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Should a Lexus Dealership Do Body Repairs or an Independent Shop?

June 7, 2016 by t3atlanta Leave a Comment

Nobody enjoys having to do body repairs on their car. They can be expensive, and usually are preceded with another headache such as a crash. When you’re looking for a Lexus body shop in Atlanta, one of the first questions that comes up is which should you use: a dealership or an independent shop?

Should a Lexus Dealership Do Body Repairs or an Independent Shop? 

Choosing the right shop for you can be a touchy issue, because car repairs of any kind are usually wrapped up in considerable emotions. Some people might just say it’s best to go with the cheapest option, but when you have a quality vehicle like a Lexus, that’s not the best way to truly take care of it. After all, you wouldn’t have a person replace the roof on your mansion simply because they submitted the lowest bid. What if that person had little to no experience?


Look for a Lexus-Certified Collision Center

Lexus body shop AtlantaFirst off, you should look for a Lexus certified collision center. They’re not on every street corner, so that eliminates quite a few options. You wouldn’t want to take you beloved car to a hack, or someone who says they can fix it, but in reality doesn’t know how to do it. Lexus body repair can be a tricky job even if you’re doing it correctly, so this kind of work should only be reserved for highly trained and seasoned technicians.

Research your Dealership

It might seem that any dealership is best equipped to perform Lexus body repair of any kind. Just because it appears that way doesn’t mean that’s what you should do, even though dealerships try to play up this for their marketing. It’s true that technicians at dealerships often have factory training, and they know the specific brand quite well. Just remember that independent shops can also have technicians who are factory trained and certified in a variety of areas. They might know your particular vehicle even better than the dealer, because they’ve been working on them for far longer.

Body Repair vs Other Types of Car Repairs

Lexus body shop AtlantaBody repair is a horse of a different color when compared to other types of car repairs. With dealerships, they’re under extreme pressure to boost profits. You might think this is no big deal, but it changes things. This push for bigger profits is being driven by the fact that how much a dealer makes from new vehicle sales is decreasing. You’ve probably noticed that dealerships talk up their service department more than ever, and this is why.

While you can’t fault a dealer for trying to keep the lights on, some of the methods being used to turn more of a profit leaves customers with problems they didn’t bargain for. When you go to a dealership and have body work done, the emphasis is on getting the job done quickly. The service department has a fee schedule that calculates how many hours it typically takes to do a repair, and that’s what they charge. If a technician can do the job faster, it’s more money. This encourages rushing through jobs quickly, which can lead to big errors you might not even notice at first.

Lexus Body Repairs at T3 Atlanta

At T3 Atlanta we don’t rush body repairs for a Lexus or any other brand. Instead, our technicians are trained to do the job right the first time, and to take as long as necessary to ensure that’s the case.

Lexus body shop AtlantaSome dealerships don’t even do body repairs themselves. Instead, they outsource to an unnamed shop, so your car goes to a place you don’t know. One would hope they do good work, but with an emphasis on profitability at dealers, this sadly isn’t the case far too often.

When you come to T3 Atlanta, you get your Lexus back in fantastic condition, and don’t have to deal with any surprises as a repair done shoddily leads to other problems in the future. After all, we don’t have any incentive to sell you a new vehicle because there’s something wrong with your current one.

At T3 Atlanta we don’t outsource Lexus body repairs. Instead, we do everything in-house so that we can guarantee everything is done correctly. We have an excellent reputation to defend, and we earned it by doing good work, making our customers so satisfied they referred their fellow Lexus owners.

 

Filed Under: Lexus

Manual cars VS Automatic Cars: Fuel Efficiency Comparison

May 17, 2016 by t3atlanta Leave a Comment

Everyone is looking to save money these days. One way to do this is to purchase a reasonable vehicle that’s as fuel-efficient as possible. Many car shoppers wonder if the type of transmission on a car makes a big difference in gas or diesel consumption. When it comes to automatic cars VS manual cars fuel efficiency, what’s the difference?

Fuel Efficiency in Automatic Cars VS Manual cars

When it comes to automatic car vs manual car fuel efficiency, things used to be pretty straightforward. If you wanted maximum economy, going with a manual transmission was the best choice every time. It was well-known that automatics sucked down fuel faster, making it so you literally had to pay for the convenience with each tank of gas.

While that was the case years ago, things have most definitely shifted. Technology has changed in some big ways, and with that so has how different transmissions operate.

What this means is you can no longer rely on the old stereotypes when looking for the most fuel efficient cars.

Gears

Automatic cars VS manual cars fuel efficiencyOne of the big reasons for the shift in fuel efficiency is the fact that a growing number of automatic transmissions have more gears. Depending on the vehicle, you might be able to get up to eight or nine speeds, which was unheard of only a few years ago.

