In 2011, the average age cars on the road was 11.1 years, only .1 years up from the year before.  Trucks have seen a bigger difference; up to an average of 10.4 years from the 10.1 average years of 2010.  Together, the average age of both cars and trucks on the road is 10.8 years, the highest it has ever been.  Fortunately, 2012 seems to be the year to buy cars.

Expert automotive analysts have estimated that Americans bought around 10 million fewer cars between 2008-2011.  The main theory is that the quality of vehicles has risen.  It has been proven that, with the advances we have made in automotive manufacturing, cars are able to last longer.  With proper care, most cars can make it to 200,000 miles and more, depending on the auto manufacturer.

“Regardless of where the economy hits, the auto industry still heads north,” Toyota Motor Sales USA chief Jim Lentz told media. “The economy, unemployment are still going to be stubborn, but there’s so much pent-up demand I think the industry is going to have an awesome year.”

To find out how to keep your car in peak condition and lasting many more miles, contact Auto Concepts Northwest.

The automotive industry is constantly changing and striving to do something new and spectacular.  Technologies and inventions enable auto manufacturers to something different every year.  Auto paint has changed dramatically since the late 1800s, and today’s market offers no less than four different types to choose from.  The most popular of these are acrylic lacquer, acrylic enamel, acrylic urethane and water-based.

Though lacquer paint is no longer quite as popular as the other ones, it did see its day before the 1960′s.  It’s inexpensive, easily applied and has a nice gloss.  Unfortunately, it chips and fades easily and is not generally recommended.

Enamel paint is provides a hard shell and is considered tough, therefore not as easy to apply and takes some finishing work.  Urethane paints are a more recent type of paint than enamels and are more expensive and difficult to apply.  This type of paint also requires finishing work any plenty of professional tools.  The best part about this paint is that it lasts for a long time and makes your car look new for years.

To find out more about how you can upgrade the exterior of your vehicle, contact Auto Concepts Northwest.

Alloy wheels are the new hotness in higher trim models these days, and if you’re wondering why, it’s because they’re better than the normal ones that usually come standard.

Alloy wheels are usually lighter even without giving up the strength of other metals.  When wheels are lighter they can help to improve handling and suspension as well as fuel-efficiency.  The better head conduction in alloy can help lessen heat while the vehicle is braking which helps braking performance – something that could save a life.  Basically, if you’re wanting larger wheels, using alloy can be beneficial in many ways.

These practical benefits aren’t the only thing that attracts people to alloy wheels.  In conjunction with bare-metal finishes which alloy seals better with, the wheels are more attractive than steel ones.

If you’re looking to buy new wheels and aren’t sure about exactly what type of style you’ll like best, contact Auto Concepts NorthWest and talk to a professional with plenty of experience.

Performing after-market modifications on your beloved can be fun and rewarding.  If you’re not exactly sure the best way to go about improving your vehicle, talk to an expert who can give you good ideas and advice.  Do not, however, follow the example of the owners with these terrible ideas.

The first terrible idea is modifying your exhaust with a huge coffee can -it looks and sounds terrible.  Even worse than that are wood and cardboard body parts.  It’s 1000x better to spend the money and get a real body kit and/or parts.

Another silly move is to buy rims that are worth more than the car.  When you put something shiny and nice on your jalopy, you’re just drawing attention to the fact that you drive a jalopy.  Probably the idea that is my least favorite is the lifting of sedans and installing large tires.  Buy a truck or SUV if you plan on doing this to your vehicle.

If you you’re looking for some after market modification ideas or advice, contact Auto Concepts Northwest.

A chip in your vehicle’s windshield can be caused by kicked-up gravel, rocks or debris as well as hail from a storm.  Even though these chips can be as small as a pinky nail, they are potentially dangerous to any driver, no matter their age or experience.  Not only does the smallest chip reflect light and can temporarily blind you and other drivers but it weakens the glass and can cause serious accidents.

Even though chips are easily fixed, some people do nothing about them.  When this happens, the windshield is weakened over time and more likely to cause large cracks which can obscure driver’s sight or even cause the glass to shatter, harming anyone in the area.  Whether you believe so or not, even a small chip can be a distraction to the driver when their eye catches on it or light reflects from it.  The safest thing to do is get damaged windshields repaired as soon as possible.

For more information or to talk to an expert about windshield repair, contact Auto Concepts Northwest.

Auto manufacturers put millions of dollars and man hours into creating and producing their vehicles.  They all hope their vehicle will be the next big success, as with any company that produces a product, but sometimes they get it all wrong.  Here’s a list of a few of the worst-selling vehicle ever made.

The first car on my list is the Plymouth Prowler which only sold 8,000 units over the course of 3 and half years.  It was a unique ode to the cars of olden times, but the trend didn’t really catch on, though it is credited with igniting the retro craze of the 90′s.

The second car is the Studebaker Avanti which was sold from 1962 through 1963.  Though I’m sure it’s not a car you’ve heard of, it’s the second worst selling car of the past 50 years.

This last vehicle only sold 940 units over the course of three years.  The Studebaker Wagonair had a removable section of it’s hood that would leak, leading to the low sales.

To find out how to make your car even better, contact Auto Concepts Northwest.

All automobiles rust sooner or later, and though there are ways to prevent it, when it happens, there are ways to fix it.  It’s not exactly easy, and it takes some special tools, but if you’re determined to do it yourself, here are some steps to do it at home.

After assessing the damage and putting the rest spot in an optimal position to be worked on, you’ll want to remove the paint on and immediately around the area.  You can use a small grinder with 120 grit.  If you need to use a metal grinding wheel to remove all the paint, do so but very carefully.  Afterwards, sand the area by hand to get it as smooth as possible.  Before you paint, make sure you prep the exterior of the vehicle and the surrounding area, covering anything you don’t want to get paint on.  Use a primer coat before the paint and follow the specific directions for both the primer and paint.  Then wash and wax.

To find out how to keep your vehicle prevented from rust spots contact Auto Concepts NorthWest.

It’s not something many people think about – dashboard protection; but get into a new car and compare it with one 10 years older and tell me what you see.  Not only is it aesthetically pleasing to keep your dashboard free of sun damage, stains and cracks, but it will save your car from severe depreciation.  Auto Concepts NorthWest has come up with some tips to help you out.

The first, and perhaps most obvious, is to obtain a windshield reflector.  An easy reflector to put on the inside of your windshield is not only inexpensive, but can protect your entire car from sun and heat damage.

Another tip is to install a window tint.  Though window tinting does not settle with everyone, it is one of the absolute best ways to protect the inside of your vehicle. To optimize the window tint, use a protective spray applied to your car’s leather and plastic surfaces in conjunction with it.

To find out more, contact Auto Concepts NorthWest.