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With the summer fast approaching and school ending for the year, kids are going to be looking forward to your next family vacation. While they may be looking forward to your next family trip, you may be dreading the drive with a car full of cooped-up kids. Worry not! We have some tips for keeping your kids occupied and your own sanity. So whether you've got a twenty minute drive or six hour trip, these tips and tricks are sure to make long drives more bearable for you and your kids. Make the car ride fun Making the car ride fun is easier than it sounds. If you want to keep kids occupied in the back seat, try providing them with new toys. These don’t have to be extravagant or expensive toys, Silly Putty, yo-yos and other small toys found at the dollar store will do a lot to curb their boredom. Coloring books, word searches and other paper games are also a great way to entertain kids during the trip. Try holding off on giving these to the kids until they start getting bored, it’ll keep them occupied longer. Minimize stops When you’re driving with kids, you want to minimize stops as much as possible. That being said, make sure to offer bathroom breaks when available. You can reduce your number of stops by fueling up before you go and packing multiple snacks. Packing snacks that you don’t usually give your kids will keep their interest longer, but be sure to monitor their sugar intake. If your kids are more technologically inclined, portable video games systems and tablets can keep them entertained for hours. Otherwise, a portable DVD player is another great way to keep them occupied. Audiobooks and Kids CDs are also great ways to entertain your kids in the car, and may even put them to sleep in the process. If you’re looking for a new vehicle to take you on your family vacation, we offer the 2015 Volkswagen Golf and the 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan which offer plenty of room for your family and their gear. If you’re just looking for a temporary vehicle for your trip, we also offer rentals of select new vehicles. A new vehicle offers a new and exciting experience for kids during the drive. Contact us for more information. Have any tips and tricks of your own for keeping kids occupied in the car during long tips? Let us know in the comments below!

Bluetooth® capabilities in the 2015 Jetta When you get behind the wheel of a 2015 Volkswagen Jetta, you already know you’re driving in comfort and safety. But did you also know that the Jetta offers a selection of other services for your entertainment and convenience? Well it can with to its wireless Bluetooth ® capabilities. With Bluetooth, drivers have access to a variety of services right there in their car. With Bluetooth® technology, you can wirelessly connect your phone and car. When connected, you can drive while talking on the phone – without even touching your device. An overhead microphone picks up your voice while the car’s speakers allow you to hear the conversation. This means you can hold conversations on your phone in your car without ever taking your hands off the wheel. The Bluetooth technology also allows you to steam music. With a Bluetooth connection, you can stream music from your device through your car’s speakers. You’ll never have to worry about finding music to listen to, you favorites will be right on hand. How to pair your Jetta and phone with Bluetooth Pairing your device with Bluetooth is quick and easy. First, you need to ensure that your phone is compatible with the Jetta’s Bluetooth. You can do this at vw.com/bluetooth. Fill out the necessary information and make sure you’re good to go. Then, your vehicle should be in the accessory mode with the parking break applied in order to begin the pairing process. From the Bluetooth menu on your phone, search for new devices. The option for “VW PHONE” should appear after the search. This option should be selected. Some devices may prompt some alerts about the Bluetooth. You can then accept the notifications so that a connection will be established automatically. Now you have access to your phonebook directly from your vehicle. After your vehicle is paired, you can place and receive calls while on the road. Be sure to remain attentive while behind the wheel and not allow phone calls to be a distraction. To get behind the wheel of a 2015 Volkswagen Jetta with Bluetooth capabilities, see our inventory. If any of them catch your eye, contact us here at Speedcraft Volkswagen to set up a test drive.

