Winter Driving Tips | Jim Doran Chevrolet Subaru

Severe weather can be both frightening and dangerous for automobile travel. Motorists should know the safety rules for dealing with winter road emergencies. We want to remind motorists to be cautious while driving in adverse weather. 

We recommend the following winter driving tips:

• Avoid driving while you’re fatigued. Getting the proper amount of rest before taking on winter weather tasks reduces driving risks.
• Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage.
• Make certain your tires are properly inflated.
• Never mix radial tires with other tire types.
• Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up.
• If possible, avoid using your parking brake in cold, rainy and snowy weather.
• Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface (wet, ice, sand).
• Always look and steer where you want to go.
• Use your seat belt every time you get into your vehicle.

Tips for long-distance winter trips:

• Watch weather reports prior to a long-distance drive or before driving in isolated areas. Delay trips when especially bad weather is expected. If you must leave, let others know your route, destination and estimated time of arrival.
• Always make sure your vehicle is in peak operating condition.
• Keep at least half a tank of gasoline in your vehicle at all times.
• Pack a cellular telephone plus blankets, gloves, hats, food, water and any needed medication in your vehicle.
• If you become snow-bound, stay with your vehicle. It provides temporary shelter and makes it easier for rescuers to locate you. Don’t try to walk in a severe storm. It’s easy to lose sight of your vehicle in blowing snow and become lost.
• Don’t over exert yourself if you try to push or dig your vehicle out of the snow.
• Tie a brightly colored cloth to the antenna or place a cloth at the top of a rolled up window to signal distress. At night, keep the dome light on if possible. It only uses a small amount of electricity and will make it easier for rescuers to find you.
• Make sure the exhaust pipe isn’t clogged with snow, ice or mud. A blocked exhaust could cause deadly carbon monoxide gas to leak into the passenger compartment with the engine running.
• Use whatever is available to insulate your body from the cold. This could include floor mats, newspapers or paper maps.
• If possible run the engine and heater just long enough to remove the chill and to conserve gasoline.

Tips for driving in the snow:

• Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best method for regaining traction and avoiding skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry. And take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
• Drive slowly. Everything takes longer on snow-covered roads. Accelerating, stopping, turning – nothing happens as quickly as on dry pavement. Give yourself time to maneuver by driving slowly.
• The normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased to eight to ten seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
• Know your brakes. Whether you have antilock brakes or not, the best way to stop is threshold breaking. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
• Don’t stop if you can avoid it. There’s a big difference in the amount of inertia it takes to start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still rolling. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it.
• Don’t power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads just starts your wheels spinning. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed downhill as slowly as possible.
• Don’t stop going up a hill. There’s nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road. Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before you take on the hill.
• Stay home. If you really don’t have to go out, don’t. Even if you can drive well in the snow, not everyone else can. Don’t tempt fate: If you don’t have somewhere you have to be, watch the snow from indoors.

Original post can be viewed here.

New 2015 Chevy Colorado Designed for Active Lifestyles | Jim Doran Chevrolet Subaru

Concept combo pairs custom Colorado crew cab with Nautique boat, trailer

Chevrolet demonstrated the versatility and capability of the all-new Colorado midsize pickup at the SEMA Show, pairing it with the Super Air Nautique 210 – one of the industry’s most iconic wakeboard boats, which can generate a wake strong enough for wakeboarding at lower speeds.

The concept Colorado crew cab, Nautique boat and its trailer share the same custom orange metallic flake paint scheme, while the truck and trailer wear matching 18-inch Chevrolet accessory wheels. With a dry weight of 4,200 pounds for the 21-foot boat and an estimated trailer weight of 1,000 pounds, the combination is well within the capability of Colorado’s segment-leading 7,000-pound maximum trailering rating.

“You can’t own a lifestyle product like the Super Air Nautique without the assurance of a strong, confidence-inspiring truck to haul it to your favorite lake,” said John Fitzpatrick, senior marketing manager, Chevrolet trucks. “The Colorado rewrites the book for midsize trucks, delivering unprecedented performance and capability for people who need the versatility of a truck in a smaller package than a full-size pickup.”

Completely redesigned, the Super Air Nautique 210 incorporates new technology and design features resulting in the look and performance customers expect from Nautique. The sleek and powerful Super Air Nautique 210 is powered by the ZR 450 by Pleasurecraft Marine Engine Group.

Colorado trailering capability is enabled by the segment’s most powerful and efficient engine: an available 3.6L V-6 rated at 305 horsepower and 269 lb.-ft. of torque – and 26 mpg on the highway (2WD models), according to EPA estimates. In fact, the V-6-equipped Colorado produces 14 percent more horsepower than Nissan Frontier’s V-6 (262 horsepower), while delivering 15 percent greater efficiency than its EPA-estimated 22 mpg. It also produces nearly 23 percent more power than Toyota Tacoma’s V-6 (236 horsepower) and nearly 20 percent greater highway efficiency (21 mpg).

