Different Ways To Buy A Car: Leasing, Buying New And Buying Used

BAY CITY, Mich. - When it comes to getting a new vehicle it comes down to three different ways to buy a car: leasing, buying new and buying used. What are the pros and cons of each? What works best for you? For your family? It's always difficult for car sellers to give distinct answers, because car buying is in itself a process that all factors on the buyer. It is different for everyone, and everyone has a different idea for what they want in their perfect vehicle.

Let's break it down:

• Leasing: Leasing a new vehicle enables buyers to get into a brand new car for a much cheaper price, however when the lease ends you are essentially left with nothing (except a higher credit score if you made your payments on time). You are really just renting a new vehicle every 2-3 years, and there are definitely pros and cons. When leasing, you are able to get into a brand new car that you might not have been able to purchase on your own and you get a new car every two to three years. In this aspect you will be kept up to date with the newly available safety, entertainment and driving features that cars have each year. However, in the end you have to give the car back, leaving no ROI. 
• Buying New: This is indeed the most expensive option, however, it is also the longest term. A new vehicle is often under warranty for several years following purchase, and sometimes you can end up driving the car for over a decade. 
• Buying Used: Purchasing a used vehicle is the cheapest option, however, it will not be a new car. An older car means older technology, older safety features and older car parts underneath the hood. Used cars usually require more maintenance as well. However, by letting "someone else take the hit" (previous owner) in regards to depreciating value, you could save money, and pay less in insurance as well. 

These are the different ways to buys a car: leasing, buying new and buying used. So, what should you do? You have to ask yourself, "Does the car provide any extra value beyond transporting me from point A to point B?" The answer will depend heavily on what you chose to do in terms of your career, family, income and the amount of time you will spend using your car. For example, if you expect to drive a vehicle for 10 years and then pass it off to your children, then a new car may work. If you are a recent college grad that isn't ready to take the dive and purchase a car, a lease might work better until you get settled. 

If you are looking to inquire more about vehicle purchasing and leasing options, feel free to contact one of our sales consultants and get more information. All of our consultants are friendly and knowledgeable, and will help you choose the best option for you at your local Bridgeport Area Used Car Dealer! Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we can help you find the perfect vehicle for your weekend getaway! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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Step-By-Step Guide On Checking Your Oil

BAY CITY, Mich. - During the heat of the summer– especially the heat we've been experiencing lately– it is extremely important that oil condition and levels are checked on a regular basis. No one wants to be stranded on the side of the road in this heat. Here is a step-by-step guide on checking your oil, and some tips about how to know if your oil does indeed need to be changed.

Step 1: Your vehicle's owner's manual tells you when the fluids must be checked, however, this is just the minimum to keep your warranty in effect. 

Step 2: Park your car on a level surface and set the parking brake. Make sure that your vehicle sits with the engine off for AT LEAST ten minutes before proceeding to check your oil.

Step 3: Open the hood and locate the oil dipstick. The location of the dipstick depends on the type of vehicle you drive. If your vehicle is a rear-wheel drive, the dipstick is located below the Transmission fluid dipstick, as shown here:

However if you drive a vehicle with a front-wheel drive, your oil dipstick will be located here: 

Step 4: Pull out the dipstick and wipe it off with a clean, lint-free rag or cloth. 

Step 5: Insert the dipstick back into the pipe. 

Step 6: Pull the dipstick out again and look at the film of oil at the end of the stick. Note how high the oil film reaches on the dipstick and the condition of the oil itself. 

If the oil condition is good and you just need to fill the oil to the level indicated on the dipstick, do not attempt to pour the oil into the tiny tube the dipstick sits in, you're just asking for a mess. There should be a screw off cap labeled "Oil Cap" or something along those lines up on top of the largest part of the engine. Unscrew the cap and add oil as needed. 

Step 7: Put the dipstick back into the pipe. Congrats! You did it! Remember that oil turns black pretty quickly, but that doesn't affect the quality. Our tip: rub a little between your thumb and index finger, and if it leaves a dirty smudge it needs to be changed. 

See how easy that was? If you enjoyed this step-by-step guide on checking your oil and would like us to blog about another service process, let us know in the comments below! If you would like to bring in your vehicle to your Sebewaing Area Used Car Dealer and our certified service center, feel free to stop by or schedule an appointment online! Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we can help you find the perfect vehicle for your weekend getaway! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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Consumers Can Start Ordering The 2016 Camaro On August 13th

BAY CITY, Mich. - Attention Camaro enthusiasts, information has leaked that consumers can start ordering the 2016 Camaro on August 13th! Mark the date on your calendars, because it sure will be a busy day for Chevrolet dealers across the country! According to an official document found CamaroNews, Chevy will start taking orders on the sixth-generation Camaro and it will also be the day when official production will begin on the assembly line.