How to tell when a car needs a tune up Can you remember the last time you took your car in for a tune up? If the answer is no, odds are it’s probably due for one. While your vehicle may appear to be running normally, there could still be issues going unnoticed. With new models particularly, it’s important to pay close attention to the slightest change in your engine. The current technology in cars often covers up what would normally be a sign of problems with your car. Looking for these common signs a vehicle needs a tune up can save you in the long run. If you find yourself wondering when to get a tune up, there are a few signs you can look for to give you an idea of what's happening under the hood. Some signs of problems are obvious, while others are more subtle. If you notice that your vehicle makes a knocking noise while accelerating or driving uphill, this is often a sign that your engine needs attention. While this could just be caused your car having a tank full of inferior gas, it could also be a carbon build-up inside the engine. Difficulty starting your vehicle is also a sign that your engine could use some work. This is a common issue in cars, and it is usually solved with some maintenance. Stalling or losing power are more signs that your car needs a tune up. These issues can be  caused by several factors, so it’s difficult to identify the source without a thorough inspection. If you notice your vehicle has either of these problems, even just in certain conditions, chances are there is something wrong in your engine. Subtle signs your vehicle needs a tune up Certain signs of problems require you pay a little closer attention to your vehicle. It’s common for engine issues to lead to less fuel efficiency in your vehicle. If you notice that your vehicle’s gas mileage is not what it used to be, the cause could be an issue with its engine. Keeping track of your MPG is a good way to ensure your vehicle is running properly. In addition to strange sounds, odors are also signs of problems. If you notice the smell of rotten eggs, this is usually a sign of issues with your engine or catalytic converter. Both issues can be resolved with some maintenance. Without a healthy engine, your vehicle is a ticking time bomb. Engine maintenance is a vital part of having a well-kept vehicle, so knowing when it needs a tune up is essential for car owners. If you notice your vehicle is running differently or showing any of the above signs, be sure to contact us to set up an appointment for a tune up. If you know what you're looking for and want faster service, we can get you rolling faster with our Service Xpress.

How to know when your tires need to be rotated Every car driver knows that tire rotation is an essential part of car maintenance. When done properly and consistently,  tire rotation can extend the life of your tires, improve your vehicle’s handling and even improve gas mileage. You may be asking: when should tires be rotated? Simply follow these easy tips to gauge when your next rotation should be. Your tires are an essential part of the running of your vehicle and as such, they should be maintained properly. When rotating your tires, the process requires each tire to be moved to a different corner of the vehicle in order to distribute the vehicle’s weight and, as a result, wear evenly. By doing this, you ensure that your tires wear out evenly and at the same rate, rather than a part of one tire wearing out faster than the rest. That way, you can buy your tires all at once rather than getting one after another. Your vehicle’s owner manual should give you the exact time when to rotate your tires. Recommended times can range between every 3,000-7,000 miles, depending on your specific vehicle. If you’re not sure and don’t have access to your owner’s manual, a good estimate is to get your tires rotated every other time you go in for an oil change. How tires should be rotated Most vehicles have a specific rotation pattern that should be employed in order to optimize your rotation. Again, these should be found in your owner’s manual, but if you don’t have that, the standard rotation pattern should work just fine. The pattern doesn't matter as much as long as you’re consistent with it. For the standard pattern, just move the front tires to their opposite back corner. For certain vehicles, tires can’t be crossed as they are in the standard pattern. This includes vehicles with unidirectional tires, older bias ply tires and different sized tires, for obvious reasons. In these cases, just switch the tires to the left and right instead. If it’s time for your vehicle to come in for a rotation and you don’t want to do it yourself, feel free to schedule an appointment for a rotation and oil change. We also have a selection of other services available here at Speedcraft Volkswagen if you’re in need of any other maintenance.

The VW Beetle in Rhode Island It’s safe to say that the Volkswagen Beetle is still one of the most universally recognizable cars ever built. Its historical significance in pop culture, modern American society, the sexual revolution, and the 60s and 70s counterculture cannot be understated. The VW Beetle in Rhode Island is still a big piece of Americana, and it’s still treasured by so many. The Volkswagen Beetle Has Come a Long Way since it was first introduced, and a few recent videos make that more evident than ever. The National Geographic channel produced a half hour documentary on the history and evolution of the Volkswagen Beetle. It is pretty incredible, and filled with historic interviews and footage that really help to place this piece of nostalgia in a cultural context. It is 30 minutes well spent for anyone who loves the bug. Coincidentally, this week VW also released a pretty epic video showing the 2015 VW Beetle in all its modern glory. We currently have several Beetle configurations in stock here in Rhode Island. They are as affordable as they have ever been. We even set up a virtual showroom right here on our website to let you see all of the options and features of the new 2015 Beetle. If you’ve never driven a bug, they are absurdly fun with tons of personality. They still turn more heads than any other VW model. Feel free to schedule a test drive for a time that is most convenient for you. And, as always, feel free to pop in whenever you’re in the neighborhood! Also, be sure to check out the latest VW Incentives for the Beetle and the Beetle Convertible. Driving the car of your dreams is more possible than you probably realized.

