One of the best ways to keep your car on the road longer is to perform regular maintenance. This includes things like oil changes, tire rotations, and engine tune-ups. By keeping up with these simple tasks, you can avoid more serious and expensive problems down the road.

Spark Plugs And Wires

In addition to regular maintenance, changing your spark plugs and wires proactively help extend the life of your car. Over time, these parts can wear out and cause problems with your engine.

Cabin Filter and Air Filter

Change your cabin air filter and engine air filter. One affects the airflow in your car and the other affects the airflow to your engine. Both are important for keeping your car running smoothly.

Fuel Injectors & EGR Valves

Check your fuel injectors.  Although not part of a standard service maintenance schedule, they start to deteriorate. You'll have a check engine light come on. Another major component that a lot of people fail to talk about when they just tune ups is the EGR valve or the exhaust gas recirculation valve. These should be checked and replaced according to your manufacturer's recommendations.

A faulty EGR valve can cause  all sorts of engine performance problems, including a loss of power and fuel economy.

Tires

Most people recognize the importance of having good tires on your car for  traction, safety, and gas mileage. But did you know that the condition of your tires can also have an impact on your electrical components. It's possible to have vibrations from your tires that will loosen battery terminals and other electrical connections. So, not only do you want to have good tread on your tires for safety, but you also want to keep an eye on any loose wires  or terminals.

By following these simple tips, you can keep your car running smoothly for years to come.

Why Checking Your Tire Pressure Is Important

But Having One Sure Is Nice!

Owning a vehicle with a third row seat can be an incredibly desirable option for families and individuals alike. Popular vehicles such as the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Chevrolet Suburban, and Ford Explorer all offer great options when it comes to seating arrangements with up to 8 passengers or even more if you opt for bench seating.

Families love the convenience of being able to transport all their kids at once without having to cram them in a smaller vehicle, while individuals appreciate the flexibility that a third row seat provides them when it comes to hauling extra cargo in their trunk or taking friends along on road trips.

The biggest advantage that a third row seat offers is the sheer amount of space it provides for storage. You can simply fold down the third row seat and load up all your bags without fear of running out of space. This also makes grocery shopping easier as well since you can use the extra room for carrying larger items like cases of water or boxes of cereal with ease.

Another big benefit of owning a vehicle with a third row seat is that it adds another layer of comfort when traveling long distances. The extra legroom allows passengers to stretch out during those seemingly endless road trips without having anyone sitting immediately behind them kicking their seats—which is always welcome news! Additionally, many vehicles with third row seats come equipped with air conditioning vents in the rear so everyone will stay comfortable during those hot summer months too.

In short, investing in a cars with 3rd row seating provide practicality and convenience not just for large families but also those who value comfort and space in their cars. If you're looking for added flexibility and storage options then these might just be perfect choices for you!

Do You Need A Car With More Room?

It can be tough to find the perfect car that fits your needs and your budget. We carry a variety used cars including those with 3rd row seating. If we don't have it we can find it for you.

Contact us today so we can help you get in the car you've been looking for

What Is A Good Deal On A Car

Everyone wants to get the best deal on a car they can, It's human nature and makes financial sense. However, getting that deal isn't always up to the car dealership. Your budget, credit score and trade-in value all play significant factors in what you actually pay for your car.

Know Your Budget

Most people think a budget is what you can afford monthly, but it also determines what cars and the features will have. A car that you like may have several trim levels with different features, but they will come at a higher price. So know your budget and research cars and trim levels that fit in it.

Know Your Must Haves

If you've done your research then you probably have an idea of what you're looking for. But It's important to know your must-haves in a vehicle. For some people, it might be four-wheel drive or a sunroof, but for others, it might be heated seats and remote start.

Know Your Can Do With Outs

After you know your must haves, you can start looking at what you can do without. It all ties back into your budget and what you're willing to spend. If you're not worried about having the latest and greatest features, then you can probably get by with a base model vehicle.

With your budget, must have, and do with outs in mind, head to a dealership and have a conversation with the salesperson. They will be able to guide you to a vehicle that fits your needs best. You will then have a better understanding of what a good deal on a car looks like.

Are You Ready To Buy Your Next Used Car?

Buying a car can be stressful – but it doesn't have to be. Our team will work with you every step of the way to make sure the process goes smoothly. Call us today to get started.

How To Check Your Antifreeze

It may not cross most people's minds, but checking your car's antifreeze protection level is an important part of regular maintenance. Anti-freeze helps protect your car from damage caused by cold weather, and keeping it at the proper level could save you from costly repairs down the road. In this article, we will show you how to check your car's antifreeze protection level and what to do if it needs to be adjusted.

What You Need

Before you begin, there are a few items you need for the job:

• An anti-freeze tester: These are usually sold for just a few dollars at any auto parts store.

