{ title: 'Dillon Tribune (Dillon, Mont.) 1989-current, November 03, 2004, Page 26, Image 26', download_links: [ { link: 'http://www.loc.gov/rss/ndnp/ndnp.xml', label: 'application/rss+xml', meta: 'News about Chronicling America - RSS Feed', }, { link: '/lccn/2015269516/2004-11-03/ed-1/seq-26.png', label: 'image/png', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/2015269516/2004-11-03/ed-1/seq-26.pdf', label: 'application/pdf', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/2015269516/2004-11-03/ed-1/seq-26/ocr.xml', label: 'application/xml', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/2015269516/2004-11-03/ed-1/seq-26/ocr.txt', label: 'text/plain', meta: '', }, ] }
About Dillon Tribune (Dillon, Mont.) 1989-current | View This Issue
Dillon Tribune (Dillon, Mont.), 03 Nov. 2004, located at <http://montananewspapers.org/lccn/2015269516/2004-11-03/ed-1/seq-26/>, image provided by MONTANA NEWSPAPERS, Montana Historical Society, Helena, Montana.
' Page C-2 - D illon T ribim : - Wednesday, November 3, 2004 Good Visibility is Vital for Safe Driving Whenever it rains during rush hour, there's a traffic jam on the highway. Poor visibility is often a major contributing factor, but could be alleviated if more drivers paid attention to the condition of their windshield and windshield wiper blades. “Many vehicles have wind shield wiper blades and/or washer systems that are barely functional, and many, many drivers never change their wiper blades,” says Matt Hallis, product technical sup port manager with Robert Bosch Corporation. “Worn out wiper blades cannot effectively clear the windshield of rain, snow or debris, resulting in blurred vision for the driver,” Hallis continues. He points out that most of the choices people make when they are driving are based on what ' they can see. In other words, if old wipers streak during the rain, vis ibility is severely hampered. Cur- • ing the problem is a no-brainer — new blades are needed for simple safety. “With the amount of road grime that today’s traffic kicks up on windshields, we recommend re placing wiper blades every six months,” Hallis suggests. “They can go longer, but abrasion takes its toll on even the best blades — as well as the windshield — and visibility will begin to suffer.” For best results, Hallis recommends replacing the blade assembly, rather than just the insert. Older frames may loosen and fail to keep inserts in proper alignment for op timum cleaning. While a variety of replacement wiper blades are available, some are better than others. Bosch, for instance, has developed dual-rub ber technology to ensure the wip ing action and longevity of its wiper blades. One Bosch-blended rub ber keeps the wiper flexible. A second rubber is specially formu lated for the wiping edge for the best cleaning and longer perfor mance life in all kinds of climate extremes, including sun, salt, cold, ozone, and ultraviolet rays. And with winter arriving, now is the time to take a good look at your wiper blades, according to Hallis. To Lease or to Buy? That is the Q u e s tion So you want to get a new car. You have chosen the color, make and model and envision yourself in the car, cruising down the high way. But now you have to decide whether to lease or buy. Do you even know the difference between the two? Here are some basics from car experts on both options to help you in your decision. OWNERSHIP Leasing: You do not own the vehicle. You have to return it at the end of the lease, which typi cally lasts three to four years. Most leases indicate a purchase option. Buying: You get the benefit of owning something and can keep it until you sell or trade it in. THE CAR OF YOUR DREAMS Leasing: You can drive a car you can't afford because you’ll have a lower monthly payment than if you took out a loan. Buying: You are paying for the entire cost of the vehicle. So you must have the financial means to pay off the loan. MONTHLY PAYMENTS Leasing: You pay for the vehicle’s depreciation during the lease, interest and other fees. Monthly lease payments are lower than loan payments. You can put down as much or as little a downpayment as you'd like. But it’s wise not to put down too much since leasing's low rates make it more advantageous to keep your money in the bank. Buying: You are paying for the vehicle’s cost, interest and other fees, no matter how many miles you drive it. Monthly loan pay ments are higher than monthly lease payments. MILEAGE Leasing: If you don’t drive a lot, leasing may be your best op tion as most leases limit the num ber of miles you can drive (10,000 to 15,006 miles per year)! t o get a higher mileage limit, you'll have to pay