2012 seems to be picking up where 2011 left off – with alternative fuel concept cars from automakers like:

Chevrolet
Volkswagen
Acura
Lexus
Ford
Dodge
Audi

…and more…

But what was interesting is not just the ability for fuel efficiency but the need to not “look” like a hybrid.  Smaller is in with mid-size taking the buzzword away from SUVs.   A number of the new larger-than-midsize cars boasted a hybrid mixture of either diesel or regular gasoline and electric flex fuel options.  Even those that are familiar with the hybrid culture are taking a new look at the physical body design of these vehicles, they don’t have to LOOK fuel efficient to BE fuel efficient…and with the rising cost of fossil fuels who can blame the auto industry for looking for alternatives.

Regardless of new fuel efficient cars, old hybrid favorites, or gas-guzzlers of the 90s, the Wards Auto Body and Paint team will work with you to fix whatever you need fixed to the exterior of your car.  Are you experiencing fading of your paint job – we’ll help you; bad accident – we’ll work with you and your insurance company to get you what you need; restoration to a new car – we’ve got you there too, just bring your automobile in for an estimate and we’ll get you what you need to get back on the road in no time.

Do you have questions on how to best protect your investment to your car?  Let us work with you to get what you need to keep your car as protected as possible from the elements and looking as new on the outside as when it was driven off the lot.

During this time of year, we know there’s lots of travel on your mind, both short and long distances.  Even if you’re not traveling, chances are you have family members that are and many for hundreds of miles at a time.

Know from our family to yours, we are here for you.  Should a not-so-nice surprise come to you or yours while celebrating this joyous time of year, our family will be happy to help your family get repaired and back on the road as quickly and painlessly as possible.

We also want to take this time to remind you of two nevers while you’re driving:
            1)         NEVER drink and drive – with New Year’s celebrations just around the corner, sometimes it’s tempting to think you can make it just that short distance – don’t do it – even “buzzed” driving is drunk driving and you won’t like the results!
            2)         NEVER text and drive – there is nothing so important that you have to send that message right now, right while you’re driving – it’ll wait.  We know it’s tempting to text your friends or family about the perfect gift you just purchased – please wait until you’re parked.  Texting while driving has been shown to be WORSE than the distraction of drinking and driving, it’s not safe so please, don’t do it!

But know, accidents happen, even if you follow our 2 Never Rules – and when they do, we’ll be here to help.  We want to be your go-to team for getting you back on the road and better than ever.  Let us know if we can help  you put it in reverse.

At Wards, we have taken a look at what’s going on around us and counting our blessings.  We are thankful for one another, we’re thankful for a caring community who continue to support us, and we’re thankful for a future that allows us to continue to serve our customers.

We want to know what you are thankful for – family, friends, your home – even the little things are important – like excellent customer service and great car care.

We know car care is the furthest thing from your mind during the holidays, and we’re not afraid to hear that from more than one of our customers – but know that car care is never far from our mind, and if there’s something you need, touch ups, refurbishing, new paint, the works – know that from our family to yours, we’ll be happy to assist.

Also know if you need great gift ideas, updating your family car’s look is available from Wards – with gift cards for monthly car washes, waxings, the works!  While your car maybe the last thing on your mind, knowing that your car needs to get you and your family to your holiday destinations safely is first on ours.

Happy holidays to you and your family and know we’re here to help if you need us – and we want to thank you again for being a part of our community.

The number of car crashes increases exponentially throughout the holiday season, particularly when talking about Thanksgiving and Christmas, where alcohol related accidents are 40% more likely to occur.

With the holidays right around the corner – Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years, etc – Ward’s wants you to keep in mind that a number of people will be traveling many miles to be with family for the holidays.  The Bureau of Transportation Statistics says on average, people will travel more that 200 miles per holiday to be with family (average 214 for Thanksgiving and 275 for Christmas).

We’re not restating these statistics to scare you – just the opposite.  As we go into this holiday season, Ward’s wants you to know we’re here to help you through your tough time – should you become one of the people affected by a holiday accident.

