Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Top 10 Reasons to Sign up for AAA

I received an email from the administer of the blog, Satellite Dish that they read our Keeler Motor Car Blog (gasp...someone reads this???) and thought that their post might be a good, informational post for our site.  I couldn't agree more.  Seeing as my mom just had to call AAA to help her with her flat tire (I was so very thankful that I didn't get that call!!)  So here it is and if you get a chance check out Satellite Dish and their "Top 10" blog site.

Source:  (Satellite Dish)

Originally this group was called American Automobile Association and was created when a group of motor clubs got together to create road maps because there weren’t any complete ones around.  That was in 1902 and they have come a long way since then.  Today AAA is made up of 51 auto clubs and they have over 51 million members.  Check out 10 reasons to sign up for AAA.
  1. Discounts: Discounts are available for everything from hotels, to car insurance to event tickets.  There are even some restaurants that will give a AAA discount.
  2. Roadside service: The roadside service alone is worth joining if you didn’t get anything else.  If you have a flat tire, run out of gas or have a dead battery AAA will send help to you locally so they can get you back on the road quickly.
  3. Triptik: These turn-by-turn detailed directions are unmatched by any other roadside service company.  You can include various destinations into the trip and the Triptik will include directions to each destination and then continue on the trip.
  4. Auto insurance: AAA has top-notch car insurance and boasts that they can save you money over the other large insurance companies.  If you join it would be well worth your while to get a quote on car insurance to see if they can save you some money.
  5. Travel agency: Everything from planning and booking cruises to booking airline tickets and hotel reservations are available through the professional AAA travel agency.
  6. Help buying a car: You can research the car you are interested in and do side-by-side comparisons of your top choice.  AAA has all of the latest information about each make and model of car.
  7. Gas price survey: AAA surveys over 100,000 different self-serve gas stations all over the country to find out their current gas prices.  These surveys are done on a daily basis so you can plan your journey to take you to the least expensive gas.
  8. Defensive driving course: If you take this online course you can receive a discount on your car insurance.  Otherwise, if you have received a moving violation and you have not taken the course in a year then you can take this course to get your ticket dismissed.
  9. Travel information and tips: Find a list of what to pack in your RV for vacation.  What do you need to know about driving in a desert?  Which cruises are the best if I want to bring my kids?
  10. Hotel rating system: To even be rated each hotel has to meet 27 standards of excellent service.  Then AAA will rate each hotel from one diamond up to five diamonds.  One diamond is a budget friendly option with no extras.  A five-diamond hotel will be a luxury hotel that is pretty expensive, but it will have all of the amenities.  The rest fall somewhere in between.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

700 BMW ActiveE coming this summer at $499 per month.

The BMW ActiveE, the first full-electric BMW available to customers, was unveiled today in advance of the New York International Auto Show, where it will make its North American debut. This is another significant step in the BMW Group’s commitment to be a sustainable leader in automotive products and services.
Based on the 1 Series Coupe, the BMW ActiveE will accelerate from 0-60 mph in under nine seconds, making it the first electric vehicle to combine the dynamic characteristics typical of a BMW with the zero-emissions benefits of driving an electric vehicle.  It will incorporate specially-designed lithium ion batteries which are being used for the first time and that allow for a range of around 100 miles in everyday driving.
The batteries will feature liquid heating and cooling, as well as the ability to pre-condition the system while connected to the grid enabling maximum range capability regardless of ambient conditions.
Seven hundred BMW ActiveE vehicles will be coming to the U.S. beginning this fall in metropolitan New York and other select US metropolitan markets. A 24-month lease will be offered for $499 per month with a down payment of $2,250. The reservation process will begin in late summer 2011.
“The BMW ActiveE is part of our ongoing strategy to develop environmentally friendly, yet high-performance vehicles,” said Rich Steinberg, manager of Electric Vehicle Operations and Strategy, BMW NA. “It brings us another step closer to the realization of the BMW i3, which we will launch in 2013.”
In order to help consumers determine if an ActiveE is right for them, the new app, BMW Evolve is now available for download from the Apple iTunes Store and later this month in the Android Marketplace. It was developed with the input of our MINI E drivers and will help drivers track their daily driving habits, regardless of their current car in order to determine if a full-electric vehicle like the BMW ActiveE will fit their lifestyle.  Read the full press release by BMW after the jump.


Keeler Motor Car Company holds fundraiser to benefit the Children's Hospital at Albany Medical Center

During the month of April through May 6th, Keeler Motor Car Company is holding a fundraiser to benefit the Children's Hospital at Albany Medical Center.  For every test drive taken, Keeler Motor Car will donate $25!  It's as simple as that.  Maybe you're in the market for a new car or maybe you just always wanted to drive a Mercedes-Benz S-Class or BMW 5 Series.  You do not have to purchase the car just come in, test drive and know that you just made a contribution to a very worthwhile cause.  Keeler Motor Car is located on Rt. 7, 1111 Troy-Schenectady Rd in Latham, NY just 5 minutes from downtown Albany or short 1/2 hour drive from Saratoga Springs!  Hope we see you soon.