Deciding whether to trade in or refinance your car loan depends on whether you want to keep your current vehicle at lower monthly payments or use the equity in your vehicle to help with the down payment of a new car.

If you have earned significant equity from paying off your current vehicle loan, your monthly payments may end up being much lower than what you are paying right now. The downside is that you will have to pay on the loan for longer and will incur more interest charges. Trading in a vehicle is a good way to avoid…

The crossover vehicle occupies a space between the sedan and the truck. It combines the luxury of the sedan with the capability of a truck. The term is often used interchangeability with SUV though technically a crossover’s not an SUV.

Vehicle manufacturers combine truck bodies with box frames while sedans use unibody frames. Unibody frames enable a vehicle to have greater comfort and better economy. Crossovers offer unibody virtues with the off-road capability of a truck.

Crossovers turn to the minivan crowd for buyers. Minivans fairly burst with luxurious interiors and dynamic...

 

Glare is more than a nuisance to drivers. Even a small amount of glare creates a hazard risk to drivers. Taking steps to reduce glare should be something responsible drivers do.

A dirty or cracked windshield contributes to glare immensely. Make sure the glass is clean. In addition to cleaning it yourself, be sure to take the vehicle to a car wash at least once a week for regular service. And repair any damage to the windshield without delays. Avoid DIY repairs if you aren't capable.

Keep a pair of sunglasses in the car. If the sun ends up…

The occasional flat tire is part of the driving experience. At Honda of Salem, we want to prepare you to easily handle situations we all encounter on the road, so let's cover flat tire replacement tips.

If a tire goes flat with your car in motion, turn on your flashers. Slow your car. Proceed cautiously. You must find firm, level ground before you stop. Remove your spare tire from your trunk, then properly place your jack. Before raising your car, loosen each lug nut on your flat tire's wheel a half turn. This will help you quickly remove…

Salem is full of bicyclists sharing the road with drivers. This means drivers need to rethink the way they drive to keep bicyclists safe. The following are a few things you can do to increase safety.

No Dooring

You have probably seen someone open a car door in a movie or TV show and hit a passing bicyclist. This may sound funny, but it can seriously hurt someone. You need to check your mirrors and blind side before opening your car door. It may also be a good idea to open the door slowly.

Safe Distance

It is important that…

If you purchase a car and you start to feel like the payments are too much, there are a few options that you can turn to before things get out of hand. First off, you can always try to refinance with your loan company to see if the payments can be made smaller or change to a longer plan with smaller monthly payments. However, if you are finding that you want to get into a newer vehicle, then you can try to look at trade-in value for your vehicle and get into a car this way.

Most dealerships are happy…

If you live in an area where winter weather is a reality, then the sight of road salt residue on your car is probably an unwelcomed and unfamiliar one. While you can be proactive in having wax protector applied to the paint before a storm, you should still remove the road salt residue from your car as fast as you can to prevent rust.

The caveat is that you should not try to wash road salt off your car while the temperature is still freezing. This will only hurt the paint. Carefully open and inspect each car door to make…

When you’re trying to make it through the winter in Oregon, we have some recommendations. At Honda of Salem, we want to make sure you make a winter survival kit. This can go into a crate in the trunk or placed in a bag on the backseat. However you store it is up to you as long as you have the necessary supplies.

First, consider the various problems that you might encounter in the winter. You will want to have snow chains and a windshield scraper. If you’re trapped in a lot of snow, consider adding a shovel…

At Honda of Salem, we make it our business to help drivers stay safer on the nation's roadways. One way to enhance safety during winter months is to employ the proper tire technology. While many drivers choose studded or studless tires during these conditions, drivers of performance vehicles that enjoy a little more pep may find performance winter tires especially useful.

Performance winter tires can allow skilled drivers to operate more aggressively in cold, dry conditions. Performance winter tires employ a number of technologies to make this happen.
 

 

There are significant differences between all-season and winter tires. At Honda of Salem, we'll be happy to help you determine if a set of winter tires could improve your driving experience during the cold months of the year.

All-season tires are designed to function well in a wide range of temperatures and conditions. Still, when it starts to get cold outside, the stiff rubber that makes for a smooth and quiet ride under normal conditions, can get cold and lose traction and performance. The softer...