Your chances of being in an accident during the next few months increases more than 40% just because the calendar counts down another month.  With more people on the road, more people in a hurry, it’s important to keep these things in mind as you start making your own plans to spend time with family.

 Be sure to give you and your family plenty of time to get on the road.  Stop somewhere and rest if you get tired or anxious.  Get rest and be patient – everyone wants to see his or her loved ones – let’s work together to get home safe and unharmed.

But should something happen to your car this holiday season, come see us at Ward’s where getting you back on the road is our specialty!

First and foremost, be sure you perform the regular maintenance on your car as described in your owner’s manual.  Regular oil changes protect your car’s engine, regular system cleaning – flush and fills – maintain the integrity of your car’s performance.

Fall is also a good time to double check the four Bs – belts, blades, battery, and brakes.  Not typically on your radar for regular maintenance, each item gets plenty of wear during the summer, especially here in the south where temperatures are high, and the humidity is even higher.

Windshield wiper blades can become dry rotted and because of the Coastal Empire’s famous hit and miss rainstorms, many times these items need to be replaced as much or more frequently than once per year.

Batteries are pretty obvious when they need changing, but nothing’s worse than going into the mall to do some holiday shopping and coming back to a crowded parking lot and a dead battery.  Have the battery checked BEFORE it goes dead, that way you can replace it before the inevitable happens.

Humidity in the south probably affects your car’s belts and hoses more than any other part of the vehicle.  Excessive moisture and heat cause expansion and contraction of the hoses and belts leading to additional stress shortening normal usability.  When your serpentine belt begins to crack, getting it changed quickly is crucial.

And of course, brakes.  Although a part of your car’s regularly scheduled maintenance, here in Savannah, GA, roads are hotter, humidity is higher, and your vehicle is expected to stop quickly under strained circumstances.   Before your next required brake change, have them inspected, you might be surprised at how quickly they can wear down during the summer – especially if you did any vacation traveling.

Let Wards Auto Paint and Bodyshop help you stay safe and prepared while on the road!

But what love bugs can do to your car is twice as disturbing.

Not only can they, if left on your car after meeting an untimely death, ruin your paint job – love bugs can also cause your car to overheat by clogging radiator air passages, which reduces the cooling of your engine.

Did you know – if left on your car for more than a few hours, love bugs after being smashed on your car, not only become extremely difficult to remove, but their body chemistry becomes acidic if left on the car in the sun for more than a day.  This can result in pits and etches in automotive paint AND chrome if not removed within 24 hours.

What a nightmare!

Remember, paint damage is not only unsightly; it can also lead to rust and other permanent detriment to the body of your automobile and quickly reducing the life expectancy of your automobile.

And should you run into a swarm of these lovely creatures, be sure to wash off your car quickly – even if it’s just a quick rinse.  Leaving the buggy carcasses can really harm your car, and rinsing them off – paying CLOSE attention to your car’s front end – is better than nothing.

Come in to Ward’s Auto Painting and Bodyworks today.  We can install a light screen over your grill to protect your radiator – we can also add an extra coat of wax to protect the exterior of your car as well.

If your car is a dark color, the sun can cause the paint to fade quicker than lighter colored cars, and regardless of paint shade, UVA rays can do a number on your auto.  What’s worse is that paint is the number one protector of your vehicle against rust, so it’s important to keep the paint in good condition.

How do you know when your paint job can be fixed and when it needs to be redone?   Here are a few tips of what to look for when making your decision:

1)             Color protecting wax – yes, you’ve seen the commercials; now check out the wax protectants that come in color matches to your car.  Silly as it may sound, many times a good waxing with one of these can save you some cash.  Try a nice wash and wax, no more than two or three weeks apart and see if you notice a difference.

2)             Buffing with rubbing compound – find a good compound with either fine or very fine cuts, add just a little to your buffer prior to using and be sure to only do small sections at a time.  Once you complete this, wash and wax as normal – if you’re shine’s not restored, it may be time for professional paint.
3)             Check for rust or paint bubbles – if you’re already finding numerous rust spots or bubbles in the paint – be ready to have some work done.  You might get away with refinishing the paint, but depending on how much, it might save you heartache to repaint the entire automobile.

