I Love Graff Durand: Seasonal maintenance

Showing posts with label Seasonal maintenance. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

10 Summer Bucket List Ideas

DURAND, Mich., – Summer is a great time in Michigan! It means nice weather, and hopefully, free time. If you’re finding you’ve got tons of time of your hands, maybe you can use our 10 summer bucket list ideas! Whether you need something to keep your kids entertained, or to keep yourself entertained, this list should have something for everyone!

1. Attend an outdoor concert

Live music is always a fun time, but take advantage of the good weather and go to an outdoor show! Whether it's your favorite artist or a small local band, you’re sure to have a great time listening to some music under the sun or the stars!

2. Go camping in the backyard

Camping is great summer bucket list item because you can make it as much work as you want! Setting up a tent in the backyard with the kids can be just as much fun as planning a camping trip over a long weekend. Not only are you within close range of running water, running inside is easy in the case of inclement weather! You can still do all the fun camping things like roasting marshmallows over the fire pit and sleeping on air mattresses in sleeping bags, all while being a few steps from indoor bathrooms!

3. Cook a meal from farmers market ingredients

The Durand Farmers Market will be held every Wednesday through October. A great meal to prepare from farmers market ingredients would be a fresh omelet! You can find farm fresh eggs, veggies and cheese to cook a delicious breakfast, all while supporting your local farmers! Not to mention you can usually find delicious baked goods and beautiful flowers too.

4. Take a road trip

Taking a road trip doesn’t have to be a huge time commitment. It doesn’t call for much planning either! Grab a friend, pack some snacks, fill up your tank, and just drive! You might be surprised at the fun things you find on your little adventure! If you're the type of person who needs to have a plan, check out our blog about 5 Traverse City destinations, and head there for the day!

5. Try something new

Summertime presents a great opportunity to try new things! What is something you’ve always wanted to do but never actually done before? Have you ever gone paddle boarding or kayaking? What about hiking or rock climbing? Make a commitment to yourself this summer to try something new and exciting! It could be something as small as trying a new food or recipe! Step out of your comfort zone!

6. Tie Dye

Do you have some old dingy white clothes lying around? Run to the local craft store and pick up a tie dye kit! Turn your unwanted clothes into works of art. You could also try tie dying old white shoes or sheets! Tie dye is a great outdoor activity for kids and adults!

7. Read a new book

Make yourself a list of books you’ve been dying to read. Maybe they’re the classics you never got to or by an author a friend recommended. Whatever the case, summer is a great time to catch up on the reading you’ve been falling behind on.

8. Watch fireworks

Summer is pretty much the only time to catch a fireworks show. Fourth of July will be here before you know it, so make sure you plan to head to a fireworks display. If you’re bringing the kids along, sparklers are always a fun activity! Just be sure to review safety with them and make sure sparklers are allowed if you’re in a public park.

9. Start a garden

Have you always wanted to start a garden in your backyard? Summer is the perfect time! If you don’t have space in your yard for a garden, you could try these fun DIY window box gardens! Plant fruits, veggies, herbs, or flowers! Watching something grow is always rewarding!

10. Plan a picnic

Whether it’s you and a friend, you and your kids, or you and your significant other, who doesn’t love a good a picnic? Pack up a lunch and blanket and take it to your favorite beach or other outdoor area! If the weather isn’t looking so great, you can always try an indoor picnic on the living room floor!

We hope our 10 summer bucket list ideas gave you a kick-start on your summer planning! If any of your summer adventures call for your vehicle, make sure your seasonal maintenance is up to date! Check our Summer Car Care pages at Graff Durand to help you keep your car in good shape. We offer advice on your cooling and A/C systems, your fuel system, your exterior lights, cosmetic damages, and sun protection!

Located at 9009 East Lansing Road in Durand, MI 48429, Hank Graff Chevrolet Durand wants to revolutionize your car buying experience. We’ll bring all the transparency and customer satisfaction you need, while making the buying experience fun! If you have any questions be sure to contact us at (989) 288-2657 or head over to our website at www.GraffChevyDurand.com! We are proud to serve Durand and the surrounding communities of Owosso, Flint, Genesse Charter Township, Swartz Creek, and Corunna.

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Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Top 6 Kid Friendly Earth Day Crafts

DURAND, Mich. - This Friday is Earth Day, so celebrate with the kids in a creative way. After spending time outside, get the family together and enjoy these top 6 kid friendly earth day crafts! From plant inspired crafts to recycled material projects, the little ones will love talking about the importance of Mother Nature while exploring their creative side. We have crafts for all ages so take a look at some of the fun projects that everyone will enjoy:

Tissue Paper Trees

Turtle Planters

Recycled Can Bird Feeders

Stained Glass Planet Earth

Bottle Cap Garden Art

Balloon Stamping Art

The kids, young and old, will surely love our top 6 kid friend Earth Day crafts. Gather up the family this Friday and celebrate our planet in a fun and creative way. Don’t let the fun stop there! This weekend stop into Graff Chevrolet Durand and test-drive an all-new 2016 Chevrolet Sonic. You will be celebrating Earth Day all over again with up to 35 mpg/hwy. You will also love features like Bluetooth capabilities and OnStar Guidance.

