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This past May, General Motors and Chevrolet revolutionized their “infotainment” efforts by announcing that 14 of the new 2016 Chevrolet models will contain support for Android Auto and Apple’s CarPlay. Beginning with the production of the 2016 Tahoes, Suburbans and Volts, Chevy will allow your automobile to essentially turn into a smartphone at the touch of a button. Sales Consultant Benjamin Ivey connects his iPhone to the new 2016 Chevy Impala to activate CarPlay. Android Auto, with its many features from Google, has been released and is already compatible with many cars in 11 countries. The app features space for third-party apps, opening up potential expansion in the future. Apple announced plans for a similar app in 2014, and premiered CarPlay earlier this year. CarPlay is currently available on applicable 2016 Chevy models. Android Auto for these models is scheduled to be released later this year, and will be installed through a quick update at their dealership. While many auto brands are already compatible with the Android app, Chevy and GM’s 2016 announcement is the largest offering of both systems, and will lead the way for modern cars. As Apple introduces CarPlay, Android Auto premiered its first update this week, just in time for 2016 models to become available. Milton Ruben Chevrolet tried out CarPlay on the new 2016 Impala. While Apple’s goal is to eventually activate CarPlay wirelessly, Sales Consultant Benjamin Ivey connected his iPhone 6 Plus to the car through a charging port. Using the touchscreen and buttons on the steering wheel, he was able to navigate through music, podcasts and audiobooks, as well as texting and calling contacts using Siri. Sales Consultant Benjamin Ivey demonstrates how to connect an iPhone to the 2016 Chevy Impala. After connecting an iPhone to a 2016 Chevy Impala, select "Apple CarPlay" on the car's touchscreen to access the device's features. After selecting "Phone" on the touch screen, you can use Siri and the car's speakers to select who to call. Even if your car does not have a navigation system, Apple Maps will guide you upon selecting "Maps" in Apple CarPlay and entering a destination. While the integration will undoubtedly be successful for Apple, Android and car manufacturers, the true value will be measured in safety. Drivers who connect their smartphone to their car will use voice activation as well as the car’s familiar touchscreen displays, buttons and knobs instead of looking down to use their phone. Currently, 9 people are killed and 1,153 people are involved in accidents each day due to distracted driving. Can we change that number? There’s an app for that.

