Tag Archives: features

Getting That 1st Place!!

Car and Driver recently came out with their 2015 Editors Choices for top vehicles! Guess what?! The Jeep Grand Cherokee took 1st place for mid-sized crossovers and SUVS!! The Grand Cherokee excels at climbing mountains and social circles.

2014 Jeep Grand cherokee

It offers a variety of powertrains: a 3.6-liter V-6, a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8, a 3.0-liter turbo-diesel, and the SRT variant’s 6.4-liter Hemi V-8. There’s also the choice of three 4×4 systems plus Quadra-Lift air suspension with five height settings. Comfortable interiors are trimmed with high-quality materials and offer upscale options. Buyers can step into a four-wheel-drive, V-6 Grand Cherokee for as little as $31,790 in entry-level Laredo trim. Jeep offers the Limited and the more luxurious, Summit, trim levels as well; the $47,190 Overland sits between those two.

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland

The $1795 Advanced Technology Group, which brings adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning and mitigation, and blind-spot monitoring with cross-path detection! Pair that with the ample space in the Jeeps cabin, the panoramic sunroof and of course the worlds simplest yet most advanced media center, the Uconnect 8.4AN!

All of this is available at Woody’s Automotive Group! We have the Jeeps, we have the technology, we have it all!

Chrysler 200 Proves Its Worth

The 200 comes in four trim levels. The LX is the options-light entry-level package, starting at $21,700. The Limited trim clocks in at a starting price of $23,255. The S — what we drove — is Chrysler’s sports-sedan trim. At $24,495, the car comes with leather-trimmed sport seats, a tighter, sports-tuned suspension, 18-inch rims, paddle-shifters, and dark-finished interior and exterior accents. More on all that later. The top-of-the-line 200C starts at $25,995, though if you feel like treating yourself, a checklist full of options can push the car well north of $36,000.

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All 200s come standard with a 184-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and Chrysler’s nine-speed automatic transmission. The 200S and 200C are available with Chrysler’s award-winning 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6, which pumps out 295 horsepower. All-wheel drive is available in the 200S and 200C, albeit for an extra $4,200.

The styling of the 200 makes it an attractive car. Some have complained that it looks too much like something else; but if that something else is an Audi or Hyundai Genesis and not the old 200, it seems as if Chrysler’s doing something right.

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And the 200 actually can be fun to drive. The V-6 has power-a-plenty and it works quite well with the nine-speed. So well, in fact, that the paddle shifters seem kind of pointless. Keep your expectations realistic, but putting the car in sport mode adds to the fun by changing up the throttle response andshift points and tightening the steering. The V-6 also sounds good, especially at higher revs.2015-Chrysler-200S-EXT-GIF-HEADER1

So now the 200 can stop pretending. It is in fact a highly competitive vehicle in the mid-sized sedan class!

A headlight is just a headlight, right? Not anymore!

Woody's Automotive Group Headlight Service

A headlight is just a headlight, right? At one time this may have been true, but today there are three main options for manufacturers and auto buyers to choose from. Headlamp technology has evolved over the years, but does newer always mean better? I guess it depends on what you’re looking for in a headlight.

The first up is the trusty, time-tested halogen headlamp. Most vehicles on the road today are using halogen lights. This is the oldest of the three options found on new vehicles, but it’s still widely used today because it’s primary advantage is longevity and cost. Under normal conditions, a halogen bulb will last about 1,000 hours and the replacement lamps are usually inexpensive to replace. So why not use them in everything? Halogen isn’t exactly the best example of efficiency. Lots of the energy used by a halogen lamp is turned into heat and is just wasted. If you’re driving an electric car or a hybrid, you can’t afford to be wasting your power in the form of throw-away heat. One thing to remember when changing a halogen bulb is to not touch the glass with your fingers. By wearing gloves, you can keep the salt from the moisture in your skin away from the glass. These salts can compromise the way the glass will resist the high temperatures created by the filament.

Halogen Advantages: – Long life – Bright illumination – Inexpensive replacements

Halogen Disadvantages: – Energy wasting – Extra care when handling

Next up is the Xenon headlight, or the HID (High Intensity Discharge) headlamp. These are generally regarded as a more efficient solution because they generate more light and have a better color temperature (to the naked eye, they appear to have a blue tint). These lamps can generate more than twice the light of a traditional halogen lamp. More light is a good thing, right? If you’re driving with HID lamps, yes. If you’re the oncoming traffic, not so much. For all the light they generate, an HID lamp should last about 2000 hours under normal conditions. These lamps do cost a little more to produce, install, and replace. Another thing to consider is that some of the Xenon lamps may contain toxic substances like mercury.

