If you’ve ever had your auto broken into then you know first hand how stressful it can be.  Whether you are driving locally, out of a familiar driving area, alone, or with other passengers, we’d like to send some friendly tips your way to hopefully keep you theft and break-in free.

1. Be aware of your surroundings.  Park your auto in a well-lit area where you see other vehicles parked.  This is especially important if you’ll be getting into your car late at night.  A person looking to steal an auto or take items inside of it will be deterred if more vehicles are nearby.
2. Never leave items in plain sight.  If you’ve made a stop at Target and Kohls’ and are now going to be inside another place for awhile, take those bags and put them in the trunk to keep out of visibility.  If a person capable of theft sees those and gets inside the car, he or she may have a better chance of taking the vehicle itself since they are already inside. 
3. Adding to tip #2, do not leave items such as check books, credit/debit cards, or other valuables inside your car.  We have probably all been guilty of this for convenience sake, but doing so leaves you a more open target for theft.
4. Be mindful of where you keep a spare key.  A driver of a Springfield Mitsubishi Galant, for example, might leave a spare key under his or her car.  Auto thieves know where to look and might easily find it.  Sure, no one enjoys being locked out of their vehicle, but it beats having your auto stolen altogether! 
5. Always lock your doors, even if you are just running into a stop for a few minutes.  Theft and break-ins can happen that fast, especially if the perpetrator is skilled and knows what he or she is looking for!
6. Never leave the car on with the keys in the ignition.
7. Consider purchasing an anti-theft alarm on your Bloomington, IL new car model if it does not come standard with one already.

Please let us know if you have any questions about these or other car safety tips!

After spending roughly three months battling snow, ice, and other winter driving issues, your car is most likely in need of some extra TLC.  Tires, batteries, wipers and more can really take a beating after enduring the harsh reality of Winter.  Now that we’re moving forward into spring and summer months, there is plenty to do to make sure that your auto is ready for these seasons. 

Every season means new challenges in regards to driving.  In the spring you are faced with the high probability of traveling during heavy rain, and this is not an easy task, especially if the rain is paired up with traffic, night time driving, bad tires/wipers and more.  Warmer temperatures also shift the focus to other operational components, such as the air conditioner, exterior condition, and more.

A recent report from AAA in some states stated that they receive more auto related aid calls in the spring and summer than they do in the winter.  Many of these calls are related to issues of the used or new car, Bloomington IL drivers may have purchased from our store, not starting.   A majority of these calls are related to a bad battery.  You should be sure to check your battery for any leaks, etc, especially if it’s been two or more years since a new battery has been installed.  While you or a trained technicial are checking for battery issues, look for other items under the hood, such as the proper amount of fluids like oil, brake, transmission, and radiator.  Having all of these at safe levels should be done before starting a longer road trip. 

Another vital part of safe travels is driving with tires that are in good shape.  Ice, snow and more can wreak havoc on tires, so having them inspected and rotated moving into spring should not be delayed.  If the tires are balding and you drive during wet weather, this is a combination that could leave you and your Springfield IL Mitsubishi model left in a stressful situation.  Replace your tires if needed.

We want to make sure you are safe while traveling during Spring and any season throughout the year.

Although cars are often associated with males, women are quickly becoming some of the most important customers for all automakers. Ford Motor company reports women are now responsible for purchasing almost half of the new automobiles purchased and have an incredible amount of sway in the rest of cases, up to eighty percent. Bloomington, IL new car dealers, along with many other car dealers are turning their attention to what women want from a car and now surveys have been conducted to answer that question.

At Truecar.com analysts conducted two surveys to determine exactly what females look for in a vehicle. Survey takers looked at over 13 million vehicle registrations to get down to the details and one of the results is that women want cars that aren’t overpriced. In short, they want a stylish vehicle, but it must be affordable. With one exception, the Lexus brand, women aren’t too interested in purchasing luxury vehicles. Women don’t care as much about a brand or a revved up engine, this results in a trend toward inexpensive vehicles. Out of the nine models most purchased by women only one starts pricing above $30,000.