• Paper towel or rag: This will help keep the anti-freeze off of surfaces like paint that could get damaged.

• Ziplock bag: This will help keep dirt out of your anti-freeze tester while you’re not using it.

Step 1: Locate The Reservoir

The first step is to locate the reservoir where your car’s anti-freeze is stored. This is usually in the engine compartment, and it looks like a plastic container with a lid on top (as seen in Figure 1). There should also be a warning label telling you not to open the lid while the fluid is hot – so always make sure that your car has been sitting idle for at least two hours before proceeding! 

Step 2: Testing The Anti-Freeze

Now that you have located the reservoir, insert the end of your tester into the fluid (you may have to use a straw attached to the bottom of the tester). Then pump up and down until about half of the fluid has been drawn up into the glass chamber on top (Figure 2). Now look at how many “balls” are floating on top of the fluid; this number tells you how well protected your car is against extreme cold temperatures (see Table 1 below). Once done testing, pour any remaining liquid into its original container, then wipe off any residue with paper towel or rag. 

Step 3: Storing The Tester

After testing, take a ziplock bag and store your anti-freeze tester in it until its next use. This will help keep dust and dirt off of it when it’s not in use! And don't forget - always remember that antifreeze is poisonous so make sure none gets on any surfaces outside of its original container!   

Checking your car's antifreeze protection level doesn't have to be difficult or complicated; with these simple steps anyone can do it themselves! With regular testing every few months, you'll know exactly how well protected against extreme cold temperatures your vehicle really is - potentially saving yourself hundreds or thousands of dollars in repairs down the line!

Anytime you look online for tips on buying or financing a car, the articles you see oftentimes focus on how to find the lowest interest rates. These articles are catered to people with good-to-excellent credit. But what happens if your credit isn’t so good?

If you’ve had credit challenges in the past then you are going to pay a higher interest rate than most other people, that’s just how it is and there is no getting around it (unless you spend years rebuilding your credit before you buy a car). I have had people sit right across from me and tell me that they are not going to pay 29.99% interest on a car loan, and I completely understand where they’re coming from, I wouldn’t want to pay that much either. The truth is, I have had to pay high interest rates like that multiple times. The first time was when I had absolutely no credit and the second time was when my credit was destroyed. Both times the only banks that would take a chance on me were banks offering 29.99% interest. 

Many people see these high interest rates and think that it’s the dealership who is just ripping them off. I can tell you right now that it’s not our fault, we are at the mercy of the banks we deal with. Oftentimes we have to pay them in order to get your approval processed. What can you do if you’ve got challenged credit but need a car? What is the most fiscally responsible way to go through the car-buying process? For starters, see if you’ve got a trusted relative or friend who will cosign for you. A cosigner who has decent credit is a great way to get a lower rate. 

If you have no way of getting a lower rate with a cosigner then you’ll need to be smart about your decision. Remember that this isn’t going to be your dream car and any decent car that will last a few years will do the trick as this is just a temporary fix while you build your credit back up. A loan at 29.99% interest will likely be for about 4 years. You should look at this as a 2-year loan. What I mean by that is you should plan on paying double every month to pay off this high interest loan much faster. Paying double on a 29.99% loan means you’re only going to end up paying 14.98% interest. 

Remember, YOU are in control, not the bank. You are in control of how quickly your loan gets paid off. The longer you take to pay it off, the more in interest you will end up paying. Also think of this high-interest loan as a test. If you can pass this test then the next time you need help from another bank or finance company they will trust you more. More trust means a smaller interest rate. So use these high-interest loans to your advantage to rebuild your credit and gain more trust with other lenders for your next car when the time comes. 

It’s a new year and that means everyone is setting out to tackle their New Year’s resolutions, and hopefully they will be successful! Some may want to lose weight, others want to quit smoking, but their resolutions are almost always something that will improve their lives. Many people (myself included) get stuck attempting the same resolutions over and over, so why not try something different? 

How about a resolution to improve your credit score? Having a low credit score can be costly over time, so why not change that? Sure, you could open some small-balance credit cards, or you could try using a self-reporting, secured card like Chime’s credit builder or Discover’s IT card. This process certainly works, but it’s a long and slow process. These options, however, carry little weight for those who are seeking to outright borrow money from a lender, not just use up revolving debt. 

A lot of people (again, myself included) start off strong when they’re younger and do well with their credit. As you get older though, life almost always gets in the way. Whether it was an impulsive purchase, or kids came into the picture, or a medical emergency, there are tons of reasons why your credit may not look so hot. Whether your credit is suffering from poor spending habits, from taking care of kids, or from other unforeseen circumstances, you’re still able to improve it and it’s not as hard as you think!

