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TIRE & AUTO
BFGoodrich Control
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SERVICE
ALIGNMENT SERVICE
8:00 - 5:30 Monday through Friday
24 Hour Towing & Wrecker Service 478-994-0222
WE USE 10w30 OIL AND
AC/DELCO, MOTORCRAFT,
MOPAR, AND OTHER POPULAR
O.E. FILTERS.
Up to 5 quarts. Additional oil 2.00 per quart. We can supply any
brand name oil for extra charge.
Atkinson’s Mid Georgia Auto Repair
817 Highway 41 South Forsyth, GA. 31029 (478) 994-4991
Serving Forsyth / Monroe County Since 1991
Storewide savings on tires to fit
r**. -
We Are Your Only Complete Auto Care Service Center in Forsyth. Tires, Alignment, Collision,
PAGE 8A
-•Reporter
September 24, 2008 September 24,2008
• Reporter
PAGE 9A
I.iTIN’I ID'I BFGoodrich UNIROYAL
Texting
As technology continues
to advance, the opportuni
ties for distractive driving
also increase.
In the past attention to
the road may have waned
when drivers changed
radio stations or cassette
tapes. Things improved
with the advent of multi-
ple-CD changers, satellite
radio, and steering-wheel
mounted controls. Then
mobile phones became
headline makers as law-
enforcement officials and
insurance companies pon
dered over the increased
risk of accidents presented
by talking while driving.
Today talking on a cell
while driving can be fatal
phone without a hands-free
device could land you with
a traffic ticket.
But there is another tech
nological attention-seeker
that is causing trouble on
the roadways. Text-messag
ing, or "texting," is the lat
est form of communication
causing drivers to take
their eyes off of the road,
with consequences.
A new poll conducted in
August by Harris
Interactive found that 91
percent of respondents feel
that texting while driving
is dangerous - along the
lines of driving while
intoxicated - more than 57
percent of Americans
admit to doing it.
The age group doing the
most texting while driving
is the 18 to 34 demograph
ic, making up 64 percent of
texters, according to
research.
Stoplights and stop signs
present opportunities to
check messages and reply.
However, many others are
using PDAs and cell
phones for texting while in
the throes of moving traf
fic.
Texting is already a sus
pected cause of driving
accidents. In July 2007, 17-
year-old Bailey Goodman
was killed at 10:00 p.m.
along with four other
friends when her SUV
swerved into traffic and
slammed into a truck in a
Rochester, NY suburb. The
SUV burst into flames,
killing the passengers, all
of whom were recent high-
school graduates. Police
reports indicate that text
messages were sent back
and forth from Goodman's
phone moments before the
accident occured, but they
cannot confirm if she was
doing the texting. It is
speculated that distraction
from texting may be a con
tributor to the crash.
Additional Parts to Perform Alignment Will Be Extra.
Prices vary depending on Fluid Type And Filter Prices
Specializing in Tires, Oil Changes,
Brakes & Alignment. Full Service Racks.
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(IA
Get the most for your trade-in
TOTAL VEHICLE & OPTIONS
DESTINATION CHARGE
TOTAL BEFORE SAVINGS
OPTION PACKAGE DISCOUNT
When it comes time to get a new car,
many buyers have some dead weight
they'd prefer to unload as part of any
deal. That dead weight is known as a
trade-in. While a great many trade-ins
have significant value and
can trim thousands of dol
lars off the asking price of
a new vehicle, not all
trade-ins will stop traffic.
Unless, of course, they've
broken down on the high
way.
Whether your trade-in is
a jewel or a jalopy, getting the most out of
that trade-in is entirely up to you. No
dealer is simply going to hand you trade-
in dollars, they have to be earned. How
can you earn those valuable dollars?
Consider the following tips.
• Don't play games. While it's important
to hold your ground, all automobile deal
ers are hip to the games buyers try and
play when negotiating trade-in value. One
of the more common schemes is to show
up with a trade-in that looks as though it
just came from World War III. The theory
here is, if a buyer shows up with a messy,
uncleaned vehicle, it gives the impression
that he's not in any rush to buy a new car,
and can therefore wait for the dealer to
give him a deal that will bowl him over.
Anyone considering this method should
know it's not a new approach, and the
dealer won't fall for it. Rather than wast
ing time playing games, negotiate fairly
and firmly.
$29,780.00
7:: 5
$30
TOTAL VEHICLE PRICE
IMZ
• Visit the car wash. Another reason the
above-mentioned scheme can be detrimen
tal to your negotiation is the way it makes
your trade-in appear: poorly. Cars that are
dirty both inside and out give the impres
sion that their own
ers were irresponsi
ble and not overly
concerned with
maintenance. No
dealer wants to buy
a car from such an
owner, justifiably
assuming the vehicle
will be more trouble than it's worth. Have
your trade-in washed, detailed and clean
the interior before visiting the dealer. Use
deodorizers as well, especially if you fre
quently smoked or had a pet in the car.