Since its much anticipated debut on Belle Isle in Detroit, the 2016 Camaro has been the subject of much deserved hype in the auto industry. It is also important to understand that the August 13th date supposedly comes from an official document from Chevy, the automaker has yet to confirm when it will begin taking orders for the muscle car.

The sixth-generation Camaro is near the end of a summer-long "road-trip" promotional tour that recently passed through the 2015 MLB All-Star Game in Cincinnati last week. The new Camaro has been redesigned from the ground up, however the trim configurations have stayed the same. The '16 Camaro will offer an LT and SS trim options, while both will again be divided into four models– LT, 2LT, 1SSS and 2SS.

All of the 2016 Camaros will be produced in one of 10 different exterior colors which include Blue Velvet Metallic, Red Hot, Nightfall Gray Metallic, Silver Ice Metallic, Summit White, Black and Hyper Blue Metallic. Bright Yellow, Garnet Red Tintcoat and Mosaic Black Metallic are all available at an extra cost. Inside, customers have the choice of five upholstery options: Jet Black, Medium Ash Gray, Kalahari, Adrenaline Red and Ceramic White.

Now that information has leaked that consumers can start ordering the 2016 Camaro on August 13th, we might not have to wait long for an OFFICIAL news release from Chevrolet. If you have been just itching to get behind the wheel of one of the most famous and historic muscle cars, feel free to check out our current Camaro inventory or stop by your local Sebewaing Area Used Car Dealership today to speak to any of our qualified sales associates! Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we can help you find the perfect vehicle for your weekend getaway! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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Graff Bay City Is Home To The 2015 Camaro 2SS And Camaro Z/28

BAY CITY, Mich. - When it comes to impressive muscle cars, no automaker makes 'em like Chevy does! There has been much (merited) hype over the 2016 Sixth-Gen Camaro that Chevy released in May, but the 2015 models can hold their own just the same, and two of those 2015 models can be found in Bay City. Graff Bay City is home to the 2015 Camaro 2SS and Camaro Z/28, two cars that carry a combined 931 horsepower.

Let's take a closer look at these two beauties, shall we? The 2015 Camaro Z/28 (seen above) is steeped in legend! With an MSRP of $76,850 this Camaro is the king of its class and demands respect. This one at Graff Bay City is an absolute dream, and can be purchased at a price as low as $68,526! This powerhouse of a car rolls in with 505-HP and a freighting 7.0-liter V8 engine with a 6-Speed Manual transmission. This car is ready for the racetrack, and sports a beautiful, Black exterior with a Satin Nickel finish fuel door that ads a little "pizazz" to the vehicle. Other quality features of the Z/28 include race-inspired leather front seats, stability control, security system, OnStar, Bluetooth, MPS compatibility and TONS of others! As previously stated, this is a car that is truly able to go straight from the dealership lot to the racetrack without upgrades, and is one of the only muscle cars that has that unique capability.

The second Camaro we are showcasing is the 2015 Camaro 2SS (shown above) that comes in a bit under the Z/28 with an MSRP of $40,545. However, do not believe for a second that this Camaro model doesn't have just as much power underneath the hood as other Camaros. The 2SS packs a nasty, 426 HP punch with about 410 lb-ft of torque coupled with a powerful, 6.2-liter Manual V8 engine. Other fantastic features include Brembo brakes, a sporty FE3 suspension, StabiliTrack, OnStar, Heated Seats, Bluetooth, leather seats, HID headlights and TONS of others. There is also a rumor floating around the auto-world that the 2SS lapped Germany's Nurburgring track in 8 minutes and 20 seconds, which puts the vehicle into the same class as the E46 BMW M3.

Graff Bay City is Home To The 2015 Camaro 2SS and Camaro Z/28 and trust us, these two dynamic vehicles are defintely one-of-a-kind! If you would like to get behind the wheel of the Camaro Z/28 or the Camaro 2SS, feel free to stop by your Bridgeport Area Chevy Dealer today! We have a beautiful inventory of the 2015 Camaro, including the 2LS, 1LT and 2LT! Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we can help you find the perfect vehicle for your weekend getaway! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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Join Us For The Car Love Art Show With All Proceeds Going To Just For Kids

BAY CITY, Mich. - Graff Bay City is pleased to announce that we will be closing out Speedweek in a HUGE way this year by hosting an exciting art event! Join us for the The Car Love Art Show with all proceeds going to Just For Kids on August 8th from 9am-3pm!