Women also gravitate toward smaller vehicles. Women almost always buy the smallest vehicle within the category they are purchasing. In fact, one of the most common models purchased by women is the compact SUV. Bloomington, IL used car drivers agree, women appreciate a smaller car with more maneuverability. Women aren’t interested in impressing people with the size of their car. Women only care about fitting everything they need inside and still being able to have a smooth, easy drive.

Women also tend to purchase from foreign automakers. Out of the ten most purchased vehicles, nine of these were produced by Asian automakers. Also of the ten least purchased brands three of these were American automakers. While women love to purchase foreign cars, specifically, the VW Beetle is the most popular car driven by women, they do not want men to drive what they drive. The University of Wales performed a test that resulted in women being more attracted to men who drive expensive cars.

Automakers should truly pay attention to what women want because they have clear ideas on who should be driving what car, no question about it.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will enact new fuel economy regulations for 2011 vehicles which will ultimately result in a win-win-win situation for the environment, economy, and drivers. The Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) introduced an 18 MPG regulation for passenger vehicles only when enacted by congress in 1975. While slight amendments have been made to CAFE standards over the years, the newest reform will reflect the most drastic change in their 30-year history with a 35% increase in fuel economy for cars and trucks combined. This amendment will enforce Bloomington IL new car dealers to obtain 37.8 mpg for passenger vehicles and 28.8 mpg for trucks by the year 2016.

The 2016 CAFE standards will perhaps have the biggest impact on the environment, which will benefit from the reduced greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide. The Union of Concerned Scientists says that approximately 5 pounds of global warning pollution are produced per gallon of gas. Basic math will confirm, the higher the fuel economy of a vehicle, the less pollution produced.

The next win that the 2016 CAFE standards will award goes to the economy. Increased fuel economy standards will save the U.S. 1.1 million barrels of oil a day, much of which is foreign oil. The decreased foreign oil will help cut the $1 billion dollars spent per day to import petroleum products and moderate the amount of reliance placed on foreign nations.

The CAFE regulations will also be advantageous for drivers. While the cost of a vehicle that can reach the set forth fuel economy standards will more than likely cost extra, such an increase will be compensated with the reduced fuel costs. The increased cost that CAFE standards add to vehicles is estimated to be around the $1,000 – $2,000 range and will actually be offset with the reduced fuel costs that are estimated to reach $4,000 in a vehicle’s lifetime.

While the new CAFE guidelines seem extreme, Bloomington IL car dealers acknowledge that a greener future is only a possibility with such regulations enforced. And the additional benefits that come with such a reform don’t hurt either.   

Mitsubishi has some big goals for the upcoming years. The car company aims to double its sales it the United States in the next three years, according to John Koenig, Mitsubishi North America Executive Vice President. The reason for this aspiration is that Mitsubishi sold just under 54,000 vehicles last year, a disappointing decrease of 44.5% when compared to 2008. How do they plan to accomplish such a goal? Mitsubishi has created an extensive plan for the brand, starting by redesigning their models to resemble the stylish Lancer and prepare for the unveiling of the new 2010 Outlander. Consumers should definitely visit Bloomington, Illinois car dealers and other Mitsubishi dealerships nationwide to find the new models in their lots later this year.

Additionally, two more new models are expected to appear in Bloomington, IL new car dealerships as well, although this is unconfirmed by Mitsubishi at this time. One of the new vehicles being introduced is a smaller crossover, rumored to be similar to the Honda CR-V and Toyota Rav4. Considering that the compact crossover market has significantly grown over the past few years, Mitsubishi will attempt to stay in the competition by providing a new compact crossover model for consumers. The other new model to be introduced is a new subcompact model to slot in underneath the Lancer, to keep up with the sub-compact market. Rumor has it that the Colt will return to resemble a style similar to the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, and also other newcomers such as the Ford Fiesta and Mazda2. Sales representatives at the Bloomington, Illinois car dealers will surely have more information about the new models as it becomes available.

