Monday, November 11, 2013

Winter Driving Tips

The following post is a guest post by Claire Atkinson, about tips and techniques for driving in the winter and snow. Use these tips to stay safe this winter, and remember to visit Betten Imports for all your transportation needs.




Is your car ready for the cold winter months ahead? Frigid winter weather can be hard on your vehicle, and you will want to be certain that it has been adequately prepared for ice and snow. Listed below are some tips on how to get your car ready for winter weather and how you can be ready for winter driving.
1. Have your vehicle checked out by a qualified mechanic
Before cold weather really sets in, have your car checked out by a good mechanic who will know just what to do to ensure that your vehicle is ready for winter driving. Have him check your tires for proper pressure and tread, your heater, filters, defroster, transmission, battery, spark plugs, hoses, fluids, brakes, lights, and wiper blades. Make sure that your oil has been changed as well. Your mechanic should also check your exhaust system for any possible leaks.
2. Consider snow tires
If you live in a very cold climate where icy roads are a part of winter driving, you may want to invest in snow tires for added traction. You might also want to refresh yourself on how to handle your vehicle if it goes into a skid in icy road conditions.
3. Drive slowly
Even if you have driven in snowy weather countless times before and feel you are an expert, you still need to remember to drive slowly when roads are slick. Never make any abrupt moves in your vehicle, which can cause you to lose control more easily. Also, accelerate slowly and brake slowly. You will want to make your turns more slowly as well.
4. Have an emergency kit in your trunk
You want to be prepared for anything in snowy weather. This means you should always have emergency supplies with you in the trunk of your car. An emergency kit should include a spare tire and tools needed to change a tire, flares, an extra blanket, gloves, warm hat, tool kit, flashlight and extra batteries, shovel, ice scraper, nonperishable food, bottled water, sand or cat litter, jumper cables, and a first aid kit. You might also want to include extra windshield wiper blades and windshield washing fluid.
5. Keep gas tank full
During the winter months, you should keep your gas tank full. If you ever get stranded on a lonely road, you want to be certain that you have enough gas to keep your car running and warm until help arrives. To make certain that you can get help, also keep your cell phone handy and completely charged at all times.
6. Check road conditions ahead of time
If you will need to do some traveling during the winter months, check beforehand what the road conditions will be as well as the weather, and allow for extra time to get safely to your destination.
Common sense and keeping your head while driving, along with properly maintaining your car for the cold months ahead, will help you to get through winter much more smoothly and peacefully.

Claire Atkinson writes for Kanetix, an auto insurance comparison website. In her spare time she enjoys hiking and spending time with her family.

More from GR Auto Blog:
Shark Week 2013 Beetle Convertible
Mercedes-Benz Vision Golf Cart
Volvo V60 Coming to USA in 2014
Car of the Month June: 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible Clean Diesel TDI
Live Market Pricing, CPO? What is that?
Grand Rapids Michigan Summer Cars 2013 | Top 5
Life Around 2014 Volkswagen Golf GTD
Volvo Creates Self-Parking Car
Volkswagen Passat Sets New Guiness World Record


More guest posts from GR Auto Blog:

Benefits of Taking an Accident Insurance Policy
Five Great Games to Play on Car Journeys
Luxury Car Rentals for a Long Drive at night in NYC
How To Avoid Road Rage in Yourself And Others
Top 5 Ways to Stretch Your Car's MPG
Life Around 2014 Volkswagen Golf GTD

Friday, October 25, 2013

Benefits of Taking an Accident Insurance Policy

The following is a guest post by Andrea regarding Accident Insurance. It's always good to be knowledgeable about types of insurance and which type is best for you. If you're looking for a vehicle, remember to visit www.bettenimports.com to meet all your vehicle needs. Enjoy!


How an accident insurance policy is different from other types of insurance policies?
     An accident insurance policy differs greatly from other types of insurance coverage because it encompasses the most important risks that people face. Personal accident coverage becomes an extremely important kind of policy that people should have because its technical definition is that it is a type of insurance policy or coverage that provides protection for policyholders against any physical injuries that they get directly because of unfortunate accidents that cause death or disabilities. This specific type of insurance policy differs from life insurance and Medicaid plans because it covers policyholders for specific grey areas that the two aforementioned insurance policies include. The fact that an accident insurance policy covers policyholders for temporary or permanent disabilities that occur because of accidents, handicaps and provides coverage for loss of income owing to the disability of the holders is a good example of the way in which this type of policy differs from the aforementioned two policies. This is because life insurance policies or Medicaid plans cannot provide their policyholders with these things. 