A 2.5L engine is standard on the Colorado and it supports a 3,500-pound trailering rating, while delivering a segment-leading EPA-estimated 27 mpg on the highway (2WD models).

Along with genuine Chevy truck capability, the all-new Colorado delivers distinctive design cues and a quiet, comfortable interior that offers amenities that car and crossover drivers appreciate. It also features innovative technology such as Chevy MyLink with a built-in 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, Lane Departure Warning and Forward Collision Alert.

Traditional truck features such as four-wheel drive and a highly flexible bed with Chevy’s GearOn™ cargo management system are available, enhancing capability. The GearOn™ system is designed to fit within the bed, for significant storage and hauling flexibility. It is upgradable, with modular cargo dividers and tiered storage to accommodate 4-by8 sheets of plywood above the wheelhouses. It also uses the box’s four permanent and 13 moveable tie-down provisions to allow for a variety of secure and convenient cargo stowage options.

The Colorado has a short turning radius of 41.3 feet (12.6 meters), enabling easier turning in tight areas such as city streets or when backing a trailer. Additional features include:
Four-wheel disc brakes with Duralife™ brake rotors that offer up to double the service life, which can save money on maintenance.

• Available G80 automatic locking rear differential delivers a traction advantage when needed and quieter, more comfortable driving when it’s not
• Standard CornerStep rear bumper design pioneered on the 2014 Silverado
• Available EZ Lift-and-Lower tailgate that uses an internal torsion bar to make raising the tailgate easier with one hand, and a damper for more-controlled lowering
• Standard two-tier loading that allows a platform to effectively split the bed into upper and lower sections, making it easier to haul, store and conceal items
• Thirteen standard tie-down locations throughout the bed for use with available, movable cargo tie-down rings
• Available factory-installed spray-in bed liner
• Available safety package includes segment-first Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning, using camera-based technology to warn driver of potential crash threats.

Colorado prices start at $20,995, including $875 dealer freight, for a four-door extended cab model with the 2.5L engine. Chevrolet supports Colorado owners with two years or 24,000 miles (whichever comes first) of scheduled maintenance.

Drivers Can Calculate Personal Driving Costs

Compare and Calculate Personal Driving Costs

Attempting to calculate the cost of ownership for a vehicle that requires gas can be confusing and inaccurate, especially with the fluctuation of gas prices, but for drivers who are contemplating switching to an electric vehicle, we would to show you a quick tool to compare and calculate personal driving costs.

The initial price of a vehicle is alone isn’t going to be all that you’re faced with, unless you plan on keeping it in your garage or using it as furniture. In order for it to serve its purpose, daily commutes to work, weekend getaways, or road trips, you’ll have to take into account how much fuel the vehicle will be using vs guzzling.

An electric vehicle already is going to be a more efficient option, but to show you just how much you save, the Electric Vehicle Explorer tool created by UC Davis can do just this. Moreover, it can be personalized and molded exactly to the driving being performed on average in your life.

The tool is entirely unbiased, and allows potential buyers and those curious about electric cars to compared up to four vehicles side by side at a time, while displaying the results in text and on a bar graph. In order to make the comparisons more applicable to nearly all drivers, the Electric Vehicle Explorer doesn’t restrict drivers to strictly electric vehicles, but allows them to compare all fuel types as well as the old and new vehicles.

Based on the starting and ending point you type into the system, you will be able to calculate how much you are and will be spending according to your vehicle’s fuel range. Want to get even more precise to increase the accuracy of your results? Plug in how much much gas costs by you or the electricity rates at your house.

Try comparing the current vehicle you drive to one of our new or pre-owned vehicles at Jim Doran Chevy Subaru that you might have in mind, or if you’re curious about alternative fuels, like diesels, flex fuels, or electric, try testing out one of these as well to help find your next ideal vehicle. Once you’ve found it, be sure to stop by for pressure-free and hassle-free test drive here at Jim Doran Chevy Subaru .

A TRAVELER GETS INTO THE PIONEER SPIRIT, EXPLORING THE PORTLAND-SEATTLE-VANCOUVER CORRIDOR IN A 2014 CHEVROLET SONIC HATCHBACK

By Katy Henriksen

By Katy Henriksen

The 2014 Chevrolet Sonic hatchback, with its 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score for safety from the NHTSA,^† and available turbocharged engine with a 40 mpg highway rating,^† provides the perfect way to take a solo trip along Highway 1, to see the gems of the Pacific Northwest. The pioneer spirit reigns supreme in the Portland-Seattle-Vancouver corridor connected by I-5, which turns to Hwy 99 as you hit the Canadian border. When you hit the two-lane highways in a Sonic,you’re the true pioneer, heading out into the expanses of the farthest corners of the Northwest, the birthplace of Jimi Hendrix, grunge, American coffee culture and the microbrew.

Cruise right along the edges of the Pacific on Coastal Highway 101, spending an afternoon with Haystack Rock, made famous by The Goonies, on Cannon Beach. Stop to take a day hike along the Pacific Crest Trail, featured in Cheryl Strayed’s remarkable memoir Wild, describing her solo trek through the vast trail that stretches from California up through Washington. It’s a great vantage point for getting to the glacier shrouded Mount Hood, the largest and most active volcano in Oregon. Or catch a trek along the Bridge of the Gods, with epic views into Washington and expanses of the Columbia River.

