Bernardi Audi Natick Supports The Center for Arts in Natick

Bernardi Auto Group is a proud sponsor of many civic, youth, education, cultural and athletic organizations in the communities it serves.  We have a long and proud heritage of giving back to the residents of Greater Boston, MetroWest and MetroSouth areas through our support of these groups that are the heart and character of the region.

The Boston Globe recently announced its new GRANT (Globe Readers and Non-Profits Together) partnership (https://services.bostonglobe.com/grant/default.aspx)  through which print and electronic subscribers can vote for the non-profit organizations of their choice to receive complimentary advertising in the Globe and on Boston.com.  As few as 150 votes will earn a quarter page ad; the more votes earned by a non-profit, the more ad space!  This free advertising will allow these important groups to spread their word without dipping into precious operating dollars and help support and expand their mission.  

We know that many of our clients and visitors to our website read the Globe in print version or online.  When you receive your gift check, simply name the organization of your choice and return the check to the Globe.  A great way to support a worthy cause!

Like you, Bernardi Auto Group has a special relationship with certain charitable organizations, and we probably share the support of several groups in common.  We encourage Globe readers to vote for their preferred charity; here is our list.  Please consider this organization as recipient of your GRANT gift check.

Bernardi Audi Natick Supports The Center for Arts in Natick

Tech and the Auto Industry

Today the use of technology is prevalent throughout society and it is only continuously growing. Car companies are partnering with major companies to develop technology so the driver can use their mobile devices to interact within their vehicles. The tool that is already used for many of everyday tasks is now finding a way to help people along their commute.  Many new vehicles feature a GPS system, hands free communication, and the ability to sync music, but the development is only continuing to move forward.

The question that will be an issue for car companies and the public is how this may become another distraction for drivers. While many benefits outweigh the negatives the possibility of dangers it may cause to drivers on the road is always a concern to consider. What do you think of the development of this technology? Do you think it will better assist drivers or cause additional problems on the road?

Finding a Fresh Christmas Tree

It’s days weeks before Christmas and you’re running around frantically.  The gifts are unwrapped, the food is unprepared and your Santa hat is nowhere to be found.  Stop.  Take a deep breathe and relax, we’re here to help.  Though we won’t be able to cook your holiday dinner, (we can make a mean roast, by the way) we will be able to help you with one of your dilemmas: finding the perfect Christmas tree. 

Finding the perfect tree starts with one simple rule: look for the green! According to Elwood Christmas Tree Farm owner Lee Itzler, the best way to test the health of an evergreen is to grab a branch of your Christmas tree-to-be and lightly scratch the stem. "If you see green, the tree will keep its needles longer."

Trees between 6 and 8 feet are always in high demand, taking between 8 and 10 years to grow 6 feet tall.  Once you pick out your tree, it’s best to put it inside of your car as opposed to on top.  Why? Itzer says: "Strapped on the roof, the trees get really beat up, wind burned, and desiccated. If you're a local delivery it really doesn't make a difference, but if you're going on the highway, then it should go in the car."  If you do have to put it on the roof, put the trunk facing into the wind.

Once your tree is home safe and sound, it’s time to get a good stand with heavy water retention.  The tree will soak up a lot of water over the course of the next couple days, so make sure to keep the stand full.  Viola! Your tree skills have improved this year! 

How do you retain your tree over the holiday season?  Let us know below!

Learning to Read a Car Tire

In our blog entries, we like to provide insight on options that can simplify your life when it comes to your vehicle.  In today’s instance, we’re going to provide you with tips on how to read a tire.  Knowing how to read your tire can provide detailed information like the type of vehicle, if they’re seasonal, the speed rating, temperature resistance, as well as the width and diameter of the tire.

Read the manufacturer and the tire name.  These are easy! They are printed in large letters toward the outside of the tire.  With more than 100 tire manufacturer’s it might be hard to pinpoint the perfect one for your vehicle.  By contacting our service department, we can help you find a perfect fit.  The tire name might just be a combination of numbers and letters following the manufacturer name.

