Category Archives: Tips and Tricks

A photo of a smartphone attached to a dashboard showing navigation information.

Take advantage of the latest technology with your next vehicle purchase

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Posted in FAQs, Tips and Tricks

What can I do with a car’s infotainment system? 

Very few industries have been as progressing as quickly from a technology standpoint as the automotive industry. Certainly, performance, safety and fuel economy are better than at any time in history. However, it’s in the area of automotive connectivity where things have really reached a new level. If you’re thinking about upgrading your vehicle to a later model that will be equipped with some of this new technology for the first time, you might be wondering, ‘What can I do with a car’s infotainment system?’ Different manufacturers offer different features, but our team thought it would be helpful to highlight some of the more common functions. Let’s take a look at a few things you might find interesting.  Read the rest of this entry >>

A stock photo of a person pouring motor oil into an engine.

Take a look at some new info that could add life to your car, truck or SUV

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Posted in Tips and Tricks

Is it ok to switch to using synthetic motor oil? 

There is a lot of new information available to people who own modern cars, trucks and SUVs to help them get the most life out of their vehicles as possible. Some of that information might contradict what was once thought of as conventional wisdom. One of the hottest debates in the automotive world is the effectiveness of synthetic motor oil and people asking their mechanics, ‘Is it ok to switch to using synthetic motor oil?’ There aren’t many vehicles built in the last 10 or so years that use conventional motor oil. But if you do have one of these platforms, the mileage is probably piling up and you might need to make some changes. These videos will probably come in handy. If your current vehicle has reached the end of its life, please make an appointment with a Third Coast Auto Group product expert today.  Read the rest of this entry >>

A stock photo of a person reading a vehicle's owner's manual.

You can get more than 100,000 miles from your vehicle with these tips

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Posted in FAQs, Tips and Tricks

How do I make my car last more than 100,000 miles? 

When someone buys a vehicle, that purchase will likely represent a large amount of personal capital tied up into a single asset. It only makes sense that vehicle owners will want their cars, trucks and SUVs to perform as intended for as long as possible. If you’re wondering, ‘How do I make my car last more than 100,000 miles,’ a few Third Coast Auto Group product experts got together to do a little research. It may seem like a complex problem to solve, but it doesn’t take an extensive knowledge of automotive engineering to get the most out of almost any vehicle. Take a look at these tips before you give up on your current vehicle.  Read the rest of this entry >>

A stock photo of a person sitting behind the wheel of their car.

New drivers don’t need several hundred-horsepower

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Posted in Safety, Tips and Tricks

How do I pick out a car for a new driver? 

There are few more exciting milestones for a person to reach than getting their driver’s license. Once those new drivers have their license to drive, they will need something to drive. Third Coast Auto Group product experts get asked, ‘How do I pick out a car for a new driver,’ quite a lot. On any given day there are several pairs of nervous parents and excited teenage drivers looking around our showrooms. Buying a brand new, high-performance vehicle for a new driver is not only not practical, but it’s wholly inadvisable, according to traffic safety experts. Over the years our team has learned what does and does not make a good first vehicle. Let’s take a look at a few things you might need to know.  Read the rest of this entry >>

A photo of a person driving a vehicle with a manual transmission.

Are you doing something that will destroy your vehicle’s transmission?

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Posted in Tips and Tricks

Bad Automatic and Manual Transmission Habits 

There might not be a more terrifying thing to hear in a repair shop than, ‘Your transmission is shot.’ Those four words mean a person is either going to be shelling out a few thousand dollars in repair bills or they are going to be walking home. Some of us have probably picked up some bad automatic and manual transmission habits that could lead to hearing those fateful words. The popular YouTube channel, Engineering Explained, produced a couple of easy-to-understand videos that will go over some things you should never do in a vehicle with either type of transmission. If you know your vehicle has a transmission that is starting to go bad, make an appointment with a Third Coast Auto Group product expert to find something more reliable.  Read the rest of this entry >>

A stock photo of a person looking at a vehicle.

Do you know what to look for when buying a used vehicle?

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Posted in FAQs, Tips and Tricks

What should I look for when buying a used car? 

If you weren’t already aware, Third Coast Auto Group exclusively deals with pre-owned vehicles and we do our best to make sure that everyone finds a safe, reliable and affordable vehicle. There are a lot of great reasons for choosing to buy a used vehicle versus a new one. However, that will also come with a certain amount of uncertainty – especially when you’re dealing with a private seller. The team of product experts working at Third Coast Auto Group does their very best every day to take that apprehension from the process. Part of the is educating buyers before they visit one of our locations. If you’re wondering, ‘What should I look for when buying a used car,’ our team has some tips. Let’s take a closer look.   Read the rest of this entry >>

A stock photo of a gear lever in a vehicle with a manual transmission.

Are you basing your car-buying decisions on outdated information

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Posted in Just for Fun, Tips and Tricks

Are cars with a manual transmission more fuel-efficient? 

In the 100-plus years automobiles have been in production, the platform has come such a long way. Even the changes made in the 10 to 15 years can make a car buyer’s head spin. One question that gets asked quite a bit at Third Coast Auto Group showroom is, ‘Are cars with a manual transmission more fuel-efficient?’ Like so many other things in the automotive world, this is one of those things that started off true but has since changed. In fact, modern automatic transmissions can offer so much more than just strong fuel economy scores and manual transmissions are becoming rarer. Let’s take a look at a few things you might need to know for your search for a new (to you) vehicle.  Read the rest of this entry >>

A stock photo of a table set of Thanksgiving dinner.

Are you breaking out the air fryer for Thanksgiving? Watch this first!

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Posted in Technology, Tips and Tricks

Thanksgiving Turkey Air Fryer Tips Videos 

We are just a week away from Thanksgiving and you may have chosen to scale back your plans to keep yourself and your family safe during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. If it will just be you and your in-house family, you probably don’t need to cook a huge turkey in the oven, when there are other modern kitchen appliances at your disposal. Our team was talking about their modified Thanksgiving dinner plans and found these Thanksgiving turkey air fryer tips videos from the professionals at Consumer Reports. Regardless of what you choose to do with your holiday season, everyone at Third Coast Auto Group wants you to have a safe and happy time with your loved ones. If a new vehicle would make that easier, come talk to us when your schedule opens up again.  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 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 >>