All posts by Admin

A stock photo of a person filling their car with gasoline.

Don’t spend money you don’t have to spend when getting gas

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Posted in FAQs, News

Should I be using premium gas in my car? 

When you’ve worked so hard to put the money together to buy a car, truck or SUV, it’s only natural that you’ll want it to perform as advertised and last as long as possible. If you’re wondering, ‘Should I be using premium gas in my car,’ you are, one, not alone; and two, you possibly might have been given some bad information. Broadly speaking, automakers split the fuel that should be used by a vehicle into two categories, recommended and required. High-performance vehicles may require premium fuel to obtain stated power and efficiency figures, while most will do just fine using regular grade. Our team sees people struggle with this choice all the time and we thought it would help to answer a few questions.  Read the rest of this entry >>

A stock photo of a vehicles lined up at a dealership.

Do you need a little help picking out your next vehicle?

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Posted in News, Trucks, Used Cars

Midsize Pickup Truck vs. 3-Row Midsize SUV 

Because of advances in automotive technology, midsize pickup trucks can deliver incredible performance and capability, while three-row midsize SUVs can offer comparable towing capacity in addition to spacious interiors. You would be surprised by the number of people who come to a Third Coast Auto Group showroom asking about the differences in convenience and usability in a midsize pickup truck vs. 3-row midsize SUV. Several automakers offer both platforms and, depending on the model year a buyer chooses, it could be outfitted with some really innovative technology. Of course, an SUV is more passenger-friendly, but a pickup has obvious advantages of ownership in its own right. These videos from KelleyBlueBook.com might be helpful in your search. If you need to know more, make an appointment with a Third Coast Auto Group product expert today.  Read the rest of this entry >>

A stock photo of a smartphone and a Bluetooth ear piece.

Your old car can use some new technology

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Posted in Just for Fun, Technology

Options for Aftermarket Infotainment Systems 

Modern automobiles are truly incredible. We (obviously) know that Third Coast Auto Group deals in pre-owned vehicles. However, the later model cars, trucks and SUV we’ve received at our various locations have some of the most advanced technology we’ve ever seen in the automotive space. The thought occurred to some of our product experts that our customers might want to know about some options for aftermarket infotainment systems. Just because the vehicle you take home from one of our dealership locations is a few years old, does it mean you can’t have the latest technology at your fingertips. Here are a few features you might want to consider adding to your car or truck today.  Read the rest of this entry >>

A stock photo of a couple holding a new set of keys.

Have you saved enough for your down payment?

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Posted in Finance, Tips and Tricks

How much should a down payment be for a used car? 

Third Coast Auto Group specializes in connecting people with the most reliable vehicle that can fit their budget. Buying a vehicle cannot be a spontaneous purchase. Responsible buyers need to factor in their monthly budget for housing, food and other required expenses, in addition to making sure they can afford their monthly car payments and keep up with maintenance. If you’re currently working through this process, you might also be wondering, ‘How much should a down payment be for a used car?’ After speaking with the financial team at a few Third Coast Auto Group locations and doing a little bit of poking around online, the consensus is that people should put down as much as they can afford. Let’s take a look at some things you should know.  Read the rest of this entry >>

A stock photo of a person plugging in an electric vehicle to charge its battery.

Electric vehicles are coming, but they might not be ready for prime time — yet

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Posted in Technology

Are electric vehicles going to take over? 

Third Coast Auto Group might deal in pre-owned cars, trucks and SUVs, but we still need to keep our eyes on what is going on in the new vehicle marketplace. The coming trend seems to put a lot of focus on electrified powertrains. This got us asking the question, ‘Are electric vehicles going to take over?’ In the future, there will certainly be a place for electric vehicles but that isn’t the case right now. There are some challenges the technology needs to overcome, most notably range anxiety and charging infrastructure, although there are more. This video from the popular YouTube channel Engineering Explained shows you a few other issues with the current crop of electric vehicle technology. If you’re looking for something efficient and reliable, make an appointment with us today.  Read the rest of this entry >>

A stock photo of a person checking the oil in their vehicle.

Is outdated information preventing your vehicle from being at its best?

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Posted in FAQs, Technology, Tips and Tricks

Does synthetic oil still cause engine leaks? 

The car, truck or SUV that is sitting in someone’s driveway is likely one of the biggest assets a person can own. It only makes sense that people will want to make sure they can wring every mile they can out of that investment, and the best way to do that is to make sure that the vehicle is well-maintained. Regular maintenance is the best way to keep any vehicle of almost any age running in peak condition. One of the biggest challenges to this goal is outdated thinking. If you’re wondering, ‘Does synthetic oil still cause engine leaks,’ this is the kind of outdated information we’re talking about. While Third Coast Auto Group doesn’t have a service department, it is still a question that comes up a few times a month while we’re helping customers. Let’s take a look at a few things.  Read the rest of this entry >>

A photo of a vehicle with a sunroof.

Third Coast Auto Group helps you understand popular features

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Posted in FAQs, Tips and Tricks

How are a sunroof and moonroof different? 

There is a lot to know about modern automobiles. Even as vehicles get more technologically advanced, one of the most common questions we hear around the various Third Coast Auto Group showrooms is, ‘How are sunroof and moonroof different?’ At the most basic level, there really isn’t much of a difference anymore. However, in automotive circles, there is a distinct difference. Our team thought it would be useful to get into the weeds a bit and explain the differences between these two very popular features. Let’s take a closer look at what our team put together.   Read the rest of this entry >>

car driving on highway

How to Check if Your Wheel Bearing Has Been Worn Down

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Posted in Tips and Tricks

When something is wrong with our vehicle, we’ll typically hear a strange noise, and maybe have a warning light turn on. Sometimes, a certain noise can indicate more than one problem. For example, a whirring or humming noise will indicate quite a few different problems. However, we will be focusing on the whirring sound that is caused by a worn wheel bearing. In this post, we have shared a video that shows you how to check if your wheel bearing has been worn down. It also includes an example of what you will hear when driving.

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someone using a penny to check the tread of a tire

How to Check Your Tire Tread with a Quarter and a Penny

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Posted in Tips and Tricks

Our tires are one of the most important parts of our vehicle. We keep them in good condition by rotating them, balancing them, and changing them when necessary. However, when do you need to get them changed? You should be getting new tires when the tread is too low to provide proper traction. You can check your tire treads with a quarter and a penny to determine if you need new tires. Check out the video we’ve included to see how to do this test.

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