Ask a Folger Subaru Technician: When should I replace my windshield?

Q. How bad does a crack in my windshield need to be before it has to be replaced as opposed to repaired?

A. Back in the day, a crack to your windshield meant it wasn’t long for this world. But newer windshields and advances in repair techniques mean that a little windshield damage doesn’t mean it’s time to get a new one.

If you have a chip or crack in your windshield there are three factors that will determine if you can get it repaired or if you have to get the whole thing replaced.

Size Matters

Most glass repair shops can take care of chips up to the size of a quarter and cracks up to three inches long. There are some specialized repair shops that can handle bigger damage, so it pays to call around and check out your options.

How Bad is It?

Not all cracks are created equal. Even if the size is small, some cracks and chips can be severe. It is possible for seemingly small cracks or chips to be deemed serious enough that you’ll have to replace your entire windshield, so be prepared for this bad news.

Location, Location, Location

If the damage is obscuring the driver’s sight line, most repair shops will suggest a replacement. Also, cracks along the edges of the windshield, where the glass is weakest, are more likely to increase in size and destroy the structural integrity of glass. In this case, a replacement may also be your best bet.

It’s important to remember that the sooner you take care of a crack or chip, the better your chances are that a repair will do the trick. Cracks and chips will only get worse over time, so this is not a repair that you should put off. Many shops won’t touch cracks more than 30 days old. Dirt gets pushed into them and they’re harder to repair. Also, if you’ve got more than one crack, a replacement is the way to go.

Contact the Folger Subaru Service Team now to schedule your appointment

Don't miss out on special savings as well!

Cool Holiday Gifts for Car-Lovers

A person’s car says a lot about his or her personality and approach towards life--and that goes double for car-lovers, who often take their affection to a whole new level by purchasing items that enhance their pride and joy.

So it’s no surprise that the holiday season finds car-lovers drooling over the latest gadgets or gizmos.

Here’s a guide to the coolest Christmas and Hannukah gifts for car-lovers this holiday season.

High-performance driving school

Every car-lover wants to put the pedal to the metal every once and a while. Imagine the pleased look on his or her face when they open an envelope with a gift card or certificate to one of the nation’s top performance driving schools. Among the top driving schools to consider are the Skip Barber Racing School, with operations in Georgia, Connecticut, and California, the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving with four race tracks in Arizona, and the Fast Track High Performance Driving School in Harrisburg, North Carolina, where you can learn how to drive a stock car. ($2,000-$5,000)

Subscription to a car magazine

If you don’t have a lot of money this holiday season, give the gift that keeps on giving--a magazine subscription to a popular car magazine such as Road and Track, Car and Driver, or Popular Mechanics. You favorite car-lover can find out about the latest models to hit the road, new items to enhance their car, and trends in the automobile industry. ($12-$25)

Picture Makes Perfect

For a surprise, take a photo of his or her prized automobile and transfer the image onto a poster, t-shirt, hat, coffee mug, or keychain. Car lovers love just about anything that celebrates their most cherished possession. To make the gift seasonally appropriate, you can even put the image on a Christmas ornament. ($5-$15)

Car washes for a year

If you ever want to see where all the most devoted car-lovers congregate, it’s not at a car show or automotive parts shop, it’s the car wash. A gift card or certificate for a year’s worth of car washes is greatly appreciated by car lovers who want their possession to sparkle every day of the year. ($25-$100)

Brought to you by Folger Subaru

The 2014 Subaru BRZ Defines Precision and Power

The BRZ uses classic sports car configuration to deliver an adrenaline-pumping ride

Do you ever have that dream where you’re racing through the countryside? Zipping down winding roads as nature flies by your window. You feel that you’re one with the wheel, 2014 Subaru BRZ. Subaru’s latest edition of their top-of-the-line sports coupe takes a purist approach to recent sports car trends and tops it all off with loaded convenience and entertainment features to help you put your confidence in motion.

and any slight move that you make will change your whole path. Well you might not have realized it in the dream, but you were probably driving the precise and powerful new.

When crafting the 2014 BRZ, Subaru took full advantage of their BOXER engine design. Delivering 200-horsepower, the BOXER engine supplies an added bonus with its inherently low height and low mass concentration, which contribute to the BRZ’s astonishingly low center of gravity. Although many designers choose to leave out precision when putting together their sports cars, Subaru wants you to have your cake and eat it too with the BRZ’s lightweight frame, low-centered SUBARU BOXER engine, and choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

When you think sports coupe, utility isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind. But in the 2014 Subaru BRZ, the impressive level of utility will stun you. Unlike most sports cars of its kind, the illustrious sports car has a flat folding rear seat to expand trunk space, giving you the ability to adjust your BRZ to fit your lifestyle.