The benefits of an accident insurance policy

  •  Covers policyholders for damages and physical injuries;

An accident insurance policy also provides coverage for damages or physical injuries that a policyholder gets because of circumstances that majority of life insurance policies do not provide coverage for such as earthquakes, terrorist attacks, as well as rail and air accidents.
  • Provision of instant coverage;

Another benefit of an accident insurance policy is that it provides instant coverage and hence, getting it is very convenient because medical examinations are not necessary before you get it and more importantly, worldwide coverage is easily available to policyholders. In addition, you can easily get customized packages depending on the amount of money you insure and your risk assessments. 
  • Easy processing;

Another great benefit of an accident insurance policy is that its processing is very easy and it does not require you to submit a lot of documentation. As compared to other types of insurance policies, this is an enormous improvement and the best example is that no medical bills are necessary for the insurance coverage when people file for the claims that are due to them.
  • Provision of particular benefits;

      An accident insurance policy provides the policyholder with particular benefits such as extra payments, reimbursement and hospitalization in order to further meet his/her needs and suit his/her preferences because it is flexible. Hence, this is another benefit of having it. If the principal policyholder dies or even suffers from permanent disability, all the children who depend on him/her have a right to full family packages and educational grants that the insurer can provide with discounts of twenty percent. In addition, an accident insurance policy can also provide something else that other insurance policies do not offer and that is it can offer a fixed amount of money on a daily basis for a whole year. 
An accident insurance policy can offer you all the aforementioned benefits if you get it. Hence, in order to enjoy all these benefits, you should get the Dvla Contact of the insurance company in your locality so that you can review the options that you have for insurance coverage before committing yourself to anything. 

About Me:
Andrea is a Blogger and Write from UK. She loves to write articles on various categories like Finance, Technology, Cars and Automotive. As of now she is doing a research work on Dvla Contact.

More from GR Auto Blog:
Shark Week 2013 Beetle Convertible
Mercedes-Benz Vision Golf Cart
Volvo V60 Coming to USA in 2014
Car of the Month June: 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible Clean Diesel TDI
Live Market Pricing, CPO? What is that?
Grand Rapids Michigan Summer Cars 2013 | Top 5
Life Around 2014 Volkswagen Golf GTD
Volvo Creates Self-Parking Car
Volkswagen Passat Sets New Guiness World Record


More guest posts from GR Auto Blog:
Five Great Games to Play on Car Journeys
Luxury Car Rentals for a Long Drive at night in NYC
How To Avoid Road Rage in Yourself And Others
Top 5 Ways to Stretch Your Car's MPG
Life Around 2014 Volkswagen Golf GTD


Friday, October 11, 2013

Five Great Games To Play on Car Journeys

The following post is a guest post giving some creative ideas for games on road trips. To find a vehicle that that best suits your family or lifestyle, be sure to visit Betten Imports in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (616) 301-2100.


Fed up with backseat cries of “Are we there yet?” and “I’m bored”?  We know that keeping the kids entertained on long trips can be a challenge, so here’s some great in-car games that are easy to play and fun for all the family.

Before you start you should also check out this other list of top 10 car games here.

I Spy
A much-loved classic, a game of ‘I Spy’ is great for all ages. The first player picks an object nearby, tells the other players the first letter, and then they have to guess what it is – simple! Encourage the kids to choose something that’s either inside the car or that will be in view for a few minutes at least to keep things simple; if they’re struggling to guess, then the person whose turn it is could offer an extra clue like the second letter or the colour of the object.

The Picnic Game
A real memory test – one that will keep everyone busy for a fair while… The first player begins by completing the sentence ‘I’m going on a picnic and I’m taking…’ with a noun beginning with ‘A’, the more random the better; for example, “I’m going on a picnic and I’m taking an aardvark”. The next player repeats what they’ve said, and then adds their own noun beginning with ‘B’, e.g. “I’m going on a picnic and I’m taking an aardvark and a balloon”. The game carries on through the alphabet, with each person repeating what’s been said and adding something new. Anyone that fails to recall all the nouns that have gone before is out, and the game carries on until the player with the best memory wins.