With more gears comes the ability to keep the engine in its “sweet spot.” This is the RPM range where the engine not only puts out excellent power and is responsive, it also runs more efficiently. Back when automatic transmissions had only three or four gears, it was necessary to operate the engine through a wider RPM band. Driving a more modern vehicle with plenty of gears and taller gearing, there’s usually a pretty significant gain in fuel economy.

You might think that automatics with plenty of gears are constantly shifting, but it really depends on how you drive and how the vehicle has been designed. That being said, many modern designs are so advanced that gear transitions are smooth and subtle, so you might not even notice.

Other Improvements

Automatic cars VS manual cars fuel efficiency

Quite a few technological improvements have helped change the automatic car vs manual car fuel efficiency issue. One is the issue of gear seeking, or when a vehicle with an automatic keeps switching between two gears. This used to be common when climbing steep grades, like going up a canyon road. Not only is it annoying for drivers, it kills fuel economy.

With a manual transmission, drivers know that the car is climbing a steep slope and needs extra power to make it up all the way. Instead of shifting into a higher gear, they can leave the transmission is a lower gear, keeping the engine RPMs higher and squeezing out more power.

Thanks to the many onboard sensors included on modern vehicles, plus more advanced computer programming, most automatics can “read” the situation and avoid gear seeking.

Another big change is the adoption of lock-up torque converters for automatics. The old fluid-driven coupling for automatics actually hurt fuel economy. Today, most are able to lock into gears at higher speeds, like manual transmissions. This means improved efficiency, closing the gap between automatics and manuals.

Look at Each Individual Model

Before you buy a specific vehicle, it’s important to check out test results for automatic versus manual efficiency. This is necessary when dealing with fuel efficient cars in 2016. With some vehicles, there might not even be a manual transmission option, so that’s something that you need to research.

One of the most cited and respected sources for fuel economy information is the United States Environmental Protection Agency or EPA. Through the website fueleconomy.gov, you can see the city, highway and combined fuel economy results for specific vehicle models. It makes comparing manual and automatic transmission results easy. Know that the EPA estimates fuel economy based on a very specific set of criteria that probably doesn’t mimic how you drive. In other words, the figures shown on the website likely won’t match what kind of fuel economy you can expect on a regular basis. Still, it provides a way to estimate about how much of a difference exists between options.

Various automotive publications that are also available online will sometimes do “real world” tests of fuel efficiency for different popular models. Unlike the EPA, these sources will show what kind of results you can expect when driving more like the average person on the road.

CVTs

When looking for fuel efficient petrol cars, it’s good to not skip past options with CVTs – short for ‘continuously variable transmissions’. Instead of a traditional setup, the design involves pulleys that constantly adjust the gear ratio. In theory, they have a never-ending number of gears.

Just like with automatics that have a lot of gears, CVTs are able to find the ideal setting for any given situation. That means efficiency is boosted.

T3 Atlanta

The choice to purchase automatic cars VS manual cars for fuel efficiency will ultimately fall to individual preference. Whether you’re a manual transmission die-hard or you prefer the convenience of automatic vehicles, your vehicle needs regular maintenance. T3 Atlanta specializes in repairing Toyota, Infiniti, Nissan, and Lexus vehicles. Drop us a line at either our Smyrna (404-794-7700) or Decatur (404-633-7722) location. We look forward to seeing you!

Filed Under: Featured

Guide to Maintaining an Electric or Hybrid Car

May 10, 2016 by t3atlanta Leave a Comment

Many people are attracted to hybrid and electric cars for a variety of reasons. Cutting down on tailpipe emissions, fewer to no stops at gas stations, and other advantages can be enjoyed by anyone willing to take the plunge. One area of concern that quite a few shoppers have is what kind of maintenance hybrids and electrics require. After all, maintaining hybrid cars and fully-electric vehicles can seem daunting, considering how technologically advanced they are. This guide to maintaining an electric or hybrid car will help you feel less intimidated!

Guide to Maintaining an Electric or Hybrid Car

Electric and hybrid cars have many of the same components as standard gasoline automobiles, so most areas which need repair are similar to your typical vehicle.

Engines

guide to maintaining an electric or hybrid carRemember that hybrid cars still have a gasoline engine, which works in tandem at least part of the time with one or more electric motors. That means the usual maintenance items you would expect with a traditional vehicle will be required on electric hybrid vehicles, such as oil changes, timing belt replacements, valve adjustments, etc. Of course, the amount of maintenance required and the cost varies from one model to the next, so it’s a good idea to check out how different options compare before you make a final purchase decision.

