I Love Graff Okemos: Chevy Dealer

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Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Five Creative Pumpkin Decorating Ideas That Don't Involve Carving

OKEMOS, Mich. –– For many, fall is a season of beauty and creativity, and October might just be the best month to exhibit and enjoy autumn's seasonal aesthetics. One of the best ways to express yourself on throughout October but especially on Halloween, is to carve or decorate a unique pumpkin. Then again, some people think the whole carving-a-gourd thing is sort of a hassle.

But that doesn't mean you can't still do up a great squash or two for your porch! This year, try something different and experiment with one of these five creative pumpkin decorating ideas that don't involve carving!

1. The Painted Pumpkin

5 Creative Pumpkin Decorating Ideas That Don't Involve Carving

Choose your favorite colors, find some stencils, or go freehand when you paint your pumpkins! Halloween might be a fun time to choose the dark side, but you can keep things cheery with colorful gourds galore!

2. The Holy Squash

Carving can be a tedious method that's difficult to produce aesthetically pleasing results with. Instead of getting a hand cramp from sawing, scraping, and whittling, just use a series of drill bits and a power drill to make some holy designs. Is it ironic that your pumpkin could be the only holy thing around on a rather wicked night like Halloween?

3. The Cookie Cutter Carver

Here's another way to make carving easier than it has to be. Instead of outlining an image and trying to carve according to the contours, why not just hammer your favorite cookie cutters into the shell of your pumpkin? Okay, we admit you'll have to carve a little bit with this one, but we guarantee it'll be a cinch.

4. The Glam Gourd

Get bedazzling and make your pumpkin look less like a gourd and more like a gem.

5. The Gilded Gourd

Prove your pumpkin is worth its weight in gold and look rich with a gilded gourd this Halloween.

Try these five creative pumpkin decorating ideas that don't involve carving this fall! If you want even more inspiration for fall decor, check out our pinterest, or last week's blog for more fun ideas! Don't get so wrapped up that you forget to take care of your car for fall! Schedule a service appointment online with the Graff Okemos Service Center!

Located conveniently just outside of Lansing, Hank Graff Chevrolet Okemos is here to help you with your car buying and servicing needs. Our goal is to create a transparent experience and a comfortable environment for all of our valuable customers. If you have any questions, or would like to schedule an appointment, reach us at (517) 349-8300, or stop by the dealership at 1748 W. Grand River in Okemos, MI 48864

Friday, October 23, 2015

Halloween Safety Tips for Your Trick-or-Treating Kids

OKEMOS, Mich. –– Going trick-or-treating on Halloween for the first time without an adult is a classic benchmark all kids look forward to. But, naturally, this gives parents the creeps as they tend to feel they've lost yet another position of security over their kids' lives. It's nerve-racking witnessing your kids step into the night to go door-to-door for candy without you, but you can find comfort in these Halloween safety tips for your trick-or-treating kids that will help them understand how to be safe out there in the ghoulish world.

1. Stay Together

As the old adage goes, there's safety in numbers. This is the golden Halloween rule for your kids when they're trick-or-treating. Make sure your kids know the importance of staying together with a group of friends throughout the night. Remind them they should never venture off alone, even if they desire to go to a particular house that the rest of the group doesn't. At minimum, you could allow your kids to split off with another person if they wish to trick-or-treat on a side street that the rest of the group isn't interested in, but the best case scenario is that they stay with their larger group of friends.

2. Walk in Well-Lit Areas

Considering Halloween is the darkest holiday of the year––literally and figuratively––your kids should trick-or-treat on well-lit streets illuminated by street lamps and porch lights. Dark streets diminish your kids' situational awareness because they can't see as well, and these streets typically indicate there isn't as much activity occurring on them anyway. Dark streets are also a hazard because they make it difficult for drivers to see people walking along or crossing them.

3. Don't Enter Houses

Trick-or-treating is a door-to-door activity, so if an adult asks your kids to come inside for something it should be viewed as a red flag, unless your kids know the adult and know that you trust them. While it's unlikely that any of your neighbors have bad intentions, it's better not to give strangers the benefit of the doubt. Tell your kids to politely decline if someone asks them to enter a house, and make sure they aren't afraid to notify another adult who may be chaperoning their own kids on Halloween. In other situations, this rule might not apply as well. For instance, some neighbors may enjoy transforming their home or garage into a haunted maze kids have to walk through to reach a bowl of candy. If your kids see others participating in this, then it's probably fine for them to enter. However, we still recommend they acknowledge the presence of another adult first.

4. Set Boundaries

No parent wants to limit the amount of fun their kids have trick-or-treating on Halloween, but establishing boundaries for them to stay within is important. Your kids may want to traverse the entire square mile you live within, but limiting them to a specific number of particular neighborhood blocks allows you to have a better grasp on there whereabouts. This also keeps them more aware of their surroundings. When they reach a boundary––say it's a specific street––they'll remember your rule and have an understanding of where they are in proximity to you.

