Staff Spotlight: Ty O’Neal

Staff Spotlight: Ty O’Neal

Ty O’Neal

Ty O’Neal works as a service advisor at Fremont Chevrolet GMC and Buick in Riverton, Wyoming.

We interviewed him to find out a little more, here are the questions we asked;

How long have you worked in the auto Industry?

Ty says he has been working at the Fremont Chevrolet GMC Buick dealership in Riverton for 5 and half years going on six.

What is your favorite part of the job?

He says his favorite part of the job is, “..working with people, and you know, getting to visit with everybody”.

When you aren’t working, what are you doing?

“When I’m not here, I’m usually up in the mountains, just messing around, killing time, having fun. I’m passionate about my family. I have a girlfriend and kid on the way. I’m very excited about that”.

What is your favorite food?

Ty says his grandma is Mexican so she usually cooks great food and he loves Mexican food.

What is your favorite Color?

His favorite color is orange. He says, “I like orange, it’s a weird color, I dunno why”.

How about music. What kind of music do you like?

“My favorite music is country music. It’s about all you can listen to around here, so”.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?

“…Me and my buddy hunting, up the mountains, we ended up rolling a Razor then ended up killing an elk after that… so that was a pretty fun day”.

What was your first car?

“My first car, my grandparents gave to me, it was a Lincoln. a Continental I believe it was, an older one. It was kind of a fancy car”.

If money was no object, what vehicle would you own?

Ty says if money was no object, he’d have a late 60s Chevelle.That’s his dream car.

 

How To Use: Ford Dynamic Hitch Assist

How To Use: Ford Dynamic Hitch Assist

Trailering

Towing/trailering and hooking up to a hitch can be a daily or weekly routine for truck owners. Whilst some drivers are trailering pro’s, it can still be a daunting task sometimes. It’s even more of a daunting task for first timers and especially without a spotter.

Over the last few years, Ford have come up with some game-changing technology making it a whole lot easier to tow. One of those features is simple yet could make all the difference, it’s called Dynamic hitch assist. Dynamic hitch assist has been available on Ford pickups since 2015.

Dynamic hitch assist

This system is not the same as the Pro Trailer Backup Assist that we covered earlier, but a more basic system. The Pro Trailer Backup Assist system is an extension of the dynamic hitch assist.

Dynamic hitch assist incorporates a black line on your backup camera that can be used a guide to your hitch. The line will change based on your steering angle so you can make sure you are keeping the steering wheel in the right direction/angle to meet your hitch on a bumper pull trailer. This effectively eliminates the need for having a spotter. Bystanders will be impressed!

As Ford mention in the how-to video below, another cool part people might not be aware of, it the ability to zoom in on the backup screen. You can zoom in on your touch screen by tapping the magnifying glass icon on the top left of the screen. This will bring up a closer view of the hitch allowing you to be spot on with lining up the truck.

Watch the video below for a demonstration.

 

Have a question? Message us, leave a comment or feel free to contact a Ford store.

Ford stores can be found in Riverton, Sheridan, Cody, Lander, and Powell in Wyoming and Scottsbluff, NE.

VW Introduces Tiguan ‘R-Line Package’

VW Introduces Tiguan ‘R-Line Package’

Volkswagen Tiguan

The Tiguan is the latest new compact SUV from Volkswagen. It is available with optional 3rd-row seating and comes in FWD or with Volkswagen’s 4Motion All Wheel Drive (AWD) system. The 2018 Tiguan won ‘Top Safety Pick’ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The Tiguan was awarded ‘Superior’ results in front crash prevention. It is also listed on the Cars.com 2017 Car Seat Check Honor Roll, and won Cars.com Compact SUV of the year 2017. Here comes the R-Line.

suv 4x4 wy

Photo: VW Media

 

If you’d like to read more about the Tiguan and check out our video, click here.

Quick specs

  • 2.0 liter 4 cylinder turbocharged
  • 8-Speed automatic transmission
  • 184 horsepower
  • 221 lb-ft torque
  • Seats up to 7 with 3rd-row

Fuel Economy

EPA estimated fuel economy ratings for the 4Motion (AWD) Tiguan is 21 mpg in the city, 27 mpg on the highway and gets a combined rating of 23 mpg.

Tiguan R-Line package

Volkswagen just announced that an R-Line package is now available on the Tiguan. The sporty looking appearance package gives “it an even more dynamic appearance” say VW. The current line-up of trim levels is the S, SE, SEL and SEL Premium. The R-Line package will available to add on to the SEL and SEL Premium models (the top two trim levels).