Here, urban and exotically rural locales are snuggled close—with Portland offering literary lovers a paradise in legendary Powell’s Books, and coffee connoisseurs a bevy of local coffee roasters, including Stumptown Coffee, begun by Duane Sorenson on Southeast Division Street in 1999 and now boasting locations all over Portland, Seattle and, more recently, New York and L.A. Whether it’s French press, moka pot or the espresso route, Stumptown has a coffee brewed exactly the way you like and even sells a kit called “The Voyager” that’s perfect for your solo adventure. It has all the supplies you need to brew the perfect cup sans electricity.

Now, you can’t take a solo journey through the Pacific Northwest without some indie sounds. Though not a standard feature, Sonic’s optional audio package will have the tunes sounding brilliant. An available upgrade from the accessories catalog for an Audio System by Kicker includes subwoofers that bring up the deep bass paired with high-efficiency, low power-draw amplifiers and a unique sound signature from multi-channel amps with DSP.

Soak up the latest in indie by tuning in to Seattle’s KEXP to catch the best in what’s next, and discover the new Sleater Kinneys and Death Cabs for Cutie before they’ve been co-opted by Converse and MasterCard. Hear the blazing cool sounds of the all-girl surf noir band La Luz, on Sub Pop sister label Hardly Art. Get super lo-fi with fuzzy and scratchy sounds from Olympia, Washington’s K Records.

Whether you’re letting the experts at KEXP curate the tunes or have your iPod plugged in, these tunes provide the perfect soundtrack to discover yourself. And perhaps you’ll fall so in love with a particular tune, you’ll want to own it on vinyl, which is seeing quite the resurgence in the era of digital. There are many old-school shops to find the wax, including the oldest record store in the Pacific Northwest, Portland’s Music Millennium, or the newest, Sub Pop’s shop at the Sea-Tac airport.

So what are you waiting for? Hop in your Sonic for a solo adventure of a lifetime—in less than two hours of road time, you’ll span the jagged lushness of the Pacific and feel like you’re on the set of Singles sipping on a perfectly brewed espresso in Seattle’s Capitol Hill. The road is open and waiting for your latest adventure in self-discovery.

The trademarks mentioned in this story are held by their respective owners.

This is the third in a three-part series of Sonic Solo adventures.
Check out Exploring New England and The True South.

Katy Henriksen is the music editor for TheRumpus.net and a classical music and arts producer for KUAF 91.3 FM (NPR) in Fayetteville, AR, where she hosts the daily classical music show "Of Note with Katy Henriksen" and the weekly "KUAF Sunday Symphony." Her tumblr is helloloretta.tumblr.com and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram@helloloretta.

CHEVROLET AND “THE TODAY SHOW” HELP REUNITE LT. NATHAN LOWMAN WITH HIS FAMILY

May 26, 2014

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 Chevrolet is committed to giving back to those who have given so much by serving our country. As a part of that commitment, Chevrolet recently teamed up with “The Today Show” to reunite Lt. Nathan Lowman with his wife, Cindy, and his daughter in a surprise homecoming that involved a little bit of undercover maneuvering.

 

 On May 18, Cindy Lowman and her daughter arrived at the Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch for the surprise event. “The Today Show” camera crew, posing as a crew shooting a commercial for the resort, greeted the two. The crew then proceeded to conduct an interview with Cindy. She discussed her life, her passion for Corvette and her excitement about participating in driving school. As soon as the interview wrapped, driving school instructors pulled up in Corvettes to greet Cindy and her daughter. And much to their surprise, one particular driving instructor stepped out of the car and took off his helmet. It was none other than Lt. Lowman.

The surprise culminated into a heartfelt moment that brought the entire family together after they had not seen each other in over seven months.

Watch the Lowman family’s surprise reunion unfold: 

The Lowman family’s tie to Chevrolet is one that goes far back. In fact, Corvette has always had a special meaning for Lt. Lowman, who grew up dreaming of one day owning one.

“Before I graduated high school, knowing I was joining…to serve our country, I went to my local dealership and took a picture in a brand-new 1994 Corvette,” said Lt. Lowman. “I stated at that time that ‘one day I am going to own one of these!’ ”

Lt. Lowman and his wife, Cindy, were finally able to own their very own 1992 Corvette, which they later transformed in a tribute to Chief Warrant Officer 4 Keith Yoakum, a fellow soldier who gave his life in combat.

“So why is Corvette significant, you may ask. It is because it is like the American Dream,” said Lt. Lowman. “Corvette is America’s sports car and what better car to have as a defender of America?”

Chevrolet is not only proud to honor Lt. Lowman for his service to our country, we are also proud to give back to his family members whose lives have been inspired by Chevrolet throughout the years.

Learn more about what Chevrolet is doing to support the military.