Who Am I?
Here’s how ‘Who Am I?’ works: the first player thinks of a famous person, and then the other players take it in turns to ask them ‘yes’ or no’ answer questions (e.g. “Are you male?”, “Do you have blonde hair?”, etc.) to try and find out who they are. The first one to correctly guess the right name is the winner.

The ‘Banana Car’ Game
Have you ever noticed that there are barely any yellow cars on the road? That’s why the Banana game is so much fun (even though it actually has nothing at all to do with bananas at all…)!
The idea behind the game is that the person who spots the most yellow cars wins – when you see one, you shout ‘Banana car!’. To make sure they don’t lose interest, set a half or 1-hour limit and see how many each player can count before time runs out.

Endings Game
First, think of a topic like ‘animals’, ‘celebrities’ or ‘things you’d find in the garden’. One person starts the game off by naming something in this category, then the next person has to think of something that begins with the last letter of that word (for example, if the first person said ‘Elephant’, the next person would have to think of something beginning with ‘t’).
The game goes round and round like this; if the next person isn’t able to think of anything, they’re out.


In the end all that travelling might put your car in not the best condition. If all that travelling has worn your car down then I would recommend checking out this free car valuation service. Just make sure you renew and get a car that your kids love.

More from GR Auto Blog:
Shark Week 2013 Beetle Convertible
Mercedes-Benz Vision Golf Cart
Volvo V60 Coming to USA in 2014
Car of the Month June: 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible Clean Diesel TDI
Live Market Pricing, CPO? What is that?
Grand Rapids Michigan Summer Cars 2013 | Top 5
Life Around 2014 Volkswagen Golf GTD
Volvo Creates Self-Parking Car
Volkswagen Passat Sets New Guiness World Record


More guest posts from GR Auto Blog:
Luxury Car Rentals for a Long Drive at night in NYC
How To Avoid Road Rage in Yourself And Others
Top 5 Ways to Stretch Your Car's MPG
Life Around 2014 Volkswagen Golf GTD

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Luxury Car Rentals for a Long Drive at night in NYC

The following guest post was submitted by Andy Steven. It is based on his personal experience with luxury rental cars on the east coast. Enjoy his perspective, and remember, if you're looking to buy, lease, or finance a luxury car, used car, or new car, be sure to visit Betten Imports for your automotive needs!

Finding a car rental for a long drive at night can be full of fun. You can make your drive interesting by simply hiring a luxury car rental NYC (New York city). The car must have some salient features to give you a comfortable ride and make you feel on the top of the world. For a long drive, one must hire an exotic car that can give a good mileage and allow you to experience a classic ride.

Selecting a vehicle for the long drive:

Usually for a long drive one can hire exotic car rental NYC by selecting a good and comfortable car. The car selection should be classy where you enjoy a drive in style. Selecting a quality car will allow you to enjoy to the extreme and grab the attention of the spectators. There are different options which can be chosen online when it comes to selecting a luxury car. You can select Mercedes, Volkswagen, SUV, Volvo, etc. which showcase sophistication and elegance that is superior in every way.

Choosing ravishing and classy cars would double the enjoyment of a long drive. If you are planning to go on a long drive with your partner, then a convertible would be a romantic choice as you can choose a wonderful location to sit back and relax in your car and look at the stars by simply reclining your seats and gazing the sky with your partner, sharing some special talks. These moments will be special and different. Finding such an exotic car rental New York for a long drive will be a perfect idea as you will be able to plan the drive well. You can think of going to some beautiful destination in New York and enjoy the long drive completely.

Cruise along to find the best rentals:

There is no doubt that there are ultimate choices for finding a luxury car, but there are many car rental companies which can put you in dilemma. You may get confused about which one to choose and why. Thus, while selecting an exotic car rental DC (District of Columbia) don’t forget to research about the car rental company. Find about the reputation, price, type of car, how they would charge, etc. You would also like to select a car which not only looks classy and appealing but is even cost effective.

It is better to check with different travel sites, check the price, availability of the vehicle, reviews for how they have been treating the customers, etc. You must compare the prices and try to use the discounted coupons which will help you hire exotic car rental NYC at a very reasonable price. If you are travelling with family and planning a long drive where many people have to adjust, then try to find a spacious car which has good and comfortable seats to fit everyone properly. Thus, everybody will be able to enjoy in a unique manner. So, do a proper search about which car you want and analyze your needs and budget which will help you make a suitable choice and enhance the enjoyment of the long drive.

