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Archive for July, 2010

Summer Driving Tips

Friday, July 30th, 2010

From extreme heat to sudden downpours, driving during the summer is not without its own special set of challenges. Follow these helpful tips to ensure you have a safe summer driving season.

Check your fluids. Heat can really stress out an engine. To reduce how hard your engine works on hot days, have McGrath Lexus of Chicago change your oil, and check your transmission fluid and engine coolant before the summer heat sets in.

Check your tires. If you use winter tires, switch to summer or all-season tires. Winter tires wear out quickly on hot, dry pavement. Also, make sure your tires are properly inflated, which increases fuel economy and tire longevity.

Watch the temperature gauge. If your car’s temperature gauge starts to rise, turn on the heater. While the passenger compartment may get pretty warm, diverting heat away from the engine can prevent your car from overheating, possibly saving the engine.

Don’t overload your car. When packing for an extended summer road trip, know your vehicle’s weight load limit. An overloaded vehicle can be difficult to stop, especially on wet pavement. In addition, the added stress makes the engine more susceptible to overheating. Refer to your owner’s manual for your vehicle’s weight load limit.

Speedy Lexus IS F Will Not be a Sleeper for Long

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

The 2010 Lexus IS F remains a sleeper, writes Scott Burgess at The Detroit News. Not because it cannot blow the doors off most sport sedans. It can. But it is a sleeper because it is still very early in its life, and no one associates Toyota Motor Corp. luxury brand with a true performance brand: They should. In fact, it’s an absolute hoot to drive. Click here for a photo. The first performance Lexus, introduced in 2008, is surgical in its precision. Every detail feels exact and plush. For this model year, Lexus has even bumped up its offerings, including things like the first direct shift eight-speed automatic, a Torsen limited slip differential, and connectivity for the driver’s iPod or other personal music device. The additions improve the car’s capabilities and its user friendliness, which make them exactly the kinds of things you want to add. Burgess says his Matador Red test vehicle might as well have come with neon signs that screamed, “Pull me over, officer,” as this car looks almost as fast as it goes. The IS F may be a sleeper right now. But eventually people will learn. They always do. Click here to read Burgess’ entire review of the Lexus IS F.