If you are driving an SUV this winter, you may feel like many SUV drivers; immune to the hazards of slick winter roads.  When your vehicle is so heavy and plows through snow like it isn’t even there, it can be deceptive, but the truth is that when driving on icy or slick roads, an SUV is no safer than any other vehicle, in fact it may be even more dangerous because when you start sliding the weight of an SUV can really throw you off the road, and because of the risk of rollover.

According to a AAA report; the special features such as 4-wheel drive and higher ground clearance helps vehicles to get going in the snow, but they don’t help them stop on slippery roads when they need to.

If your SUV has anti-lock brakes, you will want to maintain firm and constant pressure, easing on the brakes instead of trying to make quick stops when the roads are bad and you need to stop.  If you DO NOT have anti-lock brakes, the correct technique is to pump the brakes in order to avoid having them lock up on you.

Other important information for SUV drivers includes; being aware that the center of gravity on some SUV’s can make them more prone to rollover during sharp turns, according to AAA special safety measures should be employed to avoid turning sharply in order to handle SUV’s safely.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), sport utility vehicles have the highest rollover rate of any other type of vehicle.

It is recommended that SUV drivers carefully read their owner’s manual for information about safely operating their vehicle and special handling tips.

If you are interested in purchasing an SUV, contact your local St. Louis Chevy dealer, George Weber Chevy today and check out our line-up of new and used Chevy SUV’s.

Every consumer should understand the importance of finding out about a used car’s history. The CARFAX report is the most popular source for reviewing a car’s history to check things like title problems such as salvage, junk, flood or lemon title.

If you are on a tight budget and don’t want to spend money purchasing several CARFAX reports. There are ways you can save money and get a CARFAX report for less, or possibly even for free.

One way to get a free CARFAX report is to request the car dealership to throw in a free report as part of the incentive to purchase the car. This is one negotiating point that many car dealerships will be willing to assist you with especially if the final sale is contingent on getting a free report.

Search for a car by using the CARFAX used car database. In addition to providing a used car history report, CARFAX also compiles a database of cars for sale. Each of the cars in the database offer free CARFAX reports just by clicking on the link entitled “free CARFAX Vehicle History Reports.” Each car in the database has the CARFAX Buyback Guarantee. In other words, if the vehicle has title problems such as salvage, junk, flood or lemon title, they will buy the vehicle back.

Some dealers who participate in the CARFAX online member dealership program are able to obtain CARFAX reports at a discounted price. It is much easier to get a discounted or even a free CARFAX report form member dealers.  The GM Certified Chevy vehicles at George Weber Chevy in St. Louis all include a free CARFAX in the certification package for every certified pre-owned vehicle on the lot.

In the market for a used car?  When looking for used vehicles, keep in mind that finding a vehicle with low mileage and minimal wear and tear is  the best things to look for.  Mileage is easy right, but what about wear and tear?  When it comes to wear and tear, you have to do a few different things to insure you are not getting into a lemon of a car.

As mentioned, mileage is easy, as it will show itself on the dash, but having minimal wear and tear is not as noticeable.  There are a few rules in assessing minimal wear and tear that will help you avoid getting into a problematic vehicle.  You first want to find a car that is under five years old, preferably closer to three years old.  Owners typically baby their new cars for the first year to year and a half.  So with a three year old car, that leaves you with only a year and a half of potential inclined wear and tear from the point the owner stops paying such close attention to it.  Of course, you want to look for visible physical damage on the vehicle.  Visible physical damage to a can be a dead give away to hidden internal problems.  If the car you are looking into buying is beat up on the bottom with dents of noticeable size, you know that something pretty bad happened to it from the underside.  This is huge being that a lot of the functioning parts of a vehicle, both expensive and inexpensive, are found underneath.  Of course, you want to check the rest of the vehicle with the same scrutiny as the underside for aesthetic purposes and signs of abuse as well.  The final rule is pretty standard for car purchasers, the test drive.  Test drive any vehicle you are going to buy, new or used.

