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Gift Ideas for Car Lovers We did it, everyone. We made it through the whole year, through the Thanksgiving holiday, and now we only have about a month until the more festive holidays make their way to the Providence area. This obviously means that you’ll be shopping, and if you’re anything like us, a few people on your list will be car lovers. So what do you get for your local gearhead that they might not think to get for themselves? Here are four gift ideas for car lovers, from your friends at Speedcraft VW! 1) A GoPro If you are someone who enjoys taking your car off-roading or simply going on scenic drives, then there isn’t any reason that you shouldn’t have a GoPro. This camera is easily mountable, and with its ability to take 1080p videos at 30 frames per second, the clips are crisp and clear. And, since it’s equipped with built-in WiFi and Bluetooth, they are easy to share and upload as well. 2) VW DriverGear What kid wouldn't love a VW Beetle power wheel? We’ve talked about this before, but Volkswagen has some of the most impressive swag of any automaker worldwide. Sweatshirts, watches, water bottles, remote controlled cars...the list goes on and on. And, since you can order from the comfort of your couch with our Parts and Accessories eStore, you avoid lines as well. 3) A VW Beetle Power Wheel Is your resident car lover...a child? If so, then why not get them a little Beetle of their own? Power wheels have come a long way since the rickety ones we remember, with spot-on design and a level of fun that your kids can’t find normally. May as well get their lifelong infatuation with Volkswagen off to a good start, right? 4) Racing Video Games Did you know that the average gamer is 30 years old? This means that the buddy you have who enjoys Formula One and working on his car on the weekends probably has an Xbox in his basement too. This year’s most popular titles include Forza Horizon 2 (Xbox only), as well as Grand Theft Auto: Rivals and Grand Theft Auto 5, available for both Xbox and Playstation consoles. For the more lighthearted crowd, meanwhile, Mario Kart 8 is now available on the Nintendo Wii U. (This one’s our favorite.) So, are you ready to do your shopping? If so, we hope that these ideas help in the process. And, if you’re looking for, say, something a little bigger, check out our outstanding lineup of new and used Volkswagen vehicles at Speedcraft VW! Happy holidays and happy shopping!

Beat the Winter Weather Now that winter is fully upon us, there are going to be some travel issues. Obviously, we can’t stop the snow or wish away the ice, but we can try to outsmart it with our wits. Here, from your friends at Speedcraft VW, are five easy ways to beat the winter weather. You can thank us later. When you are stuck in a snowdrift, don’t use sand or cardboard. Try using regular kitty litter, which is more granular and easier for your tires to catch hold of. An added bonus: it smells terrific. Kitty litter. It's a life-saver, in more ways than one. When you are facing frozen windshield wipers and iced-over mirrors, try this: lift the wipers off of the windshield, and cover them with regular socks. Yes, it looks ridiculous. It also works. As for your mirrors, put ziploc bags over them, and you’ll never face iced-over mirrors again. If you are shoveling sticky snow, and it seems like you can’t get it off of your shovel, take some cooking spray and apply it to your shovel. It will fly off of the shovel quicker than you realize, and it’s actually makes shoveling sort of fun. (Sort of.) If you’re slipping and sliding all over the ice and snow, try this: take some small screws, and twist them into the bottoms of your boots. Pretty quickly, you won’t be going anywhere you don’t want to go. However, remember to take them off before you go in the house. Trust us, they will do a number on your hardwood floors. And finally, if you live in an area where you have to park outside overnight, try to park your car facing east. This way, when the sun comes up, it will melt the ice and frost before you have to leave for work. Problem solved! There are numerous ways to beat the winter at its own game, even without spending any money. We hope that these help you in the coming months; come let us know your own weather-beating tips today at Speedcraft VW!

