Happy Friday, AskPatty Nation! This week in the Askpatty Holiday Gift Garage we bring you the essentials for decking out your car for Christmas, and a few items you can enjoy at home, too.
2. Reflective Christmas Light Bulb-shaped Magnets - No tree is complete without lights, right? While there are plenty of lighting options available at your local custom shop, these reflective magnets were innovative enough that we wanted to feature them here. They're shaped like classic, big, outdoor holiday lights, and their reflective nature will ensure they shine brightly for others on the road. Too cute!
4. Kurt Adler Glass Corvette, Christmas Ornament - For those of you who prefer to decorate indoors, this sleek little glass Corvette will look great on a tree - or on a rear-view mirror.
5. Automotive Holiday Gifts - And of course no holiday would be complete without a special something for a special someone. Amazon's Automotive Gifts page makes your shopping easy with convenient breakdowns by price and category.
Stay tuned to the AskPatty Blog as the Gift Garage Cavalcade continues next week - with gifts for Him - and yet to come, Gifts for the Pets, and of course, Holiday Gifts for Her.
2013 Nissan Sentra:
With a sleeker profile, lighter footprint and a more upscale interior, the 2013 Nissan Sentra has been completely redesigned for this model year – and it could give dominant players in this category a run for their money. Boasting up to 40 mpg on the highway, this compact sedan also answers the continued demand for fuel efficiency in an era of continually-rising gas prices. On sale now, starting at $15,990, this is Nissan’s seventh generation of this popular, value-priced model.
A gleaming chrome-framed grille defines the front end, which is capped by arrow-point headlamps accented with LED bulbs lined up dot-to-dot under the larger lights. A lowered beltline and more aerodynamically shaped roofline cut a sophisticated profile; the rear end is a bit chunky and low-slung, with wraparound taillamps and a liftgate with an integrated spoiler (on some trims). Chrome also accents the door handles and windows.
Compared to the previous version, the 2013 Sentra has a longer wheelbase but shorter front overhang (and longer rear overhang), for a modern sports sedan look; it is five percent lighter and its drag coefficient is 0.29, down from 0.34 last year. Sixteen-inch wheels and tires are standard; 17-inch wheels are available, as are a few other exterior premium features, such as integrated rearview mirror turn signals.
Each year I attend the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, which I fondly refer to as the Automotive Olympics! This is the most action packed and exciting automotive industry event of the year for me. The SEMA Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world. It draws the industry’s brightest minds and hottest products to one place, the Las Vegas Convention Center. The SEMA Show is not open to the public so I wanted to share a taste of the show and some cool products women 'Auto-Know-About' from an insiders view.
Of course I walked my feet clear out of my shoes each day and night attending a slew of award events, meetings and appearances, here are some highlights:
Tire Industry Industry Awards - Congratulations to Chapel Hill Tire Car Care Center, a second-generation family-owned and operated independent tire dealer with four retail locations in North Carolina’s Research Triangle, has been named the Winner of the 2012 Tire Review Top Shop Award.
Spent time with many associations and automotive industry publications we support, Automobile Oil Change Association, SBN, Car Care Council Women's Board, Tire Industry Association, ASA, VehicleMD Magazine, Tire Review Magazine and two new AskPatty.com partners, Mike Gibbons VP of of mobile marketing master-minds Kukui and Ken Halle CEO of ASA Automotive Systems.
Got a Sneak Look at Cooper Tire's Fuel Saving Touring Tire
The CS3, which replaces the Cooper Tire Lifeliner GLS is going to be one of the lightest tires in its class, which means more fuel efficiency,(coming in April 2013). Cooper’s innovation continues, in part, through two recently-awarded grants. The first, $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of Energy, will aid in the development of a lightweight, fuel-efficient tire with a 20% reduction in weight and a 30% reduction in rolling resistance compared to today’s passenger tires. The second grant, $6.9 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture,will aid in Cooper’s development of a domestic source of natural rubber through the guayule plant.
Did you know that the air inside your vehicle may be dirtier than the air outside? YUKKK. The FRAM Fresh Breeze® Cabin air filter is the only cabin air filter that uses the natural deodorizing qualities of ARM & HAMMER® baking soda. These two powerhouse brands have joined forces to help absorb odors and freshen the air. Filters 98% of road dust and road pollen. Arm & Hammer® baking soda combined with carbon embedded into the filter assist in cleaning outside air flowing through the vehicle's ventilation system.
