Category Archives: Tips and Tricks

Third Coast Auto Group Trade-In Options with a background of people at a car dealership talking to a representative

Get a Good Trade-In Price at Third Coast Auto Group

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Posted in Finance, Tips and Tricks, Used Cars

Third Coast Auto Group has four dealership locations in the Austin area where drivers with no credit, poor credit, or bad credit can find financing for a used vehicle. But did you know that you can also sell your car to Third Coast Auto Group? We offer a good trade-in value and competitive purchasing prices for many vehicles. You can get a Kelley Blue Book Instant Cash Offer price for your vehicle at our dealership, or even make more with us than you would by going through CarMax. Read the rest of this entry >>

the words Explore the Advantages of Cylinder Deactivation with a V-6 EcoTec3 engine from Chevrolet in 2014

Learn All About: Cylinder Deactivation and Fuel Economy

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Posted in Chevrolet, Technology, Tips and Tricks

If you are looking for a new or used truck, or are exploring some of the latest new engine options in vehicles ranging from heavy-duty pickups to midsize sedans, you may be seeing the term “cylinder deactivation” bandied about. But what is cylinder deactivation? And how does it help drivers get better gas mileage? Explore the advantages and disadvantages of cylinder deactivation in this blog! Read the rest of this entry >>

man and a woman holding a paper heart up to cover their mouths

Austin Valentine’s Day Date Ideas 2018

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Posted in Community, Tips and Tricks

Dinner and a movie or a show are pretty standard options for Valentine’s Day. This year, why not explore a unique option? Doing something special with your loved one for the holiday will make it a Valentine’s Day to remember, and give you memories to strengthen your relationship. Here are a few of our top choices for Austin Valentine’s Day date ideas 2018 that are a little out of the ordinary (because you and your SO deserve the extraordinary). Unless noted, all of these take place on Feb. 14, 2018. Read the rest of this entry >>

person changing gears in a car, seen from the level of the gear shifter

Why are there so many speeds on an automatic transmission?

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Posted in Technology, Tips and Tricks

In the past we’ve talked about the differences between a manual and an automatic transmission. For the manual, you get that visceral feeling of changing gears, and the effort to find the perfect one for every driving situation. Automatic transmissions take that challenge away. But that begs the question why we have more than drive, park, reverse and neutral on an automatic transmission. When do you use gear two or three when driving an automatic? We’re going to look at a few of the answers to these questions below. Read the rest of this entry >>

person pouring oil into an engine from a red plastic oil container

Services You Need and Services You Don’t

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Posted in Tips and Tricks

When it comes to maintaining your vehicle, there are some basic services that can add a lot of value and life to your vehicle. There are other services that most of the time you really don’t need. But what preventative car maintenance do you need? And what don’t you need? While the best answer to this question is in your owner’s manual (which can often be found online) there are some things to watch out for. Read the rest of this entry >>

a Honda Odyssey and Chevy Suburban side separated, with a caption "Best for families" a minivan or three-row crossover?"

Are minivans or crossovers better for families?

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Posted in Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Tips and Tricks, Toyota

When it comes to getting yourself and your family where you need to go, it’s important to find the right vehicle. While a compact or midsize sedan, or a smaller crossover or SUV might be just fine if you have a smaller family, more than two or three kids will require a larger vehicle. That is where minivans and three-row crossovers come into play. But are minivans or crossovers better for families? Explore some of the factors below. Read the rest of this entry >>

two cars driving down a very snowy, tree-lined road

How to drive cautiously if it snows in Austin, and correct a skid safely

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Posted in Tips and Tricks

We don’t get much ice or snow here in Austin (thank goodness), but when it arrives that also means many people are unprepared. With the Polar Vortex messing up weather across the country, we thought we would blog a little about being ready in the case of crazy ice. The best way to drive safely in ice and snow is to drive slowly, and expect that your brakes may have more trouble than usual bringing you to a stop. But if the worst should happen, how can you correct a car slide on ice? We have the three steps for that below. Read the rest of this entry >>

man pushing his vehicle off the road

Common reason a vehicle stops while driving

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Posted in Tips and Tricks

Cars are complex compilations of moving parts, which means that there are many ways for them to fail. One of the scariest things that can happen is for your car to simply stop running while you are on the road. Whether you are going 25 mph around a roundabout or flying at 85 mph down the highway, suddenly losing power in your vehicle can be terrifying. Here are a few reasons why your car could stop running while driving. Read the rest of this entry >>

side view of several stacked and fanned-out credit cards

Holiday Credit Card Safety 101

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Posted in Finance, Tips and Tricks

‘Tis the season for Christmas shopping and ice skating, but December is also a big month for credit card scammers to work overtime. With many people making large charges for Christmas presents, it’s a good time for criminals with stolen credit card numbers to sneak in under the radar. In this blog we are going to talk a little about how to prevent credit card fraud during the holidays (or any time) and what to do if you become a victim of this sort of attack. Read the rest of this entry >>

A woman driving a vehicle

What does “Top Safety Pick” mean, and why does it change?

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Posted in Tips and Tricks

When buying a new or quality used car, it can be important to get one that offers valuable safety options. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has been doing evaluations on the safety of vehicles for years, including several different crash tests and even rating crash prevention technology and headlights. Ratings from the IIHS include “Top Safety Pick” and “Top Safety Pick Plus”. The criteria for these safety honors is slightly different almost every year, which means that a vehicle that won in one year may or may not the next. But why do IIHS safety ratings change every year?  Read the rest of this entry >>