Tag: car

small Part – Big Problems

Hey kids, it’s Dad. Wow-what a week. Three back to back 12 hour plus workdays, but the end is in sight. I’m thankful for you and for all the support you give me. For today’s Tommylog, I wanted to take the car issue full circle. Just to bring you back a week or so ago I had battery issues with the car.

What I don’t fully think I understood was the fact that if your battery is shot, or if there’s no battery in the car, the car won’t physically run. I get it there without a battery it won’t start, but if the battery isn’t in good condition the car won’t even stay running. You are dead in the water. A $50 battery will keep your $5000, $10,000 or multi-million dollar vehicle from even starting.

It’s amazing how such a small part can have such an integral role in your success. Without a battery, you can’t keep the car running.

Kids, it’s important to have a backup plan. I always travel with jumper cables in my trunk. But if the battery is shot, only putting out 10 Volts. Then the whole operation comes to a screeching halt. Kinda like the story where the lion, not elephant as I said in the video–had a thorn in his foot. The something as simple as walking came to a screeching halt until the thorn was pulled from his foot. Amazing what a small thing and the damage that can do.

Be the Answer to Someone’s Prayer

Last Friday was a total rotten day at work. Do not pass go do not collect $200 rotten. I was home and it was about 7:30 in the evening and I wanted to go get Culver’s for dinner. As I’m driving to Culver’s sun roof open and XM radio turned up high—trying to forget my awful day, I saw a family stranded on the side of the road. They car had broken down. I immediately felt a prompting to do a u-turn and go and see who I could help.


The dad, named John, was from Eastern Europe, Croatia I think and he had a thick accent. He said he was the head chef at a restaurant in Neenah. His car ran out of gas and he and his wife and 2 kids were on their way to the grocery store. I was able to help him get gas and on their way very quickly.

After that, the worries of my Friday was washed away.

What a blessing it was not to ask for answers to a prayer, but to possibly BE AN ANSWER!

What will you do to be that answer?

TommyLog TECH – Finding Your Dream Car with the DROID Turbo #VZWBuzz #AD

Hey kids, for today’s TommyLog Tech, I’m on location in the front seat of my new 2015 Honda Pilot and I want to talk about how the DROID Turbo helped me with my buying decision. Here are Tommy’s Top apps for helping you on your car buying quest.

True Car pricingThe first app I want to tell you about is the Kelly Blue Book or KBB App. This app just an indispensable tool for helping you know what your current car is worth.  Before you can start looking for a new car, it’s nice to know the value of your current ride. For that I turn to the Kelly Blue Book or KBB app. The KBB app will guide you through a series of questions to build an estimate of the value of your car on trade. You start off buy entering your zip code, and then picking out the exact model and options on our vehicle. You next have to dig really deep and pick the condition of your car. This can be hard, but you MUST BE FAIR with your evaluation. Setting the wrong expectation on the condition of your car will only hurt you, either with a lower trade in at the dealership or frowns from the seller if you set your price to high. You have to choose Fair, Good, Very Good or Excellent Condition. You may think you car is in showroom condition, but unless it has been professionally detailed and is in perfect working order and absolutely flawless- excellent condition is not what you should pick. Be honest and fair about your condition, it will only help you in the end.
Cost to Own
Now that you know what your trade is worth, it’s time to start looking for a replacement. Do you want new or used? What options are most important to you? Leather seats? Sun roof? Six Speed manual? The best apps I found to conduct your research are the Cars.com app, Autotrader app, and the Edmonds app. I especially like the Edmonds app as it has the “True Cost to Own” calculator. This tool looks at the total cost of ownership over the next 5 years, taking into consideration things like fuel cost based on EPA mileage, insurance, repairs, and depreciation. Never overlook these types of things when picking out your next car or truck.

So you’ve picked out the perfect match and are ready to take the plunge. Did you pick out a new car and want to see what others paid for the exact same model?  To help here, you want to download and use the True Car app. The way this app works is this:  Local dealers are part of the True Car network and the prices they paid for their vehicles are reported back to the True Car app. You can look in your area to see what others have paid for the exact same vehicle and then, loaded with this good information, you can now feel confident as you talk pricing with your sales person at the local dealership.

SirusXM AppNow that you have your new or used vehicle, my BONUS app is one that I just love. I’m a HUGE SiriusXM satellite radio fan. I spend at least an hour a day in front of the windshield and most times I’m listing to SiriusXM. I just love 80’s on 8, Classic Rewind channel 26, and Ozzy’s Boneyard channel 38. With the SiriusXM app, regardless if I’m in the car or on the go, I can always be tuned into my favorite music or talk radio.

So there you have it kids, my favorite vehicle research apps for my DROID Turbo and they are all totally Tommy approved.  Knowledge is power and when buying a vehicle, you need all the power you can get!