• Make minor improvements. Major
improvements, such as a new engine, will
cost you more than you'll get back. But
there are several inexpensive minor
improvements you can make to put your
trade-in in a more positive light. Replace
floor mats and windshield wipers, have
the oil and air filters changed if necessary,
and make sure your tires have been rotat
ed and have the recommended amount of
air in them. This will give the impression
you took care of the car. While taken one
at a time these improvements won't earn
much, but when combined they can go a
long way.
• Be open about any problems. Some
problems might seem major to you, but
could be minor to the dealer.
90 Days Same as Cash.
Financing Available Thru CarCare One Credit.
i r'rwmn gUNfHOYAl
Goodrich
IROAD READY
Floyd’s
Collision, Mechanical,
& Automotive Parts
• Brakes
•Alignments
• Radiators
•Tune-Ups
•Timing Belts
• Batteries
• Oil Changes
•Towing
• Computer
Diagnostics Service
• Minor & Major
Mechanical Work
•Auto
Air Conditioning
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Family Business.
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TRAINED
TECHNICIANS
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198 Harold G. Clarke Pkwy • (1-75 Exit 185) Forsyth, GA
Hill! boY
How to find a good mechanic
b Id . h p
M. W With gas prices soaring, buildup m your cars Aann PhPPQ
The right mechanic can make all the difference when it comes to
getting the most out of your car.
Next to a home and a col
lege education, an automo
bile could be one of the
biggest investments many
of us ever make. When
buying a new car, the
investment will likely be
no less than $20,000, while
a pre-owned vehicle could
be in that neighborhood as
well depending on its age,
make and mileage.
Since cars are such a sig
nificant commitment, find
ing the right mechanic is
similar to choosing the
right contractor for your
home. Should an accident
happen, you'll want to
know you're covered, and a
trustworthy mechanic is as
much a protection plan for
your vehicle as car insur
ance. A good mechanic can
not only help fix a problem,
but prevent problems from
developing as well. When
looking for a mechanic, it's
best to look for a few tell
tale signs that can indicate
whether or not he is the
auto professional for you.
• What does the shop
look like? A mechanic's
garage can offer several
hints as to how good that
mechanic and the staff are
at their work. All garages
are going to have some
clutter, and parts lying
around shouldn't be a
cause for concern.
However, a shop that looks
as though it hasn't been
cleaned in a while might
be a red flag.
It's also a good idea to
check out the vehicles that
are in that shop for service.
Car owners who take good
care of their vehicles tend
to find good mechanics, so
if the cars in the shop
appear well taken care of,
that's a good sign. Even if
the cars aren't new but
appear well taken care of,
that could be indicative of
a talented staff that's capa
ble of keeping a car run
ning longer, a significant
benefit when considering
the cost of vehicles today.
• Is the staff courteous?
Many people are not com
fortable with having their
vehicle's maintenance
needs handled by the
mechanics at the dealer
ship where they purchased
their car. For some, this is
simple paranoia, feeling
that the maintenance
department has an incen
tive to cover up or gloss
over problems in the hopes
that you'll buy your next
car from the dealership as
well. While that's highly
unlikely, it's still common
for people to seek out an
independent mechanic.
Oftentimes, people find
such independent mechan
ics to be more courteous
and attentive. That's prob
ably because dealership
mechanics often work on
vehicles under warranty,
and many of the jobs
they're performing are
essentially free, giving
them fewer reasons to be
overly courteous or atten
tive. An independent
mechanic and his staff
should be courteous, and
will likely want you to be a
repeat customer. They'll
work hard to make that
come true. A staff that's
not courteous or attentive,
whether it's at the dealer
ship or not, should be
avoided.
• Are certifications
prominently displayed?
You'll want a certified
mechanic working on your
vehicle. If such certifica
tions, which include
advanced course work and
ASE certifications, aren't
prominently displayed,
that could be an indicator
the mechanic has some
thing to hide or isn't as up-
to-date as he could or
should be. This is an easy
sign to look for, as most
mechanics proudly display
their certifications in the
front office of their shops.
These offices will typically
hang any service awards
they might have won, too.
So if those aren't there, the
mechanic might not have
won any.
• What are the payment
policies? Labor costs can
change dramatically from
garage to garage, and a
reputable garage will spell
out their costs, either on
the wall or for you upon
request, before you have
any work done. If the per
son you speak with is
reluctant to share such
rates, that's not a good
sign. Mechanics under
stand that vehicle mainte
nance costs are a big
expense, and most want
you to know what to expect
before the work is done
and they hand you the bill.