Invite your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers from around the Bay City area to stop by and visit Hank Graff Chevrolet in Bay City for a fun-filled day of art and excitement! There will be TONS of fun activities, for everyone in the family, that include FREE food/soda pop, a 50/50 raffle, trivia, a car show, music, games and so much more so join us for The Car Love Art Show with all proceeds going to Just For Kids!

As stated previously, all proceeds collected at the 2015 Car Love Art show will directly benefit the Just For Kids Foundation of Bay City! If you would like to register your vehicle for the impressive car show, fill out the secure form here. Or if you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to call us at (989)684-4411. If you would like more information on the Just For Kids foundation, call the representatives at (989) 667-KIDS or visit www.Goodhttp://www.goodkids123.org/Kid123.org!

Register your vehicle.  At your local St. Charles Area Chevy Dealership, we are always looking for ways we can give back to our local community, and we are proud to support Maier &Associates' Charitable Just For Kids Foundation! Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we can help you find the perfect vehicle for your weekend getaway! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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Fun Things To Do With The Kids When It's Too Hot To Do Anything Else

BAY CITY, Mich.– Summer is here, and in just a few days we will be experiencing (hopefully) the first day ABOVE 90 degrees in a LONG time! How great is it that Michiganders will finally be able to experience a lazy, summer afternoon that actually feels like, well, summer? It's been awhile, that's for sure. Lucky for you, we thought about some cute and fun things to do with the kids when it's too hot to do anything else! All of these fun activities can be found on our Pinterest page, so feel free to look around there for yummy recipes, cool fashion advice and some things to make you laugh!

Fun Things To Do In The Summer

Ice Painting

Ice And Water 

Edible Freeze Dough

Kiddie Car Wash *Our fave! 

Homemade Water Blob

Shaving Cream Twister

Make Sleepover Tents

Glow Stick Swimming 

Glow In The Dark Sand 

If those aren't some of the funnest things to do with your young children this summer while they're at home, we don't know what is! Sometimes when the temperature is over 90 degrees, it's difficult to find entertaining activities your kids will love, but these are mom-approved, fun things to do with the kids when it's too hot to do anything else! At your local Sebewaing Area Chevrolet Dealer, we are always thinking of the best ways to make our customers lives a little bit easier, even when it has nothing to do with cars! However, if you ARE looking for the best car for your growing or soon-to-be growing family, feel free to stop by and take a test drive in any of our award winning Chevy models like the popular 2015 Chevy Equinox or the exciting, 2015 Malibu!  Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we can help you find the perfect vehicle for your weekend getaway! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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How To Find The Right Car Seat

BAY CITY, Mich. - Every parent has (hopefully) gone through the process of researching and purchasing a car seat for their child. It is one of the most important, but also frustrating, choices in the early stages of becoming a parent. There are several types of seats to choose from, from infant to convertible and booster, depending on your child's age and size. Even if you've already found "the one", it is extremely important to know how to install the car seat correctly and also when to transition your child to another type of seat as your child grows bigger. So, we at Graff Bay City, are going to fill you in on how to find the right car seat.

First, there are four types of car seats that are created for different age groups. The best car seat for your young child to use is the rear facing car seat. It has a harness and is able to cradle and move with your child in the event of a crash.

• Types of Rear-Facing Car Seats 
• Infant Car Seat: This is a rear-facing seat only and is designed for newborns and small babies (like the one pictured above). Babies usually out-grow these seats by eight-to-nine months. When that happens, Safercar.gov recommends switching to a convertible or all-in-one car seat and use it facing the rear. 
• Convertible Seat: As the child grows, this seat can switch from a rear-facing seat to a forward-facing seat with a harness and tether. Since it can be used with children of various sizes, it allows for most children to stay in the rear-facing position for a longer amount of time. 
• All-in-One Seat: This seat can also allow children to stay in the rear-facing position longer and can change from a rear-facing seat to a forward-facing seat and to a booster seat as the child grows. 

The second type is a forward-facing car seat that limits your child's forward movement during a crash.

• Types of Forward-Facing Seats
• Convertible Seat: As the child grows, this specific seat can change from a rear-facing seat to a forward-facing seat with a harness and tether.
• Combination Seat: As a child grows, this seat transitions from a forward-facing seat into a booster seat. 
• All-in-One Seat: This seat can change from a rear-facing seat, to a forward facing seat, to a booster seat as the child grows bigger. 

The third type is a booster seat which positions the seat-belt so that it fits properly over the stronger part of your child's body. 

