by A1performance123 | Jul 21, 2016 | Driving Tips
Road trips from San Francisco often get overshadowed by all the sites and activities of the city. However, you’ll find San Francisco perfectly situated for plenty of day trips and weekend getaways.
Road trips from San Francisco
Taking road trips from San Francisco feels like an entire vacation within itself. There’s a reason Northern California remains such a popular tourist destination. Naturally, Napa and Sonoma stand out as draws, each only about an hour from the city’s heart. Whether wine tasting, dining at award-winning restaurants, browsing gourmet shops or indulging in spa treatments, a globally popular spot awaits you for less than a tank of gas.
If you’re looking for something a little less linen tablecloth and more untamed beauty, take a spin to the north along breathtaking Highway 1. With cliffs shooting out over the Pacific Ocean and countless dramatic views, getting anywhere on this road truly becomes the “getting there’s half the fun” cliché. Don’t miss stopping in the town of Marshall to shuck your own oysters by Tomales Bay. Then, take a relaxing beach walk at Sea Ranch or Gualala. Watch the sun set over the surf and make it home by bedtime.
If you’re not feeling the sand and sea, head up to the mountains of Lake Tahoe or to the Sierra Nevadas. This is a great area to roll down the windows or put down the top while taking in the smells of magnificent, historic forests. Driving in autumn? Don’t miss the chance to pick your own pie apples or pumpkins at the collection of orchards off US-50 near Placerville.
Road trips from San Francisco give drivers the opportunity to enter exciting, picturesque new worlds in a matter of minutes. Enjoy the drive and the fully embrace the open road – California style. And don’t forget! Stop by A1 Performance Auto before your trip to check fluids, belts and hoses to ensure a safe trip.
by A1performance123 | Jul 7, 2016 | Driving Tips
Prius mpg is estimated between 50 and 54 mpg by Toyota, the manufacturer. But is this the gas mileage you’ll get with your new Prius? Here are some dos and don’ts that will get you the very best mpg with your Prius.
Prius MPG
The manufacturer, Toyota in this case, will estimate the gas mileage you’re going to get. They need to be close, not exact. There are just too many factors involved. One of those factors is how you drive. How you handle your car will have an effect on your Prius mpg.
First of all, your brand new Prius is going to have a breaking in period. This can last for 10,000 miles. Over time, you will get better and better mileage per gallon. So, keep that in mind.
By maintaining the proper tire pressure, you’ll get the best mpg. However, don’t look inside the door for the best tire pressure and don’t look in the manual. Use the tire pressure number from the sidewall of the tire. The tire knows what it needs, not those other things that were printed long before the tires were installed on the car.
Slow down! Driving fast burns more gas – a lot more gas. By slowing down to 55 mph from 75 mph, you could earn another 60 miles per tank. In Prius mpg language, that’s more than a gallon saved.
Using the air conditioning lowers your miles per gallon. Whenever possible, use the fan setting instead of the cooling setting. Try not to drive fast with the windows open, it’ll create an air drag and you won’t save as much mpg.
Start like a turtle, not a rabbit. If you are one of those people that gets in the car, slams it in drive and floors it, you are just wasting a whole lot of gasoline!
Get Check Ups
Stop by A1 Performance Auto Repair for every maintenance check on time. This can greatly affect your Prius mpg that you’re going to get.
by A1performance123 | Jun 29, 2016 | Driving Tips
A road trip planner is a must if you are not the person that just yells, “Woohoo! And away we go,” then hits the road. You might be one of those people that needs to plan out every detail and needs some sort of destination. If that is the case, there are some free map trip planners that will help you out. You don’t have to buy a bazillion maps and open them up all over the living room floor.
Road Trip Planner
Back in the day, there were two ways to plan out your route for your big road trip. The first way was to buy the maps and figure it out on your own. The second way was going to AAA and ask them to make a TripTik for you. It would usually take a few weeks, so you had to plan ahead. When it was done, it was a little book with cardstock map pages that you would flip as you drove. TripTik is still around, but it has advanced to the future along with the rest of us. You can go to the TripTik link with your smartphone and hit the road.
Rand McNally, the beloved map maker for automobile driving of days of old, has a road trip planner, also! And now, unlike paper maps, it has up to date points of interest and things to do for along the way. Use this Road Trip Planner link to bookmark it on your smartphone then hit the road. Each night you can plan out your next day’s drive.
Navigator is very similar to the Road Trip Planners and it is likely already on your phone. Enter where you are going and it will speak directions to you all the way there. You’ll wonder how you lived without it. One thing to remember before you get started on your summer trip: stop by A1 Performance Auto Repair to have your car checked over to avoid any unnecessary problems on the road.
by A1performance123 | May 25, 2016 | Driving Tips
These pet travel tips will help you have an easier time of taking Bowzer on a road trip this summer. There are certainly some dos and don’ts that you need to follow to make it an enjoyable experience for all involved.