The owner’s manual in your vehicle, or the manufacturer’s website, should offer detailed instructions on how to care for the engine. A maintenance schedule should be part of the instructions, taking the guesswork out of when you should have certain items addressed by a technician.

There are also diesel electric hybrid car models on the market. Like the gasoline versions, these require the same kinds of maintenance items as the traditional version of the same vehicle.

One big advantage of hybrid cars is that the gasoline or diesel engine isn’t put under as much strain, when compared to non-hybrid versions of the same model. This means wear and tear on the engine is less, so if maintained properly it should continue running without any major problems far longer.

Motors

Both hybrid and electric vehicles come with at least one electric motor. There are few moving parts in them, a stark contrast with gasoline engines. That means less can break or go wrong, so little maintenance is required. When components do wear out, it’s far easier for a technician to replace them, so the cost is quite a bit lower.

Hybrid-Specific Components

guide to maintaining an electric or hybrid carWhen looking at hybrid car repair, you might be surprised to find there’s really nothing beyond what you’d do with a traditional vehicle. The manufacturer has a checklist of items that should be inspected at certain mileage intervals, with many of them matching what you’d do with any other car. A qualified technician who’s familiar with your specific vehicle make will know exactly what to look for in terms of potential problems, catching them before they can develop into something serious.

Little of the regular maintenance items involve hybrid-specific components, although how much this is true depends on the exact hybrid model you own. Unlike gasoline engines, batteries and electric motors don’t need oil changes, valve adjustments, or even new timing belts on a regular basis. In other words, you’ll actually need to spend less to maintain the hybrid system on your car, making it a wise financial move.

Coolant

Hybrid and electric cars for the most part use coolant, just like traditional vehicles. Not only do hybrid cars have an internal combustion engine to keep below dangerous temperatures, it also must regulate the temperature of the battery pack. This means sending the coolant over a larger area of the car, which requires a more complex setup.

You must maintain the liquid at an ideal level, otherwise the car won’t run correctly. In some extreme cases, a vehicle could suffer serious damage from overheating because of a lack of coolant. It’s a good idea to check the coolant level once a week, or more if you’re driving in especially hot weather.

Just like other vehicles, hybrid and electric cars need coolant changes at regular intervals. Because of the more complex nature of the cooling system, this particular maintenance item can be more involved. That translates into more expensive, because techs must perform more work each time. The good news is the coolant usually doesn’t have to be replaced any more often than in other vehicles.

Batteries

Some people have been concerned about buying a hybrid or electric car because of the potential cost of replacing batteries. It’s an honest worry, considering that with traditional cars an owner will replace the battery multiple times.

Unlike the batteries in traditional cars, the batteries in electric hybrid vehicles are large, complex and quite expensive. It’s understandable that anyone would be worried about replacing such a costly component, especially if it needs to be replaced every few years.

The fact is that may hybrids and electric vehicles run for well over 150,000 miles on the original battery pack. There are electrified taxis in cities such as New York and San Francisco that have been able to go well over the 200,000-mile mark without replacing the battery. In other words, you don’t really need to worry about this any more than you need to worry about replacing the engine in a traditional car.

T3 Atlanta

Are you the proud owner of an electric or hybrid car and want to keep your vehicle in tip-top shape? T3 Atlanta services all Infiniti, Toyota, Nissan, and Lexus vehicles. Call us at our Smyrna (404 794-7700) or Decatur ( 404) 633-7722) locations, and we’ll get you back on the road in no time.

 

Filed Under: Auto Repair

What Kind of Gas Does Your Toyota Prius Use?

May 3, 2016 by t3atlanta Leave a Comment

One of the main draws or attractions for the Toyota Prius is efficiency. People who don’t want to spend too much on gas, or don’t like the idea of polluting a lot by driving, like that the car’s hybrid powertrain makes the most of every last drop of fuel. It seems only natural that people also have one big question: what kind of gas does a Toyota Prius use?

What Kind of Gas Should You Use for Your Toyota Prius?

what kind of gas does a Toyota Prius useUsing the wrong kind of gas can negatively impact a car’s fuel efficiency. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates, the 2015 Toyota Prius gets a whopping 51 mpg city, 48 mpg highway and 50 mpg combined. The car can also go an estimated 595 miles on a single tank of gas, which is much farther than quite a few other vehicles.

The fact is that there is a Toyota Prius octane requirement, or the type of fuel that can be put into the tank each time. As an owner, you need to know that rating, otherwise you might put in fuel that could cause issues for the car. To better understand why Toyota requires a certain octane rating for the Prius, it’s key to have an understanding of what octane ratings are.

