San Antonio business launches gas station on wheels
SAN ANTONIO โ The old-fashioned full-service fill-up is getting a modern technology tweak as a West Side business launches a new app and gasoline delivery service. Now, the auto parts and repair business is shifting gears and rolling out an additional service. What fueled the concept was what the entrepreneurs said they were hearing from people: they didnโt like dealing with auto repair or getting gas. You select the type of gas you need and then place the order,โ said Chief Technology Officer Piyush Prakash, who developed the app. โYou basically pay the same price that you would pay at the gas station,โ Black said.
Thinking of getting a new car? Check out these Consumer Reports top picks
SAN ANTONIO โ If youโve got the itch for a new car, truck or SUV, Consumer Reportsโ annual list of its top picks may help steer you. Consumer Reports is out with its recommendations on new models based on more than 50 track tests as data on predicted reliability, owner satisfaction and safety equipment. โWe put thousands of miles on each test car and actually evaluate them for how people actually use them in their day-to-day lives,โ said Mike Quincy, auto editor. โTo make CRโs list, the vehicle must come standard with forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection.โToyota made a strong showing with three on the list. Here is their list of top picks in various categories:
Costco car buying program sees jump in 2020 sales
The pandemic didnโt just send Costco members flocking to stores for toilet paper, canned goods, and disinfecting wipes in 2020, but rather vehicles through the big-box chainโs car-buying program. Even as car sales as a whole took a dive, Costco members bought more than 689,000 new and used vehicles through the its auto program last year, a 12% increase over 2019 sales according to Business Insider. Costco attributes that bump to an increase in the amount of โlimited-timeโ member-exclusive deals with brands like Audi, Chevrolet, and Volvo. All you have to do is go to the Costco auto program webpage and you can browse the available vehicles, calculate monthly payments, and read reviews. Once you provide your contact info and Costco membership number, you can go to participating dealership and you can buy or lease the vehicle with the Costco discount.
Car shop manager urges public to โkeep your eyes openโ after recent catalytic converter thefts
But Acosta says his business is not the only one affected by the thefts. Acosta says those companies should have a protocol to ensure that stolen parts are not being sold to them. The Universal City Police Department says they have had two reports of similar thefts last week from an apartment complex parking lot. โSo, if everybody kind of works together, we can probably kind of weed them out.โThe Kerrville Police Department reported five similar reports of catalytic converter thefts in the last two weeks. Acosta says from his experience Chevy Trucks, Ford Explorers, Ford Escapes and diesel trucks are the easiest targets.
Can a car make you happy?
Can a car make you happy? But will the car that spark joy for you be the same for your partner? For the South, it was the Ford Expedition; in the West, the Tesla Model S; and in the North, the Toyota Avalon. Millennials liked the Subaru Ascent; GenXers, the Tesla Model S; Boomers, the Ford Expedition; and the Silent Generation, the Genesis G90. The more you spend on a car, the more likely you are to be satisfied with it!
Need a car? Hertz must sell more than 182,000 vehicles by the end of 2020
(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. Hertz is selling off its fleet of cars after a slump in the rental car business caused the company to file for bankruptcy in May. The company must sell 182,521 vehicles between June 1 and Dec. 31, 2020, according to a United States Securities and Exchange Commission filing. ABC13 in Houston crunched some numbers earlier this summer and found that the Hertz fleet is listed at an average discount of 12% or more. Looking for a new or used car?
What are the extra fees that come with owning an electric vehicle?
Recently, several have turned to a new strategy taxing electric vehicles. But a Consumer Reports analysis shows why this could create new problems for people looking to buy a clean, efficient car. In fact, even if electric vehicles really took off and were much more popular, they would contribute only about 1 percent of the needed funding. Consumer Reports says all-electric cars can significantly reduce maintenance and fuel costs, not to mention lower emissions and pollution. To see all of CRs ratings on electric vehicles, go to CR.org.
Hot car deaths arent just from parents forgetting or leaving their kids behind
Even considering the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to people driving less and working from home more, the risk of hot car deaths remains high. Thats according to AAA, which is urging parents to be extra cautious as the pandemic has changed our routines. Summer-like temperatures have arrived, and the inside of a hot car can be fatal. The boys death follows 52 hot car deaths in 2019, and a record 53 deaths in 2018, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The majority of hot car deaths, at 54%, according to AAA, happen because someone forgets a child in a car.
This advice will make you want to drop whatever youโre doing and drive around the block: โRodents ate my carโ
Even though life, in some ways, has started returning to normal, itโs safe to say that many of us still arenโt driving our cars as often. Whatever the case, Susan Reed, of Kalamazoo, has some advice for you: Take your car out every day, even if itโs just for a quick spin around the block. โRodents ate my car,โ Reed told Zak Rosen, the host and creator of โThe Best Advice Show.โIt wasnโt a cheap repair, either. But youโll definitely want to make sure youโre driving your car at least semi-regularly. โThe Best Advice Showโ is a product of Graham Media Group.