Getting a secured installment loan, like an auto loan, is a GREAT way to improve your credit. If you ever need anything in the future, other lenders can look and see how well you did or how well you are doing with your auto loan, and are likely to lend you more money in the future. 

Back when my credit was suffering I had someone suggest to me that I get an auto loan, make my payments on time, and watch my credit score go up. So I listened, and I was shocked at how easy it was. I kept balances on my credit cards low (ideally below 30%) and I made sure to pay that auto loan on time EVERY SINGLE MONTH. 

With my credit being in bad shape the auto finance company gave me a pretty high interest rate, but you have to start somewhere! And as my credit improved I was able to refinance that high-interest loan and get a much lower interest rate on the same car!

Now, you might be thinking “My credit is so bad, how on Earth am I going to actually get approved for an auto loan?” At Maple Leaf Motors we’ve got unique relationships with multiple secondary lenders, the same types of lenders that helped me rebuild my credit, and we are much more likely to get an approval for you than just about any other dealership in the area. We have been able to get approvals for people with past repo’s, for people whose credit score is in the 400’s, and even for people who just started a new job and haven’t even received their first paycheck yet.

Improving your credit can be a daunting task, and it can sometimes even seem outright impossible, but I’m here to help. I have been in the same exact spot that you’re in right now. My personal experiences, my work experiences, and my relationship with local secondary lenders means I am more than qualified to help you improve your credit. Let’s rebuild your credit together so that in the future you can apply for financing and be confident that an approval is just right around the corner. 

You can submit an application online at MapleLeafMotors.com/creditapp or you can call me personally at 253-846-5955. Let’s make 2022 the year that you finally improve your credit!

Please Read Maple Leaf Motors - Best Midsize Sedans

Content provided by MotorTrend

MotorTrend tests more than 200 vehicles at the track every year. We rate cars using the same factors you do, including how they drive, interior space, efficiency, tech, value, and safety. Ratings are only applicable within each respective segment.

1. 2022 Honda Accord - 9.1/10 - After a midcycle refresh for 2021, we're not expecting any major changes to the Accord for 2022. Barring any significant revisions, it will carry forward with two gas engines and a hybrid option. The Accord competes with other affordable four-doors including the Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry, Kia K5, and Subaru Legacy.

2. 2022 Subaru Legacy - 8.6/10 - Subaru knows its buyers and delivers on their priorities with the Legacy. The midsize sedan offers a compelling blend of technology, safety, and performance in a roomy and comfortable vessel. Middling style and a vexing CVT are the Legacy's greatest Achilles heels.

3. 2022 Hyundai Sonata - 8.5/10 - Hyundai has been selling the Sonata here in the U.S. for more than 30 years, and the current eighth generation is the best version yet. Redesigned for the 2020 model year, the Hyundai Sonata is among the better midsize sedans on the market. It's mechanically related to the Kia K5.

4. 2022 Kia K5 - 8.3/10 - The midsize sedan once known as the Kia Optima has transformed into the K5. Introduced for 2021, the K5 stands out in the segment with evocative exterior styling. Yet despite those looks it remains a relatively normal car in terms of features and capabilities. The K5 is offered with a choice of turbocharged engines and available AWD. Like the Optima before it, the K5 targets sedan stalwarts like the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and mechanically related Hyundai Sonata. The K5 is built in West Point, Georgia, alongside the Kia Telluride.

5. 2022 Toyota Camry - 8/10 - Although it's no longer Toyota's best-selling model (that title now goes to the RAV4), the venerable Camry remains a go-to choice for those seeking a dependable midsize sedan. The current-gen Camry was introduced for the 2018 model year and sees a mild face-lift for 2021. The Camry sits squarely in the center of Toyota's lineup of sedans between the compact Corolla and full-size Avalon. Besides its longtime rival, the Honda Accord, the Camry also competes with midsize four-doors including the Subaru Legacy, Nissan Altima, and Hyundai Sonata.

6. 2021 Nissan Altima - 7.7/10 - Positioned above the compact Sentra and below the full-size Maxima, the Altima is the middle child of Nissan's sedan lineup. Nissan issued a full redesign of the Altima for the 2019 model year, and the family sedan has been relatively unchanged since. The Altima competes in the midsize sedan segment alongside cars such as the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry, and Subaru Legacy.

7. 2022 Volkswagen Passat - 7.1/10 - Once one of Volkswagen's most successful cars in the United States, the Passat enters its final year of production with a Limited Edition trim. It rides on the platform that's been on sale in the United States since 2012, the same year it won our MotorTrend Car of the Year award. The Passat last received a major refresh in 2020. Although this midsize sedan no longer feels like a fresh offering, it comes with the traditional advantages of its segment, namely a comfortable ride, a large trunk, and spacious interior.