If they don't, it's best to
avoid them and their shop.
With gas prices soaring,
drivers everywhere are
feeling the pinch at the
pump. Let's face it - your
gas dollars aren't going
nearly as far as they used
to. However, there are a
number of things you can
do to help improve your
car's fuel efficiency.
Consider these six tips
from the car-care experts
at 3M to maximize your
car's performance.
1. Check your tire pres
sure. Improperly inflated
tires can greatly reduce
your fuel economy, so make
sure your tires are inflated
to the manufacturer's rec
ommended pressure level.
The right tire pressure will
provide you with a safer
ride and help reduce wear
on the tires.
2. Maintain your vehicle.
Replacing a dirty, clogged
air filter will go a long way
to improving your car's
fuel efficiency. According to
the federal government,
your car's gas mileage
could improve by as much
as 10 percent with a clean
air filter. In addition to the
fuel savings, the new filter
will help protect your
engine as well.
3. Clean your fuel sys
tem. Carbon and resin
buildup in your car's
fuel system stifles
your engine's ability
to breathe and
reduces fuel efficien
cy. Flush out your
fuel system, includ
ing the fuel injector,
intake valve and
combustion chamber
with a specialized
tank additive, such
as 3M® Fuel System
Cleaner. Better yet,
have your fuel sys
tem professionally
cleaned by shops
that use the com
plete 3M Fuel
Injector Cleaning
System. By keeping
your fuel system
clean, you'll improve
your vehicle's fuel
economy.
4. Take it easy and
slow down. Driving your
car at high speeds, "jack-
rabbit starts" and aggres
sive driving in traffic can
greatly reduce fuel efficien
cy. The U.S Department of
Energy says "As a rule of
thumb, you can assume
that each 5 mph you drive
over 60 mph is like paying
an additional $0.20 per
gallon for gas." And every
time you "hit the gas" you
get closer to your next
STORE
ADDRESS
CITY
DATE REG.
UNLEAD
Flash Foods
3391 Mercer Univ.
Macon
Sept. 20
$3.76
Kroger
5928 Zebulon Road
Macon
Sept. 22
$3.80
Watts Citgo
324 Russell Pkwy.
Forsyth
Sept. 22
$3.99
Chevron
12376 Hwy. 87
Juliette
Sept. 22
$3.99
BP Circle K
306 Harold Clarke Pkwy.
Forsyth
Sept. 22
$3.99
BP Circle K
283 N. Lee Street
Forsyth
Sept. 21
$3.99
Shell Wallace Oil
295 Harold Clarke Pkwy.
Forsyth
Sept. 20
$3.99
Chevron
445 Tift College Drive
Forsyth
Sept. 22
$3.99
Pitman Holiday BP
471 Tift College Drive
Forsyth
Sept. 22
$3.99
Chevron
2650 Riverside Drive
Macon
Sept. 20
$3.99
Citgo
1607 Bass Road
Macon
Sept. 22
$3.99
Shell
966 Hwy. 42
Forsyth
Sept. 20
$4.09
Shell
275 N. Lee Street
Forsyth
Sept. 20
$4.10
BP
1334 Rumble Road
Smarr
Sept. 22
$4.15
Shell
Source: www.msn.c
1347 Rumble Road
om
Smarr
Sept. 20
$4.16
BUREAU
INSURANCE
Auto • Home • Life
Auto, Home and
Life Insurance...
For your insurance needs, you can
be sure we will work hard to
provide you the best coverage for
vour money. Call today.
George A. Valente,
LUTCF
Agent
433 North Frontage Road
Forsyth, GA 31029
wmspruce@gfb.org
478-994-9802
Georgia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co.
Georgia Farm Bureau Casually Insurance Co.
Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co., Jackson, MS
refill.
5. Remove excessive
weight. Remove any unnec
essary objects in your vehi
cle, especially heavy items.
An extra 100 pounds in
your vehicle could reduce
fuel efficiency by as much
as two percent. Lighten up
and your mileage will go
up!
6. Use your air condition
ing sparingly. Don't just
run your air conditioner
out of habit in the summer.
If it's not too hot out, try
using the fan setting alone.
This will help you get more
miles to the gallon.
These tips will not only
help you improve your
car's performance and save
money, but will help you
save time as well, because
you won't be running to
the gas station to fill-up
quite as often as before!
Get Your Vehicle
Ready For Fall!
OPEN
Monday-Saturday
Nice Waiting Room
109 Patrol Road, Forsyth
478-994-6334
Fax: 994-6373