Drive Safely in Windy Weather Man, doesn’t summer already seem like it was so long ago? We’re already dipping our toes in weather patterns that suggest that snow tires might not be far behind and that the air is shifting from “crisp” to “frigid,” and outright bad weather might not be far behind. Of course, bad weather makes for tricky driving, and one of the most unpleasant weather situations is when it’s really windy. So, how do you drive safely in windy weather? Here are four tried-and-true tips, from your old pals at Speedcraft VW. Tip #1) Don’t Speed. We know, big words coming from a dealership called Speedcraft. But we mean this: when it’s extremely windy out, you already will have a difficult time reacting to changes in traffic and the like. Factor in extreme speed, and you’re asking for trouble. This is an artist's approximation of what the wind looks like. Tip #2) Don’t Follow Closely Behind Trailers. Really, it’s best practice not to follow closely behind any vehicle, ever. But when it’s windy, some people try to tuck in behind Semi trailers, thinking that the massive vehicles can block the wind. Never, ever do this. It’s dangerous. Also, don’t follow behind boats, or anything else on trailers. Tip #3) Minimize Your Distractions. Remember the old adage: Hands at ten-and-two. Don’t check your phone, don’t fiddle with the radio, don’t apply chapstick, don’t “Wave ‘Em Like You Just Don’t Care” even when the radio tells you to throw your hands in the air. Pay attention to task at hand, and keep your hands on the wheel. Tip #4) Consider Driving Your Most Aerodynamic Vehicle. Lots of drivers associate any sort of poor weather with driving an SUV, but in windy weather, it might be best to drive a more aerodynamic vehicle. While SUVs are more powerful, they are also typically more boxy and are affected more by high winds. So if you’ve got an aerodynamic car, drive ‘em if you’ve got ‘em. We hope that these tips will help to keep you and your vehicle safe when the winds start flaring up! However, we understand that accidents do sometimes happen, so if they do, we encourage you to visit our service department at Speedcraft VW. Drive safely out there!

Trick-or-Treating Safety Tips Providence RI This weekend, we’ll dress up our kids like the most adorable ghost/witch/ninja ever witnessed and march them out into the fall night to track down all the corn syrup that they can in a few short hours. Of course, to them it’s much more than that: it is childhood, after all. Yet, we much keep them safe. So here, from your friends at Speedcraft VW, are five tips for trick-or-treating safety to follow this Halloween! Map Your Route Beforehand. One of the most helpful things you can do before heading out is to diagram the route you intend to take. This will help you to avoid backtracking, locate any parking lots or bathrooms you can use, and will keep you from getting lost. Follow these tips for a safe and successful Halloween! Be Costume-Clever. When you take your kids out into the night, it’s best to remember three rules: don’t let their costumes drag under their feet, make sure they have comfortable shoes, and if they are wearing a mask, make sure it’s one that lets them breathe and see. You can thank us later. Use Flexible Props. When I was a kid, I remember going as Casey Jones from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles one year. One of his props, if you’ll recall, was a hockey stick. And no sooner had I eaten 15 candy bars than that hockey stick became a weapon. So use flexible props for your pirate or what-have-you. Don’t make the same mistake my parents did. Reflect, Reflect, Reflect. Many neighborhoods aren’t particularly well-lit, and there will be cars and kids everywhere. So add some reflective strips to your kids’ costumes so that they will be clearly seen. Also, bring along a flashlight to light the path ahead of you. Analyze the Candy Prior to Feasting. No, there probably won’t be any razorblades in there. However, there might be candy pieces that have fallen out of their wrappers, that are just accumulating lint. Gross! Throw those away, as well as any pieces that appear to have been opened and rewrapped. So, now you’re ready to take on the trick-or-treating world, right? Have fun out there, stay safe, and stay warm. And, on behalf of Speedcraft VW, have a Happy Halloween! Come see us soon!