Earth Day is all about keeping clean! Now you can keep your current vehicle clean with our Spring Car Care page. Learn the latest tips and tricks to get your car out of winter mode and ready for the sun. You can even schedule an appointment and our team of ASE Certified Technicians will help get your car ready for warmer weather in no time!

Located at 9009 East Lansing Road Durand, MI 48429, Hank Graff Chevrolet Durand is revolutionizing the car buying experience. We provide all the transparency and customer service you need, while simultaneously making your purchase experience fun! Learn more about Hank Graff Chevrolet Durand, or for any questions contact us at (989) 288-2657 or visit our website atwww.GraffChevyDurand.com!

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Friday, April 1, 2016

The 2017 Chevy Sonic Gets a Fresh Look

DURAND, Mich.–– The Chevy Sonic has been known as a fun and sporty subcompact with great gas mileage and edgy look. 2017 will bring about some redesigned and upgraded features to enhance the subcompacts sporty attitude. This year, the 2017 Chevy Sonic gets a fresh look and will continue to stun on the road. Let's take a look at the new Sonic!

On the outside you'll notice an entire new front fascia. This new front end is built to complement its sporty attitude and is reminiscent of the new Trax and Cruze, overall making the Chevy line more cohesive. The new look is especially important as it lends to its appeal with new buyers looking for an efficient and affordable option. The exterior sports a new hood, LED lighting, and projector headlamps. The 2017 Chevy Sonic will come in an exciting array of colors including Brimstone, Arctic Blue Metallic, Orange Burst Metallic, and Cajun Red Tintcoat plus 15, 16, and 16 inch wheel options.

The 2017 Chevy Sonic won't fall short in technology or convenience features either. A new power driver's seat, and detailed gauge cluster make the interior feel more refined. Available for even more comfort there are the available heated cloth seats and steering wheel. The 7 inch infotainment system is also new, complete with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and 4G LTE Wi-Fi which allows up to seven devices to be connected.

Lastly, the 2017 Chevy Sonic may be small, but it sure doesn't lack in the safety you've come to expect from your vehicle. With the Sonic are features like Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert and more to let the driver know of potential dangerous crash situations. 10 standard airbags, Stabilitrak, and ABS are also included feature to keep the driver safe on the road.

Chevrolet hopes to introduce new buyers to an efficient, fun, sporty, and stylish subcompact complete with all the technology and safety they want and need. If you can't wait for the 2017 Chevy Sonic, you can check out the 2016 Chevy Sonic now! We'd love to show you all the options Chevrolet offers and help you find the perfect vehicle for your needs. At Graff Durand we know any vehicle, new or used, is a big investment and we want to encourage you to keep up with routine maintenance. Read up on our seasonal maintenance section for car care tips. This season we're covering spring tires, wiper blade installations, fluid checks, spring cleaning, and alignment & suspension!

Located at 9009 East Lansing Road Durand, MI 48429, Hank Graff Chevrolet Durand is revolutionizing the car buying experience. We provide all the transparency and customer service you need, while simultaneously making your purchase experience fun! Learn more about Hank Graff Chevrolet Durand, or for any questions contact us at (989) 288-2657 or visit our website at www.GraffChevyDurand.com!

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Spring Car Care Tips from Graff Chevrolet Durand

DURAND, Mich.––We know your vehicle is a large investment you've made to get you from point A to point B and everywhere in between. Whether it's a new or used vehicle, taking care of it throughout the Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter is imperative to its health and your safety on the road. Now that we've begun the spring season, there are maintenance tasks that you should take care so you're well prepared for the wet spring roads. We're here to help you take care of your vehicle and extend its life with our spring car care tips from Graff Chevrolet Durand. Below you'll find a list of components with links into the spring car care tips section on our website for information and advice on how to take care of your vehicle this season.