5. Set Check-In Times and a Curfew

Whether you want to require your kids to check-in at specific time or two while they trick-or-treat is up to you, but we suggest you still put in place a strict Halloween curfew to ensure your kids come home safe. The last thing you want is for it to be 10 p.m. and you're forced to go searching throughout the neighborhood for your kids, meanwhile worried sick that they could be lost or injured in some way. Save yourself from that anxiety and be solid in your expectations of when your kids should arrive home. While they may stomp their feet and pout now, one day they'll understand the importance of coming home at a reasonable time for the sake of their safety.

Every parent has their own opinions on what rules they should implement to ensure the security of their kids, but we strongly believe these Halloween safety tips for your trick-or-treating kids are some of the basic guidelines you can give your kids to make sure they still have fun and stay safe. It's also important for you, the parent, to stay safe when you're driving throughout the autumn season. Follow our advice for driving in the fall, and visit our Chevrolet dealer near East Lansing, MI, for more tips or to test-drive a new Chevy.

Hank Graff Chevrolet Okemos is committed to providing you with integrity and convenience, all close to home. Let our friendly team of Chevy professionals at Hank Graff Okemos help you –– simply call us at (517) 349-8300 or visit our showroom, located at 1748 W. Grand River Okemos, MI 48864. We’re just minutes from Lansing!

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

GM Plans to Expand Car Connectivity and Autonomous Driving

OKEMOS, Mich. –– General Motors recently disclosed plans to expand car connectivity and autonomous driving technology across its myriad automotive brands, and expects $350 million in revenue from its progress by 2018.

Having made strides in connectivity by implementing 4G LTE data connection into its vehicles, GM wants to continue to adapt and alter connectivity features and services for its vehicles. Connectivity and apps will help GM understand how drivers use its vehicles, including how they respond to features like automatic braking and hands-free highway driving, and help it continually improve its vehicle technology.

After releasing news that Chevrolet will partner with AutoShare to provide car sharing to university students in Toronto, GM has disclosed plans to expand car sharing as many customers lean towards more ecofriendly and economic modes of transportation.

GM plans to expand autonomous driving from its SuperCruise technology, which equips GM vehicles with driverless capability. But the automaker is quick to note that its higher-end performance and sports vehicles will remain intact to preserve their special character that drivers admire.

The automaker will also begin providing services through smartphone apps that add convenience to its vehicles. For instance, drivers could transfer personal driving preferences from one car to another, including across nameplates and brands, to notify car how to function.

If there’s one automaker who has taken a strategic and thoughtful approach to how they develop and implement technology into their future fleets, it’s GM. You can see the beginnings of these technological innovations and their careful progression throughout the years in the used Chevy vehicles at our Williamston area car dealer.

Hank Graff Chevrolet Okemos is committed to providing you with integrity and convenience, all close to home. Let our friendly team of Chevy professionals at Hank Graff Okemos help you –– simply call us at (517) 349-8300 or visit our showroom, located at 1748 W. Grand River Okemos, MI 48864. We’re just minutes from Lansing!

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Transition into Fall With These Car Care Tips

OKEMOS, Mich. – With the recent end of summer and the beginning of fall, the seasonal change marks the perfect time to get your vehicle a routine maintenance checkup at Hank Graff Chevrolet Okemos. Make sure your vehicle is ready to handle cooler temperatures and other harsh elements that come with the last few months of the year, and transition into fall with these car care tips.

Check the Fluids.

You should routinely check your vehicle’s fluid levels to make sure they’re at the correct levels. as it cools down throughout autumn you’ll want to pay even closer attention and check for any leaks. Fall is the perfect time to have our ASE Certified technicians take a look at your fluids to make sure they’re topped off and ready for the upcoming winter.

Keep Your Vehicle Clean.

Just because it’s getting colder out doesn’t mean you should stop washing your car. Fall is a beautiful season; don’t you want your vehicle to look just as beautiful? Get your car washed once or twice throughout the season to help it keep a healthy outer appearance.

Test the Battery.

Fall is the perfect time to make sure your battery is up-to-date before winter hits. Check for any corrosion on the terminals, a sign that your battery is getting old. Come in for a free battery test at our service center and we’ll let you know if you’re good to go or if you need a replacement.

Get a Brake Inspection.

You should have your brakes inspected every 18,000 miles, and seeing as fall is the season that precedes slick, icy roads, it makes sense to have our brake technicians inspect, repair, or replace your brakes in the fall. If you hear or feel signs that your brakes are at the end, bring your vehicle to us and we’ll take care of everything.

Get a Cooling System Inspection.

Your cooling system isn’t just for preventing your vehicle from overheating in the summer. It also keeps your engine and other components from freezing, and helps keep you warm when it gets cold. The last thing you want is a car or truck that won’t start because you have a coolant leak, or vents that don’t produce heat on a cold morning. Our technicians can perform a thorough inspection of all components of your cooling system.