AutoTex PINK was founded by Wexco’s President, Paula Lombard. Paula wanted to create a product and a brand that was made by and for women. That is why with each sale of AutoTex PINK products, a donation will be made to the National Breast Cancer Foundation (US) or the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CN). Through these partnerships, AutoTex PINK hopes to support those affected by breast cancer by helping to increase awareness and contribute to the fight to “Wipe Out Breast Cancer!” AutoTex PINK is giving your car a voice; with either a classy pink ribbon on our traditional black wiper blades or with our AutoTex PINK Plus model, an all pink windshield wiper blade that proudly shows your support with each passing mile.Visit one of our AskPatty.com Certified Female Friendly® locations to purchase AutoTexPink Wiper Blades.
MOM was there!
Motor Oil Matters (MOM) is the American Petroleum Institute’s (API) new program for licensing motor oil distributors and oil change locations.
MOM has one main goal: to make sure that consumers receive high-quality oil. This is accomplished by maintaining a secure chain-of-custody for motor oil from the marketer all the way to the vehicle. The MOM mark will help identify distributors and oil change locations committed to providing motor oil meeting the performance standard recommended by most vehicle and engine manufacturers.
MOM will help:
Educate consumers and the motor oil industry
Establish credibility within the motor oil industry
To mark the beginning of darker days and to shed some light on automotive lighting myths, SYLVANIA Automotive Lighting debuted the first video in its SYLVANIA “Truth Sleuths” series at the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo 2012 (AAPEX). These webisodes take automotive lighting myths into the lab and out to the real world to find out what’s fact and what’s fiction.
The first video in the series explores what happens to a vehicle’s headlights over time – whether they dim with use or just burn out. Viewers are given a first-hand look at the differences between new headlights and worn headlights, both in the lab and on the road.
Watch The Sylvania Headlight “Truth Sleuths” Video
Keep Your Vehicle Looking Young with Simple Enhancements from 3M
There’s nothing like the look, and smell, of a shiny new car! Keep these essentials handy to keep your vehicle sparkling like new both inside and out. From products that clean and protect to those that improve paint imperfections, any car owner can give their vehicle a simple face-lift and keep it looking like a million bucks.
3M Auto Essentials (Restore, Tire, Scrub, Glass, & Wax) – new do-it-yourself line of car care products makes upkeep easier than ever. Includes All-Purpose Scrub, Tire Shine, Spray Wax, Leather & Vinyl Restore and Glass Cleaner to help owners keep their car in top condition for less.
3M Scratch Remover – improve simple damage such as light-to-medium scratches, swirl marks or paint imperfections. Contains no wax, and removes the scratches, doesn’t just fill them in. May be used by hand or with a machine.
3M Rubbing Compound -- if paint is in need of more care use Rubbing Compound first to safely removes fine scratches, water spots,oxidation and swirl marks. And then follow it up with 3M Scratch Remover to improve the look of your paint.
3M Synthetic Wax Protectant -- finally, protect paint with 3M Synthetic Wax Protectant to give your car the ultimate deep gloss finish and help guard the paint’s appearance. Use it with a white foam pad and an orbital sander or polisher to protect your car from the elements.
3M Microfiber Detail Cloth – for routine cleaning or repairing imperfections in paint, the Microfiber Detail Cloth is the perfect cloth to safely use on your vehicle’s surface.
The 3M Auto product line, and there is so much more for DIYers on 3M Auto products and how-to videos, visit www.3MAuto.com.
Eco Innovation from Universal Lubricants Oil FlexPak
Officials with the 2012 Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) this week awarded Universal Lubricants®, the manufacturer and distributor of one the world’s most advanced motor oils, the 2012 New Packaging Award for Innovation for its ECO ULTRA® FlexPak™. The award was presented to Universal Lubricants during an AAPEX awards ceremony on Monday, October 29 in Las Vegas where the ECO ULTRA 1-quart FlexPak made its debut. Universal Lubricants®, the manufacturer and distributor of ECO ULTRA®, one the world’s most advanced motor oils, introduced the nation’s first retail motor oil packaged in a sustainable, flexible stand-up pouch. Compared to conventional hard plastic bottles, the new durable FlexPak™ offers consumers a faster, easier and cleaner way to change their oil, giving retailers a unique opportunity to bring customers an exciting, high-performance product in an environmentally responsible package.
