the standard X trim or the 2.5XT Limited Model. This Limited Model will have a starting price of $26,195 and it will come equipped with a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine which produces 224 horsepower. The package will also include 17-inch alloy wheels.

The naturally aspirated 2.5X trim will have a starting price of $22,495. For that, the Forester will be equipped with a power moonroof, roof rails, rear seat center tray, steering wheel audio controls, and reclining rear seat backs. On the outside, the package will also include 17-inch alloy wheels. The naturally aspirated engine will be mated to a manual transmission.

Tim Colbeck, vice president of sales, Subaru of America, Inc. proudly ticked off the selling point of the new Subaru Forester saying: “For 11 years, the Subaru Forester has been an icon of functionality, dependability and durability. The 2009 Forester now adds greater interior room, improved comfort and more amenities than before, yet with a starting price that is significantly lower than the outgoing model.”

Drift Subaru T-Shirt Drifting is not a crime. Only if you crash.

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Expecting a year of sluggish car sales due to our slumping economy, automakers are innovating to keep their inventory moving.

General Motors Corp. announced today that its 3,900 dealers will have free access to post used car listings on Ebay.

Many of the used car listings on EBay are from dealers, as well as individuals. But this agreement marks the first time a major automaker will leverage the power of the Internet to help its dealers move their used car inventory, GM spokesman Jim Labadie said.

“Dealers understand consumers are migrating online to find their next vehicle,” said Rob Chesney, a vice president at eBay Motors, motors.ebay.com, said in a press release.

An estimated 11 million shoppers search eBay motors each month for vehicles, he added.

The deal means “GM Certified dealers will have millions more eyeballs looking at their inventory,” Mark Mathews, director, GM Used Vehicle Activities, said in the press release.

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