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CHECK OUT OUR GREAT USED VEHICLES FOR LEASE
See below for a few examples and check out our
website for more!
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8,855 kms
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It seems like only yesterday that I was writing with eager anticipation about the coming summer weather! Unfortunately, time flies and in the blink of an eye, winter is upon us. Darkening skies, leaves on the road, and chilly winds are just the start...and then comes the sleet, rain, ice, and snow. It makes me shiver just thinking about it.
But thinking about it and preparing for it is a lot better than experiencing it with a broken-down car on the side of the road!
Here are a few simple suggestions for getting your vehicle winter ready:
- Make sure all your headlights work. Shorter days mean longer hours of darkness; you'll probably leave and drive home in the dark. Rain and snow will also decrease your visibility, and that of other drivers around you, so make sure they can see you.
- Rain, snow, and road spray take a toll on wiper blades, so get them changed.
- All the rubber parts on and in your car are a lot less flexible in cold weather. This is the perfect time to inspect and make sure belts and door/window seals aren't cracked.
- Check the pressure and tread wear on your tires. If your tire wear is uneven, have a mechanic check your car's alignment. Also check your spare and make sure it's ready for service if needed.
- Now's the time to check all fluid levels for their freezing points and replace the water in your windshield wiper container with freeze-resistant wiper fluid.
- Make sure your defroster works efficiently and always clear your windshield of road debris where your wipers don't reach.
- Your battery, starting, and charging systems should all be examined as battery performance declines in cold temperatures. Antifreeze should also be tested for maximum freezing point.
Remember, when driving in bad weather, confidence in your vehicle is well worth the price of professional service. Take the time and make the effort now for peace of mind in the coming months.
General Manager
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New Distracted Driving Laws in Ontario
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New distracted driving laws in Ontario are set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2019.
The fines for distracted driving would increase from a maximum of $1,000 to up to $2,000 on a second conviction and up to $3,000 for third or subsequent incidents, as well as six demerit points for multiple offences.
Offenders would also see their licence suspended for three days on a first offence, seven days after two convictions, and 30 days for subsequent convictions. But officers will not be able to seize a driver's licence at the roadside -- only a judge can order it suspended after the driver is found guilty.
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Top 5 Concept Cars at the Paris Motor Show
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When you buy a new vehicle, especially an SUV that's most likely to take you on some family chores, you expect it to do its job well. It has to be spacious and comfy, convenient, fuel efficient, and safe. The Ford Edge does all that well. With the 2019 refresh, it gets important upgrades and added technology that make it even more family friendly.
The exterior changes are subtle, with a new fascia and hood and a wider grille up front, and a new lift gate and dual tailpipes in the rear.
Other, bigger changes are made where it counts. The same 2.0-litre EcoBoost turbocharged four returns, though it boasts a five-horsepower boost to 250, with the same 275 lb.-ft. of torque as before. The engine now mates to an eight-speed automatic, gaining two gear ratios on the outgoing model. Like before, front- and all-wheel-drive versions are available.
Not much has changed inside; it seats five, is very comfy front and rear for full-sized adults, and is easy to get into and out of. The interior is roomy; cargo volume with the second row seats is up 1,110 litres, which expands to 2,078 litres with the seats folded flat.
The biggest change is a new centre console, which now has a rotary shift knob.
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In the 1930s, Adolf Hitler hired Ferdinand Porsche to make a cheap, simple car for the people, and so the Beetle was born.
Porsche often gets credit for the design, but the Beetle owes as much, if not more, to other engineers: a Hungarian named Bela Barenyi; Hans Ledwinka, chief designer for Czech automaker Tatra; and a Jewish engineer named Joseph Ganz who was chased out of Germany by the Gestapo. They each played large roles in the creation of the car we know today as the Beetle.
It was actually under the British military government -- who took over what would become Volkswagen's Wolfsburg, Germany factory -- that the first Beetles were produced. Then known as the VW Type 1, they rolled off the line just after Christmas in 1945.
