Five Habits that will Ruin your Car | Infiniti of Tacoma Fife WA

Avoiding these habits can go a long way in preventing an expensive repair bill.

Most things you own will last longer if you take care of them and treat them well. Your car is no exception to this rule. While neglecting your car may seem harmless in the short term, regular neglect and mistreatment will add up and will reduce your car’s lifespan. To keep your car running longer and stronger, avoid these five harmful habits.

1. Delaying regular maintenance

Regularly maintaining your car is vital to your car’s longevity. Regular maintenance includes oil and filter replacement, as well as transmission fluid, air filter and brake pad care. Every vehicle manufacturer specifies a different maintenance routine, which can be found in your owner’s manual. While regular maintenance requires you to invest some time and money, it’s peanuts compared to the cost of a new engine or transmission.

2. Ignoring dash warning lights

When a warning indicator lights up on your dash panel, it’s important to address the problem immediately. If you don’t know what the light means, check your owner’s manual or call your mechanic. Dash warning lights can alert you to some very serious problems, such as a coolant leak, which can cause your engine to overheat. A simple preventative repair can often prevent a large problem down the line.

3. Shifting while moving

The transmission is one of the most complex and expensive parts in your car and it’s important to use is as it was intended. Be careful not to shift from drive to reverse or vice versa while the car is still moving. This “jerky” shifting places excess strain on the transmission’s internal gears and can instantly destroy it.

4. Jerky driving

We all know someone who accelerates wildly on every straightaway only to brake hard at a traffic light or stop sign. This type of driving won’t destroy your car immediately, but will cause your engine, transmission and brake system to deteriorate much more quickly than intended. Cars that have been abused will have premature fluid leaks, broken seals and mechanical problems.

5. Putting off tire replacement

Tires for some cars can be expensive, so replacing them is an unwelcome cost. Driving on bald tires is very risky, however. If a tire blows out while you’re driving, you can lose control of your vehicle and have a serious accident. And if you drive with bald tires in the rain, the risk of hydroplaning goes up tremendously. A new set of tires may seem pricey, but probably costs less than your car, and even less than your insurance deductible.

Winterizing Your Vehicle | Infiniti of Tacoma at Fife

Are you ready for the upcoming winter and what it will be offering? Before you rush to the store for the last gallon of milk and loaf of bread, you’ll want to be sure your car is ready to battle the elements. Follow these tips before venturing out into the winter wonderland.

• Get a Tune-Up. Have your mechanic check your hoses, belts 
  and anti-freeze. A weakened hose or belt can break and leave you stranded, or a 
  weak solution of anti-freeze can ice up and damage your cooling system. 
• Check Your Battery. Make sure your car’s battery connection 
  is clean, tight and corrosion-free. The battery should be securely mounted. If 
  the battery is three years old or more, have it tested and replace it if 
  necessary.  
• Check Your Heater and Defroster. If your heater isn’t 
  working, you’ll probably know. But what about front and rear defrosters? Before 
  you’re faced with a frosty windshield, turn your front and rear defrosters on 
  and off to make sure they’re working. 
• Give Yourself a Brake. If you have the slightest concern 
  that something’s amiss with your brakes, get them inspected immediately. If you 
  have anti-lock brakes, you should avoid pumping the brakes if you begin to 
  slide.  
• Have Your Exhaust System Checked. Ask your mechanic to 
  double check the exhaust system for leaks, which can emit dangerous carbon 
  monoxide into your car. If you become stuck in the snow and want to run the 
  engine and heater, make sure your tail pipe is clear of the snow and crack open 
  a window to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be fatal. 
• Fill up with Washer Fluid. Slush and mud splashed on a 
  windshield can spell danger for a winter driver. Make sure your washer fluid 
  reservoir is sufficiently full, and keep a spare jug in the trunk. 
• Consider New Wiper Blades. Even if your windshield wiper blades 
  are in good condition, you might want to upgrade to a rubber coated snow blade 
  that can handle the extra weight of wet snow. They’re not expensive, and could 
  make your winter driving a lot safer in the long run. 
• Take a Look at Your Tires. Your tires need to have adequate 
  tread with “grip” to propel you through the snow. 
• Fill Her Up! One of the best driving tips for winter is to 
  keep your tank more than half full at all times. It will help you avoid 
  freezing in your fuel lines, and will keep you safer in winter weather 
  situations.