Several factors help determine the octane required for a specific engine. Among them is the mechanical setup, geometrical configuration, compression ratio, and even the environmental conditions where the vehicle is running. Know that the bigger the number for the octane rating, the better that fuel is at resisting knocking or pinging when the engine is running.

Toyota Prius Octane Rating

what kind of gas does a Toyota Prius useThe vehicle manufacturer, in this case Toyota, is the one who makes the recommendation on fuel octane rating. If you have the owner’s manual, it lists the Prius gas type. However, if you don’t have it, fear not. According to Toyota, the 2015 Prius needs to be refueled using unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87. At many fuel stations, that’s the rating for “regular” gas, but you can look at the label on each pump for the octane rating just to be on the safe side.

Meeting the Prius octane rating is important, if you want the hybrid car to run as it was designed. At the same time, it’s not necessary to give the vehicle a “treat” by using gasoline with a higher octane rating, even on occasion. Doing so won’t magically boost fuel economy or provide any other benefits.

On the other hand, using gasoline with a higher octane rating certainly won’t hurt the Toyota Prius. In some situations, you might not be able to purchase anything with an octane rating of 87, forcing you to go with 89 or higher.

Certain vehicles need gas with a higher octane rating. This could be from using a high-compression engine or advanced electronic controls. With those cars, you can use a lower octane fuel, but it will negatively impact power output and fuel economy. Fortunately, that’s not the case with the Toyota Prius – you can use “regular” gas for the entire life of your vehicle without any adverse effects.

T3 Atlanta

The Toyota Prius is a ‘gas sipper’ compared to many vehicles, making it a fuel-efficient choice both for city-dwellers and people who travel regularly. Now that you know what kind of fuel your Toyota Prius uses, you can make more confident choices at the gas pump.

Have questions about your Prius’s performance? Call T3 Atlanta! Our friendly staff at our Smyrna and Decatur locations will be more than happy to help you.

Filed Under: Car Tips, Toyota

Checklist for Your Next Road Trip

April 20, 2016 by t3atlanta Leave a Comment

Before you begin one of many best American road trips, you need to be thoroughly prepared for what lies ahead. Going out on the open highway can be an exhilarating feeling, filling you with a sense of liberation and freedom. That can all come crashing down if you don’t make the right preparations, turning your dream trip into a nightmare.

Instead of just worrying about what all could go wrong, follow this checklist. It will help you remember all of the essentials, and be prepared in case things take a turn for the worse, allowing you to enjoy the best cross country road trip possible.

Best American Road Trips Checklist

Fluids

There’s nothing worse than having your car break down in the middle of nowhere. Even if you have cell service in the area, having to wait for a tow truck, dealing with a shop you don’t know, and everything else that comes with the situation really kills a vacation. One of the simplest best american road trips - T3 Atlantaways to prevent this from happening is to just check all of the fluids in your car before you head out. This includes the oil, coolant, power steering fluid, brake fluid and even the window washing fluid. It’s such an easy thing to do, but failure to execute on it can lead to a serious disaster.

Tires

Probably the most overlooked maintenance item is tires. Drivers tend to take the rubber that hits the road for granted, which can lead to poor fuel economy and maybe even a serious accident. Before you hit the open road, check the air pressure for each tire and inspect the tread and sidewall for signs of excessive wear or damage. If you’re not especially well-versed in tire care, bring your vehicle into our shop and we can gladly do an inspection, plus rotate and balance the tires before sending you off.

Routing

If you don’t know where you’re going, your road trip could become interesting in all the wrong sorts of ways. It’s worth taking some time before you get into the car to plan out some good road trip routes. Look over which roads you need to take along the way, along with exit numbers and other directions. Of course it’s great if you have GPS in your car, but that doesn’t make knowing the way in advance any less valuable.

Food and Water

Not to sound paranoid, but you could conceivably find yourself in a situation where not having food and drinkable water in your vehicle puts you in a real bind. Bad weather, an accident, car trouble, etc. could strand you in the middle of nowhere. Your very life in that situation would depend on having enough food and water to last until you can get help.

Flashlight

best american road tripsSo many people these days depend on their smartphone for a small light. While this can work in a pinch around the house, the fact is having a good flashlight tucked in your glovebox is an incredibly wise idea. If you are stranded somewhere and night falls, you’ll have a trust light that doesn’t involve draining your phone battery.

Tools

Sometimes vehicles have trouble and help is far away. Taking some basic tools with you, like screwdrivers, pliers, a hammer, etc. can allow you to patch things together enough to reach civilization. The older the vehicle and the more trouble it’s had in the past, the more tools you should bring along, just in case.