Now that you know what to do before you buy a used car, which one should you look at?  Buying a Used Chevy car is always a good idea, since they are built amazingly well for the long haul.  To find great new and used vehicles, head to George Weber Chevy in St. Louis for the best deals in town.

We have all heard the term certified used vehicle.  But what exactly does a certified vehicle include?  Well certified is different for every car company.  Each car company makes their own rules for their certified vehicles.  Let’s take a look at one of the best certified deals on the market for a GM Certified Chevy.

GM is a car manufacturer that has long been at the top for making excellent performance vehicles with safety standards second to none.  One of GM’s car lines is Chevy.  GM believes strongly in giving customers an excellent vehicle whether new or certified used, and backing each car with the best warranty on the market.  GM offers long term protection in many areas and inspects the vehicle thoroughly before handing it over to a customer.  GM offers a 12 month/12,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty.  Anything that can go wrong will usually show itself within the first 12 months of ownership.  GM realizes that, so they decided to cover the vehicle for the 12 month term when problems are more likely to occur.  On top of a 12 month/12,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty they throw in a 100,000-mile/5-year Powertrain Limited Warranty as well. With the Powertrain Warranty they offer 24-hour roadside and courtesy transportation for the life of the warranty.  The bumper-to-bumper warranty and Powertrain warranty are more than generous offers, but let’s be honest; you don’t want to use these services if you don’t have to, right.  Buying an excellent vehicle that is problem free is what you’re in the market for.  GM has you covered.  Any Chevy vehicle you buy goes under the scope of a rigorous 117-Point inspection.  Every inspection includes a thorough check through the vehicle’s engine, chassis, and body, to make sure it meets factory standards.

To experience these wonderful offerings by GM’s certified used program, head to down to George Weber Chevy.  George Weber has the biggest line of Certified Used in the St. Louis area.

If you have been shopping for a car top cargo carrier you may know that it can be a challenge to find one that fits your vehicle properly.  Car top carriers can add enough cargo space to your car to give ample room for passengers during a long road trip or cross country move.  Here are some helpful hints to assist you in your search for a quality car top cargo carrier;

There are many types of cargo carriers to choose from, consider one that has an aerodynamic wind resistant design. The less expensive models that have straps and cords may pose as a real headache when getting ready for a trip or a move.  Consider the noise factor when shopping for roof top cargo carriers, the aerodynamic type is usually quieter.

Make sure the roof top cargo carrier will work with your vehicle’s roof rack set up, avoid the  pitfalls that come with ordering a roof top cargo carrier that doesn’t properly fit because it is meant for a four- bar system when your vehicle has the two bar-set up.

Keep in mind that the carrier can be opened by anyone, for security purposes, the hard type cover offered by Thule has features that ensure the safety of your gear with mechanisms that lock.  If you select the roof top cargo bag version, you will save upfront cost, but you may not feel safe knowing somebody could just cut the bag open and steal your personal belongings.

There are many online resources to help you compare different models of roof top cargo carriers.  The more websites that you research, the more educated your buying selection will be to ensure that you end up with the best fit for you-and your automobile.

If you are looking for a new vehicle for your family vacation, visit your local St. Louis Chevy Dealer, George Weber Chevy today for great end of the year deals and factory rebates on GM certified 2009 Chevy models.

There is a lot of news in the press today about prohibiting phone texting in cars as a result of driving tests that have shown that texting while driving may be even more dangerous than drivers under the influence of alcohol. Everyone knows that drivers who are distracted from the road can be dangerous drivers.  Now there is a new study that has identified the top 10 most dangerous drivers’ professions.  It is apparent that multitasking is a common thread in most of those high risk professionals who ranked high in incidence of accidents.

The study found that professionals who have hectic schedules and are distracted by work issues may also frequently work in their cars using technology such as texts, e-mails, and phone calls, which causes them to be distracted from the road. Those same professionals consequently have had a history of being involved in the most accidents.