more each month. (It's typi cally cheaper to pay for miles upfront rather than at the end.) In turn, you'll likely have more main tenance costs on your car. You also might get partially refunded for miles that you didn’t use. Buying: You can drive as many miles as you want. But higher mile age impacts a vehicle’s value and can result in frequent repairs and scheduled maintenance visits. REPAIRS Leasing: If you lease the car for the length of the manufacturer’s warranty, you won’t have to pay for major repairs. But since you don't own the car, you can't make any changes to it such as upgrad ing equipment or painting the ex terior. Buying: Make any upgrades or changes to the car that you'd like. But you have to foot the cost of any major repairs. END OF TERM Leasing: You have to pay any end-of-lease costs, buy a new car or lease a new car. If you end the lease early, you’ll have to pay pen alty fees. You may be responsibly for excessive wear, such as worn tires, when you return the vehicle (look for disclaimers in your lease). Buying: At the end of your loan, you are done making payments. If you end the loan early, you’ll be responsible for any pay off. When it’s time for a new car, you may have to sell or trade in your cur rent one. and m carry dll the supplies! Y o u r local N a p a store In D illon doesn't want anyb o d y to get left out in the cold this w inter. Stock up on all the necessities like Jumper cables wiper blades ^ Ice scraper £ antifreeze # and much, much m o r e # For ail your automotive needs from A to Z stop by your hometown Napa Store. Locally owned and operated ¡Dillon Auto & Thick Parts , 16 S. Idaho • Dillon, MT • 683-5513 •Cell 660-1100 “These days, wiper blades are easy for the consumer to select and replace,\ Hallis notes. “Most auto parts stores offer a range of wiper blades, with reference guides to help match one to your vehicle. Installing the fresh blades does not require a mechanic. “The most difficult part of in stalling a Bosch wiper blade is removing the old blade, which might have been on there a while,” says Hallis. Bosch’s DirectConnectTM installation sys tem makes wiper blade attach ment a snap, with no adapters required on most vehicle applica tions. It’s an easy project for do-it- yourselfers. Bosch Micro Edge and Micro Edge Excel premium wiper blades fit most windshield wiper makes and models. Motorists get the lat est in design and technology to deliver optimum wiping perfor mance in any weather and longer performance life, says Hallis. “These wiper blades are con structed with a tension spring that’s enclosed in the wiper rub ber that helps to prevent the buildup of snow, ice and mois ture, ensuring all-weather perfor mance,” Hallis points out. All of the company’s blades fea ture a precision-cut rubber wiping edge that removes even the tini est droplets of water — a big con sideration under misty conditions, Hallis adds. The blades also feature an aerodynamic, all-steel frame to work with the wind — countering the tendency to lift away at high way speeds — and keep the blades in contact with the wind shield at all times. For corrosion resistance and extended service life, the frame is coated with a special primer. Bosch has made wiper blades for more than 75 years, and they are installed as original equipment on many domestic and import cars and light trucks. “It’s fair to say you get what you pay for,” Hallis remarks. “Cheaper blades are not worth the savings. They do not clean as effectively — especially on older windshields that have suffered from abrasion — and wear out quickly, leaving you once again on the road with poor visibility.” For optimum wiper-blade performance, Hallis also recommends keeping windshields clean, and wiper reservoirs full of washer fluid — not straight water, which can freeze in colder weather and damage the washer system. Is Y our V ehicle F eeling N eglected ? Bring it to S panky ' s G arage for winterizing!! And for that special vehicle, we also carry a variety of carports to keep your cars and trucks pampered all year round. Spanky’s Garage A B C trX tp d n C trptm , G v tg a à UtBttf BuUtUip B n iB ttr-D m v C o w U U 3 - U I4 ISS& a im B tk Strut DiOm.MTSV2S h e n A c c i d e n t s H a p p e n . . . L e a v e t h e r e p a i r s t o u s . Dillon Collision Center offers you quality work with a quick turn-around time to get you back on the road. Cur shop has the most sophisticated equipment in town, such as a laser measuring system and down-draft paint booth, to ensure the job is done right. m o N C O L L I S I O N C E N T E R 406 - 683-5278 120 W. Franklin, Dillon, MT 59725 (across the tracks behind Williams Feed)