Exterior

The R-Line sporty package will include 19″ Trenton aluminum-alloy wheels on the SEL and 20″ ‘Braselton’ aluminum-alloy wheels for SEL Premium. The package also includes completely different bumpers, front, and rear. The front bumper has an air intake design for a much sportier look. A styled diffuser in glossy black is molded into the rear bumper. Body-colored wheel arch extensions and side skirts also add to the sporty look.

Interior

On the inside of the Tiguan, an R-Line welcome logo appears on the screen during startup. Of course, it wouldn’t be right not to have the logo on the steering wheel either. The headliner comes in black and the pedals get a sporty look too with some stainless steel covers. Stainless steel door sill plates with R-Line logo are also included.

Price

Adding the R-Line package to the SEL trim level is $1,795 MSRP which includes rear Park Distance Control (Park Pilot). On the SEL Premium, it is slightly less at $1,495 because the SEL Premium already has the Park Pilot system.  The package is due to go on sale at the beginning of 2018. If you’d like more information on Volkswagen’s in Casper, click here.

How To: Keep That New Car Smell

How To: Keep That New Car Smell

new truck smell

I’ll never forget that time (in my youth) when I went surfing on the west coast of Scotland. It wasn’t really the surfing trip that was memorable, but the stench that lingered in my car for months after that made it unforgettable. Not really thinking about the consequences at the time, I left my soggy saltwater covered wetsuit and booties in the back whilst I drove home with the heater blasting (because the sea is cold in Scotland!). I can’t even begin to describe how nasty that smell was that lingered for…ever. So, in a nutshell, don’t leave smelly stuff in your vehicle.

The new car smell

People love the new car smell so much that air freshener companies are cashing in on it. Whilst these air fresheners might smell nice to some, most people would probably agree, it’s not quite the same as the original new car smell. That smell typically comes from the materials and processes that are used in manufacturing the vehicle. I’ve noticed, in my ‘over ten years experience’ with new vehicles, there are even different smells between manufacturers and between different vehicles too. For example, vehicles with real leather or high-end leather will have a strong leather smell.

How to keep the new car smell

Keep your vehicle clean.

Detail it often by vacuuming and using a damp cloth to clean the interior plastics.

hoover truck

Don’t leave smelly items in it.

This goes for wetsuits too, but gym bags, shoes, trash and any food items. Sorry, this also includes the pooch.

stinky boots

 

Leave eating to the kitchen.

This may be the most difficult one to overcome, but if you really want to keep that new car smell, literally don’t eat in your vehicle. Especially hot, fast food and takeaway. If you must, you can minimize the damage by turning off the heater/air conditioning vents so the smell doesn’t get sucked in.

Businessman having coffee and doughnut on the phone in his car

No smoking

Smoking will cover up that new car smell pretty darn quick, and if the vehicle has cloth seats, it will probably never come out.

in car cigarette lighter

Leather Conditioner

Leather conditioner does a great job of not only conditioning the leather, keeping it soft and clean but it will bring back the fresh new leather smell.

new car smell

Open the windows

If you do have a slight odor in your vehicle, driving with the windows down for a bit should help clear it out (assuming it’s clean and there’s no food or smelly items inside).

Ionizer

An in-car air ionizer may help (not tried and tested yet though). Some manufacturers such as Buick, are now even building these into the vehicle as standard.

 

Hope this helps, if you have any tricks or tips to let us know how you keep you’re vehicle smelling good, let us know!

Reader Question: I’d Like An AWD Car, What Are My Options?

A Wyoming reader, who wishes to remain anonymous asked us about AWD cars.

“I’d like an AWD car, what are my options?”

The reader currently drives a Subaru Outback, and would like a change from a Subaru.  Most people are probably more familiar with 4WD trucks and AWD or 4WD SUV’s but not so many cars. Back in the day, AWD cars weren’t so common, although there are plenty more options to choose from now.

Arranged by manufactures, offered by Fremont Motors, here are some cars available with AWD.

Ford

Ford Focus RS

hot hatch AWD Car sporty

2016 Ford Focus RS

The Focus RS is a sporty, performance hatchback (hot hatch) car with 320 hp and a ‘drift mode’ button. These have manual transmissions and are fairly rare and difficult to come by. Production of the Focus RS will be discontinued this year. The turbocharged 2.3L 4 cylinder engine can go 0-60 in 4.3 seconds.

Read more about the Ford Focus RS Limited Edition

Ford Fusion

all wheel drive sedan

2017 Ford Fusion AWD

The Ford Fusion is available in FWD and AWD with a 6-speed auto transmission. With a 2.0L 4 cylinder engine, the car gets an estimated 29mpg on the highway and 20mpg in the city.