Pet Travel Tips
One of the lesser known pet travel tips is that most hotels allow you to bring along the dog! Most of the major hotel chains have adopted pet friendly policies, but make certain they have a room available. So, when you are on the road and know where your overnight is going to be, look up hotels online. Give the hotel a call before you book it online, just to make sure they have a pet friendly room available. These rooms are usually on the first floor of the hotel and they can sell out quickly.
Never leave your pet in the car, not even for just a few minutes. In the summer heat, the inside of your car can reach 140 degrees in a matter of minutes. You will come back to a dog that is dying or already dead in your car. The best case scenario is that someone will smash your car window and rescue your dog. If you leave your windows cracked, it isn’t nearly enough to save the dog from the heat. Often someone will reach in to open the door and take your pet to save its life and they don’t give him back.
Restaurant pet travel tips: Dairy Queen is always a fun treat when on the road. The big DQ is also fun for Bowzer! They have a Pup Cup on the menu that is an inexpensive little cup of ice cream for your dog. Other major food chains with dog friendly menu items include Starbuck’s Puppuccino, In and Out’s Pup Patty, Sonic’s Doggie Treats, and Shake Shack’s Pooch-Ini. There are a lot more, so ask when you stop for meals and you might be able to surprise your dog with treats!
Plan Ahead
We hope these pet travel tips will help you have a fun road trip for your dog. Be sure to stop by A1 Performance Auto Repair to have your car checked out before you hit the road this summer.
by A1performance123 | Apr 20, 2016 | Driving Tips
Road Trip! When spring is in the air thoughts turn to taking off on the open road to do some fun things in the beautiful area surrounding the Bay Area. Whether you will be braving the chilly springtime weather or you are starting to plan your summer trip, here are some cool ideas for your vacation getaway.
Road Trip
There are a lot of things to do in Northern California on an auto day trip that don’t involve a winery. Sometimes the best road trips are when you get into the car with an overnight bag and drive. You are on an adventure and it is that adventure that is the destination. Where you end up doesn’t really matter. It is all about the fun of getting there.
Whether you’ll just wing it or plan it all out, here are few lesser known places to aim for on your fun weekend getaway.
Tahoe Rim Trail
There are trails all along that pristine lake, Lake Tahoe. You can follow old Indian paths and Pioneer trails while having that incredible lake in view at all times. Dress warm if it is still springtime when you go and carry plenty of water with you.
Jail Museum
Take a tour of the old jail museum in Truckee. The town of Truckee has lots of fine eating and loads of shopping. You can spend an entire day just exploring this cool, little town.
The Italian Picnic and Parade
You don’t have to be Italian to enjoy the fun of the annual Italian Picnic and Parade on the first Sunday in June. This annual event happens in Sutter Creek.
Take Care and Prepare
Be sure to stop by A1 Performance Auto Repair before you hit the road. Have all your car’s belts, tires, and levels checked to help avoid the bummer of breaking down. Have a fun time on your road trip wherever you end up!
by A1performance123 | Mar 23, 2016 | Driving Tips
Let Funny Driving Tips be your guide for when the Zombie Apocalypse comes to Sunnyvale, CA. Of course, you need to be prepared at home, but chances are good the Zombies will arrive while you’re going home from work. So, here are some safe driving tips that might save your life.
Funny Driving Tips
Topping the list of funny driving tips: you’re going to need to drive both offensively and defensively. This means you will not only have to drive away from the Zombie Apocalypse, but you’re going to have to just plain plow into a few. Hopefully, if you are put in this position, you’ll be driving a Hummer. I don’t think you’re going to make it in a Prius, but one never knows.
Zombies love brains, everyone knows that. Have this work for you by filling your car with all your friends that are voting wrong in the 2016 election. They haven’t many brains cells between them, so they should water down your brilliant brain vibes and attract very few zombies.
Remember to always steer into the slide. If your car’s rear end is sliding to the right in that blood puddle on the road then pull your steering wheel to the right. This will take your car out of a certain spin on that road full of spilled brains and blood, allowing you a quick getaway.
No funny driving tips would be complete without a warning to be prepared. Always keep your automobile in great shape. Do all of the recommended services suggested by your mechanic at A1 Performance Auto Repair. Of course, your mechanic doesn’t want to lose a good customer to zombies. Plus, he likes your car and understands it. The zombies would just ruin it. So, follow these helpful tips and you should have the better than average chance of escaping when the Zombie Apocalypse hits Sunnyvale, CA.