Studies have shown that lawyers and judges are at the top of the list of those having a high probability of being in an auto accident. Other drivers who were high risk were teens and elderly drivers, but it was obvious that lack of experience (for teens) and impairment of the senses (in elderly drivers) were reasons those drivers were more frequently involved in accidents, and not necessarily due to distraction.

The studies were done by an insurance company that calculated their results based on accident claims showing that 44 percent of lawyers and judges claimed to have been involved in a previous accident.

The least dangerous drivers in the study were athletes, followed by homemakers.

Here is the list of the results of the study regarding professions with the history of having the most accidents;

1.Attorneys and Judges
2. Financial Professionals
3. Government Employees
4. Bartenders
5. Business Professionals
6. Dog Groomers
7. Advertising and Marketing Professionals
8. Barbers and Stylists
9. Coaches
10. Nurses

If you are looking for a safe automobile, visit your local St. Louis Chevy Dealer, George Weber Chevy.

Today, the 1957 Chevrolet is known as the ultimate classic Chevy. If you are a car buff, you can immediately identify the numbers “57″ with one of the most popular cars of all time.  In fact the 57 Chevy was so popular that it has actually evolved into an icon for American car history. A 1957 Chevrolet Convertible was the dream car of every baby boomer in the late 1950s and early 1960s and the car has been in high demand since production ended as one of the best classic cars for antique car collectors.

The ’57 Chevy was such a famous car in history, known as “sweet, smooth, and sassy” no wonder there is a beverage named after the infamous automobile from the fabulous fifties.

Just like the car, the drink has an old-fashioned feel to it, it would be a great drink to serve at almost any occasion or time of year, but if you are planning a 50’s party, the “57 Chevy” could be the hit of the party.

It is a relatively easy drink to make; here is the recipe for you to make your own “”57 Chevy cocktail”

• 1/2 oz. vodka
• 2 oz. Southern Comfort
• 1/2 oz. Grand Marnier
• Pineapple juice
• Martini shaker
• Ice
• Rocks glass or martini glass
• Pineapple wedge

Fill the shaker three quarters full of ice.

Add the vodka, Southern Comfort, and Grand Marnier.

Let chill for about 1 minute.

Add the pineapple juice.

Secure the lid and shake the ingredients briskly for 30 seconds.

Remove the shaker’s lid and strain the mixture out into the glass,

Removing any chunks of ice that remain after straining.

Garnish with a wedge of fresh pineapple.

Serve immediately.

In the spirit of car lovers from the fifties, George Weber Chevy offers customers some of the most exciting makes and models in a new or used Chevy available on the market today.  Stop in and see our line-up of great automobiles.

For more the last century, Americans have had an intense fascination with the topic of automobiles. Rightfully so, there is no doubt that that motorized vehicle production and its evolution has been a spectacular achievement, a testament to human creativity and capability. Enough about the nostalgia of the past, it’s more exciting to look toward the future. Most people are more than ready for the automotive industry to take the next big step.  The next generation of hybrid vehicle is the likely candidate to be the most recent rung on the ladder of superb automotive engineering.

At present, many people feel that a hybrid vehicle is a bit of a luxury item. It’s quite understandable. As is the case with most any type of new technology, it may take some time before it becomes a viable option for the majority.  Still, there is a lot of anticipation about automobile innovations that is just about to present itself. The Chevy Volt, which is scheduled to become available in late 2010, represents the type of ingenuity that has the potential to take the modern day hybrid vehicles in a direction that may well revolutionize personal transportation as we know it.

The forthcoming Volt is estimated to come at a cost somewhere just short of $40,000. The $7,500 tax credit that benefits hybrid vehicle owners helps to offset the initial expenditure. This vehicle comes with a 111 kilowatt engine, which provides 149 horsepower. What you get is a car that can operate fully electrically, with zero emissions. It is capable of traveling around 40 miles per charge. Well, 40 miles may not sound very functional to all. What the folks at General Motors have done to account for this potential shortcoming is to equip the Volt with expanded range capability, made possible by gas powered generator that is a component of the vehicle’s motor. The much anticipated Volt may be purchased as early as November of this year. It will be interesting to see what kind of an impact it has on the market and to what extent consumers take to it.