To make things better, the BRZ comes in two trim levels with plenty of equipment options to match your needs. New for 2014 is Aha® infotainment smartphone integration, included with the standard in-dash GPS navigation system. The innovative feature enables smartphone content such as podcasts, social media updates and breaking news to drivers through radio. In addition to standard features such as Bluetooth® mobile phone connectivity and audio streaming, Subaru is also proud to offer other available features, including voice-activated navigation, XM Satellite Radio and XM NavTraffic in the 2014 model year. If you choose to upgrade your 2014 BRZ experience, the Sports-tech Package includes features such as fog lights, a rear spoiler, seats upholstered with Alcantara inserts and leather bolsters, and keyless access with a start/stop button to really embody the sports car feel.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named the BRZ, along with all Subaru models, a Top Safety Pick for 2013¹. The list of Subaru IIHS accolades goes on for years, bolstered by a ring-shaped reinforcement frame, LATCH system back seat anchors, high-strength front seat frames, Subaru Advanced Frontal Airbag System, and Brake Assist/Override technology.

We take great pride in rolling out the latest model of the continuously impressive line of Subaru BRZ models. Come by our dealership and see for yourself why the 2014 Subaru BRZ is the car of your dreams, engineered to perform and designed to ignite.

View our inventory online now!

¹2013 "Top Safety Pick" based on 31 mph side-impact crash test, 40 mph moderate overlap frontal crash test, 20 mph rear-impact test, and roof strength testing. Test performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. For details, visit www.iihs.org

 

 

Best Ideas for Boosting Horsepower without Boosting Fuel Consumption

Brought to you by Folger Subaru

Admit it, there are times when you'd like a little more. Like when you're joining the freeway and see a line of 18-wheelers bearing down. With more oomph under the hood you'd punch it and get out in front, but lacking supercar horsepower, you have to ease off the gas and tuck in behind.

One solution is to buy a quicker car, but if you don't want to change your ride there is another option: squeeze more horsepower from what you've got. Here are some of the best ideas around.

Replace the air filter
Stock filters restrict airflow into the engine. Running without a filter isn't an option because that risks serious engine damage, but companies like K&N sell filters that allow the engine to breathe more easily. This in turn increases the performance of your engine.

Fit a cold air induction system
This pulls in air from nearer the ground where it's more dense. To keep the air-fuel ratio where it needs to be, the engine management computer injects more gas on each stroke of the piston, increasing power. Companies like AEM Induction Systems also strive to reduce airflow turbulence, which helps move air in to the engine.

Go for forced induction
There are two approaches to forced induction--supercharging and turbocharging. A supercharger is driven by a belt from the crank, so it's always running, while a turbo is driven by the exhaust gases. In that sense the turbo is more efficient because it uses energy that would otherwise be blown out through the exhaust. Both are pricy installations and slightly out of range for the novice mechanic.

Install a performance exhaust
So far we've talked about ways to push more air in to the cylinders, but the exhaust side of the engine shouldn't be overlooked. A performance exhaust like those made by Borla offers less back pressure. When it's easier to get the gases out of the cylinder, less power is wasted on sucking air in.

Modify valve opening and closing
Deep inside the engine is a camshaft. Driven from the crank, this controls when and how far the inlet and exhaust valves open. Performance cams have different profiles to the stock shaft, allowing improved breathing. As with turbocharging though, installation requires top-notch mechanical skills.

Modify spark timing
In older vehicles where ignition timing is set by the distributor, more power can be produced by increasing the “advance”. Modern engines have replaced the distributor with an Engine Control Unit (ECU) that measures speed, air temperature, and throttle position and determines when to send the spark. This is known as the engine “mapping”.

Companies like Jet Performance Products sell tools for modifying ECU mapping and replacement controllers optimized for performance.

The impact on fuel consumption
If you're going to extract maximum power all the time, expect to see your gas mileage go through the floor. But by making the engine more efficient, these mods will provide more oomph without too much of a hit on the consumption front.

Drive carefully and you may even see better mileage. And a final word of warning: Horsepower is addictive. After giving your ride an mph boost you'll be happy for a while. But then you'll find you want a little more.http://www.folgersubaru.com/index.htm

Ask a Folger Subaru Technician: What Does My Car Exhaust Color Mean?

Finding trouble with your car early can help you avoid an unwelcome repair bill. The color of your car's exhaust can be a useful means of health checking what is happening elsewhere on the vehicle.
 
As your engine burns fuel and creates exhaust, a number of different processes are taking place. If you spot different colors in your exhaust emissions, you could be spotting the early signs of problems to come.
 
Blue or gray smoke can sometimes be seen coming from the exhaust, particularly when the car is first started. Sometimes the smoke will disappear and become difficult to spot once the engine has been running for a while.

Blue or gray smoke can indicate a number of different problems:

• There may be a problem with the piston rings. You will need to ask a technician to inspect and possibly replace the parts.
• The engine's valve seals may be worn or faulty. Again, you will need to ask a professional to replace them.
• The valve guides may be worn or damaged. This is definitely not a job that you want to do yourself.

White smoke often appears from your exhaust and may well be perfectly normal. Your car will very often emit white smoke when first started, particularly during very cold weather. The problem arises when the smoke does not go away. If your exhaust continues to emit white smoke after it has been running for some time, then there could be a problem.

• It is possible that the engine block is cracked. Your technician will need to replace it.
• One of more of the cylinder head gaskets may be faulty and will need to be replaced.
• It is possible that one (or more) of the cylinder heads has warped or cracked. You will need to ask your service department to replace the parts for you.