They were initially a tough sell in the U.S., only selling two beetles in the country in 1949. But after a decade or so, the Beetle did fulfill its original purpose: cheap transport for the masses, even becoming a symbol of 1960s counter-culture. In Canada, nearly half a million of those original Beetles were sold from 1952 to 1979.
Beetle purists would say the new Beetle, which went on sale in 1998, was no Beetle at all. It had the engine in the front, not the back. It was water-cooled, not air-cooled. And most damning of all, it was no longer cheap transport for everyone.
When Volkswagen announced in September it was killing off the Bug, the response was like an outpouring of grief. It was news. Even people who normally don't care about cars cared about the end of the Bug.
At this point, the Beetle is arguably more Mexican than German. It has been in production in Puebla longer than it ever was in Germany.
For a final time, the 2019 Beetle Wolfsburg Edition -- a run-out special edition with quilted leather seats and two-tone wheels -- takes to the streets of Puebla, curing any sense of loss. The 2.0-litre turbocharged engine and six-speed automatic transmission feels gutless at highway speeds. Even with the gearbox in "Sport" mode the throttle pedal only has a vague relationship to the speed of the car. At least the chassis feels good, riding reasonably comfortably over the potholed roads.
The original Beetle was famously slow, but since it's no longer the cheapest thing on wheels, expectations are higher. The starting price of the Wolfsburg Edition is $24,475 for the coupe and $38,475 for the convertible. You can buy a Chevy Spark, a mid-range Nissan Versa hatchback, or even VW's own Jetta sedan for less.
The New Beetle's job was not to provide cheap transportation, but to tap into baby boomer nostalgia similar to the Ford Thunderbird, new Mini, or Chrysler PT Cruiser. There's no doubt the Wolfsburg Editions will be snapped up by fans and collectors.
If there's any hope for the Beetle's future, it's electric. The fact is, however, that the Beetle survived Hitler and the war, but it can't survive the onslaught of SUVs and waning nostalgia. Expect the celebration of the Bug to continue until the very last one rolls off the line in Puebla in mid-2019.
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The polarizing first-generation Cayenne with its fried-egg headlights and frumpy styling won drivers over with impeccable road feel and sporty handling that belied the size and mass of the thing. And unlike some of the competition, the Cayenne didn't shy away from off-roading duty. Much better styling, more power, and even more capability eventually came with the second generation in 2010.
For 2019, there's a brand new Cayenne. Although every single body panel is new, you have to look hard to spot the differences, especially from the front. Larger air intakes give the new Cayenne a wider appearance, and the standard LED lighting with distinctive elements are one way to tell it apart from the old model. The LED taillights have turned into an elegant thin strip that spans the width of the rear hatch housing the Porsche logo in the middle.
This is a nip-and-tuck style surgery that has retained what was best about the last model and refined what wasn't. The overall design aligns the Cayenne with the rest of the Porsche family, taking elements from all the models and blending them in a cohesive fashion. Even though it's grown a bit wider, taller, and longer, you can't really tell. But there's more room in the interior and a full 100 litres of extra cargo space.
On the inside, the centre console full of hard buttons makes way for a sleek black touch panel very similar to the one in the new Panamera.
The base Cayenne comes with a 30-litre single-turbo V6 that pumps out 335 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque at a low 1340 rpm. Coupled with a new 8-speed automatic, it can scoot to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds. It starts at $75,500.
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Top 10 Vehicle and Technology Innovations of 2018
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Automobiles are much more than just an engine, transmission, interior and tires. They are full of the latest technology and incredible innovations that make vehicles smarter, more efficient and safer. Here is AutoGuide.com's favourite innovations of the year.
GMC Sierra MultiPro Tailgate
Standard on Denali and AT4 trims, the MultiPro tailgate is a six-way adjustable tailgate. It functions as a normal gate, a tailgate step, and even folds out of the way so you can walk an ATV all the way up into the bed on ramps. GMC has said it worked on it for years, testing it more than any other tailgate in the company's history. Once you use it, you'll wonder why no one has ever made a tailgate this versatile.