Keywords:luxury car rental NYC (New York city ), exotic car rental NYC, exotic car rental new York, exotic car rental DC (District of Columbia).


 Andy Steven loves to read, travel and collect antiques as a souvenir from different parts of the world by passion. A travel freak who strongly believes that one single life in not enough to travel so it’s better “drink Life to the lees”. The article as mentioned above is solely based on his personal experience, while his last visit to New Jersey when he was celebrating his 40th birthday.

More from GR Auto Blog:
Shark Week 2013 Beetle Convertible
Mercedes-Benz Vision Golf Cart
Volvo V60 Coming to USA in 2014
Car of the Month June: 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible Clean Diesel TDI
Live Market Pricing, CPO? What is that?
Grand Rapids Michigan Summer Cars 2013 | Top 5
Life Around 2014 Volkswagen Golf GTD
Volvo Creates Self-Parking Car
Volkswagen Passat Sets New Guiness World Record


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How To Avoid Road Rage in Yourself And Others
Top 5 Ways to Stretch Your Car's MPG
Life Around 2014 Volkswagen Golf GTD

Thursday, September 19, 2013

How To Avoid Road Rage In Yourself And Others

The following is a guest post by Justin Smith. Enjoy!

How To Avoid Road Rage In Yourself And Others

We've all been there. Some driver has just executed the most audacious maneuver on the road and almost caused a crash. You've managed to pull into the side of the road and are taking deep breaths to calm yourself after the incident. However, they've stepped out of the car and are making their way rapidly towards your vehicle shouting obscenities, as if the whole thing was your fault and they're the uncrowned god of the highways. What can you do to calm down such situations, and more importantly, how can you make sure you're not that man or woman whose another victim of the increasingly common social malaise known as road rage?

Don't Get Involved

If someone is trying to take out their road rage on you, then the best thing to do is to try to disengage completely. Don't take it personally – this is probably something they've done before and may well do again and are looking for an emotional reaction, hopefully one of submission and fear from you, which rather than placate them may give them license for even more extreme behavior. Try to look the other way and pretend the person isn't there if they're blocking your exit, or if you can just drive off calmly and within the speed limit, do so as soon as possible.

The Universal Thank You

One of the major triggers for road rage is surprisingly drivers who fail to acknowledge good behavior. People who let someone out at a junction or wait on a crowded street for another car to pass often feel that they're owed some kind of recognition for their good deeds, and if they don't receive this then they can literally fly off the handle. However, as you may already know, there is a universal hand symbol for thank you when your behind the wheel – a simple raised hand, palm forward, in the direction of the driver who is letting you through or giving way to your transit will let them know how much you appreciate their good deed and will stop them potentially flying off the handle.

Drive Carefully

One of the main ways in which you can avoid road rage outbursts from others is by making sure that your driving is impeccable. Keep below the speed limit, always signal and where possible adopt a polite attitude. This doesn't mean you have to let every driver through, but if you're coming up to a junction where there's a big queue, then what difference does letting one car through really make to your journey time? It's important that you also adopt an attitude where you're doing other drivers on the road favors because you have standards of behavior towards your fellow man, not because you want recognition and approval for your good deeds – as this can lead to anger and frustration as we explained in this article's previous point.

Start Calm

It's important that you're calm when you first sit down behind the wheel of your vehicle. If you're carrying a load of stress from other areas of your life, such as a domestic argument or a stressful day at work, then driving in traffic is unlikely to help you relax. Even if you have to go for a walk round the block make sure that you're in a placid state before you even put your keys in the ignition, do what ever is necessary to find that Zen like state of oneness with the world. This will stop you from experiencing further frustration with road users who are not behaving on the road in quite the fashion in which you would like them to.

Call The Police

If someone is seriously blocking your way and behaving in a threatening manner then wind up all your windows, lock your doors and call the police. Do not tell the other person involved in the incident that this is what you're doing, as this will likely inflame them further, but instead quickly and slowly tell the police your location and the drivers registration plate so that if they can send a response vehicle if they think the situation is serious enough.

Camera Time

If you are especially worried about road rage or you have repeated problems with one particular driver in your neighborhood, then you can now purchase a dashboard mounted camera that can be used to capture their outbursts. You can then present the recorded video to your local law enforcement agency who can use it as the basis of a criminal investigation into their behavior – hopefully eliminating the problems not only for you, but for your fellow drivers on the road.