We’ve compiled all the Volkswagen ‘How To’ videos for changing your car’s clock for Daylight Savings Time. It’s been a week since we sprang forward, losing an hour of sleep but gaining some much-appreciated sunshine. Daylight Savings Time has arrived, and if you are like us you’re probably feeling a little groggy still. It’s amazing how changing the clocks one hour can really impact so many things. One of those things is your the clock in your Volkswagen. We know people who just leave the clock in their car on the wrong time until the clocks change and they become correct once more. There’s no need to live this way. VW produced a series of very handy How To videos for each Volkswagen model, showing you How To Set The Clock in Your VW. It is far easier than you think. Find your model below, and get back on track. Setting the Clock in your Volkswagen Jetta Setting the Clock in Your Volkswagen Passat Setting the Clock in Your Volkswagen Golf Setting the Clock in Your Volkswagen Golf GTI Setting the Clock in Your Volkswagen Beetle Setting the Clock in Your Volkswagen Eos Setting the Clock in Your Volkswagen CC Setting the Clock in Your Volkswagen Tiguan Setting the Clock in Your Volkswagen Touareg We host a variety of other helpful How To videos on our website. They are designed to help you get comfortable with some of the basic controls and features of your new Volkswagen. Check them out. And, of course, if you landed on this page and none of this information was helpful, it’s probably time for a much-deserved VW upgrade. Feel free to peruse our New Volkswagen Inventory and let us know if you find something you like!

Rhode Island Potholes are wreaking havoc around the state. Avoidance Tips and Easy pothole Inspections. It’s that time of year again. As the snow and ice recede after another brutal winter (we hope the worst is behind us), we see the damage that months of freezing, thawing, and plowing have done to our Rhode Island roads. We don’t have Spring here, we have Pothole Season. And it’s wicked this year. Rhode Island Pothole Problems have been especially brutal to cars throughout the state. We encourage all drivers to read our Pothole Avoidance Tips, and to bring their car in for a quick Pothole Inspection if it’s been jostled a bit too much this season. Pothole Avoidance Tips You’re not going to be able to stop mother nature from wreaking havoc on Rhode Island roads in winter, leaving us with so many dips, divots and holes that they become impossible to safely dodge. But we have a few Pothole Avoidance Tips, so you stand your best chance against, and your car can get through this season in one piece. Tire Pressure - Make sure your tires are properly inflated this time of year. The right amount of tire pressure is crucial to having a good buffer between your rim and the broken pavement. Not too firm or too soft. Leave Room - Tailgating is a primary reason why you didn’t see that big pothole coming. You will spot the big ones before its too late if you just leave a reasonable amount of room between yourself and the car in front of you. Steer Clear of Puddles - Rhode Islanders know that often those tiny little puddles are potholes in disguise. This time of year, there’s no telling how deep a little bit of water really is. If possible, avoid them if you can, or proceed through them with greater caution. Rhode Island Pothole Inspection Rhode Island Potholes are no laughing matter. We might be the smallest state, but we unquestionably have the biggest divots in our roads. When you hit ‘the big one’ you know it. You wait for your tires to deflate, or your car to start pulling to one side, or any number of other symptoms that let you know your car is hurting. If you hit the big one, or just too many to count, you need some peace of mind and assurance that your car is ok. We recommend you stop in for a quick Pothole Inspection. In Rhode Island especially, it’s important to stay ahead of the small problems before they balloon into something catastrophic. A Pothole Inspection is quick and easy. We will get you in and out as quickly as possible. We quickly check the following: - Tire puncture or damage - Wheel rim damage - Premature wear on shocks and struts - Suspension damage - Steering system misalignment - Exhaust system damage - Engine damage NOTE: If your car was damaged by a pothole in Rhode Island, and your vehicle is registered in Rhode Island, you are probably eligible for reimbursement of up to $300. You can learn more about being reimbursed for pothole damage here.

