This SEMA special drag race is absurdly awesome | Garber Chrysler Dodge Jeep

 By Chris Bruce

The SEMA Show came and went in November, and it showed us a ton of heavily modded goodies to dream about during the long, cold winter. The Motor Trend Channel on YouTube is keeping the party rolling a little longer, though, with a drag race inspired by the aftermarket event.

All of the hosts were supposed to borrow a vehicle from the show for the big race, but only two of them actually cajoled companies into lending their wares. Still, the result includes four very cool and extremely different examples of the breadth of the automotive hobby.

First up, there's a 1955 Chevrolet with a 535-cubic-inch (8.8-liter) Hemi V8 stuffed under the hood. Appropriately, it's dubbed the Blasphemi, and with skinny tires up front, fat rubber in the rear and a stripped interior, this this is made to go very fast in a straight line. Next, there's a stock Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat boasting 707 horsepower. Plus, host Jessi Lang has her dog riding shotgun for the race. A Chevy Sonic RS with some body mods, downpipe and intake is also competing. Finally, the most bizarre of the quartet is a custom 1958 Jeep Forward Control with a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 and treads to replace the wheels.

Obviously, the Blasphemi and Hellcat are the only two that really have a chance of winning, but check out the video to see which one crosses the finish line first.

Should you Buy or Lease your Next New Car? | Garber Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

The holidays are a great time to buy a car. Since the year is coming to a close, automakers are offering some enticing car deals to move cars off their lots and hit their sales goals for the month and year. As you wade through the financing, cash back and lease deals available, you might still be on the fence as to whether you should lease or finance your next new car.

If having a low monthly payment is important to you and your budget, consider leasing. When you lease, you only make payments on a portion of the car’s price, not the full amount. The down payment on a lease can also be low, ranging from $0 to several thousand dollars. However, the more you put down the lower your monthly payments will be. Keep in mind that leases have mileage restrictions and you’ll have to pay a fee if you go over the mileage limit, so if you do a lot of driving, you shouldn’t lease. Leasing also generally requires a good credit score, so if your credit history is less than perfect, you may want to finance or consider a used car.

You also won’t own the car when the lease is over like you would when you finance. When your loan is paid off, you own the car free and clear. If you like to keep your car as long as possible and enjoy not having a car loan payment after it’s paid off, then buying is better for you. Over several years of not having a car loan payment, you could save money compared to someone who has to keep leasing a new car every three years.

When it comes to buying and leasing, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Consider your budget, driving needs and lifestyle before you decide whether to buy or lease. There are auto lenders who can provide you with financing that works best for you, no matter whether you decide to buy or lease your next vehicle.

In the market for a new car? Check out our new vehicles and pre-owned specials!

Winter Driving Tips | Garber Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Saginaw MI

Severe weather can be both frightening and dangerous for automobile travel. Motorists should know the safety rules for dealing with winter road emergencies. We want to remind motorists to be cautious while driving in adverse weather. 

We recommend the following winter driving tips:

• Avoid driving while you’re fatigued. Getting the proper amount of rest before taking on winter weather tasks reduces driving risks.
• Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage.
• Make certain your tires are properly inflated.
• Never mix radial tires with other tire types.
• Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up.
• If possible, avoid using your parking brake in cold, rainy and snowy weather.
• Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface (wet, ice, sand).
• Always look and steer where you want to go.
• Use your seat belt every time you get into your vehicle.

Tips for long-distance winter trips:

• Watch weather reports prior to a long-distance drive or before driving in isolated areas. Delay trips when especially bad weather is expected. If you must leave, let others know your route, destination and estimated time of arrival.
• Always make sure your vehicle is in peak operating condition.
• Keep at least half a tank of gasoline in your vehicle at all times.
• Pack a cellular telephone plus blankets, gloves, hats, food, water and any needed medication in your vehicle.
• If you become snow-bound, stay with your vehicle. It provides temporary shelter and makes it easier for rescuers to locate you. Don’t try to walk in a severe storm. It’s easy to lose sight of your vehicle in blowing snow and become lost.
• Don’t over exert yourself if you try to push or dig your vehicle out of the snow.
• Tie a brightly colored cloth to the antenna or place a cloth at the top of a rolled up window to signal distress. At night, keep the dome light on if possible. It only uses a small amount of electricity and will make it easier for rescuers to find you.
• Make sure the exhaust pipe isn’t clogged with snow, ice or mud. A blocked exhaust could cause deadly carbon monoxide gas to leak into the passenger compartment with the engine running.
• Use whatever is available to insulate your body from the cold. This could include floor mats, newspapers or paper maps.
• If possible run the engine and heater just long enough to remove the chill and to conserve gasoline.

Tips for driving in the snow:

• Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best method for regaining traction and avoiding skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry. And take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
• Drive slowly. Everything takes longer on snow-covered roads. Accelerating, stopping, turning – nothing happens as quickly as on dry pavement. Give yourself time to maneuver by driving slowly.
• The normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased to eight to ten seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
• Know your brakes. Whether you have antilock brakes or not, the best way to stop is threshold breaking. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
• Don’t stop if you can avoid it. There’s a big difference in the amount of inertia it takes to start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still rolling. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it.
• Don’t power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads just starts your wheels spinning. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed downhill as slowly as possible.
• Don’t stop going up a hill. There’s nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road. Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before you take on the hill.
• Stay home. If you really don’t have to go out, don’t. Even if you can drive well in the snow, not everyone else can. Don’t tempt fate: If you don’t have somewhere you have to be, watch the snow from indoors.