First Aid Kit

You don’t plan to get hurt, but you never know. Even during an otherwise uneventful trip, someone could get a fairly small cut or be stung by a bee. While neither situation is life threatening, having a basic first aid kit can help a person get comfortable and avoid a painful infection.

T3 Atlanta

This summer, before you take the best American road trip, bring your auto to T3 Atlanta for a thorough check. T3 Atlanta provides professional service for Lexus, Infiniti, Toyota, and Nissan automobiles.

 

Filed Under: Travel Tips

How to Take Care of Your Car

April 13, 2016 by t3atlanta Leave a Comment

Your car is a big investment. Not only do vehicles cost a lot of money these days, you depend on yours for transportation. It’s silly to let a thing like neglecting car maintenance throw your life into chaos, which is why it’s best to engage in some active prevention.

Even if you’re not mechanically inclined, you can follow these basic car maintenance tips. By taking charge of this area and not just depending on your mechanic to manage it, you’ll see additional savings, allowing you to spend that cash on other things. They also don’t require that much time, and once you’re in the habit they’ll be just a part of regular life.

Car Maintenance

Tires

Most people just plain forget about their tires, even though they’re arguably the most important safety item on a vehicle. If you take proper car maintenance - T3 Atlantacare of them, tires should last a fairly long time. If you don’t, you’ll go through tires quickly. Considering how expensive constantly changing out tires can be, this should be on everyone’s car maintenance checklist.

Driving around with tires that are underinflated will lead to faster and more uneven wear. Once any part of a tire’s tread is worn far enough, you must replace the whole tire or risk losing traction or a blowout. Either scenario can trigger a horrible wreck, so this is something to be taken seriously. Most modern vehicles have a low tire pressure warning light in the dash. Once that turns on, go to a gas station and use a gauge to tell how low the tires are, then refill them with air. It’s a simple thing that takes only a few minutes.

You should also have your tires rotated and balanced regularly. This also helps prevent uneven wear, making your investment last longer.

Fluids

The different fluids in your car are designed to prevent serious problems down the road, making them an incredibly cheap maintenance item.

You should be checking your car’s fluids no less than once a month. If your car is older, or if you notice drips on the ground where it’s been parked, checking more often is recommended. A great time to look over the fluid levels is when you go to a gas station. While the car’s filling up, pop the hood and check everything. If you find that one of the fluids is low, refill it to the recommended level as soon as possible.

Oil Changes

One automotive fluid is especially critical to running your car without major problems: oil. There are a lot of myths floating around about when the oil should be changed. Thanks to major advances in technology, it’s no longer necessary to get a lube job every 3,000 miles.

Different vehicles can go different distances between oil changes, so the best thing to do is to check the owner’s manual for the car maintenance - T3 Atlantamanufacturer’s recommendations. While you’re at it, stick with the type of oil listed there, because that will provide the best protection possible.

Easy-to-Change Items

Some items are so easy to change out, just about anyone can do it themselves. They also wear out fairly frequently, meaning constant care is required. Chief among them are the wiper blades and engine air filter. When you notice that the wipers leave streaks on the windshield or back window, it’s time to swap out the blades. With the air filter, you should check it periodically. Once it looks dirty, change it out for a new one.

Schedule

You need to know your car maintenance schedule and follow it faithfully. Every automaker creates a schedule for specific models and includes it in the owner’s manual. It should have a set of items that must be addressed at certain time or mileage intervals. Since the company that made the car knows when different items could wear out or might need replacing, this is an excellent guide to follow.

Some people are knowledgeable enough they can do at least some of the maintenance schedule themselves. If that’s not you, there’s no shame in taking your vehicle to a professional shop and having the items addressed that way. It’s better to do that than to neglect your ride and then deal with bigger, more expensive problems in the future.

 

Filed Under: Car Tips

How to Protect Your Car From Theft

April 6, 2016 by t3atlanta Leave a Comment

Few things are as violating as having something stolen from you. Vehicle theft can be especially difficult, because your car is often one of your most valuable possessions. There are some relatively simple steps you can take for car theft prevention, helping you to avoid the unpleasant situation and just enjoy life.

Car Theft Prevention

Garages

There are many car theft prevention devices out there, but the most effective is a good garage. Most criminals go for “soft” targets, or vehicles they can access easily and quickly. Only the most determined thieves will try to break into a garage, because it’s more difficult and car theft prevention - T3 Atlantacarries additional risk. While some thefts do happen during the daytime, you should especially park inside a garage at night.

Park Carefully

If you have to park outside, choose the location wisely. If you must park in a part of the city with a bad reputation, find a pay lot that’s patrolled, not a place where you pay a machine and no workers are visible. Try to get a spot where plenty of people are walking around, like near the entrance to a building or a public sidewalk. Thieves love to break into vehicles that are in the middle of a large parking lot, or in a back row where nobody is walking around, because they can use tools to get inside without anyone noticing.