Ford Taurus

AWd Sedan

2018 Ford Taurus

AWD is standard on the Ford Taurus SHO, and available with the Taurus SEL and Taurus Limited. The 3.5L V-6 engine comes paired with a 6-speed auto transmission. The bigger of the two Ford AWD sedans, the Taurus has about 4 cubic feet of more space in the truck. The SHO version of the Taurus is the ‘Super High Output’ trim. It has the 3.5L EcoBoost (turbocharged) engine making it a powerful highway cruiser.

Lincoln

Lincoln MKS

AWD Sedan

Lincoln MKS

The MKS is a luxury sedan that is available with a 3.7L V-6 engine. Paired with the 6-Speed transmission the sedan will get an estimated 26mpg on the highway and 18mpg in the city. There is also the option of the 3.5L EcoBoost (turbocharged engine) which puts out 365hp making the MKS a luxury cruiser. MKS production ended in 2016.

Lincoln MKZ

luxury AWD sedan

Photo: Lincoln

The Lincoln MKZ is a mid-sized luxury sedan, offered with AWD. The MKZ is based on the Ford Fusion platform. The 3.0L twin-turbocharged engine puts out a whopping 400hp. Available with a retractable panoramic sunroof.

 

Lincoln Continental

extreme luxury chauffeur car

Photo: Lincoln

Top of the line luxury, the Lincoln Continental is choice of chauffeurs. It has seat massagers in the front and rear. That’s right, back and bottom seat massagers. Reclining heat and cooled seats in the back.  A 19 speaker audio system, two-pane sunroof and an armrest with digital display in the back are just some of the coolest features. The door handles are particularly unique. If the Lincoln Continental were a chocolate it would be a Ferrero Rocher.

Dodge

Challenger GT

awd muscle car

Dodge Challenger AWD

The Dodge Challenger GT is America’s only AWD muscle coupe. Equipped with the 3.6L V-6, the Challenger GT made its debut in 2017. Find out more about the Challenger GT here. Also available in some BRIGHT colors!

Dodge Charger

muscle awd 4 door

2018 Dodge Charger GT AWD

The Dodge Charger is available in RWD or AWD. This roomy muscle car with backdoors just so happens to be the choice of vehicle for the Wyoming Highway Patrol. The full-size sedan can be had in AWD in the following trims; SE, SXT, for 2017’s and GT, and GT Plus for 2018. A 3.6 V-6 engine with 8-speed automatic transmission puts out 300hp. It also gets an estimated 27 mpg on the highway.

Chrysler

Chrysler 300

all wheel drive car wy

2018 Chrysler 300S AWD

The Chrysler 300 like the Dodge Charger is available in RWD or AWD. AWD is available on the following trims; Touring, Touring L, 300S and Limited. It also has the same engine, the 3.6L V-6 with the 8-speed auto transmission. The Chrysler 300 is more about luxury than muscle though. Fuel economy is estimated at 27mpg on the highway and 18 mpg in the city.

Buick

Buick Regal & Regal Sportback

Buick offers FWD or AWD on almost all of their lineup. The only exception is the convertible Cascada. The Regal is a mid-sized luxury sedan available with a whole host of safety features like Forward Collision Alert. New to the market this year is the Regal Sportback where the entire trunk lid opens to allow access to the rear seats. This is useful if you need extra cargo room, fold down the rear seats and your good to go.This is a popular design in Europe. The sporty turbocharged Buick Regal GS is also available in AWD.

Buick Regal TourX

New Stationwagon

Buick Regal TourX

Also new to the market is the Buick Regal TourX. This station wagon is available exclusively in AWD and has more cargo space than a regular sedan. We featured this car earlier, find out more here. Prices start at $29,070 MSRP.

Buick brings out a wagon!!

Buick LaCrosse

AWd car luxury general motors

2018 Buick LaCrosse

The Buick LaCrosse is a full sized sedan, so slightly bigger than the Regal sedan. For 2018 model years, the LaCrosse gets a new 9-speed transmission to go with the 3.6L V-6 engine. AWD versions of the car are available in the Essence trim and Premium trim levels.

Volkswagen

VW Alltrack

awd sport wagen

2018 Golf Alltrack Photo: VW

The Volkswagen Alltrack is a wagon version of the Golf. The Alltrack even comes equipped with an ‘off-road’ mode, hill descent control, paddle shifters and a turbo. Estimated fuel economy is 32 mpg on the highway and 22 mpg in the city. It also has the latest tech in new models with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Prices start around $25,850 MSRP for new Alltracks. Coming 2019 will be the Arteon.

There are currently no AWD cars offered by Chevrolet or GMC, although they do have SUV’s and trucks. Fiat has the 500X which is a subcompact crossover.

Got a question? Email us or feel to comment below.

 

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