For more information on how to get your very own DROID Turbo by Motorola, Here’s a link http://www.verizonwireless.com/smartphones/droid-turbo/

Click here to get my fav car apps.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kbb.mobileplatform&hl=en

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.autotrader.android&hl=en

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cars.android&hl=en

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.edmunds&hl=en

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.truecar.mobile.android.consumer&hl=en

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sirius&hl=en

[DISCLAIMER — I’m one of the cool kids who has been asked to play with and test technology for Verizon. They asked me to test and share my thoughts. All my words are original and my own.]

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TommyLog – Tommy’s 5 Safe Driving Tips #FordDriveSafe

Hey kids, for today’s Tommylog I want to talk about safe driving. I have been behind the wheel for almost 30 years -YIKES- and I have logged a lot of miles in the cars I have owned. These days I travel about 35 miles each way to work so I have a little experience in the area of driving safely.

So, lets jump right into some tips:

1.    Use the Right lane.  Most of my daily mileage is highway mileage and I see hundreds of cars each day. Folks, you need to drive in the right hand lane, PASS in the left lane. Too often people, and myself included as I forget, just set their cruise control and sail down the road in the left lane. That’s not safe. The left lane should be for passing or getting over so you can be safe when passing an emergency vehicle or someone stopped on the shoulder.

2.    Keep A Safe Distance. This is a big one. It is imperative that you keep a safe distance between you and the car in front of you. Leading driving experts, including well as SmartMoterest.com, talk about the 3-second following distance rule. Driving at 65 MPH, your car travels almost 100 feet in one second. You need to keep almost 300 feet distance between you and the car in front of you in order to adhere to the 3-second rule. Your reaction time isn’t what you think it is- especially while driving at 65 (or maybe just a little more…). For more on the topic, please click here.

3.    Use Your Mirrors. How many people do you know that do not use their 2 side or rear view mirrors? These 3 things are the BEST tools you have in your car. A quick glance backwards, and then to the left and right help keep you safe. Always knowing what’s going on around you is key to being a safe driver.

4.    Have a Backup Plan. Your brain can do millions and millions of calculations per second and while you are driving you always need to be thinking one step ahead of the cars in front of you. Being a defensive driver is key. You always need to ask yourself “What if?” What if this guy merging comes over into my lane…where will I go? What if the car in front of me stops quickly, what will I do? Knowing your surroundings and playing a few what if scenarios in your mind as you travel will help keep you safe.

5.    Focus. Nothing should be more important than what you are doing on the road. Your job is to get from point A to point B and do it safely. No phone call, no text message, and no one behind you is more important than your life. You need to focus on your task a hand. Everything else can wait till you are safely at your destination.

So there you have it. My 5 safe driving tips to making sure you arrive safe and sound at your destination. None are very difficult, but each one if followed can make a difference.

Another great resource to check out is Ford’s Driving Skills For Life. https://drivingskillsforlife.com/

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Disclosure: I receive a fee for participating in certain promotional campaigns for Ford Motor Company. All views and opinions expressed are my own.

TommyLog – Seat Belts First – The Start of Great Driving Habits #FordDriveSave

 

I remember, as a kid, car safety and seat belts were not the daily mantra like they are today. Heck, I still remember cars that just had lap belts and no shoulder belts. I think I still recall some that had no seat belts at all. Boy, does that date me. Growing up, we used to joke as a family that I was brought home from the hospital in the back of my parents Buick; just placing me all bundled up on the rear deck between the speakers and the back glass. At about age 7, my father would ask us if we were all buckled in, offering us a “bribe” of $1 if we were.

Seat belt MadelineOne very powerful childhood memory on the topic was a public service announcement on seat belt safety put on by Head Captain of the NY State Troopers. The gist of the ad was this: He said, “In the 25 years I have served on the force, I have never had to unbuckle a dead body.” Here I am, 30 plus years later and that commercial is still embossed in my mind. What a powerful  message!

Fast forward to November 2014, there are many safety messages for new drivers, each more important than the next, but I want to remind you of most basic of all–seat belts.  They are first line of safety in your car. You need to do that first, before you turn the ignition key, put the car into reverse and begin your journey.  To quote the State Trooper seat belt ad mentioned above, “Seat belts:  It’s Not Just a Good Idea, It’s the Law!”

To find the seat belt laws in your state, here’s a great page for your to reference from the Governors Highway Safety Association http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/seatbelt_laws.html

Another great resource to check out is Ford’s Driving Skills For Life. https://drivingskillsforlife.com/
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Disclosure: I receive a fee for participating in certain promotional campaigns for Ford Motor Company. All views and opinions expressed are my own.