Black smoke is another common symptom of a car with mechanical problems. The smoke may be very thick and choking when you first start the engine and may or may not disappear when the car has been started for some time. It is also quite common for the engine to sputter or misfire at the same time.

• There could just be a problem with the air filter. You would normally be able to replace this yourself.
• It is possible that your fuel injectors are leaking. You will have to get a professional to inspect and replace.
• There could be a problem with the ignition. You should check the distributor cap and rotor or ask our technician to inspect for you.

Observing the early signs of a problem with your car could prevent huge repair bills later. It's worth learning the problems that colored exhaust emissions could indicate to help you get to the root of the issue as quickly as possible.

For more information, click here for the Folger Subaru Service Department or call (866) 306-3293

2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid Is Worth the Wait

Subaru is making its entrance into the hybrid category in a big way. Anticipation is high for the dynamic 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid, slated for a late fall release. One of the biggest reasons, of course, is the model’s impressive efficiency. It’s not every day that a model has the honor of being the “most fuel-efficient and lowest-emissions AWD hybrid crossover in America” when it’s released.

But the thrills of the XV Crosstrek Hybrid go beyond fuel efficiency. You’ll love zooming down the road like the unique Plasma Green Pearl paintjob that is exclusive to the model. Add on the sleek silver-finish rear taillights, aerodynamic wheels and hybrid badges, and you’ve got one model that’s as attractive as it is efficient.

In designing their first hybrid, Subaru wanted to be certain that the line’s reputable all-wheel drive system remained intact. Utility and versatility come standard in all Subaru models, and the XV Crosstrek Hybrid’s case is no different. With a lifted ground clearance of 8.7 inches, we can tell that Subaru has made sure that the XV Crosstrek Hybrid is consistent when it comes to all-terrain performance.

And now the moment we’ve all been waiting for: the trip under the hood. The 2014 XV Crosstrek Hybrid gets roaring with a 2-liter, 148-horsepower boxer engine that pairs nicely with a 13.4-horsepower electric motor. The electric motor sits behind the transmission and provides assistance in midrange acceleration. Though the XV Crosstrek Hybridhas gained a few pounds (300 to be exact), spacious legroom and a modified chassis keep you from even knowing the difference. The car also has a nickel metal hydride battery pack, helping it to run on electric power alone up to 25-mph.

Subaru has always been the environmentalist’s brand. Our love for nature is just one of the reasons we choose Subaru. The 2014 XV Crosstrek Hybrid is a profound step in the green direction for the already eco-friendly brand. Come by this fall and check out the latest addition to the Subaru family when it arrives.

Last Day To Take Advantage Of Super September Savings At Folger Subaru

Today is the last day to take advantage of our Super September Savings!  If you're looking for an incredible deal on a new Subaru vehicle, then stop by Folger Subaru of Charlotte during our Fall Clearance Sales Event!  We have every new Subaru car, SUV, wagon, and crossover vehicle on sale!  Plus, each new Subaru vehicle sold at Folger Subaru of Charlotte comes with our exclusive FREE Lifetime Warranty!  Be sure to take advantage of end-of-the-month savings today at our Charlotte Subaru car dealership!

HUGE Savings This Weekend During Fall Clearance Sales Event At Folger Subaru

If you're looking for an incredible deal on a new Subaru vehicle, then stop by Folger Subaru of Charlotte this weekend during our Fall Clearance Sales Event!  We have every new Subaru car, SUV, wagon, and crossover vehicle on sale including the Subaru Forester SUV, Subaru Outback wagon, Subaru XV Crosstrek crossover vehicle, Subaru Legacy sedan, Subaru Impreza sedan and hatchback, Subaru Impreza WRX sports car, Subaru BRZ exotic sports car, and the Subaru Tribeca sport utility vehicle!  Plus, each new Subaru vehicle sold at Folger Subaru of Charlotte comes with our exclusive FREE Lifetime Warranty!  Looking for a quality used car, truck, SUV, minivan, or crossover vehicle instead?  We have a great selection of Pre-Owned vehicles on sale!  Be sure to take advantage of super savings today at our Charlotte Subaru car dealership!

2014 Subaru Legacy Walk-Around Video At Folger Subaru In Charlotte North Carolina

View our new Subaru Legacy sedan inventory online today at http://www.folgersubaru.com | Watch Folger Subaru of Charlotte Internet Sales Consultant Jim Gamble talk about the all new 2014 Subaru Legacy car in our walk-around review video at our Subaru car dealership in Charlotte, North Carolina!

2014 Subaru Outback On Sale During Folger Subaru Fall Clearance Sales Event

The only place to get a FREE Lifetime Warranty on your new Subaru vehicle in the Charlotte, NC metro area is Folger Subaru of Charlotte!  Come to our Charlotte Subaru dealership today and get special low 0.9% APR financing on a new 2014 Subaru Outback wagon!  Hurry in to our Subaru car dealership in Charlotte to get great savings during our Fall Clearance Sales Event!