Tips for Driving with Cyclists

Driving with cyclists is not something most people are very comfortable doing. If you are one of the many who are leery driving near a cyclist, here are some tips to avoid accidents.

• Give them space - allow 3 feet between your car and the cyclist when passing.
• Check your mirrors when turning - if you are waiting to turn right at a light, make sure to look in your side mirror before making the turn. Sometimes cyclists are going faster than you and may be in the process of passing when you go to turn.
• Drive the speed limit.
• Stop before the stop sign - don't let the front of your car pass the stop sign or sidewalk when pulling up to an intersection. There may be a cyclist traveling down the sidewalk who won't have time to stop.
• Treat cyclists like another car on the road - Of course use your best judgement, but don't be overly, or ultra-considerate of someone just because they're on a bicycle. Example: If a cyclist is waiting on a side street to cross the road, don't stop to let them go just to be nice. If you don't have a reason to stop in that part of the road, you are creating dangerous situation. If the cyclist goes, there is an open lane which another driver could blow right through without knowing the situation. Your car is also a hazard on the road at that point. Most cyclists are not going to think any less of you for going about your business as usual. Think about it this way... would you stop for another driver in a car who was waiting to do the same thing? Chances are you wouldn't even notice.
• Be patient! The less rushed you are, the safer everyone will be.

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Festive Automobiles!

Have you ever decorated your car for the holidays? Check out some great festive automobiles we found!

If you are decorating your vehicle this season, send us some pictures so we can share them!

Visit us at Courtesy Buick GMC to see our inventory and to set up a test drive!

Winter Driving Maintenance Checklist!

Winter is considered to be one of the most dangerous and damaging times to drive every year. Are you prepared? Is your car prepared?

Here are a few tips to help you make sure your vehicle is up to standards going into the winter season:

• Change your windshield wiper blades and fluid.

• Rotate your tires and have the alignment checked.

• Pack your car with emergency supplies.

• Make sure your car has enough antifreeze.

• Check your brakes.

• Stay fueled up. At least a half tank should remain in the car at all times.

  
Visit us at Courtesy Buick GMC to see our inventory and to set up a test drive today!

A List of Practical Things to Keep in Your Car That Can Be Fun!

Most people consider their car a tool to strictly go from point A to point B. Keeping too much stuff in your vehicle can make it feel cluttered, but check out this list of practical items that could come in handy in your everyday travels as both tools, and toys!

Duct Tape - This is a go-to, temporary solution for just about anything. It can help you in a bind, or help you to create things during leisurely outings.

Flashlight - This tool can be used during a time of necessity, or to tell scary stories around a camp fire!

Pencil and Paper - Better than a pen in most cases because it does not depend on the weather. Can also be used to play tic-tac-toe on road trips!

Matches or Lighter - Can be used to create a fire for warmth, for fun, or for both!

Blanket - Again, can be used to stay warm in the cold as well as giving you a place to sit during ballgames or picnics!

Grocery Bags - You can use these for anything. Take your stuff with you on a hike, or go green and re-use them for a shopping trip.

Umbrella - Protection from rain or shine! Optional, depending on your idea of fun.

Change of Clothes or Bathing Suit - Either way, you can avoid being wet the rest of the day after a good swim in the creek!

Visit us at Courtesy Buick GMC to see our inventory and test drive a new model!

Courtesy Buick GMC Brake Pad Special!

Winter is nearly upon us! It is important to get your vehicle into peak condition before the weather reaches its extremes.

This month, Courtesy Buick GMC is offering a deal on brake pad installation!

ACDelco Professional DuraStop brake pads installed. Includes rotor inspection. $79.95 per axle.

Print out this coupon and present it at the time of sale:

Visit us at Courtesy Buick GMC to set up a service appointment and take advantage of these great deals!

Beautiful Scenic Alabama Byway!

Do you love taking long, scenic drives? We have just the destination for you!

The Appalachian Highlands Scenic Byway passes through some of the most scenic areas of the State of Alabama. The natural beauty of the Appalachian Mountains provides a scenic backdrop for travelers on the byway as the route winds along lush vegetation, interesting geologic formations and quaint historic rural communities. Approximately 80 miles in length, the Appalachian Highlands Scenic Byway is located in the northeastern part of the state. It traverses through portions of Cleburne, Calhoun, Cherokee and DeKalb Counties, connecting Interstate 20 near Heflin with Interstate 59 at Fort Payne.