A behind-the-scenes look at why we decided to completely redesign our website, making it better for mobile devices and real car shopping. Over the last few days, we have been spending quite a bit of time telling you about some of the more special features we’ve built into our completely redesigned website. Our goal with this new site was to simply make life easier for you. We listened to you and took to heart all the feedback we’ve been given over the years. The parts of car buying and ownership that you didn’t like, we put a lot of effort into making those areas as painless and as informative as possible. From showcasing our inventory, to making sure you can find our latest specials, to making it easier to take care of scheduling services and test drives online. It’s all a lot easier. Welcome to Our New Website! We want to let you in on a trade secret. A lot of car dealerships believe their website should do everything possible to get you to email, call, or stop in. These dealers mistakenly think selling you a car is an artform, and once you are on the line or in the lot, it’s all a matter of persuasion. We are not one of those dealerships. The truth is, a lot of people don’t buy cars that way anymore, because an entire generation of people have been conditioned by sites like Amazon to now expect a one-stop-shop when it comes to researching and purchasing a product. Cars are bigger, they are more expensive, but that doesn’t mean your expectations are any different when you’re shopping for one. Our new website reflects these values. We have done everything in our power to give you as much information as possible online. We wanted to answer the questions you didn’t even know you had. And we wanted you to be able to view our entire inventory, learn more about every model, schedule a test drive, view our specials, see manufacturer incentives, text yourself coupons, schedule regular maintenance, make a service appointment, safely fill out financial forms, calculate your payments, value your trade-in, and get in touch with us all from the comfort of your home. We even put together a page that uses How To Videos to answer some of the most common questions we get on a daily basis. More than all of that, we know that shopping for a car doesn’t just happen on our lot or behind your desk. It happens on your cell phone when you have 10 minutes in the middle of your day. It happens on your iPad or tablet while the kids are napping. It happens in the middle of the night when you can’t sleep worrying about your aging car. Computer, tablet, phone… we made our site responsive so that you can flip through from any device, anywhere. We hope you enjoy all the new features and tools on our new site. We would love to hear from you and get any feedback you have to offer. Is there something you wish was available here, or a feature you think would help you find exactly what you are looking for? We are all ears. Let us know.

With a new website comes new rewards, new deals, and more savings than ever before through SpeedcraftVW.com If you are a savvy car shopper, which you are or you wouldn’t be here reading this, then you are most likely looking for a real deal. Unlike those dealers who bury prices or make you give up your name and phone number before even telling you the best deal on the lot, we lay it all out for you. With our new website, we wanted to focus on transparency. We wanted to make specials a priority, and we wanted to make sure you knew when you were getting a good deal. There are More VW Specials Than Ever on Our New Site. So we thought we’d take a little time to highlight a few of the big ones. Volkswagen has always been better than most when it comes to keeping new car prices low. And yet, here at Speedcraft, we take it a step further with our New Car Special Offers, which are updated regularly. As of this writing, we have nine brand new models showcased here with easy to scan information. You can quickly see the best lease deals, the lowest imaginable price of a particular model, view that model’s inventory to see exactly which colors and trim levels we have in stock, and you can request a little more info about that specific car. We wanted to make shopping for new cars as easy as possible. We wanted to make shopping for our Certified Pre-Owned Volkswagen models a breeze, too. So we rounded up all our pre-owned VWs onto a single web page for easier browsing. On this one page, you can view the Kelley Blue Book Price Advisor report for every single pre-owned VW on our lot. It complies the entire history of the vehicle, the most recent inspection report, and details why the car is valued at the given price. Moreover, we are dedicated to getting our pre-owned Volkswagen models back out onto the roads as soon as possible. So if one of our used models piques your interest, get an E-Price right from this page. You can finally shop online with confidence knowing that this price can’t be beat. We also work closely with VW to keep national finance offers and lease options compiled in one central location. We want finding the best deal to be easy, and from time-to-time Volkswagen headquarters puts out absolutely unbelievable deals. The Current Incentives page from VW shows you some of the best deals in the country, and it’s a place where you can even read the fine print if you so choose. You can get a quote or ask a question about every model we carry, and beyond that you can also roll up your sleeves and research every feature of every model offered with an incentive. Our Service Specials page is the sort of thing dreams are made of. If you have a coupon clipper in your family, send them here. They can shop for all the best deals from our top-notch Service Department, print the coupon directly from the same page, or even send the coupon to their phone via text or email. We said we wanted to make things easier on you, and we are really proud of this feature. You will also see that right now we have a coupon there for our Oil Maintenance Plan, which saves you over $300 on oil changes. You can read more about that unbelievable deal here. Finally, we also know that starting out in life can be a daunting task. And while we put a lot of effort into making the car buying easier for everyone, we wanted to take a little pressure off recent and soon-to-be college graduates by making your first car payment for you. All of the details on our College Graduate Program are here. It is our hope that by putting all of our specials, incentives, coupons, and savings programs together in one place that you can shop with confidence, knowing we are doing everything we can to get you the best deal possible. We will continue to update our specials pages regularly, so be sure to check back from time-to-time.