Anger Management

If you find yourself experiencing frequent outbursts in the driver's seat where you're shouting at other drivers, gesticulating wildly, and beating the steering wheel with your fists in an uncontrollable rage then you should definitely consider taking some anger management classes before you do something you regret. Contrary to popular belief, these classes won't delve into the deep Freudian reasons behind your bad temper, but will instead teach you a bunch of strategies that you can use in your real life to keep your anger in check. You may even find that these classes improve your relationships with everyone in your life – not just other road users.

Final Points

Although it's very easy to read about road rage in an article where it seems like many of the points are obvious, it can often be a very different case when you're faced with a large, irate man or woman, who looks like they're intent on using physical force to get their point across. Ultimately the best thing you can do in these situations is to try to remain as calm as possible and not to try to cause any agitation. Often simply agreeing with people will ultimately placate them and there's nothing wrong with apologizing to someone if it gets you out of a sticky situation and you never have to see them again. If a simple sorry will allow you to escape road rage, then don't feel that you've climbed down in any way to escape damage to your car, or worse still, to yourself.


Justin Smith works for BreakerLink and finds writing articles like this one helps him to unwind from his daily commute to work.

Visit Betten Imports in Grand Rapids, Michigan for your Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and Volvo needs by clicking here.

More from GR Auto Blog:
Shark Week 2013 Beetle Convertible
Mercedes-Benz Vision Golf Cart
Volvo V60 Coming to USA in 2014
Car of the Month June: 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible Clean Diesel TDI
Live Market Pricing, CPO? What is that?
Grand Rapids Michigan Summer Cars 2013 | Top 5
Life Around 2014 Volkswagen Golf GTD
Volvo Creates Self-Parking Car
Volkswagen Passat Sets New Guiness World Record


More guest posts from GR Auto Blog:
Top 5 Ways to Stretch Your Car's MPG
Life Around 2014 Volkswagen Golf GTD

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Top 5 Ways to Stretch Your Car’s MPG

The following is a guest post about steps you can take to improve your fuel economy. Special thanks to Veenstra's Garage in Grand Rapids, MI for helping our readers save some money on gas!


Remember when you could fill your tank for twenty bucks? Neither do I. It’s been a long time since gas prices have been that low. Gas prices have fluctuated a lot over the last decade, but it seems the high prices have become the new normal, and we are all just crossing our fingers that they don’t get any higher. Since the best thing we can do right now is try to make the most of it, I thought I'd list a couple ways we at Veenstra's try to get a
few more miles per gallon out of our gas tanks.

Proper Tire Pressure:

One way to boost your mpg is to keep your tires inflated to the proper pressure. The idea behind this is that flatter tires are less effective for moving a car forward so the engine has to work harder and uses up more fuel. For every psi (pounds per square inch) drop in your tires, it can actually lower gas mileage by 0.3 percent. Trying to overinflate your tires does not help either, instead it affects your vehicle’s handling negatively. Keeping your tires properly pressurized can save you some money at the pump.

Clean Air Filter:

Many people have proposed that having a clean air filter can boost your miles per gallon. While having a clean air filter is better for your car and can improve your vehicle's acceleration, it does not directly increase mpg. The Department of Energy says that replacing a broken air filter is better for your engine and can reestablish proper mpg, but because cars made after the early 1980s’ fuel injection is monitored by computer, the cleanliness of the air filter does not have a significant effect on miles per gallon.  

Maintenance:

Don’t ignore the service lights that turn on in your car! These lights come on for a reason, and can sometimes mean your car is beginning to have problems. Keeping your car in good health, especially the engine, can get you a few more miles per gallon. Don’t make your car work harder than it has to and it will drive the most efficiently for you.

How You Drive:

Your driving habits can greatly affect how many miles per gallon you are getting.  Lots of braking and acceleration wastes gas and lowers your mpg. So timing lights, driving with space in between you and the next car and avoiding bumper to bumper traffic can prevent this. Believe it or not, speeding can also hinder your mpg. Most engines need to use more gas when going over 55 miles per hour, and after this the miles per gallon start to decline rapidly. So going 80 miles per hour on the highway, as opposed to 70 miles per hour, can cost you more than just a possible speeding ticket.  

