MISSISSAUGA, ON – Old Man Winter’s still got a lot of life left in him; just ask Ontario drivers sloppily struggling through February 8th’s massive snowstorm! It’s times like these when the chickens of car-maintenance procrastination come home to roost, possibly preventing you from coming home at all.
CarCostCanada, a subsidiary of Mississauga-based Armada Data Corporation (TSX-V: ARD), is a national service that has provided online, new-car pricing data for its members since its founding in 1999. As experts in vehicle valuation and evaluation, CarCostCanada knows that being prepared isn’t just for Boy (and Girl) Scouts anymore.
“It’s just common sense. If something’s going to go wrong with your car or truck, it will probably happen when road conditions are at their worst,” states Ben Spatafora, National Director of Dealer Development for CarCostCanada. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” continues Spatafora, “it’s worth your peace of mind, and it can also profoundly affect the worth of your vehicle.”
Regardless of where you live, how cold it gets or how snowy your local winter can be, seasonal vehicle maintenance makes sense and saves cents. CarCostCanada has over a decade’s worth of data charting how vehicle values vary over time, and in the interest of Canadian drivers coast to coast they have distilled the watchwords of winter driving down to 5 crucial considerations every winter driver should abide by:
* Knowledge Is Key: If you’re old enough to drive, you’re old enough to know that winter driving can be tough sledding. It’s also likely you’ve had some experience driving in fair weather and a working knowledge of how your car handles at the best of times. Well, here’s a news flash – winter weather is for the majority of drivers, the worst of times, and the shorter number of daylight hours just compounds the problem. Knowing what to expect before you hit the road can help ensure you don’t hit anything ON the road.
* Don’t Leave Home Without Them: Some dealers and leasing companies provide road emergency kits as a courtesy to their customers. These kits contain a variety of essential items such as road maps, a flashlight, matches in a waterproof container, a reflective hazard sign and more. It’s a good idea to check your emergency kit before winter arrives to make sure all the essential parts are in working order. Imagine your car having a problem out in the middle of nowhere one night; you reach for your flashlight… but the batteries are dead. Don’t let this happen to you!
* Tired Tires, Weary Wipers: Winter is when you need your tires and windshield wipers to perform at their best. Unfortunately, tires and wipers nearing the end of their service lives often aren’t up to the task. Get a head start on the winter driving season by starting fresh with new winter or all-season tires and install a set of heavy-duty wiper blades.
* Heaters and Thermostats: Avoid being left out in the cold this winter by having your vehicle’s heater and thermostat checked each autumn. Cold weather puts extra strain on parts designed to heat up quickly and a heater that won’t warm a vehicle is aggravating at the very least. As well, be sure to check your vehicle’s Cabin Air Filter and replace it if necessary. A clogged filter restricts airflow and that’s not what you want when dialing up some interior heat.
* Fluids? Check!: Winter is when liquid rain turns to solid snow; are the fluids in your vehicle going to follow suit? Automobile manufacturers often recommend vehicle owners change to seasonal formulations designed to function best in certain temperature ranges, and this is advice that definitely should be followed. In addition, checking the oil is only one of many fluid checks drivers should perform on a regular basis. Transmission fluid, brake fluid, window washer fluid… when the fluids stop running, so will your car or truck.
“Better safe than sorry” as the old adage goes, and when it comes to winter driving this is one case where folk wisdom is as good as fact. Last but not least, Canadian winters can last a long time so while it’s great to get the jump on Old Man Winter before the snow flies, it’s really never too late to winterize your vehicle. For further information, please visit www.CarCostCanada.com and Like Us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/carcostcanada/
ABOUT ARMADA DATA CORPORATION
Armada Data Corporation is a web-enabled Automobile Information Services company providing accurate and real-time pricing data to institutional and retail customers on a fee for service basis. The Company creates, owns and operates income producing automobile websites in both the Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Consumer (B2C) verticals. Shares of the Company are listed for trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “ARD”. Armada Data has 13,598,831 shares outstanding.
For further information, please contact:
Nelson Hudes
Hudes Communications International
Tel: 905-660-9155
Email: nelson@hudescommunications.com