We've added so many intuitive new features to our redesigned website, we thought we would tell you about some of our favorites. You may have noticed a few things look a little different around here! We recently launched a completely redesigned website, and much like when you rearrange your furniture at home, it might take a little getting used to. We know you’re going to get so much more out of this new site, and we just wanted to be sure to point out a few of the key new features we’ve added to make the car shopping process a lot easier. You can start Shopping for a New VW on our Website today. Right from our home page all our models are now displayed in the modern online shopping style of which we’ve all become accustomed, allowing you to easily and immediately browse through everything we offer. We believe there’s no reason why shopping for a car should feel any different than shopping for anything else, so we made our site to reflect that. Whether you’re shopping from your computer, your tablet, or your phone, we made the process about as easy as it is to shop for a new pair of shoes. Clicking on any of the models displayed on the homepage will take you directly to the inventory we currently have on hand, so you can compare the individual vehicles we have right here on our lot or in our showroom. Pricing and every available feature that is specific to that particular model is right there in great detail. Right from the individual model inventory pages you can calculate your monthly payments, make an offer on that specific car, value your current trade-in, and so much more. Our new car inventory is now easier to browse, as well. A focus on intuitive ease of use guided the design of our new inventory pages, with you in mind. If you’ve made it to our site, you are in shopping mode and you want answers to questions about specific cars. You want to virtually walk our lot and narrow down your choices, and we believe we’ve made that possible now. More than ever before, our new inventory page allows customers to narrow down every car on our lot based on any number of parameters, from make and model all the way down to engine type, transmission configuration, and exterior color. Our website still has a Volkswagen Showroom, but the new and improved showroom is simplified and focused on the basics so you can get pick the models that speak to you. From the VW Showroom, you can get down to business by comparing features and trim levels, checking out photos, and going a little more in depth with your research. It’s a one-stop-shop for the car buyer who wants to know exactly what they’re getting. When redesigning our site, we decided to address the fact that not everyone likes to show up unannounced to dealerships. Moreover, we appreciate that sometimes you only have a very limited amount of time to pop in for a test drive. So we developed a very simple form on our site for anyone to schedule a test drive. If a specific model catches your eye, let us know and we will have it gassed up and waiting for you to take it out for a spin the moment you arrive. Even if Volkswagen is proving not to be the best match for you, we are part of a much larger network of dealers. For decades we have been helping people find the exact vehicle that is right for them, VW or not. So if you’re looking for a specific vehicle that you have yet to be able to track down, you can let us know online with our new, easy Car Finder tool. We did our best to transform our site into a real shopping tool for you. We wanted this site to be useful and simple. We wanted it to make sense and help you. We think it does a pretty good job in doing that. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us directly. And if you hadn’t yet noticed, we made that easier, too!