One of only five manufacturers in the U.S. to collect and re-refine used oil, Universal Lubricants’ ECO ULTRA® Synthetic Blend Motor Oil is made from high-quality re-refined base stocks and blended with premium performance additives.
Clean Up with Craftsman® Remote Control Wet Dry Vac with Wall Mounting Kit
The Craftsman Remote Control Wet Dry Vac with Wall Mounting Kit features a convenient remote control on-off switch plus a wall mounting kit that makes it ideal for garage and workshop use.
The remote control on/off switch is located on the contour wand. This eliminates the need to walk back and forth between the cleaning task location and the vacuum tank in order to turn the vac on or off.
The wall mounting kit makes this vac ideally suited for dedicated use in the garage or workshop, where frequent project clean-up is required. Yet, this compact 5 gallon vac can also be detached from the wall mounting kit to allow for portable hand-carry cleaning around the home or jobsite when required.
This vac offers all the accessories you need for wet dry vac projects including a cartridge filter, foam sleeve for wet pick-up, dust collection bag, two extension wands, floor/squeegee nozzle, car nozzle, dust brush and air/noise diffuser.
To Purchase visit Craftsman.com and at Sears stores nationwide.
Last but not least I even squeezed in an A-GNO (Automotive -Girls Night Out) with some of my wonderful women automotive expert friends and partners, Paula Lombard and Aimee (AutoTexPink), Shelia Beam (VehicleMD), Bogi Lateiner (180 Auto), Andra Fordin (Great Bear Auto), Jeanne Silver (CarStar & Collision Industry Foundation) and race car driver Erin Evernham!
By Jody
DeVere who is a internationally recognized speaker, trainer, often quoted
industry pundit and spokesperson for the automotive industry on the
women's market. She has been featured by the New York Times, NPR, Wall
Street Journal, CNN, Fox Business, Forbes Women, Oprah Magazine and
Parenting Magazine to name a few. As CEO of AskPatty.com, she provides
automotive education to women consumers and an interactive online
Certified Female Friendly® certification training program for automotive
retailers on how to attract, sell, retain and market to women.
The dreaded week is upon us! Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and that means Black Friday chaos is right around the corner. Whether you're a deal-hunter waiting in line at midnight Thursday, or one who waits for Cyber Monday deals for cozier shopping, this year our goal is to provide you with the ultimate in holiday shopping inspiration with five weeks of gift garage posts. Each week we'll focus on a different theme of automotive gifts, and this week, to kick things off, we're showing you some of our favorite things on the web. Let's get shopping!
Autotex PINK Wiper Blades
No gift guide would be complete without these. These high-end wiper blades support breast cancer research, and are available in black and pink. True story: I just ordered my second set, and I'll never use another wiper blade again. The perfect gift for anyone who loves their car, and is devoted to the cause of breast cancer awareness.
We love recycling, and we love handbags! These bags are gorgeous, made of recycled seat belts, and are sure to be a hit anywhere you carry them. If you want a gift that really makes a splash, go Harveys.
Once again, we love recycling! Flat Tire Décor designs, develops, and markets unique and innovative products from tires that have reached the end of the road. But as you can see, these re-inspired tires still have plenty of mileage left in them. With a little creativity and concern for the environment, these tires are getting a shot at a repeat performance. Beautiful, and eco-friendly!
If you've ever been mystified by a Check Engine light or hesitant to take your car to the shop due to fear of "sticker shock," The CarMD® Vehicle Health System™ is for you! It's a consumer product
designed to provide the average driver with the tools and information to
monitor your vehicle’s health, catch hidden problems and diagnose
dashboard warning lights. While it uses professional quality tools and
information, it’s simple enough for anyone to use to find out what’s
wrong with your vehicle - and it even estimates what repairs will cost in your geographic
area.
Amazon.com has a whole slew of Black Friday deals running all week long, so keep your eyes peeled there, but I wanted to point out one category in particular: their GPS sales. Find great deals on GPS units by Garmin, Magellan, TomTom, and more on their Black Friday deals page.
Maintaining your car is an essential part of ownership. Failure to maintain it properly will result in some serious problems – high costs for repairs or even the need to replace major components (like your engine or transmission), for instance. While you can certainly benefit from letting a mechanic or dealership take care of your maintenance steps, there are plenty of things you can do on your own to save time, money and hassle. What should you know about these steps?