Hertz is selling its cars below market value after bankruptcy announcement
Hertz is selling off its fleet of cars after a slump in the rental car business caused the company to file for bankruptcy. The company, which has been renting cars since 1918, filed for bankruptcy in May, according to CNN. ABC13 in Houston crunched some numbers and found that the Hertz fleet is listed at an average discount of 12% or higher. Looking for a new or used car? More than 1,700 vehicles are currently listed on Hertz car sales.
Looking for a new or used car? Heres why now might be a good time to buy or lease.
SAN ANTONIO While many of us arent driving the same number of miles as we used to, we may still need a car. So what happens if for one reason or another you need to buy a vehicle during the coronavirus pandemic? As Consumer Reports explains, you may actually be able get a great deal on a new or used car right now. If your car lease is about to expire, CR has this advice: Not everyone is going to be comfortable starting a new lease right now, so reach out to the dealer, because many are waiving fees on lease extensions. You may be able to stay in the car youre familiar with for another few months.
My car has been sitting and the battery is dead. Now what?
And what if your car wonโt start because of a dead battery? To revive a dead battery, first make sure each car is in park or neutral -- and turned off. Then, connect one end of the cable to the positive terminal of the donor battery, and then connect the other end to the positive terminal of the dead battery. Let the dead battery charge for a few minutes, and then turn the ignition on the vehicle of the dead battery to see if it starts. This only applies if you:a) Have someone to take you to a repair shop or the store right away to buy a new battery.
Donโt ignore your vehicle! 5 ways to prevent auto troubles as your car sits idle
Here are five tips to avoid problems that can come up with sitting vehicles:Make sure to run your car every once in a while. But just in case a car isnโt being used or a two-car household has turned into a one-car household where the other vehicle is just sitting idle, running the car is still vital. Gas does degrade over time, and in some cases, it will go bad in less than two months if a car remains idle. In addition to running the car, treating it with fuel stabilizer can extend the life of your carโs gas. If the gas already is bad, there are ways to remove the bad gas from the tank, according to itstillruns.com.
Sequoia in, Tacoma out at San Antonio Toyota manufacturing plant
SAN ANTONIO โ The Toyota manufacturing plant in San Antonio will undergo some major production changes in the next couple of years. The Tacoma has been built in San Antonio since 2010. Toyota to invest $391 million to expand San Antonio plantBeginning in 2022, the plant will build the Toyota Sequoia. The production changes are not expected to affect employment at the San Antonio plant, which currently has 3,200 employees. The San Antonio plant will continue manufacturing the Toyota Tundra.
Kia Niro EV shoots for 200-plus-mile range
LAS VEGAS โ Kia showed off a new all-electric SUV concept Monday that it hopes will have a range of 238 miles on a single charge. That number is significant since, just a few years ago, mass-production electric vehicles were doing well if they hit 100 miles on a single charge. Full Screen 1 / 9 2018 Kia Niro EV ConceptFor Kia, the concept vehicle unveiled this week at CES in Las Vegas is called the Niro EV Concept. It also has a light-up panel instead of the traditional air intake, since electric cars don't need as much cooling ability as traditional gasoline-powered cars. 2018 Kia Niro EV ConceptThe company's YouTube channel also has a video touting other future-minded ideas, like separate sound zones for front and rear passengers, a touchscreen interface integrated into the steering wheel and technology to make the pillars on the sides of the windshield seem transparent.
US auto sales down 0.5% in May
U.S. auto sales dipped for the fifth month in a row in May, with a 0.5 percent decrease and more than 1.5 million vehicles sold, The Associated Press reported. General Motors, Fiat Chrysler, Hyundai and Toyota reported decreases in sales last month compared to May 2016. IHS Markit analyst Tom Libby told the AP that despite good economic factors, like low unemployment and gas prices, there could be a decrease in auto sales for all of 2017. The past two years saw record sales of about 17.5 million vehicles, which analysts say could account for the lack of demand, the AP reported. Libby's firm reduced its 2017 sales forecast from 17.4 million to 17.3 million, the AP reported.
Keeping that old car? Avoid costly repairs
Simple checkups and regular maintenance can help you avoid repairs that can cost thousands of dollars and potentially be more than what the car is worth. Fluids, fluids, fluidsAccording to Mark Larsen, a franchise training manager for CarX, there are three major parts of a car that can be the most costly to repair. "Any major engine, transmission or trans axle/rear end repair are the most expensive, easily. "Either light -- the coolant light or engine oil light -- if either one of them come on, you better be pulling over and stopping what you're doing." Any good auto shop has a checklist to inspect for you, including transmission fluid.