Should you decide repainting is the way to go, let us know.  At Wards, we can help you choose your color, give a free estimate, and even let you know if the spots can be repaired or if a full repainting job is what’s best for your car.  Come on in, we’re happy to help wherever you are with restoring your vehicle.

1)      Check your fluid levels – make sure to top off any that are low and see if any are drastically low, get them checked prior to hitting the highway for a long trip.

2)      Check belts, hoses, and wires – many of these are minor to repair/replace but can give you a screaming headache if something goes wrong while on the road.

3)      Check tire pressure – nothing helps you get more miles to the gallon like properly inflated tires, and try to cut back on too much baggage too, added weight causes less fuel efficiency.

4)      Check the battery – taking the extra step to see the volts your battery is currently carrying, adding charge if needed, or replacing it prior to your trip can save you headache and money along the way.

Other things to consider, windows and windshields – a number of states require windshield replacement or repair should a crack be over a certain width or distance from the driver.  Don’t get caught with a crack while on a trip.  Tickets can be costly and if you’re out of state, you may have no recourse but to pay the total fine.

At Wards, we don’t just help you with repairs after an accident; we can help you with glass repair and replacement as well as insurance quotes should you be involved in an accident.

Summertime should be fun time for you and your family.  We want to help ensure you have the best time possible.  Stay safe, stay legal, and let the pros at Ward’s Auto Painting and Bodyworks help you get on the road to a wonderful vacation!

At Wards, we help customers update and restore vintage vehicles every day, and many of them aren’t sure where to begin.

Here are three things to think about before taking that first step:

1)      Getting parts:  Especially if your car is a vintage make and/or model, you need to look around for the best places that store aged cars or at least the parts for them.  A number of sites work on the assembly of cars but don’t necessarily use all the parts of the older models they get in stock.  You can even do a web search for these kinds of shops in your area, and if the first one you call doesn’t have what you need – ask for a referral – or ask a garage owner that you trust.

2)      Hiring a professional assistant:  How familiar are you with your vehicle?  If it’s not something you’ve put your hands on in the past, you might want to ask some of the local mechanics if they’d be interested in being your sounding board when you’re stuck.  Although it can get expensive to have a mechanic on retainer, it may save you tons of expense in the long run.

3)      Original within reason:  You already know, the more you can mirror your vehicle’s original look and parts, the more your refurbish is going to be worth in the long run.  However, it’s not always possible (or reasonable) to pay what you may need to pay to get the exact year of a particular part.  A compromise may need to be reached in some areas, but others – like paint – you’ll need to match the era to maintain integrity of the rebuild.

At Wards, we can help you at any stage of your revitalization of your vehicle – give us a call any time, we’ll make an appointment for you and your car!

1)      Stop your vehicle immediately – if you’re ever in an accident, particularly on a busy street, your first reaction will be to get the vehicles out of everyone’s way.  Do not do this unless there’s minor damage and you’re on a major roadway.  The police need to see the exact conditions under which the accident took place.

2)      Call the police – although we alluded to it in #1, now call the police.  Even if it’s a fender-bender, please call the police, and request a police report.  It may seem that everyone at the scene is a nice guy and honest, but be sure to cover yourself and get a police report.  You never know when it may come back to haunt you.

3)      Collect and exchange information – be sure to get the name, telephone number, insurance information, driver’s license number, vehicle make, model and license plate number – and while you’re at it, get the names of the people that assist at the scene: police officers, EMS, witnesses, etc.  This may help you in the long run.

4)      Get pictures of the accident – if you are able, take pictures – with your cell phone, with your passengers’ phone, disposable camera, anything you have handy.  Should you need back-up of what happened, this really does make a difference.

5)      Call your insurance company – call them as soon as you are able.  They can help you get through this time, that’s why you pay your premiums every month.  Make sure they are aware and see what you need to do on your end to make it a smooth transition.

We know it’s never a good time to be in an accident, but when it happens, call us.  We’ll get you back on the road in no time!