Wiper Blade Replacement
Good wipers are essential to staying safe on the road while it’s raining. Of course they’re often overlooked – it’s easy to forget that your wipers are worn out when you don’t actually need to use them. You don’t need to head to a shop to have these replaced. Buy a set of replacement blades at the auto parts store, undo the clip, pull off the old blade (assembly, not just the rubber) and slide the new one in place. As a note, it’s easier to replace the entire wiper than just the rubber blade.
Air Filter
Your air filter is an integral part of the engine and ensures the engine gets the air necessary for combustion while preventing dust and other contaminants from getting in. Replacing your air filters is pretty simple – just undo the housing, remove the old one and install the new filter. Opening the housing will be the trickiest part of the entire process (will vary based on model, but usually requires no more than undoing a handful of clips).
Engine Oil
If you’ve got a spare few minutes and don’t mind getting under your car, you can change your oil and oil filter on your own. Make sure you have the right type and quantity of oil and the right filter for the engine, then take off the oil filler cap. Slide under your car with a wrench that will fit the drain plug. Remove the plug (after putting a catch pan in place), and let the old oil drain out. Remove the filter and replace it with a new one (lube the new gasket first). Put the drain plug back in the pan and refill the oil.
The 2013 Lexus LS: Lexus has given its flagship sedan a complete redesign and added a new sport version to the lineup. The all-new 2013 Lexus LS 460 is unapologetically big, smooth and sumptuous-both inside and out. Plus, there’s an updated version of its LS 600 hybrid that brings increased fuel efficiency and added plushness. Since it came to the market in 1989, its designers and engineers have set the tone for the Lexus brand by endowing its top-of-the-line model with a high level of craftsmanship, technology and refinement. The newest LS has a more bold exterior; an interior that has been updated with a higher level of quality and technology; there is improved safety and upgraded driving dynamics—along with more than 3,000 new parts! The base LS 460 rear wheel drive version starts at $71, 990 and the LS600 hybrid starts at $119,910.
We came to Tucson, known as “The Real Southwest” and parked overnight at the sumptuous Ritz Carlton Hotel, with accommodations befitting this updated opulent auto. Lexus isn’t shy about its achievements and wants its success to be recognized, so has tailored its ride and drives and media campaign to heighten the prestige of the LS. For its first introduction this summer, Lexus revealed the new model as the centerpiece to an international photo exhibit in San Francisco called the “Lexus Laws of Attraction”, at an L.A. Food and Wine event and at the legendary Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance, in Monterrey, California. The new LS F Sport model was unveiled by renowned designers Jonathan Adler and Simon Doonan to a global audience during a live webcast on Lexas.com and Facebook.
Looking at the exterior of the new iconic LS, you’ll notice it has an aerodynamic sweep of a profile, with short overhangs front and rear and a relatively long midsection.
1. The smart fortwo has stayed the same size and same shape with some updated editions. The smart electric drive stands five feet tall and wide and is a smidgen under nine feet long. It may be small but the view is big! The coupe has an expansive panoramic see-through panel of high-strength polycarbonate; the cabriolet has an automatic soft top that can be opened to any position and at any speed. Plus, the cabriolet has a heated glass rear window.
2. There’s an offering of over 6,000 combos for customizing the smart with everything from personalized wraps and brilliant paint choices to AMG cladding or bespoke tailored interiors.
3. Mercedes-Benz took over smart in July of 2011 and has added new muscle to the marketing campaigns. Expect to see more quirky ads on everything from twitter to TV. More importantly, it’s working. Tracey Matura, smart General Manager, explained, “The company has been riding high since last year. Sales have increased 120% month over month, and 95% year to date.” 4. No guessing on how and when to charge your smart. The smart electric drive can communicate with the smart vehicle homepage whenever the car is being charged. Real-time data provides information to owners about usage patterns, power draw and vehicle performance. There is also a smart phone app that gives the user charging information, charge time remaining and expected completion time. When you are driving, the app’s map also highlights nearby charging connections with estimated distance.
5. The electric smart can be charged from any 110-volt household wall socket with the provided standard cable or a 240-volt socket (like the ones used for electric clothes dryers and kitchen ranges). Charging time can run as little as 3 ½ hours to charge from 20 to 80 percent and six hours to reach full charge from a depleted battery.