Always leave your car in park. If you have a manual transmission, leave it in one of the gears. Also, point the tires toward a nearby curb or other obstacle. If a thief has a tow truck, this will make your vehicle much harder to grab and could attract plenty of attention.

At night, you need to find a spot where there’s plenty of lighting. Again, thieves love to work under the cover of darkness, so taking that option away decreases the likeliness they’ll go after your vehicle.

Lock Up

It’s amazing how many people want to know the best way to prevent car theft, yet they don’t even consistently lock their vehicle. Every time you get out, you should lock the doors. This is true when you’re in a grocery store parking lot and need to return the cart after unloading it. Same goes for parking in the driveway while you run in your house for a few moments. What’s even worse is if you leave the keys in the unlocked car, because taking it is simple.

You should also close the windows and sunroof when parking your car, because that’s just as good as not locking the doors.

Use the VIN

All cars come with a vehicle identification number or VIN on several locations. You can see one easily at the base of the windshield on the driver’s side. Thieves often steal cars and sell them to chop shops, which take the vehicles apart and sell the various components. They know where the VINs are on a car and are good at scratching them out or ditching those parts.

You can make your vehicle look like too much effort by having the VIN etched into the windows or other visible parts. It’s a sign that you’ve probably taken other measures to recover your ride if it’s stolen, likely discouraging criminals from even touching your car.

Hide Valuables

It might seem like common sense, but plenty of people leave valuable things sitting in plain view. This includes computers, purses, shopping bags, phones, textbooks, sports equipment, etc. Even if a bag doesn’t contain anything of real value, a person walking by doesn’t know that, car theft prevention - T3 Atlantaso it should be stowed where nobody can see it. If you have an SUV or wagon, throw a blanket over the items or get a retractable cargo cover.

Devices

Among the best car theft prevention tips is to use a security device. There are plenty to choose from. Some lock onto the steering wheel, making it clear to anyone walking by that you’re serious about stopping thieves. Alarms can be a good option, since they make noise that can attract unwanted attention. Some systems will send a notification to your phone when they go off, which is even better. There are also vehicle trackers, allowing owners and the police to see where a stolen vehicle is taken. While this doesn’t prevent the theft, it could help you get the car back.

Kill Switches

One of the most effective theft prevention devices is a kill switch. They cut off the ignition system in a vehicle, making it impossible to start the engine. Some setups require you to insert an extra key into the kill switch before turning the key in the ignition. Others involve simply pressing a button, which you can hide virtually anywhere in the interior. People have come up with clever spots for a kill switch, making the basically impossible for a thief to locate quickly.

 

Filed Under: Car Tips

What to do After Infiniti Car Collision

March 23, 2016 by t3atlanta Leave a Comment

Car crashes are never a fun thing to deal with. They often involve the police, plus insurance companies and even the people in the other vehicle. If the accident is serious enough, it can involve some extensive Infiniti car collision repair and maybe even big medical bills.

While all of this is something people just plain don’t want to think about, you need to be prepared in case it does happen. The things that you do and say after a crash can affect different aspects of the outcome.

What to do After Infiniti Car Collision

Never just leave the scene of the accident. You could be charged with hit-and-run, especially if someone was injured or killed. Even if you think the crash was your fault, do not apologize to anyone or admit this in any way. It’s natural to feel some guilt, and you might not be thinking clearly, plus these words could be used against you later.

Infiniti car collision repair - T3 AtlantaTake any pictures you can. Likely you won’t remember everything as it actually was, so photos help. They can also be used as evidence if the other party wants to push for legal action.

Always call the police and follow their instructions. It’s best to wait in your vehicle, if the damage isn’t too bad. Turn on the hazard lights so other drivers realize what’s going on. While you’re waiting, check over your passengers for any injuries. Whether the police come to the scene or not, always be sure to get the contact and insurance info for the other driver. Your car collision repair estimates might be pretty steep, and if you’re not at fault the other insurance company needs to foot the bill, otherwise you could see an increase in your premium.

Infiniti Car Collision Repair

No matter if your Infiniti sustained little or severe damage, you’ll need to shop for auto collision repair. If the vehicle needs to be towed, the police will ask what shop you want it taken to, or they can just choose one that’s nearby. You don’t have to use that location for any repairs, but can have the car towed anywhere else later.

Infiniti car collision repair - T3 AtlantaShopping a few locations could be a good idea. This is especially true if the damage to your vehicle is pretty extensive. You should keep in mind that a lower offer isn’t always a better one, because the shop that goes in low could be cutting corners or not taking into account everything needed for your Infiniti.