Get Your Car Ready for Fall At Speedcraft VW, we love fall as much as the next guy (or girl). We love the changing leaves, the crisp air, and the pumpkins that seem to be popping up out of thin air. However, this also represents a time where our cars are susceptible to various ills, and where we need to take care to be sure that they’re ready for the oncoming winter. Here are five ways to get your car ready for fall,, from you old pals at Speedcraft VW. Check Your Lights and Batteries. Frequently, our battery posts will develop corrosion and metallic residue, which will sometimes give your car trouble starting or sap power from your car’s electrical functions. So, simply take a steel brush and wipe away any buildup, then reattach your battery fittings tightly. Then, check to make sure your headlights and taillights are working at full strength. If they look to be lacking, they may need replacing as well. Fall is here in Rhode Island. Are you ready for it? Change your Wiper Blades. When you enjoy summers like ours, there aren’t any drawbacks, right? Wrong. Constant heat and sunshine dries out the rubber surfaces on your vehicle, and this is most evident on your windshield wiper blades. They’ll dry out and crack, rendering them completely ineffective. And, since blades are relatively inexpensive, this is an easy fix you can do yourself. Replace your Air Filter. This is another fix that is commonly overlooked, even though its amazingly simple to do. A dirty air filter will cause a drop in your fuel efficiency, make its engine run rougher, and cause problems for your vehicle’s exhaust. Check your Spare Tire. We never think of our spare tire, on the whole, until it’s too late. However, heading into winter, this is something that it would be foolish to overlook. Just use a standard tire pressure gauge, and make sure that your spare is ready to go. Top Off Your Fluids. This is yet another easy maintenance issue that is seldom addressed. So make sure that your washer fluid is clean, your brake fluid is full, and that your engine coolant is at an appropriate level. Lord knows, heading into our winters, you don’t want to find yourself on the side of the road because you overlooked something so simple. Of course, there are also service issues that you can’t do yourself, and that’s where Speedcraft VW comes in. So, if you’re in need of service or maintenance heading into the fall and winter months, schedule it with us!

How to Avoid Hitting a Deer You’re driving down the road, minding your own business. You take a second to adjust the radio, settling for the station that plays entirely too much John Mellencamp. Next thing you know...boom. A deer has sauntered into the roadway, interrupting your stress-free cruise while causing no small amount of damage to your Volkswagen. While hitting a deer is often unavoidable, there are certain factors to consider that might make these incidents less frequent. So, from your buddies at Speedcraft VW, here are a few tips to help avoid hitting a deer. Tip #1: Think like a deer. When we run into a deer, our thoughts are generally all the same: “That stupid %@#&ing deer.” However, a deer relies on instinct, and certain variables frequently lead it into a losing collision course with your car. It generally is on the move most often during mating season--from September to December--at the hours near sunrise and sunset. They also prefer areas with edible foliage, ample places for shelter, and ponds and creeks to drink from. If you’re driving in one of these areas, look out. This is probably the last photo this deer ever took. Tip #2: Keep your eyes moving. If you’re driving on a remote road, you probably know that the ditches are loaded with potential day-ruiners. Thankfully, God believes in fair play, so he gave deer a surface on their eyes that reflects light. When you see two yellowish green dots in the ditch, those dots often make their way toward the road. And, since deer rarely travel alone, they’ve probably brought some friends along. Tip #3: Use your headlights to your advantage. When you’re on a country road with few other cars, wondering why this station plays so much John Mellencamp, use your highbeams whenever possible. And, when you happen upon a herd of deer, alert other drivers of the potential hazard with a simple flicker of your highbeams. They’ll often do the same. Tip #4: Don’t lose your cool. So far, we’ve touched only on tips to avoid hitting a deer. However, sometimes a collision is unavoidable. In these cases, don’t panic. Don’t swerve into the ditch or oncoming traffic, simply brake and honk your horn. If you’re choosing between swerving or hitting the animal, well, the deer is gonna get it. When these accidents happen--which, to be sure, we hope that they don’t--you’ll likely need some attention to your vehicle, which is where Speedcraft VW comes in. Our friendly service department will work quickly to return you to the road in no time, easing your stressload by fixing your car the right way, the first time. Simply click the button below to schedule your post-deer service!