Buick: Exceeding Expectations

How to Cool Your Vehicle Quickly

Summer in North Dakota can be short but intense.  When you enter your vehicle after it has been parked in the hot sun, there are a few tips you can take advantage of to help the interior of your vehicle cool faster.

Direct cool air into the foot wells

1)  Remember that hot air rises.  Open your windows a bit, turn your AC as cold as it goes, and change the setting on your ventilation system so that the air blows into the foot wells.  The cooler air will enter the lower portion of the cabin and will push the hotter air out the window.

Recirculate cool air

2)  Take advantage of the difference in temperature between the outside and the inside.  The air inside your vehicle is hotter than the air outside.  When you start your car, allow the AC unit to pull in fresh air from the outside.  Once the air inside the vehicle is cooler than the outside air, use the recirculate feature to recycle the cooler air through the AC system.  This will cool the air moving through the system even faster.  

3)  Use a sunshade when you park your car.  These block the sunshine from heating the interior of the car as quickly, and they can prevent sun damage to your dash and upholstery.  Order a shade for your Buick, GMC, Cadillac, or Chevy at http://www.schwancadillac.com/GMAccessories

How hot does the inside of a vehicle get?
Interesting Facts from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
"Even outside temperatures in the 60s can cause a car temperature to rise well above 110° F. When the outside temperature is 83° F, even with the window rolled down 2 inches, the temperature inside the car can reach 109° F in only 15 minutes."

And from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
“Cars parked in direct sunlight can reach internal temperatures up to 131° F - 172° F (55° C – 78° C) when outside temperatures are 80° F – 100° F (27° C – 38° C)."

Getting Ready to Shop the Lot?

Looking for your next vehicle can be a lot of fun, but it can also cause quite a bit of anxiety. Decrease the anxiety and hassles by doing some preparation when you begin your shopping process.


Think about what you need in your next vehicle.

1. Which best fits your needs: a car, a truck, or an SUV?
• Will you be using the vehicle for daily commutes?  Will you be using it to tow a boat or a camper? Is your family still growing?
2. Are there must-have features, such as bucket seats or a DVD player?

Research a few models in that vehicle class.

1. Talk with your friends who own something along the lines of what you have in mind. 
• Would they get the same vehicle again?
• If they could change one thing about the vehicle, what would it be?
• What do they love the most about the vehicle?
2. Check out vehicle reviews online and in Consumer Reports. 
3. Visit homepages for automakers, such as Buick, GMC, or Cadillac to see what models they carry and what trim levels or features are available.
4. Visit a dealership's website to get an idea of the new and used vehicles currently available. Of course we suggest you visit the website for Schwan Buick GMC Cadillac.

Consider your budget before you fall in love with a vehicle.

1. Will you be financing the vehicle or paying cash?
2. If you are considering a new vehicle, would leasing or buying be the better option for you?
3. Will you be able to put down a down payment?  A down payment can sometimes make it easier for you to secure financing or can lower the monthly payment.
4. What will you be doing with your current vehicle? Will you trade it in, or will you sell it yourself? There can be financial benefits or drawbacks to either option.
5. Remember the expenses in addition to the price of the vehicle. 
• Will your insurance costs change?
• Will your fuel costs change?
• Remember that sales tax and various fees will be added to the purchase price.

Be flexible.

1. Be open to new vehicles, used vehicles, or certified pre-owned vehicles. Sometimes a vehicle may be used but with very low miles and available at a price much lower than a new model.
2. The vehicles you like may be difficult to find in the colors you like or with the options you want.  Decide which factors are negotiable.  
3. Select three models you would like to test drive. If you have your heart set on one specific vehicle or model, you may end up back at the starting point if you realize during a test drive that you do not like the ride or seats.
4. If you run short of options, let the sales consultant suggest other vehicles which are similar. The dealership may be something similar but different than the three on your list.

Test drive vehicles.

1. While finding a vehicle which fits your finances and needs is important, it is just as important that the vehicle fits you and how you intend to use the vehicle.
• Sit in the various seats, including the far back. 
• Install your child's car set. Put a clean kennel in the back cargo area.
• Pull the vehicle into your garage, and back the vehicle out of your driveway. 
2. Write down the year, make, and model of each vehicle you drove, and record what you liked and did not like about the vehicle.  Also record which dealership had that specific vehicle, and write down the name of the sales consultant who helped you.

When in doubt, contact the internet manager or a sales consultant at a dealership, and ask them to suggest a few vehicles which fit what you need.  Let them know you are just starting your research and could use some general information to get you started.

In the Driver's Seat: 2014 Buick Regal

From time to time, our internet manager Chandra will publish a video which puts you in the driver's seat of one of our vehicles.

Take a moment to watch this video of a certified pre-owned 2014 Buick Regal and let Chandra put you in the driver's seat.