Everyone does it while they're sitting in traffic in front of a school their kids don't even attend - carry the four, subtract from the two, divide by the equal coefficient of the previous exponent.  (Math isn't my strong suit.) Wait, THAT is how much I'm spending on gas to get to work every morning?! That can't be right... Let's start over. It's been a battle we've all been fighting for about fifteen to twenty years now, watching the yo-yo of fuel tease us with a road trip across the country in a double wide RV, then sky rocket to becoming a shut-in. The reality of the scary high gas prices is something we can't help you bring down. But we can help you save the gas that's in your tank, and stretch it a bit further.  Here are a few tips to keep you out of line at the pump: How to Save Gas and other tips to save money at the gas pump. Milton Ruben Superstore, Augusta, GA Travel Tips. 1. Stop Driving Like A Jerk. We're not in Atlanta here guys. (No offense, ATL.) There is absolutely no need to weave through traffic, cutting off your neighbors, and challenging the blood pressure medications of your elders.  Studies have shown that slowing gradually to a stop, and slowly accelerating to speed can increase the life of your gas tank by as much as 35%.  That may be worth retiring your Road Raging ways. 2. Think Twice Before Topping Off. Yes, I know, that gas station's price tag is two cents lower than the last time you filled up.  But fuel is weight, weight is resistance, and resistance is a lower MPG.  Capiche?  Depending on how far out of the way that perfect gas station is (if it's far from home/work, consider the gas you're using to get there as lost every time you wander to the hills for a fill up), it's actually more efficient to fill to half or three-fourths to save on weight, then fill most of the way up again once you hit a quarter tank. Another Plus: Not riding your tank on gas fumes could help elongate the life of your fuel pump. 3. Keep Up On Proper Maintenance. There are a lot of things we go over in our multi-point inspections that have a huge impact on the overall health of your vehicle - that's why we want to check them each and every time you visit. Air filters are commonly overlooked, and can be seen as an unnecessary commodity, but a dirty air filter can lower your miles to the gallon by as much as 10%.  Additionally, a poor alignment can make your engine work harder to effectively turn the wheels, which you'll pay for at the pump. 4. Keep An Eye on Tire Pressure. Have you ever noticed how flat tires don't roll so well? Although you may not notice it, if your tire's air pressure is low, it's wrecking all kinds of damage - on both your tire, and your mileage.  The lack of pressure means the wheel has to work harder to get it to turn, which means more work from the engine, and so on, until your gas pump becomes the end result. (Be aware that weather can affect your TPMS.) 5. Consider Investing in a Diesel or a Hybrid. Although Diesel can often be a good deal pricier than conventional fuel, it would have to be a solid 25-30% more expensive to outweigh the benefits in efficiency.  Because Diesel uses heat from compression to ignite the engine, rather than sparks, they need less energy to start - and keep going. Not only do Hybrids save at the pump by using a variety of energy sources to keep those wheels a turnin', there are also a lot of rebate offers and tax breaks on alternative energy investments - including the Hybrid. 6. Drive Smarter. Idling for more than a minute wastes more gas than just starting up your car again. Cruise Control is a blessing on flat lands, but if you're taking a visit to the foothills, do without.  When the light ahead of you is red, take your foot off the gas.  If you reach the light by the time it turns green, you just saved yourself a few mpg for the tank by not coming to a full stop before accelerating again. 7. Use Technology. Using contraptions like GPS can help plan out your trip on shorter distances (fewer miles, less gas), or more highways (consistent speed saves on gas).  There are also a lot of apps out now that will show you the cheapest gas in your general area. ( check out CNN's best here) It's an imperfect world, and there may not be much we can do at this precise juncture to help keep you from forking over all of your hard-earned dough at the fuel pump, but we can decrease the frequency that you have to make that depressing little visit. Do you have any tips or tricks to increase your mpg?   To learn more about keeping your tires in tip-top shape, make sure you're buying the right kind. For more helpful tips to keep your vehicle in shape, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Instagram, Pinterest, and Google!

We know you want to take advantage of all the fancy bells and whistles on your new vehicle! That's why we sat down with one of our Certified Salespeople from each of our dealerships to show you how to pair your phone to bluetooth and gain access to such features as hands-free calling, messaging, music streaming, and more!  Check 'em out! Toyota - How to Pair Your Phone to the Entune Digital Information System on your Toyota See more about Milton Ruben Toyotas on our YouTube Channel. Mopar - How to Pair Your Phone to the UConnect Digital Information System on your Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, or Ram vehicle See more about our Mopar products on our YouTube Channel. Chevy - How to Pair Your Phone to the Chevy MyLink Digital Information System on your Chevrolet vehicle See more about our Chevy products on our YouTube Channel. To stay up to date on our How To videos and get the most out of your Toyota, Scion, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, or Chevrolet vehicle, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Instagram, Pinterest, and Google!   If you have other Auto How-To questions, check out our How To channel on youtube! Videos and post by Milton Ruben Media Specialist Heather Cortright.