Another important point to look at when shopping for a collision repair center is certifications. If a shop can’t show that their technicians have received training from a credible source, it’s best to stay away. You want someone who knows what they’re doing to restore your Infiniti to its proper condition.

Never let an insurance company tell you that you have no choice in who repairs your vehicle. By law, insurance companies can’t dictate only one collision repair center you use, so you have the right to make a choice.

The best thing you can do is to stay calm after an accident and not make any rash decisions. At T3 Atlanta we pride ourselves in providing top-notch service, without pushing customers into decisions.

Filed Under: Car Tips, Infiniti

Lexus vs Mercedes Maintenance Cost

March 16, 2016 by t3atlanta Leave a Comment

When people are shopping for cars, they should take into account a number of factors. While price and options are of course important, vehicles can cost owners in a number of hidden ways. For example, poor fuel economy can make owning any car a much more expensive proposition over the long run, especially if the cost of fuel suddenly spikes. Insurance is another cost that’s transparent to a number of shoppers, but will definitely affect their monthly budget. Many call these kinds of factors the hidden costs of car ownership, and if you’re not careful they can really constrict your finances.

Lexus Maintenance Recommendation

Especially when looking at a Lexus versus a Mercedes, one area that can make the purchase quite a bit more expensive and an overall hassle is maintenance. The Lexus maintenance recommendation helps lower the cost of ownership considerably, which not only means less time spent taking the vehicle in for work to be done, but also less hassle year after year. The lower rate of Lexus maintenance problems also means you can afford a nicer vehicle, because less of your money goes toward keeping it running properly.

Many times in the past, Consumer Reports has cited quite a few Lexus vehicles for a low cost of ownership during the first five years. On the lexus maintenance recommendation Lexus CT 200h (ZWA10R) F Sport hatchback - T3 Atlantaflip side, several Mercedes models have been called out by the organization for some of the highest costs of ownership.

For example, in 2012 Consumer Reports listed out the best and worst upscale and luxury cars for cost of ownership. The cost per year for the first five years with the Lexus CT 200h was tied for the top spot at a mere $7,750. Part of the low cost of owning the car no doubt has to do with its ability to sip gas, but some of it has to do with the fact that Lexus maintenance problems are typically infrequent.

In the same findings Consumer Reports found that the Mercedes-Benz S550 had one of the highest cost of ownership averages for the first five years. The yearly total came in at a whopping $20,500, which seriously inflates what it actually costs to drive the luxury sedan.

That’s not all, for the same report the Mercedes-Benz E350 also landed in the group of upscale or luxury cars with the highest cost of ownership. While not as bad as the S550, the midsize premium sedan scored an average yearly amount of $13,500, which is still well beyond what a person would pay out annually with a Lexus ES or GS.

Still not convinced? In the same study, Consumer Reports cited the Lexus RX 350 as having one of the best annual cost of ownership averages out of upscale and luxury SUVs. Mercedes didn’t fare nearly as well, with three models landing in the worst category. The ML350, GL350 BlueTec and GL450 will all cost their owners significantly more.

Lexus Maintenance Price

While some don’t believe that the Lexus maintenance price is a better deal than what they’d shell out on a Mercedes, quite a few credible lexus maintenance recommendation Lexus_RX_350_Tungsten_Pearl - T3 Atlantapublications have confirmed this fact on a number of vehicle comparisons throughout the years. Forbes, a respected business magazine, took a look at the cost of ownership difference between the Lexus RX 350 and Mercedes GLK. Both sell for pretty close to the same price, but they’re anything but equal when it comes to the 5-year cost of ownership.

According to Forbes’ calculations, the RX 350 retailed for an average $35,542, with the 5-year cost of ownership coming in at $52,381. While that might sound like a lot, it actually edges out the Mercedes. With an average price of $33,709 for the GLK, which is almost $2,000 less than the Lexus, it’s surprising that the 5-year cost of ownership estimate comes in at $53,361.

Quite a few people have realized that they can have the dramatic styling, cutting-edge technologies and extreme comforts offered by different luxury brands, but without the maintenance headaches, if they go with Lexus. This has fueled strong sales for Lexus, because everyone loves to save some money. Instead of spending hard-earned cash on vehicle maintenance, Lexus owners can travel, set aside more for retirement or achieve whatever other goals they might have.

T3 Atlanta

At T3 Atlanta we also provide competitive rates for Lexus maintenance and repairs, so contact us today to set up an appointment.

Filed Under: Lexus

How To Reset Toyota Maintenance Light

March 9, 2016 by t3atlanta Leave a Comment

Toyota, like every other automaker, recommends that owners regularly service their vehicles. This is to help ensure everything from the engine to the brakes, suspension and other components all operate smoothly, especially as the car ages.