For those in and around the St Louis area who wish to purchase a new or pre-owned hybrid Chevy or any other GM Certified Chevy, you can make contact with a sales representative at George Weber Chevy Dealer for assistance.

Aromatherapy is the practice of using the strong aroma of plant oils that have been found to provide both psychological and physical well-being.  Essential oils are the essence of a plant, and it is the therapeutic component.  Eastern countries have used Aromatherapy for therapeutic healing for many decades, so it is not surprising that India is working with the US on experimental technology that will automatically administer blasts of aromatherapy scents that increase alertness in a car where a driver is showing facial signs of falling asleep at the wheel.

Research has shown that thousands of fatal accidents are caused every year as a result of drivers falling asleep at the wheel, but due to new facial recognition technology, the computer sensor will be able to assess facial expressions and respond with a warning to the driver that he/she needs to take a break from driving.

The Japanese have been doing many studies on the effective use of aromatherapy, including one very interesting study resulting in 50% less errors in the work place for workers who were exposed to certain types of aromatherapy.  Some Japanese car manufacturers have taken the new technology a step further by integrating aromatherapy into their car’s air conditioning system.  The system will monitor humidity, temperature, ventilation and respond with an appropriate type of aromatherapy oil that will increase alertness when needed. The products are planned to be released only in Japan and not in the U.S.

While this interesting new technology is not yet available for automobiles, there are many online sources that offer car dispensers that can be plugged into your 12 volt power source on the dash of your car that diffuse aromatherapy oil into your car as you drive.  One of the scents that are known for mental alertness could be selected to mimic the effects of the automatic system described above.

If you are in the market for a pre-owned vehicle, check out George Weber Chevy dealership in St. Louis.  You can use their online services (with a special webpage devoted to women buyers)  to locate the perfect used Chevy with high safety ratings, while using your version of aromatherapy for safer driving today

Is there a car that is best for teenage drivers?  It probably depends on who you ask the teen, or the parents.  Under most circumstances, teenagers will adamantly disagree with their parents about anything.  Selecting  the “perfect” car may be no acception. 

Here is what teen preferences were according to a recent study; Appearance, style, speed and music accessories are, of course, more important than safety issues.  Teens commonly view a car’s image being important because it reflects the Teenagers’ independence, freedom, and character.  They want cars that are easily customizable so they can add their own touch to make the car stand out.  Girls may be more interested in purchasing aesthetic car accessories, such as color schemed and patterned seat covers and floor mats, while boys lean toward updating the dash board, grill, chrome door handles and mirrors, rims, etc.

Parents, on the other hand want first and foremost a car that rates high in safety. Low cost and dependability are next, for the most part, they want their teen to drive safely without a lot of expense involved for repairs, and peace of mind in knowing that their teens won’t get stranded somewhere that could be potentially unsafe.There may be some uncertainty as to whether to buy a new or used car, new cars are more expensive upfront, but are cheaper in maintenance and repair costs, on the other hand, a used car will cost less in taxes and insurance.  Teens may opt to purchase a used car and attempt to customize it themselves, but it’s advisable to budget the expenses in advance. 

Cars that are NOT recommended for teenagers are SUV’s and large trucks because they can be more difficult for unexperience drivers to maneuver, and unstable.  Features that are recommended are stability control, and side airbags for safety.    

Insurance coverage for teenagers can be quite expensive as they represent a huge risk to insurance companies. It is usually less expensive to keep the car registered in the parent’s name and add your teenager onto your family insurance plan than a separate insurance policy.

If you are looking for a used Chevy, be sure to visit George Weber Chevy in St. Louis, our sales associates will be happy to assist you in selecting a safe vehicle for your teenage driver.