Weight:


Watching what you carry in your car is another small thing you can do to raise your mpg.  The heavier your car is, the more gas it takes to get up to speed and maintain that speed. Carrying unnecessary weight in your car can lower how many miles per gallon you are getting. If you want a higher mpg, try to remove at least 100 pounds from your vehicle. So unnecessary tools, equipment, materials or goods should be left at home to be as fuel efficient as possible.

About the Author: Mike Veenstra is the owner of Veenstra's Garage (www.veenstrasgarage.com) in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Veenstra's Garage has been providing professional auto repair to the greater Grand Rapids area for over 80 years. When Mike is not running the shop, he likes to do cross fit workouts and run to stay in shape and loves going on dates with his wife.

Click HERE for the official blog of Veenstra's Garage.


More from GR Auto Blog:
Shark Week 2013 Beetle Convertible
Mercedes-Benz Vision Golf Cart
Volvo V60 Coming to USA in 2014
Car of the Month June: 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible Clean Diesel TDI
Live Market Pricing, CPO? What is that?
Grand Rapids Michigan Summer Cars 2013 | Top 5
Life Around 2014 Volkswagen Golf GTD
Volvo Creates Self-Parking Car
Volkswagen Passat Sets New Guiness World Record


More guest posts from GR Auto Blog:
Life Around 2014 Volkswagen Golf GTD



Thursday, July 25, 2013

Shark Week 2013 Beetle Convertible

The Volkswagen Beetle - Exclusive Underwater Edition

As if sharks weren't cool enough already, Volkswagen is helping them get around the ocean floor in the stylish, iconic 2013 Beetle Convertible. Although sharks are short on hands, have awful vision, can't pass any driving tests, don't have gas stations or any sort of currency, VW is willing to overlook those shortcomings and take the chance at a profitable endeavor by expanding into the Shark market.

For a test drive, contact your local underwater Volkswagen dealership today.

After further research, our local experts found out that this Beetle isn't actually for the sharks, it's protecting against them. In partnership with marine biologist Luke Tipple, the Discovery entertainment team has developed the ultimate shark observation cage based on the 2013 VW Beetle Convertible. Capable of driving underwater thanks to its electric tri-motor system, Discovery will be able to capture all the action.



  
“As Discovery’s longest-running franchise and TV’s must-see summer event, Shark Week has a loyal audience, which we are proud to engage in this unique sponsorship with Volkswagen,” said Scott Felenstein, executive vice president, advertising sales, Discovery Communications. “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Volkswagen, connecting them to our passionate fans to help drive brand awareness and showcase VW’s ingenuity and originality.”

Fans will be able to follow Tipple on his "Sub-aquatic Road Trip" along the floor of the ocean, and see "sneak peeks" into Shark Week's program. Make sure to follow along using the hashtag #SharkWeek and #VWSharkWeek this year. Visit @Discovery@VW, and @luketipple.

When does Shark Week begin? August 4, 2013. You're not going to want to miss this underwater Beetle! If we know Shark Week like we think we do, this Beetle protection cage won't be in the same shape it's in now.

Source: Volkswagen USA

For information on land Volkswagens, visit Betten Imports at www.bettenimports.com.
(616) 301 - 2100

More from GRAutoBlog
Mercedes-Benz Vision Golf Cart
Volvo V60 Coming to USA in 2014
Car of the Month June: 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible Clean Diesel TDI
Live Market Pricing, CPO? What is that?
Grand Rapids Michigan Summer Cars 2013 | Top 5
Life Around 2014 Volkswagen Golf GTD
Volvo Creates Self-Parking Car
Volkswagen Passat Sets New Guiness World Record

Betten Imports
5901 28th Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546



Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Mercedes-Benz Vision Golf Cart


It won't fix your golf swing, but it will take you to go find your ball deep, deep in the woods in the most stylish way possible. In fact, you may just leave your ball in the woods to go race other golf carts, go exploring, and show off to your friends.

Worthy of a golf clap itself, Mercedes-Benz designed the "Vision" Golf Cart around the opinions of hundreds of golf and auto enthusiasts around the world. The best ideas were put into the design from Mercedes-Benz Advance Design Center in Carlsbad, CA. The drawings were introduced during the 2013 British Open.

Inside is exactly what you would expect from a Mercedes. It has plenty of touch screens, not too many buttons, and has the technology that says "Yeah, next year's model will probably come with a caddy."