Width and aspect ratio.  This is a sequence of numbers near the center of the tire.  They would look something like www/aa/SCrr or www/aaCrr.  The first series of 3 numbers tells width in millimeters (from 155 to 315).  The 2 numbers after the slash show the aspect ratio of the tire.

The prefix in front of the width and aspect ratio drtermine type.

LT – Light truck

P – Passenger

BP – Cosmetically Blemished Passenger

ST – Steel Radial

The load index is the tire size's relative load carrying capabilities. The higher the load index number, the larger load carrying capacity.

The Z,W, and Y ratings are for tires that have extremely high top-speed capabilities.

The cold inflation numbers are near the inner edge of the tires.  This tells you the pressure the tire should be at to optimize performance.

If you have any further questions, please contact us at the dealership for more info!

Full Size Remote Racing Car? There’s An App for That

We’re HUGE fans of technology. At the dealership, our lives revolve around the constant shift and change of our vehicle lineup as more technological advances make our vehicles even more cutting edge than their existing models. Like kids in a candy store, we perfect our craft, getting to know each vehicle in and out.

In today’s blog, we found out that an automotive engineer that shares our passion for cars has taken it to the next level by teaming up with a mobile phone game developer to create the first ever full-sized remote racing car driven remotely by…you guessed it: a smartphone.

As part of a promotion for a Sony Experia smartphone Dr. Brighton, the automotive engineer, turned two roadsters into giant remote control cars.

"The primary challenge is trying to create an interface that someone can actually drive a car with in a similar manner to the way they drive the game," he said. Martin Noriander, co-founder of Pixelbite, challenged English technology journalist Hunter Skipworth to a race at Bentwaters, an abandoned RAF air base about 130km northeast of London.”

Both cars made it through the course unscathed, with Skipworth winning by a hair. "I never thought I would end up using a phone to control a car," Skipworth said.

Self-driving cars? Wow, the future is here! Tell us what you think below.

A new smartphone app that allows you to control a full-size vehicle? You would have to read our blog to believe it!

Breaking Down Your VIN Number

A Vehicle Identification Number is a series of numbers we see all too often, but do we really have an understanding for what they are?  To the normal eye, it looks like a confusing series of numbers.  A VIN is the 17-digit string of numbers assigned to every vehicle.  It can reveal A TON of facts about your car, including airbag type, country of origin, engine size, model year and even the trim level!  It’s can be stamped into a plate that’s mounted on the dashboard, near the windshield, or on the driver-side doorjamb.  It could also be stamped on the engine firewall. 

If you’re looking to decipher the code, you can visit a site called decodethis.com, this site will translate the number into a readable document, changing the set of numbers into understandable content.  The information is accurate and worth a peek.  We ran a random vehicle, the result being:

The benefit of this info is using it to obtain a vehicle history report.  Before you buy a used car — even if it's from a dealer — it's important to get the vehicle's VIN and use it to run a history report that can reveal if the car has been reported stolen or if it has a salvage title. 

Deciphering your VIN number is easy once you understand it! Check out our blog for details!

National Teen Driver Safety Week

Handing over the keys to your teenager can be a scary thought for many parents and makes many very hesitant as to letting them drive. This week, October 20-26 is National Teen Driver Safety week and here are some helpful tips to discuss with your teen about the safety of driving.

·      The phone and texts can wait.

o   To many drivers today are becoming more distracted by their cell phones and paying less attention to the road. Talk to your teen about staying off their phones until they have reached their destination.

·      Developing a Parent-Teen Driving Contract

o   By having establishing certain ground rules as to who can travel in the car and a curfew can help protect your teen and make you feel at ease.

·      Going over safety

o   Whether it would be to remind your teen to always wear their seat belt to making sure their vehicle is safely equipped is always important to discuss safety concerns before your teen heads out on to the road.

By discussing some of the following topics will help to better protect and to be more comfortable with your teen driving on the road.