HID Advantages: – A longer lifetime than halogen lamps – More efficient than halogen lamps – Better visibility for the driver

HID Disadvantages: – Lots of glare for other drivers – All around higher costs than halogen – Harmful materials MAY be found in the lamps

The third major type of headlight used today is the LED, or Light Emitting Diode. These lamps are certainly a leap forward in technology, but they still have a ways to go. Don’t get me wrong- this type of light still has plenty of advantages and it could take over the headlamp world in a few years. These lamps need very low power to work, which is why they are the lamp of choice in electric and hybrid vehicles where electricity is a premium commodity. Also, an LED lamp is usually pretty small compared to a traditional headlamp, allowing manufacturers to produce all kinds of shapes and configurations that wouldn’t have been possible with the older headlights. Although these don’t create the heat that the other lamps do, there is still a certain amount of heat created at the base of the emitter. This hot-spot does create a potential risk for nearby assemblies and cables. This is the primary reason that these lamps aren’t used more frequently. Currently, production costs are pretty high for LED’s, and they mostly offered as options.

LED Advantages: – Very low energy consumption – Small size allowing for different configurations

LED Disadvantages: – High production costs – Not the brightest – Could cause heat damage to nearby assemblies

So how well does your car see in the dark? Come see the experts at the Woody’s Automotive Group today!

What a chunk of change!

The first production 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat sold for $825,000 during the Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas 2014 auction Saturday.

“The VIN0001 muscle car was not only one of the hottest cars that rolled through the Barrett-Jackson auction lanes, it is also the ultimate collectible 2015 Dodge Challenger as Dodge is ensuring there will never be another one like it,” said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge and SRT brands president and CEO, in a statement.

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The auctioned Challenger Hellcat included a special 6.2-liter supercharger engine cover and a “Hemi Orange” painted presentation containing an iPad with a video documentary that shows the step-by-step building of the car.

Money raised from the Challenger Hellcat auction benefited Opportunity Village, a not-for-profit organization that serves people with significant intellectual disabilities in the Las Vegas area. The Engelstad Family Foundation of Las Vegas matched the auction price, bringing the grand total raised for Opportunity Village to $1.65 million.

Back-up camera? Yeah, everybody’s got one. What the heck’s a CHMSL camera?

CHMSL Camera in action!

You tell people about the back-up camera on your truck and their reaction is usually something like “I’ve had one for years. So what?” Well, if your driving a RAM with a Center High Mounted Stopping Light Camera, now you can start a conversation! Everyone who’s hauled a load in the back of a truck has at one time or another thought to themselves “I wonder what’s going on back there. Have I lost anything?” With a CHMSL camera, those unsure feelings are over. This camera is part of the brake light assembly above the back window and it covers the bed of the truck as well as about 4-5 feet around the back of the truck. The best part about this type of camera is that it can be turned on while you’re driving. Hear a rattling noise while your gooseneck is attached? A quick flip of the switch and you’ll see exactly what’s going on back there. Is that noise a loose pop can or is one of the straps that’s supposed to be securing my load hitting the side of the truck? Just one glance & you’ll know for sure. Interested? Check it out with your favorite sales advisor at the Woody’s Automotive Group today | 888-869-0963

You Don’t Buy A Hellcat For The Mileage, Right?!

The “most powerful muscle car ever,” as it comes billed, will be EPA rated at 13 miles per gallon in the city, 22 mpg on the highway for a combined 16 mpg for the eight-speed automatic-transmission version. For the manual shifter, deduct 1 mpg on the highway.

The Hellcat, with a 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V-8 engine, will get better highway gas mileage than a $425,845 12-cylinder Lamborghini Aventador roadster, which comes in at 10 mpg in the city, 16 mpg on the highway and 12 mpg overall, Chrysler points out. he 2014 Ford Mustang with a 5.8-liter V-8 engine achieves 15 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway and 18 mpg overall. The Chevrolet Camaro with a 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 engine racks up 12 mpg city, 18 highway and 14 overall.

“The new 2015 Dodge Challenger is the perfect street / strip muscle car,” said Tim Kuniskis, President and CEO – Dodge and SRT Brands. “As the fastest muscle car ever, the Challenger Hellcat can run 10-second ETs at the track, and then get 22 miles per gallon on the drive home. With a starting price of $59,995, there’s nothing else that even comes close.”

Ram 3500- Beast Mode!

Whether you carry your weight in a trailer or in your cargo box, Ram Heavy Duty trucks offer Best-in-Class max towing and Best-in-Class Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings  when equipped with the available 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel engine. When mated to the available AISIN automatic transmission, it generates 850 pound-feet of maximum torque, with a maximum towing capacity of 30,000 pounds. And with the Electronic Range Select and tow/haul mode, you can take control and get the job done with confidence.