Common Tax Mistakes Now that the Christmas holiday is behind us, we’re getting ready to face another season of sorts altogether: tax season. Yes, in a few weeks we’ll begin sorting through our paperwork for the year, hoping that we can take home a sizeable return to help us into a new purchase (or who knows, a new Volkswagen). However, what common tax mistakes do we make that prevent us from getting the return we deserve? Here are four of the most regular errors for you to avoid, with a little help from your friends at Speedcraft VW! Typographical Errors While most of us are pretty adept at jotting down--or, more likely, typing--our own information, if we’re doing the taxes for family members or claiming dependents, then the addition of social security numbers, dates of birth, and the like can make typos much more common. Be sure to double check your values to make certain that they’re correct. Math Mistakes It's almost tax time; are you ready? This is an area where we can avoid mistakes simply by leaning on today’s technology. According to IRS figures, we are twenty times more likely to make a math mistake if we use a paper and pen rather than e-filing or using tax-prep software. So, once again, go over all of your materials in advance to ensure that everything is correct. You’d hate to have the forms sent back to you and delay your return, right? Incorrect Filing Status or Selecting the Wrong Deductions Some of the wording on tax forms can be a little troublesome, which leads many filers to select the wrong filing status when they file. Additionally, some might assume that they are eligible for a deduction, or neglect to choose an exemption that they actually are qualified for. However, the most common problem in this regard usually comes after a divorce, when parents of minor children don’t know who is eligible to claim the kids as dependents. In this case, it’s probably best to consult a tax professional for clarification. Forgetting to Sign the Paperwork This is more common than you might have initially thought. Just as we sometimes forget to endorse a check, we’ll sometimes complete all the paperwork and then forget the simplest and most important step, rendering the entire enterprise invalid. So be certain to sign at the end and, if you are filing jointly with a spouse, to get both necessary signatures. We trust that these tips will help to avoid mistakes, and to get your full return on time! And, in time for the tax season, we’ll be having lease and financing specials at Speedcraft VW as well! Stay tuned!

Driving Mistakes during Snowy Conditions We won’t sugarcoat it: we like the snowy season in Rhode Island. It brings out the Frank Capraesque nature of our many historic communities, and everything just looks so much more homey. Of course, it also comes with its share of hazards, several of which we’ve already outlined here. The most obvious of these is, of course, the snow and ice. But what mistakes do we make during snowy conditions that we can avoid in hopes of staying safe? Here are a few. 1) Driving too fast. This should be obvious. When there is ice cover on the roads, experts predict that stopping distances can increase by as much as ten times! Speeding only exacerbates this problem, and can cause all sorts of problems when traveling on curvy roads as well. Stay on the road this winter by avoiding these driving mistakes! 2) Slamming on the brakes. This ties into Mistake #1. When you must hit the brakes in a hurry, don’t panic and simply slam on them. This will send your vehicle into a slide, eliminating any control you might have over your vehicle. Simply apply firm pressure and let up gently every so often, helping you retain control. 3) Following too closely behind other vehicles. Experts estimate that you should double your following distance when traveling in snowy or icy conditions, estimating four car lengths for every 10 mph that you are driving. This would mean, for example, that if you’re traveling 30 mph, you’d want to give yourself 12 car lengths between cars, thus allowing for safe stopping in the event of traffic issues. 4) Not being prepared. Let’s be frank here: winter weather is no joke, and being unprepared is about the worst mistake you can make. Put snow tires on your car if necessary, make sure fluids are filled and that your defrost functions work properly. Additionally, make a kit with kitty litter, a shovel, a flashlight, a blanket and some foodstuffs is recommended as well. 5) Putting too much faith in your 4WD. This happens a lot. A driver will think that he or she is indestructible because they have four-wheel-drive, and then that overconfidence gets them in trouble. Even if you have 4WD, this is designed to make all your wheels go, but it doesn’t do anything to help all of your wheels stop. Therefore, still be careful even in 4WD. We hope that these mistakes will be avoided during the upcoming winter weather season. And, on behalf of all of us at Speedcraft VW, safe travels!