Don’t miss out on scenic fall drives through Michigan because your vehicle isn’t in the condition it should be. Transition into fall with these car care tips and bring your car or truck to our Okemos area used car dealer. We’ll handle all of the necessary auto service and car repair your vehicle requires to get it through the year to next fall.

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Why You Shouldn’t Speed Up to Hit a Deer

OKEMOS, Mich. – In 2014, State Farm ranked Michigan 10th in the nation for vehicle-deer collisions, which totaled 45,690, according to Michigan Traffic Crash Facts.

With a 1-in-97 chance of hitting a deer in this state, you need know how to properly react to a deer jumping in front of your vehicle. Despite what you may have been told, there is a significant reason for why you shouldn’t speed up to hit a deer.

Many assume speeding up to hit a deer will mitigate the danger of the situation and reduce potential for serious vehicle damage. The idea is that by moving faster your car will be more likely to cut through the deer or essentially plow it out of your path.

However, this is utterly untrue; hitting a deer at a high speed delivers a greater force of impact. The deer absorbs that force and returns it to your vehicle. This is the main reason why you shouldn’t speed up to hit a deer.

When you can’t avoid hitting a deer, you should apply the brakes, firmly grasp the steering wheel with both hands, and continue forward until you come to a stop. Hitting a deer at a slower speed will reduce your potential for injury and vehicle damage.

Speeding up to hit a deer can also cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Moving at a high speed and barreling into a 250-pound deer is an easy way to find yourself in a ditch rather than between the lines of a road.

Speaking of losing control, another approach drivers take to avoiding a vehicle-deer collision is swerving, but this action could endanger you even more than speeding up to hit a deer. Swerving could take you into oncoming traffic or a tree, neither of which is a better target than a deer. Fight your reflexes to swerve and just hit the deer.

The peak time for deer activity is between October and December, and you can avoid a vehicle-deer collision altogether by following a few cautionary steps when you’re on the road this fall:

Pay attention when driving at night. Deer are nocturnal animals so their most active hours are when the sun goes down.

Use your high beams at night to spot deer up ahead before it’s too late. Extra light could give you the few extra seconds you need to slow down or stop.

Watch out for deer that are crossing roads. If woods border the road you’re driving on, or if you see a deer crossing sign, it’s likely that a deer could appear at any moment.

If you see a deer cross the road ahead of you, don’t assume you’re in the clear. Deer like to travel in groups, which means there could be more following the one you saw.

If you’re faced with the tough decision to hit a deer, remember this handy mnemonic: Don’t veer for deer. Apply the brakes and follow through. Afterwards, notify the local authorities and wait for them to show up. Stay in your vehicle and don’t approach the deer because it could still be alive, and your presence could startle it, causing you and other drivers more danger.

While we hope you don’t experience the mess of a vehicle-deer collision this fall, remember that our Williamston area auto service experts are here to help you get the car repair you need after an accident.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Performance and Design Updates for the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Performance and Design Updates for the 2016 Silverado 1500

OKEMOS, Mich.– Chevrolet has a lasting reputation for strong design and performance, and the automaker won’t let you down with the performance and design updates for the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500.

Chevy pickup sales are up 32 percent midway through the year, and notable updates in design, performance and technology for the 2016 Silverado will help propel sales. As with the redesigned 2016 Camaro and 2016 Malibu, you can expect the 2016 Silverado to stand out.

You may have noticed a trend of Chevy implementing significant updates to the Silverado 1500 each model year. According to Chevy, this is part of a plan to bolster Chevy Trucks’ momentum, and performance and design updates for the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 include:

A redesigned, muscular body that seems to be less boxy and is especially noticeable in the front end of the pickup
Expanded use of the Silverado’s 8-speed transmission
New safety technologies
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capability

Chevy’s strategy to continue redesigning and updating the Silverado is panning out as well or better than the automaker expected. It says since the launch of the all-new Silverado 1500 in 2013 the pickup’s sales have increased by double digits, reaching a 14.6 percent increase through June 2015.

As much as we would love to give you more details on the 2016 Silverado, Chevy will wait to release any more information. Seeing as these teasers have already piqued your interest, you can blame Chevy for temporarily withholding information to keep you on your toes in anticipation for a big reveal this fall.

If you can’t wait until fall to meet the 2016 Silverado, the 2015 Silverado, built with high strength steel, is just as dependable of a performer. Right now, you can double the value of your trade up to $4,000 and drive away with a New Chevy Truck– like the 2015 Silverado– or a New Chevy Car– like the 2015 Malibu– at an insane discount from our Dewitt area Chevrolet dealer!

Hank Graff Chevrolet Okemos is committed to providing you with integrity and convenience, all close to home. Let our friendly team of Chevy professionals at Hank Graff Okemos help you – simply call us at (517) 349-8300 or visit our showroom, located at 1748 W. Grand River Okemos, MI 48864. We’re just minutes from Lansing!