Another area where Mitsubishi could use a little more improvement is with the Galant mid-sized sedan, said to be in desperate need of remodeling. Koenig admits that one cause of a decline in Galant sales is a lower demand by rental car agencies, indicating that the model is unpopular among consumers. Nevertheless, officials at Mitsubishi remain optimistic and are confident that their sales goal is easily achievable, seeing as the company was able to sell 128,993 units in 2007. The Japanese automaker also plans to focus more on advertising to enhance perception and desirability to help double sales within the next three years. In the meantime, consumers will need to visit Bloomington, IL new car dealerships to learn about the progress that Mitsubishi will achieve.

New Mitsubishi dealers and used car Bloomington IL dealers have great deals on new and used models. For instance you can get a 2010 Lancer ES CVT for only $179 a month with 36 month lease or a Lancer Sportback with 0% APR for 48 months.

Other models in on the deal are the Lancer Evolution, Eclipse, Eclipse Spyder, Endeavor, Galant, Outlander and, my personal favorite, the Outlander ES for $239 a month for 48 months. In Bloomington IL buy used cars or new from a friendly Mitsubishi dealer who offers only the best pricing.

Mitsubishi is holding this rally to give its customers the best year-end deals around and for those wanting to buy new or used car Bloomington IL has these great deals on many models. My biggest dilemma is choosing between affordable models. Although the Outlander ES is my favorite because it’s kind of a crossover vehicle. (I do love my SUVs, but don’t love the cost in running them.) I really would love to have a Spyder in my driveway. Not very practical for hauling the kids to practice, though, so . . .

When I visit a Bloomington IL new car dealer my first concern is for price – I mean how many of us are working two or three jobs now just to pay the bills? When I find a dealer and a car company that makes driving affordable, I have to stick with it and in Bloomington IL buy used car or new, I find the best band for my buck at the Mitsubishi dealer.

Mitsubishi is stepping up its game in the next year to help boost its sales and target the desires of potential car buyers. To do this, they’ve chose to focus on the booming business of fuel- efficient vehicles, specifically hybrids- both electric and plug-ins- and overall smaller vehicles.

One of the upcoming additions to the Mitsubishi lineup is a slight alteration to the standard crossover vehicle, the Outlander. This time they’ve added a word in its name that brings a whole new element of driving to the mind of car buyers: “Sport”. This Outlander Sport model is set to hit the U.S. market- while simultaneously being sold worldwide- in the fall of 2010.

Not many details have been released about these changes coming to the standard Outlander that you can currently find at your Bloomington car dealer but we can only assume they’re going to speed up the performance, literally, and possibly take up less space on the road with a more aerodynamic design. Sounds similar to the concept cX model released in 2007, huh? Sure does- and we’re pretty sure that’s the sole inspiration for this new Sport.

Though we don’t know much about this new Mitsubishi that will be arriving at local Bloomington car dealerships in 2010, we know a few things. The new Sport is to be built on the same platform as the Mitsubishi Lancer sedan. In addition, it will be powered by a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine, with drivers being able to choose between front or all-wheel drive. In my experience test driving cars at Bloomington, IL car dealers, I’ve learned that nothing is quite so satisfying as a compact, peppy SUV on a car frame. The bumps become afterthoughts, while the storage space and big-vehicle capability remain.

Refreshing our knowledge of the current Outlander that I’ve test driven at Bloomington IL new car dealerships, only assuming the Sport will up the ante, we can first focus on the safety features. First, to show off, the Outlander was named a top safety pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. This reassuring title is attributed to its extensive passenger protection: dual-stage front SRS airbags, front seat mounted airbags and back front and side- curtain airbags. In addition, the Outlander comes equipped with standard ABS (anti-lock brakes), ASC (Active Stability Control) and EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution). These fancy names make it sound real safe, right?

The current Outlander, seating 5-7 passengers, achieves a 20 mpg city and 26 mpg highway average. We’re hoping the Sport does improve on this sector, as their goal is to perfect the fuel-efficient side of their vehicle production.

All we can do is wait. It’s going to be a long year until we’re able to see how Mitsubishi will surprise us with the birth of one of its most popular model’s fraternal twins. Until then, come into to your local Normal Mitsubishi dealer, O’Brien Mitsubishi, and test-drive any of the new or used models. See you next fall Outlander Sport!