From south to north, the byway follows Alabama Highway 9 until it intersects with U.S. Highway 78 on the outskirts of Heflin. From this intersection the byway heads west (along US-78/SR-9) through the Talladega National Forest until Alabama Highway 9 diverges northward through the community of White Plains, the Choccolocco State Forest, and follows along the Dugger Mountain Scenic Drive. In the town of Piedmont, the byway crosses the Chief Ladiga Trail and U.S. Highway 278. The byway continues northward along Alabama Highway 9 through the community of Ellisville, traversing a rural landscape including cotton fields, and then heads to Centre. The byway goes through Centre, then departs Alabama Highway 9 and follows the course of U.S. Highway 411 west to the town of Leesburg. Here, the byway picks up Alabama Highway 273 and heads in a northeasterly fashion through a rural landscape of plantations and cotton fields set within deep mountain valleys. At the community of Blanche, the byway departs Alabama Highway 273 and courses west on Alabama Highway 35. From here the byway ascends Lookout Mountain and passes through the Little River Canyon National Preserve. The byway then descends Lookout Mountain and passes through the town of Fort Payne, to its northern terminus at I-59.

Courtesy of Alabamabyways.com.


Visit us at Courtesy Buick GMC to test drive a brand new vehicle of your choice before your next trip!

Halloween Joke!

Halloween is this week!

Here's a silly joke you can use on your friends:

What kind of car does a ghost drive?

Answer: Boo-ick!

Visit us at Courtesy Buick GMC to test drive a brand new "Boo-ick" today!

Halloween is coming up - will your vehicle be ready?

Halloween is fast approaching, which means lots of youngsters in the streets paying attention to their bags of candy and not to you driving. Some costumes will also obscure their vision! All of this adds up to you needing to be extra careful if you're driving on Halloween night.


At a glance: Help protect trick-or-treaters by following these driving safety tips on Halloween, or on the night your community hosts Halloween activities. Be especially careful between 4 and 8 p.m., when most severe vehicle/young pedestrian collisions happen.

Drive slowly, and don't pass stopped vehicles. The driver might be dropping off children.

Park your mobile phone. Avoid distractions by waiting until you've stopped to call, text, or surf.

Watch for children darting into the street. Kids can cross the street anywhere, and most young pedestrian deaths happen at spots other than intersections.

Yield to young pedestrians. Children might not stop, either because they don't see your vehicle approaching or don't know how to safely cross the street.

Communicate with other drivers. Always use your turn signals. And if you have to pull over to drop off or pick up your kids, turn on your hazard lights.

And, to keep your own trick-or-treaters safe:

Teach them how to safely cross streets. They should look both ways and cross only at corners and crosswalks.

Consider indoor community Halloween programs for younger kids. Some communities also offer to help you inspect your kids' treats to make sure they're safe to eat.

Brighten them up. Give them flashlights and glow sticks, and/or use reflective tape on their costumes, so drivers can see them.

See and be seen is your responsibility, too. Make sure your windows are clean and easy to see through, that all your lights are in good order, and that your windshield wipers are fresh and clean as well. Stop in to Courtesy Buick GMC in Birmingham if you need help with any of these things!

Beautiful 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 Available Now!

Do you need a rugged, powerful vehicle? Check out this new 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab!

While this truck is an absolute workhorse, it is also an extremely comfortable and convenient vehicle. But don't take our word for it; come see it for yourself!

Visit us at Courtesy Buick GMC to take advantage of our great specials and to set up a test drive!

Facts About 2014!

We all know car models are labeled a year in advance when they are released. Perhaps you would like to know a few facts about the year our most recent vehicle models are from. 2014!

2014 marks the halfway point of the 2010 decade. It starts on a Wednesday.

Also, The United Nations designated 2014 as the International Year of Family Farming and Crystallography.

Visit us at Courtesy Buick GMC to test drive a brand new 2014 model!

Do You Have the Right Color Car for Your Personality?

You are standing on the lot of Courtesy Buick GMC. The choices are overwhelming. What model will work best for me? What options should I choose? What color?!