It's that time of the year! Can you smell it? Time for gas prices to escalate, drivers to get aggressive and impatient, roads to get hazardous, and the kids to get impossibly rowdy! The holiday season is upon us! Now before you jump on the bah hum bug bandwagon too quickly, you should know there are a lot of ways you can prepare for the impending road trip to grandmother's house and avoid events that are going to raise your blood pressure higher than mistletoe.  To prevent any mishaps that could extend your trip or cause delays, we've put together a list of ways you can prepare your vehicle for the road trip ahead. Keep It Clean Get a complete detail done on you vehicle - particularly the interior.  Nobody likes to be in a vehicle for long periods of time to begin with, much less one with funky smells, mystery stains, and the Krystal wrapper from lunch one day last week.  And once the car is clean, keep it that way.  You can refashion a plastic re-usable cereal container with a small trash bag for a portable (and close-able) trash can.  You can also stuff old grocery bags into an empty kleenex box to fill with fast food wrappers and toss each time you stop for fuel up.  Both are a convenient size to stick on a floor board, in a console, or under a seat. Check Your Tires This may be one of the most important safety tips you'll ever get.  Particularly if you're traveling North, where snow and ice may challenge your tread, it is vital for your tires to be in good shape.  Use a Tire Pressure Monitor or Gauge to check the air in your tires.  You can fill up your tires for a dollar at most gas stations, or ask your service advisor about Nitrogen.  (Nitrogen filled tires keep pressure longer, helping you maintain optimal gas mileage and overall health of the tire.)  You can use the coin test to check tread.  If they're low, you're going to need to get them replaced before the trip.  Bad tread and low tire pressure can not only affect the efficiency of fuel, but it can also decrease stopping speed of your vehicle and endanger your family.  Don't forget to check the spare! Inspect Engine/ Top Off Fluids Pop the hood and carefully inspect all of the wires and hoses on the engine of your vehicle.  If any are frayed or damaged, you may want to get them replaced before head out.  And while you're under there, check your fluids: brake, transmission, coollant, windshield wiper, etc.  Top off any that are low, and consider whether or not your windshield will need wiper fluid that is made for lower temperatures. Depending on how far you plan on driving, it may be reasonable to go ahead and get your oil changed and a new oil filter installed. Check Your Lights Get a friend, spouse, neighbor, stranger, or kid to help you check your headlights and brake lights to ensure they are bright and clear on each side.  If you can't get help, carefully park near a wall at night and check the reflections on the wall.  You can keep your lights bright by cleaning off the lamps with toothpaste! Of course, all of the above tips can be done here at Milton Ruben Superstore by your Certified Technicians.  In fact, let your Service Advisor know that you're traveling, and they'll make sure your vehicle gets a thorough inspection to ensure the safety and comfort of your family on the road. Make your appointment here! Make sure you check for any specials or deals! Map It Out Preplan your route with your GPS, Navigation System, or map.  If you're as obsessed with the Food Network as I am, you can plan out pit stops for food through TVFoodMaps.com, which will show you restaurants and diners featured on the Food Network along your desired route.  There are also plenty of websites such as FuelMyRoute.com that help you identify the most affordable fuel options.  Make a list of destination addresses and keep them handy for reference.  Many navigation systems will now allow you to plan your route with "via points," so you can let technology do the work for you once you hit "go!" Traffic Happens Program local traffic stations of cities you'll be driving through so you can be aware of any possible delays before you get there.  Of course, if you're not willing to compromise your presets on satellite radio, many modern navigation systems will forewarn you and even offer alternate routes in the case of construction or other delays! Don't Text And Drive Of course, it's tempting to read the incoming stream of plans from your family members as they ask you to report every leg of your trip on the half hour.  We know.  But it's not worth the danger you put yourself, your family, and others on the road to take your eyes away from the prize and get distracted.  Luckily, modern technology in most of our Application Suite Centers will allow you to connect your phone to bluetooth and have your vehicle read the text messages to you!  Thank goodness for manufacturers who understand reality!     There you have it!  Be sure to check out our post on traveling safely with your pets, and stay tuned for more posts on preparing for holiday road trips by following us on Facebook and Twitter! This post was written by Milton Ruben Media Specialist Heather Cortright.

Recalls are confusing stuff.  What do you have to do? What does it mean? What part could do what to where? That letter that arrives from the manufacturer is long, wordy, and who has time to google every other word to figure out what its trying to say? Like we said, figuring out what to do with a recall can seem like complicated stuff.  We understand how frustrating the process can be when you aren't sure what to expect or you're worried your vehicle might not be safe if you don't helo-vac your it to our Service Lane for repairs ASAP.  And we want to settle your mind.  So we started a Recall Video Series, so you'll know what to do with your recall, what to expect when you bring your recall to the service lane, and whether or not you should be worried. CHRYSLER, INC. RECALL P14: BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to call your Service Advisor!   And stay tuned for more updates on our Recall Video Series on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google!