8. 2021 Chevrolet Malibu - One of the longest-running nameplates in the Chevrolet lineup, the Malibu has been a mainstay in the midsize sedan segment for decades. Since its inception, the Malibu has evolved from a rear-drive car that's available in multiple flavors to a front-drive model offered only one body style. Chevrolet even offered a hybrid Malibu for a short time to lure eco-minded consumers to the brand. With only a short time left before it's discontinued, the Malibu lineup has been streamlined. A number of cosmetic packages are also offered.

9. 2021 Mazda Mazda6 - As we wait for the rumored RWD, inline-six-powered, next-gen 6, Mazda adds some polish to its midsize sedan for 2021. The current-generation model debuted for the 2014 model year and saw a mid-cycle facelift for 2018, adding a turbocharged engine option. The 2021 Mazda 6 competes with other affordable midsize sedans including the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and Hyundai Sonata.

Original Source: https://www.motortrend.com/style/sedan/

I have got over 20+ years of experience in the automotive industry. Over these last two decades I’ve been asked A LOT of questions about the industry. Whether it’s from friends and family or potential customers, the questions are almost always the same. One of the most common questions that I get asked is “When is the best time to buy a car?” Given the fact that it’s my job to sell as many cars as possible, my obvious go-to answer is always RIGHT NOW! 

Looking back however, that is a very simple answer to a commonly-asked question and it doesn’t quite give any insight into when the *actual* best time to buy a car is. If I really sat back and gave this question some thought, the correct answer would be some time between November and the end of January. But why is that?

Whenever you work in the same industry for multiple decades you start to notice trends that always hold true over time. In my experience the automotive sales market takes a drastic turn between the months of November and January. And when you really sit back and think about it, it’s obvious why this happens. It’s the holiday season and people shift their focus to the holidays. 

This can mean consumers are busy with holiday planning, decorating, dinner with family and friends, traveling to see distant relatives, or people are simply wanting to wait a few months for their tax refunds before making a large purchase. The last thing anybody wants to do is some (or all) or their holiday budget making a major purchase. And contrary to popular belief, people simply don’t buy cars as Christmas gifts. Over the course of 20+ years I can count on one hand how many people I’ve personally seen buy cars as gifts for a loved one.

This market downturn means that car lots are struggling to make sales which, in turn, means that dealerships are willing to be a little bit more lenient with their prices. This also means that finance companies that finance auto loans are struggling and are willing to venture a little bit outside of their normal guidelines in order to get sales and approvals. 

 A customer that might have been denied auto financing in April during tax season could very well find themselves getting an approval during the Winter and holiday months, simply because finance companies and car dealerships are fighting tooth and nail to get every sale they can. This also means you might get lower interest rates and you might be able to get an approval with less of a down payment than would be required before, or approved with no down payment at all!

If you want to feel like you’ve got an advantage over the dealer when buying a car, you need to be planning your purchase between November and January. As I mentioned above, I have been doing this for over 20 years. If you have any questions about the car-buying process please give me a call at 253-846-5955 or come visit us at 20310 Mountain Hwy E in Spanaway, WA

Buying a car can seem like a daunting task for most people. It’s a major purchase and generally requires a long-term commitment. Getting financing for a car just adds to that stress and is oftentimes the part of the car-buying process that intimidates most people. The stress of obtaining financing is much worse whenever you’ve got past credit issues and sometimes just the anxiety of submitting a credit application can be enough to make you not want to do it at all.

Have you ever filled out a credit application, whether online or in person at the dealership? Did you hear back from that dealership? Depending on your credit situation it’s likely that you never heard a peep from them. A situation like that forces you to sit back and question what it is about your past that is holding you back from buying a car. Believe it or not, this is extremely common. Sadly, most dealerships do not have the ability to overcome certain credit challenges that many people face.

If you’ve got credit challenges that other dealerships have failed to overcome then you’re in luck! Maple Leaf Motors has partnered with a local lender who has a program that just about anybody can qualify for, regardless of derogatory marks on your credit. In fact, the lending process is so simple that you can see if you qualify by asking yourself 3 simple questions:

1. Do I have a valid driver’s license?

2. Do I currently have income?

3. Have I lived in the area for at least the past year?

…it’s that simple! The credit challenges from your past likely do not matter if you’re able to answer yes to those three questions above. Well, what about a down payment? This lender does not require a large down payment. In fact, some applicants may be approved with no down payment at all!

This is not some fly-by-night company. This local lender was founded in 1922 and operates nearly 30 locations across Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and Idaho. With this local lender, and the knowledgeable staff at Maple Leaf Motors, we are confident that we can take the fear out of lending and help ease your worries about yet another rejection.

Fill out an online credit application today so we can help get you back out on the road again!