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Austin Car Repair and Road Trip Tips

posted on 9/18/2017 12:53:27 PM
Planes, trains and the bus might get you to where you want to go, but there is just something alluring, almost magical about hitting the open road to take your journey. Going on a road trip is just so much better than the transportation alternatives. 
 
However, road trips require careful planning, you can't just hop in your car and take off. Well, you can, but that is not a very good idea, bad things can happen on ill-planned road trips, you have seen the movies. 
 
Groovy Automotive, your Austin car repair service, gives you tips on planning the perfect road trip.
 

Set Expectations

 
Before setting off on the open road with friends or family, make sure you have a discussion about expectations. You will want to have several questions answered before moving forward including:
 
  • How will driving duties be designated, by hours, miles or just until someone gets tired?
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  • Will there be many stops along the way or will you forgo stops to maximize time?
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  • Will hotels be an option?
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  • Will you be eating at chain restaurants like Applebee’s, eating convenience store sushi or bringing sandwiches?
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  • Who decides what music will be played?
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  • Who trumps the music choices made by said person?
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  • What is the punishment for playing Nickelback or Ed Sheeran?
 
This is just a small sample of what needs to be known before setting off into the sunset. It is best if everyone involved has some sort of idea as to the expectations in order to limit frustrations and mild bouts of violence. 
 

Have Hard Copies of Maps

 
We all love living in this age of technology when we can just whip out our iPhones and consult Google maps when we get lost. Unfortunately, cell phone coverage is hardly reliable, no matter what that Verizon dude says in the commercials. It is best to be like a boy scout, well prepared, and have maps that could help keep you on track to your destination.
 
Take Your Car to The Mechanics
 
You are a fool if you set off on a road trip without so much as taking a look at your tires to see if they need air. We don’t care if you drive a Toyota that has been well-maintained, take it to your auto repair shop and have them give it the once-over before you pack up and leave.
 
It is far better to have any problems with your car discovered and fixed beforehand than to wind up on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night and feeling like a part of a bad horror movie.
 

Get Roadside Assistance

 
Whether you have to sign up with AAA or get roadside assistance through your insurance company, it is a service that will help you sleep better at night. 
 
Even the most reliable and well-maintained cars can suffer problems that could leave you stranded, and nobody is spared the occasional flat tire. For these instances, it is good to know that help is just a phone call away. 
 

Set That Playlist

 
Music is critical on a road trip and can be quite controversial as well. Your best bet is to have playlists set up by all involved so that everybody will have a chance to hear what they like. You can't rely on the radio as everyone knows the only radio stations available in middle America are country-western stations, religious stations and that lone NPR station.
 
And if you have some weird type of music genre you get into, like Norwegian black metal or some weird musicians, like Justin Beiber, for the sake of everyone else’s sanity, and to minimize road trip violence, leave it off your playlist.  
 

Give Yourself Plenty of Time

 
There is nothing worse than having to be rushed through a road trip because you didn't leave early enough. Give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination on time even if some emergencies pop up or you want to stop and visit some great roadside attractions, like Leila's Hair Museum in Missouri or Barney Smith’s Toilet Seat Art Museum in San Antonio.   
 

Don’t Plan Out Everything

 
While you want to be organized and have plans laid out, leave some room for spontaneity because it is what you do in those moments that make road trips so memorable and worthwhile.
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Email: [email protected]
Phone: (512) 450-0951
Fax:
Address: 4011 Red River
Austin, TX 78751
Email:
Phone: (512) 275-0535
Fax:
Address: 3511 Guadalupe
Austin, TX 78705

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Contact Us

Email: [email protected]
Phone: (512) 450-0951
Fax:
Address: 4011 Red River
Austin, TX 78751
Email:
Phone: (512) 275-0535
Fax:
Address: 3511 Guadalupe
Austin, TX 78705
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