We've been conducting a few polls here and there to find out what you want to see from us in your newsfeed.  The most popular answers were "Information on vehicles," "Advice on how to better care for my car," and " Coupons and Specials." Well we've been hard at work for the last few weeks stocking up on walk-around videos to answer your questions about the new cars we keep in stock, helping you make a decision about what car is best for you.  We also continued our Service Video series conducted by our Service Managers and Service Advisors to help you take better care of your vehicle, helping it hold value longer, and keeping you safer.  Now to tackle the last request! Here's a couple specials we have running in our Service Lanes and Parts Departments right now: And in the future, you can stay up-to-date on other ways we're trying to save you money by checking the " Specials " tab at www.drivebaby.com! Also, we'll start posting more of these specials on our social media networks to keep you in-the-know on when the best time is to buy or have service done on your vehicle. Keep giving us more suggestions! We are striving to have the best customer service in the CSRA!  You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, Google, Instagram, and LinkedIn! This post was written by Milton Ruben Media Specialist Heather Cortright.

When I was in college, I drove that stereotypical " first car."  It was a hand-me-down from my sister, who had gotten it after my dad upgraded to a new model.  The headliner was torn so badly it was wrapped in a re-fashioned fabric book sock so the foam wouldn't rain down into the eyes of the driver at random.  The A/C only worked between 35 and 60 mph, and even then it was 78 degrees or bust.  The radio dial took up residence in a cup holder since no variety of glue could hold it in place anymore.  It took fourteen years of faithful service to my family before it finally died on me in my junior year of college. In the middle of the night.  While I was driving it.  Through the backwoods of West Columbia, SC.  Twenty years old, female, unaccompanied and clueless about cars at the time, I found myself being told by a private shop technician that it would cost nearly a grand to fix my car.  I learned 48 hours later in the parking lot of Walmart trying to coax "Big Red" to start that I had been swindled quite badly.  It was that moment that it dawned on me - I needed to learn more about cars.  Particularly their regular maintenance and mechanics.  After all, $1000 was a lot of Easy Mac. Here at Milton Ruben, our service departments do their best to keep our customers updated and informed, answering any questions you may have about repairs to avoid the above situation from happening.  But it has occurred to us that some questions could be easily answered at any hour of the day with a nice, informative video.  And you guys have always been the best source for what we should focus on - so we turn to you to learn what you want to know about basic maintenance and mechanics of your car. Who knows - if it's a good suggestion on how we can teach you to keep up the upkeep of your vehicle, we might even throw out a gift or two. So, tell us, what question do you have about vehicle maintenance that we could focus on in our upcoming videos? Feel free to comment, private message, or e-mail socialmedia@miltonruben.com with your feedback! Check up on if we've answered your question by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google, and Pinterest! This post and graphics were created by Milton Ruben Social Media Specialist Heather Cortright.

Sometimes it seems like the second you've finally mastered the new domaflochey (DOO-mah-FLAH-CHEE: technical term for a technical thingy), they invent a 2.0 Whatcha-ma-jigger (the technical term for an advanced domaflochey). We get it - and we want to help you stop pushing buttons blindly and start mastering the advanced technology now being offered in Toyota vehicles.  We launched a whole new YouTube series to teach you everything you need to know about your Toyota Entune digital information center. The Entune system makes it easy, fast, and safe for you to access your contacts and initiate phone calls, "read" text messages (without endangering your life - don't text and drive!), listen to your own music, navigate to the closest burger joint, and so much more! Our first episode teaches you how to pair your iPhone or Droid to Bluetooth: The second shows  you some settings and features to customize your Bluetooth notifications: Our third episode shows you how to access music from your phone via Bluetooth, and how to see the weather forecast and traffic report to make sure your trip goes smoothly. Don't forget to like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to keep updated on new episodes! Check out our Toyota stock in our online inventory! These videos were shot and edited by Milton Ruben Social Media Manager Heather Cortright.

Here's a little video that Ray Lockamy did for us to show you how to pair your phone with your 2014 Chevrolet Equinox! For more videos from Milton Ruben Superstore visit our YouTube channel! For your future vehicle come see us online at http://www.DriveBaby.com or in person at 3514 Washington Road in beautiful Augusta, GA.

Today, we are going to join Milton Ruben Chevrolet's Aaron Thompson while he gives us pointers on how to fill your tires, check your fluids, and tend to your wiper blades. For more tips, or to schedule service, call Milton Ruben at 706-868-0588 or visit our website.