• Types of Booster Seats
• Booster Seat with High Back: This type of booster seat is designed to boost that child's height so the seat belt fits properly. It also provides head and neck support and is ideal for vehicles that don't have head rests or high back seats. 
• Backless Booster Seat: A backless booster seat is completely designed to boost the child's height so the seat belt fits properly but does not provide head or neck support. It is made for vehicles that have headrests. 

The fourth type is made for children that have outgrown the weight and age requirement for car-seats and booster-seats and that is the seatbelt. The belt should lay across the upper thighs and be snug across the shoulder and chest to restrain your child safely in a crash. It should never rest on the stomach area or across the neck. 

Whoa, just typing all of that made us pretty concerned about child safety but also a bit confused about which seat would be best for our children. Thankfully, Parents Central came up with a nifty system that will help you on how to find the right car seat. Check it out here. It all depends on your child's age and size as well as the type of vehicle you drive. Once you figure out the best car seat option, you can start shopping, and be confident in your choices! 

When choosing a vehicle for your family, safety is definitely the number one concern in most cases. Thanks to Chevy's diligence to offering the best safety features available, we have some exciting family cars coming from Chevrolet in the next few months, including the all-new Malibu! If you would like to take a test drive in any of our family-friendly vehicles, stop by your local St. Charles Area Chevy Dealer today! Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we can help you find the perfect vehicle for your weekend getaway! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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Chevy Introduces The Active Phone Cooling System

BAY CITY, Mich. – We all know the feeling: You go to grab your cell phone only to immediately feel a scorching overheated battery due to music streaming, texting and a running GPS. Not only is it frustrating, but when your phone is overheating THAT much it also completely zaps your battery. This is where Chevy comes to the rescue!

Chevy introduces the Active Phone Cooling System into the brand new Chevy 2016 lineup. Engineers have come up with a way that your vehicle can cool your phone down for you, thus extending the life of your battery. Pretty cool, huh? We love how Chevy is thinking about ALL the details, even the smallest ones! Most smartphones have a built-in thermal heat protection already, but that feature can sometimes manually switch off the phone when it overheats, which is extremely inconvenient for those streaming music or using their GPS.

So, how does it work? Chevy introduces the Active Phone Cooling System by adding an air vent connected directly to the car's air-conditioning and ventilation system. The systems are directed into the storage bin where the phone will rest for wireless charging, and cool air will be sent to help lower the phone's temperature. The Active Phone Cooling system will only operate when the driver turns on the A/C system manually.

Over time, regular overheating can damage your smartphone permanently, especially the lithium ion batteries that power the phone. With the help of Chevy's engineers, overheated smartphones will be a thing of the past! This industry-first system will be introduced in the 2016 Chevy lineup, which will include the 2016 Impala, Malibu, Volt and Cruze models.

The 2016 Chevy lineup keeps getting more and more exciting! To learn more about Chevy's new models, stop by your St. Charles Area ChevyDealer today! Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we can help you find the perfect vehicle for your weekend getaway! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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Chevy Is Launching Theft Alarm Notifications To Its Stolen Vehicle Assistance Program

BAY CITY, Mich. - General Motors announced an exciting new feature this week for OnStar Chevy subscribers. Chevy is launching Theft Alarm Notifications to its Stolen Vehicle Assistance program. The exciting and innovative feature will be eligible to subscribers later this summer, and will be available on most 2014 model year and newer Chevrolet vehicles.

The new program features glass breaking sensors, interior motion sensors and an inclination/tilt sensor which will each sound an alarm if the vehicle is lifted up off the ground, a break-in is attempted or if motion is detected within the vehicle while the system is armed. The system will notify the subscriber by SMS text, email or a phone call and OnStar's advisors will work with local law enforcement to use GPS technology to pinpoint the vehicle's location.

Pretty cool right? We sure think so! This ability for a prompt response and swift identification of theft situations gives OnStar and Chevy customers a better chance to recover their stolen property. By implementing this new technology, Chevy owners can stay "with" their vehicle, even when it is out of reach and out of sight.

According to the F.B.I, almost 700,000 vehicles were reported stolen in the U.S in 2013, with Michigan ranking 6th in the United States at 24,567 cars stolen. Imagine how many cars WOULDN'T have been stolen if they were equipped with OnStar and Chevy's Theft Alarm Notification System.

We are so excited that Chevy is launching Theft Alarm Notifications to its Stolen Vehicle Assistance Program! If you would like to test drive ANY of our OnStar equipped Chevy models, stop by! At your St. Charles Area Chevy Dealer, we are always looking for the BEST deals for our customers. Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we can help you find the perfect vehicle for your weekend getaway! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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