Compact vs. SUV

It’s hard to go a day without reading or hearing about the cost of living, rents being raised and the concept of “quality of life”.  Most of us wake up every day with a list of bills and responsibilities that we need to honor and uphold, spending all of our time battling the growing debt we acquire through living beyond our means. 

Personal experiences have placed me on both ends of the spectrum.   I’ve been able to have a lot of money at my disposal, but I’ve also experienced poverty and the reality of living pay check to pay check.  What I learned by being in both situations is this.  You don’t have to over extend yourself and your finances to live a rich and fulfilling life. 

I will admit whole-heartedly that I love nice things. I love expensive, quality pieces that last a lifetime and bring beauty into my environment.  That doesn’t mean that I need to rack up a handful of credit card debt and take out that second or third on my house or condo.  It simply means that I need to budget for the items I know will cost me the most, and find creative alternatives for the “would be nice to have, but I really don’t need” items. 

For me, driving a luxurious car with all the bells and whistles is one of my “MUST HAVE” items.  My job requires me to travel quite a bit, all while lugging around bulky production equipment.  Being in a vehicle that has good gas mileage, full surround sound, navigation and plenty of storage room are my requirements. 

I’ve found that for my in-town events, The Acura ILX is my car of choice.  A zippy compact with a 8-speed dual-clutch transmission giving me quick but incredibly smooth transitions which make for a fun drive over the bridges and onto the city streets.  The sleek, stylish design keeps me looking sharp as I cruise down the Embarcadero.  But it’s the A-Spec appearance that that really sells me.  Knowing I get the sporty look without compromising the power and speed I’m so addicted to makes this a millennials dream car.

When I need to go on longer road trip, the all-new Acura RDX is my SUV of choice.  As I’ve mentioned before, my road trips require Tetris level packing skills with all the luggage and equipment I need for my job.   I found that the RDX offered me AcuraLink for real time traffic updates, parking assist and remote engine start, perfect for my on-the-go days.   While I love a compact car, the RDX gave me the ample room to load even the bulkiest of tri-pods and lighting equipment.

Both cars offer me the hybrid experience, the price for each is just low enough for me to justify the spend and still have money left to take myself out for dinner when my work is done.  Living the big city dream only works when you have the right tools, and for me, the car I drive is a huge part of that. 

To learn more about the ILX or the RDX, click on the link below!

http://www.acuraofpleasanton.com/new-inventory/index.htm

Tire Pressure Sensors. why does your Acura have them?

Why does your Acura have this system?

Tire pressure sensors or tire pressure monitoring systems have been required by law on all light vehicles (under 10,000 pounds) manufactured after September 2007. The law was in response to the Firestone tire recall of the mid 1990s. Tire pressure monitoring systems aren't new, the technology first appeared usually in higher priced European luxury models around 1986. It soon after that, the systems started to appear in luxury models across the globe. In addition to the safety aspect of having properly inflated tires, there are also potential fuel savings from lower rolling resistance.

 

The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

The most common tire pressure sensor is a battery powered DIRECT sensor (meaning it is directly mounted with the wheel and tire). It uses a radio frequency to transmit data to the instrument cluster computer in the vehicles. Usually as long as the tires are within a certain pressure range of each other, the system is set.

 

However, if one or more tires loses or gains more than a certain amount of pressure (about 20 percent to 30 percent of air pressure difference between the others) it will trigger the instrument cluster panel and set off a warning indicator light or a "low tire pressure" light. In some vehicles, there may even be an information center which will display each individual tire's air pressure.

 

 

Located on the driver's side door frame is a label with the manufacturer's recommended tire pressures for front and rear tires. While this is a guideline for air inflation, the system doesn't necessarily fault if the recommended tire pressure varies as long as all the tires have the same amount of air in them. It is important to note that some vehicles that have full-size spare tires may also have a sensor in the spare that is also monitored. Once a low tire or flat tire is detected, the dashboard warning light will illuminate and stay on until the tire has been repaired or replaced. Some tire sensor systems need to be reset after such a situation.

 

The battery powered sensors are somewhat bulky and heavier than a standard valve stem, plus the batteries do exhaust after some time. Improper tire replacement can also damage the TPMS sensor and affect the wheel balance if replacement is not performed by knowledgeable installers such as our factory trained technicians. If damaged, the replacement of the sensor is quite costly.

 

What can you do?

Just like helium balloons, tires loose some air pressure through microscopic pores in the rubber. It is common during winter months when the air temperature drops for tire air pressures to drop. Acura recommends a monthly inspection of all the tire pressures. This is a simple process and only requires an inexpensive tire pressure gauge similar to this:

 

 

 

When performing the tire pressure inspection, it is best when the tires are cold, since driving on them warms up the tire and the air pressure rises slightly. Just twist off the cap on the tire valve stem and press the inlet part onto the exposed tire stem. The gauge will pop out showing the relative tire air pressure.

 

Here at Acura of Pleasanton, we routinely inspect the tire pressures with all in shop services. This not only prevents abnormal wear on the tires but potentially saves fuel and reduces exhaust emissions from a more efficient engine. So everyone benefits from this simple inspection.

 

Feel free to contact your Sales Consultant or any of our Service Advisors if there are any questions regarding tire air pressure check or the TPMS warning light.



Valley Christian Arts Night at the Black Hawk Museum

Come follow along for a very special evening earlier this Summer with Valley Christian School of Dublin, CA for their annual Arts Night. This year it was for the first time hosted at the Black Hawk Automobile Museum in Danville, CA.

Acura of Pleasanton was proud to be both a supporter and sponsor for an evening that many students and school staff were proud of.

While being surrounded by one the Worlds largest collection of antique and vintage automobiles, many forms of art expression were on display or performed by the students through out the evening.

A silent auctions for much of the student art collection was held to help raise money and the confidence of the students for their hard work.




For more information about Valley Christian Schools please visit them at http://www.valleychristianschools.org

For more information on Acura vehicles, please visit us at www.acuraofpleasanton.com

2013 Acura ILX fits your life

The 2013 Acura ILX is sized to fit your life. Check out these videos on how the Acura ILX can work for what you do.


Acura ILX "Airport"


Acura ILX "Office"


Acura ILX - follow Jessica on her special date

Have you experienced the 2013 Acura ILX to see how it can fit your life? Our first shipment arrived and ready to show you what the all-new Acura ILX can do for you.

Call 866-695-7414 for details or go to www.acuraofpleasanton.com

2013 Acura ILX spotted at Acura of Pleasanton

The 2013 Acura ILX is no longer a Concept vehicle, come experience it in person now!

2013 Acura ILX here now

Here's what Autobytel had to say about the 2013 Acura RDX.



Give us a call at 866-650-8535 for a personal tour today.