How To Reset Toyota Maintenance Light Toyota Prius- T3 AtlantaDepending on the exact model, you should be having your Toyota car, truck or SUV thoroughly serviced every 5,000 miles or six months so you can continue a relatively problem-free ownership experience. Exactly what should be done each time by the technicians is laid out in the official Toyota maintenance schedule, which a reputable shop can and will reference and follow exactly.

If you so choose, you can perform the maintenance work on your Toyota by yourself. Just like technicians, you need to follow all of the prescribed items for each service interval. A number of different servicing items need to be attended to at the different intervals. Your owner’s manual lists them out for the specific model, or you can go to the Toyota Owners official website and pull up the documents there.  

An oil change is always required, as well other items that could be of varying degrees of difficulty to perform, depending on the model and the exact service interval. Whether you should try taking on this kind of a task on your own really depends on your mechanical abilities, so read through the requirements before making a decision. Performing the servicing work yourself can be a way to save some money, but if you do not take the vehicle in for servicing at a shop, that maintenance light won’t just turn off magically. That is why you need to know how to switch it off yourself.

The light is set to turn on at the set intervals, or actually a little before then, so you have time to set up an appointment and take care of it. The car’s electronic sensors can’t tell when you have the oil changed or other specific maintenance items addressed, which is why the light must be purposely turned off by you or a technician. Just keeping the light on is a bad idea, because you as the vehicle owner won’t have that reminder to get the car serviced again later, which can lead to some bad consequences.

Because the light just comes on based solely on mileage and time, drivers should not panic when they see it. The light does not mean there is something wrong with their car, truck or SUV, only that it is time for the scheduled maintenance.

How To Reset Toyota Maintenance Light

While it is true most DIY mechanics have no idea how to reset the maintenance light on something like a Toyota Tundra, Prius, Sequoia, etc. the problem can also crop up when owners take their rides to a quick lube shop or even a smaller mom and pop mechanic. Sometimes those locations simply have no idea how to reset the light either, so it’s still on even though the work has been properly done.

Fortunately, it is really not that hard to reset the light, turning it off until you get near the next service interval. Before you start, have on hand the ignition key, which you obviously should have pretty easily accessible.

  1. Start by inserting the key into the ignition and turning it to the “On” position. If your vehicle has a start button, push it but do not put your foot on the brake pedal. The gauges and “dummy” lights should come on. Depending on the vehicle, you want either the odometer or the trip meter to be showing, which are digital and only display once the car is powered. Press the button on the gauge cluster until the “Trip A” number is showing, not the odometer or “Trip B” readout.
  2. At this point, you want to turn the key back to the “Off” position. With the start button, push it twice rapidly, still keeping your foot
    How To Reset Toyota Maintenance Light Toyota-Sequoia - T3 Atlantaaway from the brake pedal. Don’t turn on the engine before doing this, otherwise you might need to start over. Next you will want to push down and hold the button that you normally use to reset the trip meters. Depending on which Toyota model you own, it could be the same button that helps you cycle between showing the odometer readout and the two different trip meters.
  3. Keep your finger on the button, pushing it down as you turn the key back to the “On” position again. Like before, you don’t want to start up the engine, just illuminate the gauges and other dash lights. At this point, the odometer should not be showing any numbers, but instead will just have several dashes that go away one at a time. Once the last one disappears, keep holding the button down while zeros appear where the dashes were. You can let go of the button once the zeros go away as well and the odometer numbers are back.

After you go through these steps, the Toyota maintenance light should have turned off. This is when the vehicle will begin counting down to the next 5,000-mile service interval, so you will see it turn on once that time rolls around.

This procedure should work on virtually all 2005 to 2015 model-year Toyota vehicles. If you find that it didn’t work the first time, go through the steps again, making sure to follow them closely.

T3 Atlanta

For any of your Toyota servicing needs, T3 Atlanta is available to take care of them. With a clean facility and professional technicians, you will enjoy the best experience possible. Contact us today to make an appointment.

Filed Under: Car Tips, Toyota

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T3 Atlanta

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In 1994, our founder, Charles Wright, wanted to leave the corporate/professional environment and start his own company. After months of reading business planning books, he decided to establish an auto service company. He recalled reading that auto repair people were the first or second least trusted group of people among service providers, and Charles wanted to provide Atlanta car owners with a trustworthy auto repair shop. He learned how the service business was structured, and opened T3 Atlanta to offer customers an affordable and efficient service company. To learn more about Lexus, Infiniti, Toyota, and Nissan auto repairs at T3 Atlanta, please contact our office!

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