To see a description of these features, check out the images below. Some that caught our attention were the Air Scarf, which is used to heat up the golfer's neck when it's cold outside, the classic LED headlights, and iPod/iPad docking station. The cart would be solar powered, but also with the option of a plug-in charge. The "Fore" Button is probably the favorite, sparing the golfer's vocal chords to warn other golfers of an oncoming golf ball. Quite intuitive, but hopefully whoever can afford this golf cart can also afford some golf lessons to straighten out that shot.

So maybe we'll see it, maybe we wont, but it gives us the confidence to say that Mercedes-Benz in continuing to give "The best or nothing" based on what their customers want. Whether that's cars, golf carts, helicopters, or lasagna, it's going to be good.
















































Source: Mercedes-Benz, MBUSA

More from GRAutoBlog
Volvo V60 Coming to USA in 2014
Car of the Month June: 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible Clean Diesel TDI
Live Market Pricing, CPO? What is that?
Grand Rapids Michigan Summer Cars 2013 | Top 5
Life Around 2014 Volkswagen Golf GTD
Volvo Creates Self-Parking Car
Volkswagen Passat Sets New Guiness World Record

More from Mercedes Benz on GRAutoBlog:
Mercedes-Benz C-Class C300 | Car of the Month July 2013
Exploring Affordable and Reliable Options for Classic Customization Parts
Updating the Mercedes-Benz Navigation System with New GPS Maps – YourEasy Guide
2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe
Introducing the 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
Taking Luxury to New Heights: Mercedes-Benz Helicopter
New Musical Homage to Mercedes-Benz Brand
Mercedes-Benz Anniversary Collection
Mercedes-Benz A-Class Concept Teaser

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Volvo V60 Coming to USA in 2014



Rumored to float across the pond in January of 2014, Americans have long anticipated the arrival of the Volvo V60. Introduced as a 2015 model year, this sportswagon has a sporty appearance, while having the practicality of a wagon. In fact, by the end of 2015, every Volvo model in the USA will have been redesigned. It is the most significant refresh in Volvo's history!
"With the launch of the 2014 model year, all of the car lines in our range with the exception of one will now be less than one year old. The remaining car line, the XC90, will be replaced with an all new version, which will be launched at the end of 2014."
- Doug Speck, Volvo Senior Vice President, Marketing, Sales, and Customer Service
Notably different on the V60 and the rest of the 2014 models are the widened grille, LED daytime driving lights placement, and full internet access (with wifi hotspot on smartphone). The driving lights stay on full power during the day, then are reduced by 30% brightness at night to save energy contributing to Volvo's 'green' movement in energy conservation. Also, City Safety and a host of safety features now come standard on 2014 vehicles.
"In light of the fact that 75 percent of all collisions occur at speeds of 10 miles per hour or less (16 km/h) and that 50 percent of these occur in city traffic situations, City Safety is an important step forward in helping prevent numerous accidents. Potentially, City Safety could prevent up to 50% of all rear-end collisions."

Remembering that the goal is to have no Volvo-related injuries by 2020, it is the first manufacturer in the world to have this as a standard feature.  Along with this refresh, come some exciting new additions to the interior. The instrument cluster has an option of 3 modes; performance, eco, and elegance (See images).



The category names speak for themselves, but they give the driver different data depending on what mode they are using. Performance mode will tell the driver how much power they are using, and how much they have left. To the left, the screen displays the engine temperature.  In the middle of the cluster, it displays the RPM dial and mph in digital form. This allows for getting optimal performance from your Volvo.


In Eco mode, the driver is able to see the RPMs on the right hand side, while displaying the "Eco Guide" on the left. The Eco guide allows the driver to see exactly how eco-conscious they are driving. The level on the left shows the optimal level for fuel efficiency. If the driver is doing well, they are rewarded with the eco light. The light comes on when the driver is getting the most mpg and being as efficient as possible.


In Elegance mode, the driver is able to see the basic cluster, featuring RPMs, mph, and engine temperature. It is simple, and well, elegant. Nothing flashy, nothing that pops out at you, and nothing to be overly concerned about. For a supreme luxury drive, this mode is for you.

Until the V60 gets here, we'll be thoroughly enjoying the S60 and the XC60 in the same series. We haven't heard any price estimates for the V60 in the USA yet, but we would guess somewhere around $37,000 for the basic package.

Source: Volvo, www.volvocarsus.com


Call Betten Imports for a test drive after January 2014. (616) 301-2100

Betten Imports
5901 28th Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

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