Driving Tips: Snow

I travel in from Milton Keynes every day to Whetstone Audi and as you can imagine it has been a challenge with the recent weather. Here are some of the things I have been doing.

• I put a warm coat and boots into the car. I have also made a cup of tea in one of these cups that keep it warm on your journey.
• I check that there is enough washer fluid that does not freeze in the bottle. You will be amazed how often I use the washers with all the salt on the roads (sorry not much salt in the sides roads I know) .
• I also make sure that all the lights are working as I am very keen to see and be seen. Put a blanket in the car in case you are held up on the major routes. I am often told take a shovel with you , but if I am stuck it is usually because everyone is stuck. Then all I want is a snow plough.
• When de icing the car in the morning I make sure I do not put the wipers on until the screen is clear because the ice cuts into the rubber on the blades and they then do not clear the screen as well.
• Now my car is nice and warm I allow at lot longer for my journey. Normal day for me is 1 hr 15 min drive time. It currently take a couple of hours. But I get here safely.
• Take your time and do not rush for any appointment or chasing to the schools for the children. You need to get their safley and that is the most important thing.
• Use as high a gear as possible 2nd gear normally and as low revs as you can when pulling away on level side roads. In automatic cars when coming down hill manually select a lower gear at the top of the hill and allow the gear box to control the speed on your decent. 2nd gear  works very well in Toteridge lane for those of you who know this road. Sharp decent with a broken water main has tested the driving skill of many this week.
• Allow big gaps between you and the car in front when on the Motorway. Every time someone filled the gap between me and the car in front I just eased up on the throttle and this avoids the stamping on the brakes when the traffic builds up and that sea of brake lights hits you. The amount of cars I have seen go sliding on the Motorway because they have panicked on the brakes and the slid into the car in front.
• Stay relaxed , when you are tense all of your reactions are sudden which is not what you need when you are driving on snow and ice you want it to flow and be relaxed.

Summary:

1. Be prepared, drinks, blanket, boots and a good charge on your mobile phone.
2. Ensure cars visibility is clear and warm and plenty of washer fluid that works!
3. High gear and low revs remember.
4. Take your time and arrive safely.
5. Stay relaxed and give yourself big gaps to work with.
6. Keep safe.

Paul Lacy
Aftersales Manager – Whetstone Audi

MOT Special Offer

Q:  Is your MOT due soon ?

A: If so, M25 Audi has launched a new Product called MOT Protection.

Q: Why should I get this ?

A: Having reviewed what is covered I can tell you that this is one of the best products for MOT protection I have seen in a long time.

Q: What items are covered ?

A: Some of the covered  items are Shock Absorbers , Wheel Bearings , Seat Belts , Speedometer and many more.

Q: What does it cost ?

A: Any MOT you pay £24.99 ( Reduced price from £54.00 for the month of January ) for will receive a complimentary MOT Protection.

Q: How long does the cover last ?

A: MOT Protection last for 12 months.

Q: What Value can be claimed ?

A: Up to £750 can be claimed on any covered items that are reported failures during the MOT.

Q: How can I get my car covered?

A: Call any one of my service team on O208 343 5050 and they will be able to get you set up immediately.

Q: Do I need to do any paperwork ?

A: No. All paperwork is done by us. All you need to retain is your receipt of purchase.

As a result we have created a Special Offer that allows you take advantage of a reduced price MOT £24.99 ( Normal price for MOT £54.00)  for the month of January and we will supply MOT Protection for your vehicle for 12 months Free of Charge.

To give you an idea why I like this Protection so much is that if you are covered by this policy , you do not have to pay for some common items that may fail the MOT as long as you have your car serviced in line with the manufacture guidelines.

How often do you spend so little to get so much. The cover provided is up to £750.

This is why so many of our customers will have this protection this year. Make sure you are one of them.

Find out more Special Offer: MOT £24.99 plus complimentary MOT Protection for your Audi

Paul Lacy
Aftersales Manager – Whetstone Audi

Service Plans

We have hundreds of customers that are already using M25 Audi Service Plans because this is the best way for them to budget for their servicing. I have asked them why service plans? The response is always the same “I know what my servicing cost will be and can mange that without the worry of where will I find it this month”. From my point of view it is great when you the customer says to me “I have got my service plan so no bill today”.

Take a look at some frequently asked questions below.

1. How much will it cost? Service plans can cost from as little as £20 per month.
 
2. Why have a service plan? Spreading the cost of your servicing like you do your gas & electric  bills every month makes it easier to maintain your car. No last minute bill for your servicing ensures you and your car are well prepared for the winter.
 
3. What are the advantages? Fixing the cost up front provided you with inflation free servicing as we agree the number of services you want to pay for when you set up the plan. That’s right, no labour rate increases for you or parts increases. You will also get 10% off accessories and

 mechanical repairs for the lifetime of your M25 service plan.
 
4. How long can I spread the cost over? 2 Services can be spread over 20 months, 3 services over 32 months and 4 service over 44 months.
 
5. What if I sell my car before using all of the services? Just call us and we will transfer your remaining value to your new car.
 
Ask any of my team today how we can get you set up as quickly as possible and enjoy the ‘no bills’ today culture. Simply send us an email or call us today!

Paul Lacy - Aftersales Mgr

Hi, my name is Paul Lacy and I am the new Aftersales Manager for Whetstone Audi. I have been here for ten weeks now and enjoyed meeting some of you already. Our technicians loved running the ladies night recently and my front line team enjoyed the relaxed conversations that allowed us to get to know you better.

Following on from the huge response we got from running the ladies evening I have dared to write some top tips to keep you and your car safe this winter.

We’ve given you five practical steps to take. See below.

1. Ensure washer fluid is topped up with fluid able to withstand freezing temperatures. With autumn roads throwing up rain dirt you want to see clearly at all times. We have all experienced that lorry or bus that covers our windscreen with spray from wheels.
2. Wipe your headlights and tails lights with a wet wipe. You’ll be surprised how much better your lights are when they are kept clean. See and be seen!
3. Check you are running correct tyre pressures. Wrong tyre pressures cause premature tyre wear and more importantly, create unstable handling and increased braking distances.
4. Do you have enough tyre tread to stop in time. Tyres that have 3 mm of tread stop 25% quicker than tyres at legal minimum of 1.6mm. How quickly do you want to stop?
5. Does your car have the correct amount of anti freeze for a British winter? Most engine failures we see in the winter are because of low oil level or frozen engines.

We offer all of our customers new and old a free health check that will give you peace of mind. Please use this service and take the guess work out of how prepared are you this winter.

Our busiest time of the year in the workshop is the last week before Christmas. It is the usual customers who are going to drive to friends and family but forgot to get the car checked. Please plan ahead.

Look out for our tour of the service department at Whetstone coming out on M25 Audi Blog / YouTube within the next few weeks. This again was in response to our customers telling us that everyone should see behind the scenes of the service department and get some indication of the passion we have for the Audi brand and our customers.

Any questions? Please add your comments or questions below.

Alternatively, you can email the Service Team directly. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have.