Well, Tesla owners, you may well be happy to know that you’ll be able to call for help almost at any time around the clock day or night should your hugely expensive electric car break down.

But I hope that you didn’t spend your entire life savings on the roadster itself, because using the repair service is gonna cost you. Like a LOT.  Read on:

Customers will pay $1 per round-trip mile from the nearest Tesla service center — and there are just four of them in North America, with none in the heartland. Tesla has service centers in California’s Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, Seattle and New York City. Stores are slated to open later this year in Chicago, Washington, D.C., Toronto and South Florida. The electric-car startup says it plans to have at least 20 regional sales and service locations in the U.S. in about two years.

Just so you know, the barest minimum charge is a hundred bucks. And considering where these guys are coming out of, you’ll pay a WHOLE lot more than that by the time you’re done.  Of course, Tesla claims it’s losing money on the deal, as a dollar per mile is less than their actual cost.

But somehow…I’m not convinced.

Tags: costly repairs, house call, minimum charge, repairs, service charge, Tesla, tesla motors, tesla roadster

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Spring may be just another season for us, but it is also a time where proper maintenance for your car takes a change. With a little love and tender care, your ride can be ready for spring in no time. CarMax, Inc., the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, and its master technicians, offer advice on how to spruce up your car for spring during National Car Care month.

“Spring is one of the most critical times for vehicle maintenance,” said Tom Damon, ASE Master Technician for CarMax. “Harsh winter conditions can adversely affect your car. Regular vehicle maintenance avoids unexpected costly repairs.”

To help your car recover from the damaging effects of winter, CarMax technicians suggest that drivers perform the following five tasks in the spring:

1. Take your car to an automatic car wash that has an under-carriage wash. This can help remove corrosive residues left behind by winter road treatments used to melt ice and snow.
2. Wash and wax your car. The wax will protect the paint from damaging UV rays.
3. Change the oil and filter every 3,000 miles or at the manufacture’s recommendation and have the air filter and PCV valve checked and replaced if needed. Winter temperatures can cause the formation of harmful condensation and acids in the engine oil.
4. Have your vehicle diagnosed by an automotive professional. If the engine is not running smoothly or any other conditions arise, preventive measures can help extend the life of your vehicle and improve gas mileage.
5. Have a qualified automotive technician check:

• The condition of the engine coolant, belts, and hoses; hoses deteriorate from the inside out and summer driving gives your cooling system a workout.
• All the lights and lenses for cracks; you should also replace wiper blades each spring and fall to ensure optimum visibility in all weather conditions.
• The tires for any abnormalities (including the spare); the tire pressure should also be set at the level specified for your vehicle.
• All the wheels and inspect the brakes thoroughly for damage due to corrosion since most states use salt, sand or other chemicals to melt snow and ice on the roads. During this process, it is also a good idea to have the tires rotated.
• Your vehicle’s steering and suspension for loose, worn or damaged components often caused by potholes and other road irregularities.
• The car battery, since it works much harder in the summer months and you’ll want to be prepared.
• The air conditioner, so you can avoid the wait if you need to have it repaired during the summer.

(Source) Press

Tags: automatic car wash, carmax, costly repairs, critical times, engine coolant, gas mileage, master technicians, national car care month, preventive measures, snow wash, vehicle maintenance, weather conditions, winter road, winter temperatures

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