Tires: This component is one of the most important to your safety! Having enough tire tread is necessary when stopping on wet roads, not to mention correct tire pressure can get you the best fuel efficiency. Visit our spring tire care page for more information.
Wiper Blades: On this page we cover the component that helps give you a clear view. With all the rain and fog, wiper blades are an important part to replace for the spring season. See our tips on our spring wiper blades page.
Alignment & Suspension: Thanks to winters rough road conditions and the potholes that are a result of the changing weather, your alignment and suspension can take a toll. Your vehicles alignment can affect its performance, while the suspension can affect its safety. View our spring alignment & suspension page for signs you may need service.
Fluids: There are many different fluids throughout your car that lend to its performance and efficiency, but which ones are important to check this time of year? Explore our spring fluids maintenance page for a list of what fluids to have inspected or changed and why.
Spring Cleaning: Yes... it's time for cleaning, and that includes your car! Keeping clutter out of your car can help you avoid being distracted on the road, and keeping the outside clean will protect your car's paint and exposed components. Read through the tips on our spring car cleaning page and find a How-To on getting that nasty winter salt out of your carpets.

To keep up on routine maintenance for each season, you can check out our seasonal maintenance section of our website! Just like our spring car care section, we'll cover the parts or components on your vehicle imperative to check at the beginning of each season so you remain safe on the road. If there's any question you have, you may be able to find the answer in our service FAQs. If you still have further questions, don't hesitate to contact us! We're here to help you with any auto need you might have. Plus we're here to help you get a great deal too. Make sure to check out our coupons for great offers at Graff Durand.

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Get Your House Ready for Easter with These Decor Ideas

DURAND, Mich.–– When your guests hippity-hop through your front door this Easter, you want them to be impressed by your crafty skills and lovely decorations! Easter decorations are all about pastels, eggs, chicks, bunnies, and everything spring related. Even if you're not hosting, you can get in the spirit and get your house ready for Easter with these decor ideas.

Dollar Store Easter Decor

DIY Salt Dough Eggs

Get Your House Ready for Easter with These Decor Ideas

Flower and Egg Vase

Easter Bunny Banner

East Egg Balloons

Bunny Ear Chair Wrap

Get creative with these ideas and put your own personal spin on them. Choosing different colors, patterns, and shapes tailored to your taste makes for Easter decor you can use year after year. Have fun with it! We hope you have a fun and safe Easter this year, no matter what you're doing or where you're going. Make sure you and the family get to your destination safely this Easter by arriving in a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe or a reliable used crossover/SUV. If you have a used car, it's important to keep up with seasonal maintenance to stay safe on the road. For any auto service you may need, you can schedule a service appointment online!

Thursday, March 17, 2016

5 Irish Food Recipes for a Tasty St. Patrick's Day

DURAND, Mich.––The Irish holiday is here. Happy St. Patrick's Day to all! This holiday, like many others, involves lots of delicious food and plenty of treats. Indulging yourself in the fare is one of the best ways to appreciate the culture and holiday. If you're feeling truly festive, you can try your hand at making these hearty 5 Irish food recipes for a tasty St. Patrick's Day.

1. Comforting Shepherd's Pie

5 Irish Food Recipes for a Tasty St. Patrick's Day

2. Reuben Sandwiches

3. Irish Soda Bread

4. Colcannon

5. Irish Potato Leek Soup

Enjoy these 5 Irish food recipes for a tasty St. Patrick's Day! Make them tonight, or make them this weekend to continue the celebration. If you do go out to celebrate, stay safe, have fun, and make sure you have a safe and sober ride home! We always want you to stay safe on the roads, which means seasonal maintenance is important to take care of. If you need tips on seasonal or routine maintenance or answers to your vehicle questions, you can check out our newly updated FAQs page. We're here to help with your vehicle no matter what service you need done!

Friday, March 11, 2016

5 Spring Brunch Recipes

DURAND, Mich.––We're not completely out of the woods, but it sure feels like the end of winter and the beginning of spring! The refreshing warm air paired with a little sunshine after a gray winter feels motivating and fresh. We all know that feeling when spring rolls around: the need for pastel colors, the windows down, and a different food palate. Rain or shine, this warmer beginning-of-spring weather calls for some brighter food options. What better way to celebrate the nice weather than some brunch? Sleep in and enjoy your weekend with these 5 spring brunch recipes.

1. Skinny Crunchy Stuffed French Toast

2. Easy Breakfast Bruschetta

3. Overnight Blueberry Cream Cheese French Toast Bake

4. Asparagus Gruyere Tart

5. Strawberry Coconut Breakfast Casserole

Hopefully these 5 spring brunch recipes will bring the spring spirit out in you. Let yourself relax this weekend and enjoy the warmer weather and a delicious brunch. Taking care of yourself includes treating yourself, similar to keeping up with seasonal maintenance to keep your car running its best. If you need tips on seasonal or routine maintenance or answers to your vehicle questions, you can check out our newly updated FAQs page.