6. Now in its third generation, the smart electric drive’s 55-kilowatt electric motor provides 35 kilowatts of continuous power (130 Nm of torque). Essentially, it boils down to this: the power provides acceleration from zero to 60 mph in less than 12 seconds, and a top speed of more than 78 mph. Estimated distance on a full charge is about 90 miles!
7. The smart is environmentally friendly. Designed to be 85% recyclable and over 95% reclaimable, it is produced in the environmentally oriented “smartville” factory in Hambach, France. 8. Interior space is not compromised. “The styling was always meant to incorporate a power train thus there’s no compromise in space in the interior,” said Haiko Schmidt, Product Manager. Because of its impressive headroom, sloping windshield, floating dash and open roof, even people well over six feet don’t feel cramped. Yes, it’s true! I drove with a tall Texan a few years back and he wasn’t stooping.
9. The price is competitive. The new generation smart electric drive will retail at $25,000. A companion cabriolet model will retail at $28,000 when both vehicles hit the U.S. market in the spring of 2013. Customers may also be eligible for federal tax credits (which run up to $7,500) or state/local tax credits, further reducing the cost. Plus, some states offer a 50% parking discount.
10. Those rumors of a smartforfour? As Matura quipped, “Stay tuned!”
It’s
been more than four decades since Don Mclean drove his Chevy to the
levee and drove “American Pie” straight into the heartland of
America. The iconic hit imprinted the hearts of music lovers young
and old. Still a standout today, it is by no means a rare reference
to the brand that has collected close to 1,000 country songs
referencing Chevrolet or a Chevy vehicle. Talk about free
advertising!
If
you were one of the 12,000 in attendance at the 46th annual CMAs, in
Nashville-or in the record-setting global audience of millions that
watched “Country Music’s Biggest Night”- you also heard Jason
Aldean croon about a Chevy truck in “Take a Little Ride”, with
its refrain: ride
this Chevy, ride thisChevy down
a back road.
Aldean was nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of
the Year and his “Dirt Road Anthem” was nominated as Single of
the Year.
"Chevrolet
has been an everyday part of American life for more than 95 years, so
it's no surprise that Chevy and its cars and trucks are mentioned in
so many popular songs," said Tom Wilkinson, communications
manager for Chevrolet. "It is always exciting to hear an artist
include a passion for a Chevrolet in his or her art."
AskPatty.com,
Inc. announced today the inaugural launch of the Women's Automotive
Speakers Bureau. The Bureau is a strategic resource to
decision-makers in the automotive industry on how to effectively
market and sell to the growing and influential base of women
automotive buyers, as well as how to attract and retain more women as
employees within their organizations. AskPatty.com has a unique
understanding of the automotive industry from a woman's point of view
and aims to utilize the vast business experience and market knowledge
of the women selected for the Bureau.
The
Women's Automotive Speakers Bureau represents a cross section of
outstanding, professional and dynamic speakers who specialize in a
wide range of topics and services, including keynote presentations,
brand spokespersons, workshops, coaching, video training, live and
recorded webinars, facilitated panel session speakers and more.
"We're
a company that thrives on educating and empowering women as
consumers, business owners and employees in the automotive industry,"
says Jody DeVere, CEO of AskPatty.com, Inc. "Our women's
speakers bureau is just another step in our journey to help the
automotive industry grow market-share and get better results with
women on all fronts."
States Miriam Muléy,
CEO and Author of The 85% Niche and former Executive Director of
Marketing and Sales for General Motors Corporation Diversity Growth
Markets, “Finally, we have a top-notch venue to help leaders in the
automotive industry stay ahead of trends, insights and strategies
that will demonstrably move the needle in increasing market share
with all women—White, Black, Latina, Asian and more—through the
expertise of the Automotive Women’s Speaker’s Bureau.”
quoted
industry pundit and spokesperson for the automotive industry on the
women's market. She has been featured by the New York Times, NPR, Wall
Street Journal, CNN, Fox Business, Forbes Women, Oprah Magazine and
Parenting Magazine to name a few. As CEO of AskPatty.com, she provides
automotive education to women consumers and an interactive online
Certified Female Friendly® certification training program for automotive
retailers on how to attract, sell, retain and market to women. 