If for any reason you are in need of assistance with any one of these safety precautions please give us a call and we will be happy to help you in any way we can. Please visit Infiniti of Tacoma at Fife online or schedule an appointment today.

Well, this certainly looks like a concept, doesn't it? From the wide, portal-esque door opeings to the boattail rear window design, there's just so much about the Infiniti Q80 Inspiration that looks like it would never actually reach production that we're impressed the automaker had the gumption to put the machine together and show it off at the 2014 Paris Motor Show.

This marks the first time that Infiniti has shown any sort of real intent to enter into the rarefied air of the fullsize luxury sedan segment since the Q45, populated as it is by the likes of the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Those are extremely heavy hitters to market against, and Infiniti sounds anxious to throw its hat in the ring.

"We aim to do this with elegance, style, and emotion," says Francois Bancon, Infiniti Vice President, Product Strategy. "This car is making a statement. Q80 Inspiration is a precursor of a production model in this segment and, as such, integral to our future."

Infiniti says we should expect to see production powertrains within the next two years that use the kind of technology debuted in the Q80 Inspiration. A twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter V6 engine is paired with one or more (details are scarce, sadly) electric motors to provide 550 horsepower and on-demand all-wheel drive. What's more, Infiniti is quoting 42.8 miles per gallon and CO2 emissions of about 129g/km for this concept, though we don't know how those figures are calculated or on what driving cycle. In any case, power and efficiency are always welcome.

Inside, Infiniti says it wanted to pack as much technology into the Q80 Inspiration as possible, without over-complicating the driving experience. In addition to driver-activated autonomous capability, both the driver and passenger get innovative Head-Up Displays projected on the windshield, while rear-seat passengers each get their own touchscreen units. Leather and Alcantara appear to cover just about everything else.

We wouldn't expect all of the truly showstopping details to make it into production, but the overall flowing design ethos, along with what Infiniti is calling its human-centric take on high-tech interior and autonomous driving technology seem likely to join its turbocharged drivetrain buoyed by a brace of electric motors as likely additions to a future fullsize luxury sedan from Infiniti.

By Jeremy KorzeniewskiRSS feedGoogle+

2017 Infiniti QX30 Spy Shots | Infiniti of Tacoma at Fife

Infiniti’s entry-level model at present is the Q40, which is essentially a rebadged version of the previous G37 sedan, but in the coming years the automaker will add two new compact cars to its lineup that will wear the Q30 and QX30 badges respectively. The Q30 will be a conventional hatch and has already been previewed in concept form, while the QX30, a prototype for which has just been spied, will be a crossover version of the Q30.

The QX30 will feature similar styling to the Q30 but will benefit from a taller ride height and all-wheel drive. Both the Q30 and QX30 will ride on Mercedes-Benz’s MFA compact car platform, with the Q30 essentially a reskinned A-Class and the QX30 a reskinned GLA-Class. Although the vehicles will be sold in the U.S., their target market will be Europe where the premium compact class is dominated by the likes of the Audi A3, BMW 1-Series Hatchback and aforementioned A-Class.



Infiniti Q30 concept, 2013 Frankfurt Auto ShowFour-cylinder engines will be offered in the Q30 and QX30, and while some markets will receive diesel units the U.S. is likely to have gasoline units only.

Infiniti will start production of the Q30 at a Nissan plant in Sunderland, U.K. mid-next year, and shortly after production of the QX30 will join it. Both models will be built for export to Infiniti’s international markets, including here in the U.S.

The Q30 should be revealed in early 2015 while the QX30 will likely be revealed later that year. Sales of both vehicles in the U.S. will likely commence sometime during 2016.