Car accessories to keep your dog safe
Booster seats: If your small dog wants to sit in the front seat of your car, a booster seat might be a good option. This seat will allow your small dog to look out the window while still being safely restrained in the seat. Vehicle restraint harness: One variation of a vehicle restraint harness, the Roadie, was developed by a man after he and his dog were in a car accident. Vehicle partitions: If you're taking your dog on a longer road trip, you might want to consider a vehicle partition. Designed for larger cars like SUVs, partitions will allow your dog to have his or her own space in the car.
Use your space wisely when creating a TV room
Do you find yourself bumping into furniture, or straining to have a simple conversation with another person in the room? Often, once we plunk our furniture down in a room, it never really moves again. Next, Plan Your SpaceOnce you've gotten rid of the extras, you will have more room to breath and to create new arrangements. Or, if you have an open kitchen/family room combination and a separate dining room, have you ever considered turning the family room area into a large dining area and the dining room into a quieter space for television watching or reading? If you don't do much formal entertaining, the dining room likely sits empty most of the time.
To protect foundation, use caution when planting trees
Carolina hemlock (tsuga caroliniana)This evergreen pine grows quickly up to 60 feet tall and 25 feet wide. Cimmaron green ash (fraxinus pennsylvanica)This member of the olive family grows about three feet per year, reaching 50 feet tall and 30 feet wide. Golden weeping willow (salix sepulcralis)These big round trees can grow up to 10 feet a year, and reach 50 feet tall and wide. Silver maple (acer saccharinum)Silver maple trees can quickly grow to 80 feet tall and 50 feet wide. Swamp oak (quercus palustris)This pyramidal oak can grow up to 70 feet tall and 50 feet wide.
Awnings can help harness passive solar power
Passive solar design, also known as climatic design, effectively uses abundant solar power without panels or other mechanical systems. Passive solar principles should be applied to new, energy-efficient construction. Simple retrofits can also boost the passive solar capacity of any home, with windows, walls or dedicated passive solar rooms. Also consider dark, heat-absorbing floors (particularly stone, concrete, or other masonry) to make any passive solar design more efficient. Passive solar energy can be used without solar panels or other devices.
As winter nears, get pool covers ready
As the weather gets colder you need to start preparing your pool for winter. One key step is to put the cover on your pool. Before placing the cover on your pool you should first inspect it. Some tears can be patched with specific patches for pool covers, otherwise heavy tape might also work. If the tears in your cover cannot be easily mended, then it is probably time to consider buying a new cover.
Home inspections could save money on your insurance
These inspections, created by Environmental Service Professionals (ESP), perform:- Moisture and mold inspections. - Energy audit inspections- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) inspections- 203-point standard home inspections- Indoor air quality inspectionsCEHIs also cover allergen screening, radon, lead testing and other environmental testing as requested by the homeowner. For example, a mold and moisture inspection can reveal wet or damp areas caused by roof leaks or cracked pipes, a problem that costs insurance companies $3 billion every year. In addition to retaining property value, inspection companies are currently working with mortgage lenders to provide interest rate discounts for those homeowners who finance 10 years of annual inspections in their mortgages. To save homeowners even more money, companies are working with insurance companies to give annual discounts on homeowners' insurance policies to those who participate in the annual inspection program.
Check air conditioner to avoid house fires
Less than 8 percent of house fires and less than 6 percent of fatal house fires occur in each of the summer months. By contrast, more than 12 percent of fatal fires and more than 10 percent of all house fires occur in December and January. Nonetheless, the percentages still translated to an estimated 16,000 house fires in June 2008, including 60 fatal house fires. More than 17 percent of grill fires happen in July, and another 39 percent of grill fires happen in May, June and August. Grill fires cause 34 injuries per 1,000 incidents, compared with 10 injuries per 1,000 incidents for fires in general.
Water is key in high-altitude gardens
However, even dry, native plants need plenty of water to become established in the first season or two. A lack of water also discourages richer soil, and ancient mountain glaciers scraped away loamy topsoil and left rocks in their wake. High-altitude water and soil conditions contribute to limitations on growing some plants. Soil temperatures are just peaking in October. ConclusionAll these warnings about water, soil and weather shouldn't scare away gardeners.
Consider adding year-round planters to your yard
By Linda Merrill, NetworxIf you're thinking about adding curb appeal to your house, you're probably thinking about gussying up your front stoop or porch. And if you're thinking about adding curb appeal to your front stoop or porch, you're probably considering adding some planters. Plant stands and decorative planters are often used by professional home stagers to artfully accentuate architectural details of a house. And, of course, you still need curb appeal in winter! For a list of seven all-season, all-weather planters that are durable and stylish, go to Networx.