Sep
29
2012

The All-New 2013 Chevrolet Malibu

The Malibu got a serious makeover

The All-New 2013 Chevrolet Malibu

I've always associated Chevrolet with driving freedom. My first car was a Chevy Cavalier and I have so many fun memories of that car. It was my ticket out of my parents' house. And yummy mummies, you know how the rest of the story goes! So when I got the invitation to hit the open road with Chevrolet, of course I said yes. Then I found out it was for a Malibu – the 8th generation, all-new 2013 Malibu.

When I think 8th generation anything, I naturally think... well, let's be honest... old. So I was surprised when the 2013 Malibu came out with a sporty, updated look. It doesn't look like something my great-great-grandma would drive. No wonder, the Malibu's design is inspired by the Camaro (better known by my two boys as Bumblebee).
 
 
My cousin and I drove the Malibu along the Cabot Trail (Nova Scotia), a 3-day road trip that took us through various terrain and lots of winding roads. The 4-cylinder engine had no problem taking us through the bumps and turns, uphill and downhill. And trust me, we made sure that engine worked hard for us!
 
 
 
As a technician, I get to drive many different cars: old and new, domestic and import, big and small, broken and brand new. I was more than surprised when I drove the Malibu and here's why:
 
Responsive Handling
I've never been a fan of electric power steering (EPS) but the Malibu definitely impressed me on this point. EPS has been a pet peeve of mine because I've always found it too sensitive. It didn't feel like I was driving a car. Personally, if I'm driving a 200-horsepower car I don't want the steering to be too 'easy'.. it feels flimsy. The Malibu's steering was responsive (not too sensitive) and I felt that the car was well grounded on the road.  
 
 
 
Child Car Seat Friendly
The UAS latches are easily accessible and the rear seat buckets are somewhat inclined. Pool noodles should take up the space if you need to install child car seats rear-facing. Also, the rear headrests are removable – easier to tether forward-facing car seats and the headrests won't interfere with the design of some child car seats.
 
 
 
Maintenance & Do-It-Yourself
You bet I looked at the owner's manual! The maintenance intervals are spread out so make sure you go to your service shop on time. The manual provides various instructions on do-it-yourself items (replacing light bulbs, windshield wiper blades, etc) and contains useful information about general driving issues (such as loss of traction for winter driving, explaining fluids under the hood, etc).
 
 
 
Under the Hood
I was impressed with the layout of the items that every driver should have access to. Most (if not all) items were located on the driver's side of the vehicle. Not sure if that was done intentionally but it's a nice touch. This saves you from searching for components across the engine compartment. Items you might need to pay attention to include all fluid reservoirs, washer fluid location and battery access.
 
            
 
 
I'm curious to see how the new powertrain will perform over time. Overall, if I was in the market for a sedan I would definitely consider the Chevy Malibu. Starting price for this car—an affordable $24,995.
Sep
25
2012

5 Things Your Kids Can Do With Your Car

Auto Maintenance For Kids

5 Things Your Kids Can Do With Your Car

Our clients (male and female) often tell us is that they don't know their way around cars. Generally-speaking, fewer families are spending their weekends in the driveway tinkering with cars together. 

If you're not mechanically savvy and don't want your kids to feel lost around cars, give them a head start and dust off that owner's manual. Here are some things you can do together to get them familiar with cars.Your owner's manual will take you step-by-step through these easy do-it-yourself items. 
 
And the best part is after your kids learn how to do these, you can put it on their to-do chores and voilà... basic auto maintenance taken care of!
 
Check Tire Pressure
Remember to put in the correct tire pressure for your car. Don't follow the pressure markings on the tire, that's a general number and doesn't apply to your specific vehicle. The correct tire pressure can be found in your owner's manual, on the vehicle's door placard or in some cases inside the fuel door. 
 
 
 
 
Instrument Panel
Seek and find the symbols in your owner's manual on the instrument panel, and learn what the symbols mean. Common symbols are generally used is useful as most manufacturer's symbols are generic (e.g. engine oil pressure, battery light, etc.). Have your child identify them on another family member's car.
 
 
 
Under The Hood
Find fluid locations under the hood. Again, these symbols (e.g. brake fluid, engine oil, etc.) are usually the same across manufacturers. Have your child identify them on another family member's car. 
 
 
 
 
Check Fluid Reservoir Levels
Sometimes the reservoir levels are tricky to see because they're not always very transparent. Grab your permanent marker and watch this webisode for a tip to make those reservoirs easier to read. Read your owner's manual—not all fluids should be automatically topped up without having a technician check your car first!
 
 
 
Check Engine Oil Level
Your owner's manual should give you instructions on how to check the oil level and how to top it up, if necessary.
 
 
 
For more on taking care of your car and what's in your owner's manual, watch these bite-sized webisodes!
 
Article images taken from my 2006 Buick Rendezvous - 206,052kms and still running great!

 

Sep
20
2012

Rustproofing Or Undercoating?

Pick the right one

Rustproofing Or Undercoating?

The purpose of rustproofing your car is to slow down or inhibit corrosion. Did you know that not all rustproofing services are alike? In some cases you're really throwing your money away.

My cars are rustproofed every year because I want them to last. My husband's 2004 Corolla has over 345,000kms on it and we're planning to keep it as long as possible. I don't miss the car payments at all!
 
We get a lot of questions from our clients about rustproofing and it's always my pleasure to refer them to Krown because they do a proper rustproofing job. Also, their product is environmentally-friendly.
 
So what is a proper rustproofing job? Many companies use coating products that are designed to cover over areas that are susceptible to rust (commonly known as undercoating). This is an issue because it only covers up the area. If the area is chipped, then it's no longer protected. Also, moisture can enter through the exposed area and become trapped against the vehicle's frame.  
 
If you're going to spend money to protect your car from rust, get a rustproofing oil treatment (like Krown). The oil actively repels moisture, and gets into the tightest seams. It also acts as a lubricant for moving parts of the vehicle such as door locks, brake cables, etc.  
 
You can still protect cars that already have rust from further corrosion. It's important to have this treatment done every year especially because of the harsh road chemicals used for de-icing our roads. 
 
Got 2 minutes? Here's 3 tips to extend the life of your car
 
Image courtesy of Krown Rust Control