Color choice can be the hardest decision to make because it will say a lot about the driver on first impressions. Does your choice of car color reflect your personality?

• Black - Black vehicles give off a powerful, classic, elegant vibe. They are sleek and bold.
• White - This vehicle is seen as pure, pristine and direct. People who drive white cars are often perceived as more clean.
• Silver - Futuristic, prestigious, elegant - A light color that seems mechanical, but still full of brightness and wisdom.
• Red - Sensual, dynamic, outgoing people drive red cars. There is a reason why red cars get pulled over more often. They give the impression of being more fast paced.
• Yellow - Joyful, outgoing, great sense of humor - These cars seem playful and the drivers must be fun. Seen to be the life of the party.
• Green - Trustworthy, down to earth, and classic - Cars of this color seem more organic and earthy, giving the driver an appearance of being stable and wise.

Visit us at Courtesy Buick GMC to see our inventory and set up a test drive for your perfect car!

Take Out The Trash, Save Gas!

Too much junk in the trunk? It could be holding you back!

It is a simple idea to understand. The more weight you have to carry around, the more work your vehicle has to do. Gas mileage is a major concern for most these days, and simply removing unnecessary cargo from your car will help save those valuable gallons!

Visit us at Courtesy Buick GMC to set up a routine maintenance visit to make sure your vehicle is at its peak performance level!

Labor Day GMC Deals!

Labor Day Weekend is upon us!

At Courtesy Buick GMC, we are celebrating Labor Day with professional grade offers on GMC vehicles! You could find yourself behind the wheel of a heavy duty vehicle, capable of any task a job could throw at you! Be the force behind the workforce!

Visit us at Courtesy Buick GMC this weekend to test drive a GMC and take advantage of these great offers!

How much can you fit in the bed of a Sierra?

What is the bed of a truck without the cargo?

A load of gravel? Yes. That will fit.

A load of bricks? Yes. That too will fit.

A motorcycle? Why not! The options are nearly endless. It will fit.

With all the cargo possibilities, you will want to protect your bed. Right now, you can get a FREE spray on bed liner from Courtesy Buick GMC when you buy or lease a 2013 GMC Sierra!

Buick's Hollywood Career!

Buick vehicles have been in many films throughout the decades. Their classic style was sought after in the industry, as it was aesthetically pleasing and added character to the fictional personas.

This Buick was featured in the film Spellbound (1945) by Alfred Hitchcock.

Come visit us at Courtesy Buick GMC to test drive a brand new Buick and begin the next chapter of your story with style!

Don't Let Your Engine Seize!

Are you bad with vehicle maintenance? Small things like ignoring oil changes can lead to serious problems down the road, like engine seizure!

There are a lot of warnings you can pick up on before an engine seizes. The initial stages are usually light tapping noises or a slight knocking sound. It will become obvious when you hear what technicians call a "dead knock." This is a loud knocking sound that lacks any metallic pinging sound. This "dead knock" is typically the piston connecting rod hitting the engine's crank shaft.

Don't let it get to this point! Make sure you keep up on your scheduled maintenance.

Take advantage of our oil change, tire rotation, and 27-point inspection special for only $29.95! Click here to schedule your appointment: Schedule Appointment Here

Tough Yet Tender: The New 2014 GMC Acadia FWD 4dr Denali

"The 2014 Acadia Denali interior takes the accommodating space and functionality of this segment-defining crossover to a whole new level of style with authentic materials and luxury appointments."

Whether it's the luxurious interior, or the tough exterior and 288hp engine of the new 2014 GMC Acadia FWD 4dr Denali, this vehicle will take you for a ride! Visit us at Courtesy Buick GMC to test drive this amazing machine. Click here for more information: http://bit.ly/13Rv1vm

Friday! Road Trip?

Hey friends, it's Friday! Do you have any plans to go on an interesting road trip? What was the best place you've taken your #Buick or #GMC?

 

Throwback Thursday Trivia!

It's #Throwback Thursday! Check out this antique #Buick! Who can guess what year this came out?

 

Lease a 2013 Buick Regal Turbo!

Lease a 2013 #Buick Regal Turbo for as low as $209 a month! Click here for more details: http://bit.ly/1bph8Fb