Now that spring is almost officially here, it's time to have your winter tires taken off and your all-season tires put on. If you're needing new tires this season, check out our tire specials where you can get up to $100 back on your purchase. Any auto service you need done before hitting the road for a spring break trip, or just before spring, we can take care of! We can also help you hit the road in a new set of wheels like the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox.

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Chevrolet Will Offer a Limited Number of 2016 Silverados with eAssist

DURAND, Mich. ––A truck with improved fuel-efficiency. sounds enticing, doesn't it? Chevy will be adding a little more electrification to its already impressive lineup. Chevrolet will offer a limited number of 2016 Silverados with eAssist, which will achieve 13% better fuel economy in city driving.

The electric Chevrolet family of vehicles including the Volt, Malibu Hybrid, Spark EV, and Bolt EV-starting production in late 2016- will see a new member joining them in a limited number in 2016 and possibly larger number in 2017. Chevrolet will be producing 500 eAssist Silverados for 2016 and, based on feedback from consumers, will adjust the number for 2017. The eAssist Silverados will be released exclusively to dealerships in California in 2016. These trucks will utilize technology from the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid and Chevrolet Volt, specifically the battery from the Malibu and software controls from the Volt.

What is eAssist exactly? It's a propulsion system powered by a 24-cell lithium-ion battery pack located under the center console or front bench. The eAssist will be a $500 premium over a 2-wheel drive 1LT comparable, and is powered with a 5.3L EcoTech V-8 automatic transmission. EPA estimates the Silverado eAssist will get 18 mpg city, 24 mpg highway which is a 13% increase from its non-eAssist counterpart.

How exactly does the eAssist save you on fuel in the Silverado?

The electric on-board motor provides 13-hp and 44 lb-ft of extra power during acceleration and passing.
The electric motor actually allows the engine to work longer in 4-cylinder mode which leads to the improved fuel economy.
Better fuel economy is also achieved through the seamless stop/start engine capability, so when you're sitting in traffic you'll be saving instead of wasting. The engine automatically turns back on when the accelerator is pressed.
Regenerative braking is also utilized for recycled power to the on-board battery.

“Silverado already leads the full-size truck segment in V8 fuel economy,” said Sandor Piszar, marketing director for Chevrolet Trucks. “For customers and small-business owners who use their trucks for more urban driving, the addition of eAssist can further reduce their fuel costs without sacrificing the utility they expect in a full-size truck.”

Not only does this truck lead in fuel economy, but the 2013 Silverado HD also leads the Large Heavy Duty Pickup segment in dependability from JD Powers latest study. If you're itching to get your hands on the steering wheel of a long-lasting truck, or can't simply wait for the eAssist Silverado to make it to a dealership near you, we have 2016 Chevrolet Silverados waiting for you to test-drive. We also have JD Powers' other leading vehicles in dependability- the Midsize Malibu and the Compact SUV Equinox.

We're here to help you with any vehicle need you might have, like seasonal maintenance, with our expert certified technicians in our Service and Collision Centers. For any vehicle questions you might have, check out our newly updated FAQs page for answers to all your pressing maintenance questions. We also have a large selection of reliable used vehicles including Pontiac, Buick, Chrysler, and Ford.

Friday, February 26, 2016

7 Soups to Make Before Winter Ends

DURAND, Mich.–– Although we're experiencing warm-ups and cool-downs, it's still winter which means comfort foods, especially soups, take center stage on the menu. We'll be having cold weather for only a little bit longer, so try to savor the season while it lasts! To make your dinner menu a little easier for the last few weeks, we've come up with a list of 7 soups to make before winter ends.

1. Panera's Broccoli Cheese Soup

2. Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup

3. Beef Stroganoff Soup

4. Chicken Pot Pie Soup

5. Beefy Tomato Soup

6. Chicken Gnocchi Soup

7. Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Hopefully these 7 soups to make before winter ends will give you enough energy to combat or enjoy the rest of Michigan's coldest season. We know dealing with the snow can be an annoyance not only physically, but also when you need to be out on the roads. We want to make sure you're safe on the roads in any weather and want to help you properly take care of your vehicle for seasons to come. You can check out our seasonal maintenance tips to keep your vehicle running its best. You'll also want to check out our newly updated FAQs page which now has categories for easy navigation for answers to all your vehicle questions in one place.

Hank Graff Chevrolet Durand

At Hank Graff Chevrolet, we are revolutionizing the car buying experience. We are doing this by providing all the transparency and customer service you need, while simultaneously making your purchase experience fun. After all, we believe getting behind the wheel of a new car should be exciting!

When you visit our dealership, you’ll find that our team members enjoy being here. You will hear a lot of laughter, jokes, and genuine enjoyment echo throughout our dealership’s lobby. This fun atmosphere is what keeps customers coming back to our dealership time and time again!