Hyundai Santa Fe Rear Occupant Alert
Several automakers have incorporated a rear occupant reminder system to let the driver know to check the rear seats. Unlike most reminder systems, Hyundai's is different in the Santa Fe. It uses interior motion sensors to detect movement. If a driver becomes used to the rear seat alert and ignores it, the Hyundai system also looks for movement in the cabin. This is not a gimmick -- it's a tangible technology that will actually save lives.
Hyundai Santa Fe Safe Exit Assist
The Santa Fe makes the list again for a great safety feature that also incorporates technology already built into the car. If you attempt to unlock the rear child locks and there is a car or bike approaching either side of the vehicle, the car will prevent you from unlocking the child lock and the child opening the door. The system utilizes the blind spot monitoring system, and Hyundai says it'll also work if the ignition isn't running.
Jeep and Ram Trucks eTorque
FCA is offering its eTorque assist system on a growing number of products from Jeep and Ram Trucks. This system is a mild hybrid designed to both improve performance and efficiency in a clever way. The vehicle's alternator is removed and replaced with a 48-volt generator. The generator restarts the gasoline motor when the automatic start-stop system is used and it assists the engine as a hybrid setup. It promises smoother shifts, smoother start-stop usage, and increased power and torque.
Audi A8's Active Suspension
The Audi A8 has an active suspension like most luxury cars on the market that can be tailored for sportier or more comfortable driving dynamics, and also improves safety in case of a crash. If the car believes it's about to be hit from the side, the suspension quickly raises the side of the car that's about to be hit. The system acts in half a second and raises the side by 80 millimetres if it detects a collision faster than 25 km/h. The reason? The vehicle about to crash into you will hit the stiffer components of the vehicle designed to handle a crash, which could make a significant difference in preventing injuries.
BMW's Wireless Electric Car Charging System
Your smartphone has it; your smartwatch has it; even your electric toothbrush has it. Now, thanks to BMW, your electric vehicle will have wireless charging too. Instead of pulling into your garage, getting out, and plugging in a cord, you just drive overtop the charging pad and go about your day. It's only a pilot program in the U.S. at the moment, but it's hard to image it'll stay that way for long.
Nissan and Infiniti VC-Turbo
Nissan's variable compression ratio turbo is high-tech and one of the biggest advancements to the internal combustion engine. Currently found in the Infiniti QX59 and coming to the Nissan Altima, the VC-Turbo engine can adjust its compression ratio on the fly. The system can choose one ratio for driving fuel efficiently, then at the touch of the throttle, the system can instantaneously adjust to a high ratio for performance driving. It's seamless when it makes an adjustment and doesn't require any input from the driver.
Subaru Forester DriverFocus
Making sure the driver is paying attention to the road is key for semi-autonomous driving systems and also reducing crashes. Subaru's new DriverFocus technology in the new Forester makes most other systems look dated. Unlike most systems that uses a torque sensor in the steering wheel waiting for steering input from the driver, the DriverFocus system uses infrared facial recognition technology. It watches your face to see if you're distracted or if you're falling asleep and then if it sees you're not focused on driving, it will give you audible and visual warnings. The system recognizes up to five drivers as well.
Cadillac Super Cruise
Available on the top-tier CT6 luxury sedan, Super Cruise is the most advanced Level 2 semi-autonomous driving aid on the planet. By using a camera facing the driver and digitally mapped highway information, the driving aid lets the driver completely remove their hands form the steering wheel. All other systems, including Tesla's Autopilot, require the driver's hand on the wheel.
Mercedes' New MBUX Infotainment
Mercedes-Benz's infotainment received a big upgrade this year. Soon to be featured across the line, including the new A-Class sedan, the next-gen MBUX system is a leap forward. Two giant screens make up the infotainment screen and instrument cluster with the infotainment screen being a touchscreen. It also responds to voice commands like Apple's Siri or Amazon's Alexa. And like the systems on our phones, the MBUX learns over time, becoming more useful the more you use it.
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