Schedule an Appointment

FALCONER AUTO REPAIR

5 STAR RATING BY 308 reviews

Yearly Archives: 2017

Self-Driving Vehicles Could be a Game-Changer for the Disabled

Self-Driving Vehicles Could be a Game-Changer for the Disabled

According to the CDC, one out of every 5 adults in the United States copes with a disability—that's 53 million people. Of the different conditions, difficulty with mobility is the most common. Imagine how self-driving vehicles would make life so much easier for men and women with disabilities. In addition, if people with mobility or vision impairment were afforded the independence of car-ownership, the benefits wouldn't be limited to the disabled. Though automotive engineers are currently working on autonomous technology, most of the current prototypes are designed for non-disabled auto owners who could operate the auto if needed. Improved safety and a better driving experience seem to be the guiding principles. A report by The Rud ... read more

Is Premium Fuel Better?

Is Premium Fuel Better?

From the time we start driving, one of the first basics we learn is how to fill up our automobile with gasoline. It’s one of the simplest, most obvious requirements for keeping our car functioning. Most of us probably didn't get much instruction except for a warning not to put diesel in a car that runs on regular gasoline and vice versa. What Are You Putting in Your Tank? Most of us head to the gas station on autopilot a couple times a week, choose a pump, select unleaded, plus, or premium, fill the tank and we’re on our way. But have you ever wondered what fuel terminology means and how each type of gasoline is different? In this message, we'll give you a brief rundown, so you will be more educated about the juice your car is constantly drinking. Let’s commence with some gasoline basics. The grade ... read more

Shared Mobility And Urban Transit

Shared Mobility And Urban Transit

When cities expand quickly, existing transportation troubles intensify. In 2008, roughly half of the world's populace lived in urban areas. In 2050, experts estimate that 70 percent will live in metropolitan areas. (http://www.prb.org/Publications/Lesson-Plans/HumanPopulation/Urbanization.aspx) Widespread adoption of shared mobility networks can mitigate these growing pains, raise quality of life, and stimulate economic expansion. Pascal's Bold Experiment Blaise Pascal, French philosopher and apotheosis of a true Renaissance man, is generally credited with developing the first public transportation enterprise in Paris in 1662. The innovation in personal urban travel, which launched with seven horse-drawn carriages, was discontinued in 1675 due to many factors including the fact that the majority of the population coul ... read more

Car Talk: GR8PLTS

Car Talk: GR8PLTS

By law, every vehicle out on the road is required to have a license plate that is up-to-date and registered. Most drivers buy a car, go through the standard process of getting a license plate, and are fine with the random numbers and letters assigned to the car. But then there are individuals who like to make their car extra special and unique, so they order a customized license plate, sometimes called a "vanity plate." Since US license plates typically have space for just seven letters, American auto owners have to get creative when it comes to expressing a phrase, message, or name. We’ve found some witty plates for you to test your license plate deciphering prowess. A plate on a California car reads, “9 3QTRS”Next, “HIOFCER”Third is a Lamborghini proudly p ... read more

The Most Expensive Places to Drive

The Most Expensive Places to Drive

When you consider the rates of owning and driving an automobile, you probably think about the initial purchase, oil changes, gas, and repairs. But what about the roads we drive on? Building and maintaining thoroughfares for auto travel is not cheap. If you live in an area where roads are paid for with transportation taxes, you may mistakenly consider that they are "free" to drive on because you don't stop and pay every time you travel on the road. (This is probably how "freeways" got their name.) You pay for the use of the road when you swipe your debit card at the pump and pay a significant amount in taxes. Communities with toll roads take a different approach to financing their transportation infrastructure. Toll roads are financed by collecting money on the spot from every driver that travels the road, and some have ... read more

Keep It? Sell It? Trade It In?

Keep It? Sell It? Trade It In?

Our relationship with our car is different for each of us. Some car owners develop a connection with their car because it is such a key part of their life. It carries them back and forth to work, makes family vacations possible, and takes them about the world. For others, a car is no more than a way to get from Point A to Point B, or worse, a necessary evil. Whether you love your car or simple consider it a means to an end, deciding if it's time for a change can be a difficult task. Do you sell it to the dealership? Sell it to a private buyer? Or is it a good idea to just drive it 'till it drops? Hopefully, this article will help you in your choice. Sell Back To The Dealer? Let’s begin with the question of whether you should sell/trade in your car to the dealership. The first thing to know is that the dealershi ... read more

The Most Common Causes of Traffic Fatalities

The Most Common Causes of Traffic Fatalities

If you take a moment and review the most prevalent causes of traffic fatalities, you will be reminded that ACCIDENTS CAN BE PREVENTED! Today's post delivers a serious warning for all of us who venture behind the wheel of our car and join our fellow road warriors on our nation's roads and expressways. The team of automotive experts at I-86 Truck & Auto Repair isn't pointing fingers here, we know that all of us drivers can take safety more seriously. Distracted Driving According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving claimed 3,477 lives in 2015 alone. https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving People, in general, need to just learn that it can wait. When comb ... read more

Auto Fun: Have You Ever Done Something Crazy to Avoid a Ticket?

Auto Fun: Have You Ever Done Something Crazy to Avoid a Ticket?

It seems like you always get caught speeding at the worst time possible; racing through downtown Falconer to pick up the kids from school, running a red light because you’re late to a key meeting, or heading to the airport when you are about to miss your flight.  The flashing lights in the rearview mirror are always a dreaded sight and most of the time indicate that a fine is coming your way. Today's article includes some stories of men and women going to extremes to try to get out of a ticket. One man got stopped for simply not wearing his seatbelt. The officers who stopped the man didn’t know what was coming next. The officer showed mercy and spared him the fine. The man filmed it all on his phone with a selfie stick. I guess you could try this yourself if you feel like you have the voice of an angel. Another man took ... read more

Electric Cars Are Charging Ahead

Electric Cars Are Charging Ahead

Often we hear of proposed innovations and futuristic ideas and wonder if we will live to see it happen. Now, one of these once-outlandish concepts has turned into a reality. Tesla Motors has created self-driving, electric production cars that are available to the masses. Not only have they been innovators in the electric car industry but they’re now shaking up the global auto industry as a whole. With its dramatic success, Tesla has now eclipsed GM and Ford which have been the rulers for years. So what has Tesla brought about to get them to this point? They started with the Tesla roadster which was a two-door sports car that was able to travel 244 miles on a single charge using rechargeable lithium ion batteries. From there they knew that they’d need to manufacture automobiles that would be more practical ... read more

The Prancing Ponies

The Prancing Ponies

Ferrari and Porsche both have a celebrated history of making some of the most incredible sports cars for the road and track. While Porsche and Ferrari have no manufacturing relationship, their emblems could lead you to believe otherwise. Out of all the major carmakers, Porsche and Ferrari are the only two that have horses on their logos. Today's post highlights how they got their insignias and what inspired the horse themes. From Fighter Planes to Sports Cars Enzo Ferrari was the founder of Ferrari and had a history of racing with Alfa Romeo before splitting off to start his own auto brand. In 1932, Enzo Ferrari put his first horse insignia onto a car. The idea of the prancing horse actually came from Count Francesco Baracca who was an accomplished Italian Air Force fighter pilot. Baracca used to paint a strutting horse e ... read more