Check out this cool Ram Trucks video!

The available class-exclusive RamBox Cargo Management System offers lockable storage with the push of a key fob button. And with lighted, drainable storage, it’s perfect for tools, gear or beverages.

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Uconnect In All It’s Glory!

With Chrysler LLC, the purchase of a new vehicle offers up the delight of a Uconnect system! This extremely sophisticated media center is equipped with an easy to use interface. The Uconnect system offers: Entertainment, Navigation, Internet Access (if subscribed), Bluetooth Connections and Streaming, Safety Functions and more! All located on an 8.4″ touchscreen, this easily navigated system is frosting on the cake with your new vehicle!

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  Premium Sound! Beats Audio, Alpine, Harman Kardon, Infinity, Boston Acoustics. Your multi-speaker sound system and built-in HD radio is guaranteed to deliver a memorable driving experience as you roll on down the road.

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  Comfort is always an important feature with driving those long distances! Adjustyour seat or your cabin temperature; select a new music station; or make a call without taking your eyes from the road. All your radio, touchscreen and steering wheel controls are designed to be easy to find and easy to use.

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Serpentine belt? Well, that sounds scary!

Woody's will replace your serpentine belt 01

Back in the day, auto mechanics had to replace multiple belts when they worked on a car. Today, one belt called a “serpentine belt” has replaced all these.

It also used to be, that to determine when to replace a serpentine belt, you checked for numerous cracks across the different “ribs” of the belt. This belt shows numerous cracks per inch:

Woody's will replace your serpentine belt 01

If you don’t address a problem belt, you risk the breaking that belt and being stranded on the side of the road. Most serpentine belts will need replacing once every 5 years, depending on the number of miles you’ve driven.

Times are changing- new polymers are used to make serpentine belts and it keeps them from developing the telltale cracks. These belts do wear out and need to be replaced, however. The material on the belt wears much like a tire does. Over time, the belt will loose rubber and the gaps between the “ribs” will deepen. The mechanics in the Woody’s Service Department use a depth gauge to measure the wear of the belt. Trusted repair shops, like Woody’s, will inform customers when their belt has too much wear and needs to be replaced. You’ll definitely be kept in the loop! (Did you see what I did there?)

Woody’s Service Department is a full service shop that works on all makes and models. If your vehicle is need of a little attention, contact Mike Hibner for a fast, honest appraisal today!

The Technology in a Town & Country!

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So many people think a minivan is just a minivan! However, there is much more to it than meets the eye! So let’s start at the top and work our way down! Roof Racks! 

Accommodate just about anything you might carry on your journey. The Stow N Place Roof Rack can transport up to 150 pounds of properly secured cargo. When not in use, fold the crossbars down into the side rails to help improve aerodynamics and decrease wind noise. Need to get inside? No Problem! Access the power sliding doors and power liftgate in one of three ways—with your remote keyless entry, the power door lock switch on the interior front door panels or the liftgate release handle.

The sun bright out? No worries! Working double-duty, deep-tinted sunscreen glass obscures the view of objects inside your vehicle from outsiders while it helps protect passengers from the sun’s harsh rays. The storage is out of this world though!

The Stow ’n Go Seating and Storage System includes fold-in-the-floor seats and in-floor storage bins. One quick motion folds, tumbles and stows the seats into the floor. Folding the second and the third rows gives you 143.8 cubic feet of storage. The Chrysler Town & Country comes with a class-exclusive super console, which features a large driver-accessible storage area and another large storage drawer accessible by both first- and second-row passengers.

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The fun though, starts with the safety! Rear Cross Path Detection uses sensors to monitor for vehicles and objects crossing your path when you’re moving in reverse. The system alerts you with an icon in the exterior mirrors if a vehicle approaches from the left or right. Rain-Sensitive Wipers activate automatically when they detect moisture on the windshield. You don’t have to take your hands off the wheel to adjust the wiper controls as the rain level changes. The ParkSense Rear Park Assist System uses sensors that detect objects when your vehicle is moving in reverse at low speeds. The sensors determine relative distance, and readouts in the instrument cluster notify you of the proximity of the object.

The children need to have fun, too! Keep your passengers occupied with a standard dual-screen Blu-ray and DVD Entertainment System that includes second- and third-row viewing screens. Appreciate the designed-in sound of the Infinity nine-speaker system with subwoofer, standard on the Town & Country Limited. It delivers superb quality surround sound with an 11-channel amplifier and 506 watts of power.