Original post can be viewed here.

2015 Jeep Renegade Review: Still A Jeep Despite Softer Shell | Garber Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

Renegade is going to drive like a monster even if it comes with a gentle design.

Jeep’s decision to compete in the compact crossover segment through creating the Renegade has let many fans worried that the company is losing its 4×4 identity. Well, this doesn’t look like happening at all as the Renegade is going to drive like a monster even if it comes with a gentle design.

In short, the upcoming Renegade is truly a beauty as it comes with striking colours and vertical bars that made the grille. Furthermore, the Renegade is built on Fiat’s “Small Wide” platform to make it eligible for the compact crossover segment.

Ex-Jeep’s Chief Engineer, Phil Jansen reiterated that the Renegade is never a joke. In fact, it has the tons of functions that will put the Renegade ahead of competition. Furthermore, the Renegade is confirmed to be a fuel efficient vehicle.

Then again, Phil claims that this is just a surplus for the vehicle. The producers didn’t want to focus on fuel economy much due to the difficulties in matching the specs on market dominator, the Nissan Juke.

Speaking of which, Phil confirmed that the Renegade will be super powerful as it achieved 4 trail rating. Phil also blasted the Nissan Juke, Hyundai Tucson and the Ford Escape as something that are not as capable as the Renegade is.

Those that are prematurely writing off the Renegade as a failure are making a big mistake. Phil revealed that the Renegade is the perfect definition of a Jeep. Aside from the Renegade’s stylish design and impressive fuel economy, the car also comes with Jeep’s all-terrain features that will make it a tiny off-roader that is powerful enough to even climb a mountain.

Source:  http://motoringcrunch.com/news/2015-jeep-renegade-review-still-a-jeep-despite-of-softer-shell/1003425/

Get Ready Now for Your Holiday Traveling | Garber Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

Anything That Can Go Wrong, Will

Imagine you're on a road trip with your family. You have planned and prepared for this trip for weeks, and you're finally on your way. The car is packed to the roof with suitcases and various other vacation essentials, but as you wind your way along that steep mountain road deep in the hinterland of your favorite national park, you hear a terrible sound, feel a thump, thump, thump, and realize that you have a flat tire. 

You pull to the side of the road, unload the suitcases that are covering the spare tire in the back, only to discover that the tire is flat and the jack is missing. As the sun slowly sets behind the mountain ridge you began to scramble around looking for that flashlight. As you flip open your cell phone to call for a tow truck, you see that the battery is almost dead... 

OK, this may be a worst-case scenario, but it might have even been worse. The adage that says, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," while cliched, is true. Had this family taken a bit of time to assemble a basic roadside emergency kit, their journey would have been far easier that day. 

What to Put In Your Kit

Your trunk space is limited―especially while traveling ― but there are certain items that you really should carry with you in the event of an emergency. 

You can assemble these items yourself at an auto supply store, or department store, or purchase a pre-assembled kit online. The American Red Cross offers an emergency kit, and the website Outdoor Lodge recommends the following list of items:

• Flashlights and extra batteries.
• A folding camping (Army) shovel.
• Jumper cables (8-12 feet long).
• Set of tire chains. Know how to install these beforehand.
• Fuses. There are several types, so make sure you have the right ones for your car.
• Tools: pliers, flat and Phillips-head screwdrivers, and an adjustable wrench.
• Wool blanket.
• All the necessary fluids for your car, including 2 quarts of motor oil, brake fluid, power-steering fluid (if applicable), automatic transmission fluid (if applicable), a gallon of water, and a gallon of antifreeze. Also include a funnel, and keep a few rags handy in case of spills.
• Fire extinguisher.
• Road flares.
• Gloves, wool socks, and a pair of boots.
• Electrical and duct tape.
• WD-40.
• Knife.
• Bright cloth or emergency road sign to display in your window in case of trouble.
• Other items to consider are:
• Non-perishable food items and a can opener
• Rain gear
• Extra clothes
• Folding chair(s)
• Pillows
• Sleeping bags
• Snacks
• Books and games
• Toilet paper

As our example illustrates, it's important to make sure your cell phone is charged up before you hit the road on a long trip. Having a car charging cord is a great idea if you will be driving for several days at a time. Another item that would be useful to have in your car in case of emergency is a first aid kit. A small manual with instructions on how to do some basic roadside repairs is a good thing to have in your kit, as well. 

Be sure to walk through changing a tire in the safety of your driveway, so you know how to do it before you are called upon to do it in the dark in the driving rain. 

Check the contents of your kit when the seasons change. The blanket, chains and ice scraper are important for winter driving conditions, but you may not need them in August.

Keeping a roadside emergency kit in your car will arm you with both peace of mind, and the tools you'll need to rescue yourself in the event of an emergency during your travels. 

Source:  http://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/emergency-kit.php