 If you haven’t had your car checked yet this month, it’s a good time to do so before the weather gets even colder, bringing with it the possibility of snow and ice. Winter weather makes your car work harder, so it’s important to be sure that all components of your vehicle are working properly.
Carcare.org shares these nine tips to prepare your car for the winter months:
- Because winter is particularly harsh on your battery, make sure your battery and charging system are in optimal condition.
- Put new antifreeze in the cooling system.
- Consider changing your windshield wipers if they are old; you could also invest in winter wiper blades and cold weather washer fluid.
- Check your car’s tire pressure and tread depth. Once wintery weather hits, check your tire pressure once a week.
- Have a technician check the condition of your fuel, air and transmission filters.
- Because winter weather amplifies existing problems with your engine, make sure to get a tune-up if you’re due for one.
- Get your car’s brakes checked.
- Make sure all your car’s lights work properly, both inside and outside your vehicle.
- Make sure the exhaust system does not have any carbon monoxide leaks.
Our service team would be happy to help you winterize your vehicle. Give us a call to make an appointment today.
 Thanksgiving is the tastiest holiday by far, but serving the same dishes each year can sometimes get a little bland. Try these variations on some of your favorite Thanksgiving dishes – you and your guests are in for a delicious surprise!
Turkey tenderloins with mushroom stuffing
Let’s face it. Turkey isn’t exactly the juiciest of meats, but it’s a must-have on your Thanksgiving table. This recipe incorporates interesting flavors and spices to take your turkey to the next level. Click here for recipe.
Sangria cranberry sauce
You can make this side dish several days ahead in order to save time on Thanksgiving Day – in fact, it’s recommended. Another bonus is that uses red wine, lemons and limes to enhance the flavors of the sauce. Click here for recipe.
Sautéed green beans with onions and bacon
It’s true what they say about bacon – it makes everything taste better. Even your kids will love eating their Thanksgiving vegetables if you use this recipe. Plus, it only takes about 15 minutes altogether. Click here for recipe.
Mashed sweet potatoes with rosemary
If you’re getting a little tired of marshmallows on top of your sweet potatoes, try this recipe instead. It’s very simple, but sure to please the health nuts in your family (and without the hyper-sugary potatoes this year, they’ll be more likely to actually try the dessert you slaved over). Click here for recipe.
Pumpkin-pecan cheesecake
Your favorite fall flavors combined in one heavenly, rich dessert. What more is there to say? Click here for recipe.
We hope you’ll try out some of these delicious recipes for your family on Turkey Day. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
 Temperatures are falling, which means it’s time to update your fall and winter wardrobe. As so many trends come and go, however, it can be difficult to decide which pieces you can count on to last you until next year’s cold front. Most shopping experts suggest spending more money on a handful of classic staples, and less on trendier additions that could be out in a matter of months. Here’s a list of cold weather go-to items for both women and men that are worth the investment.
Skinny/Dark Wash Jeans
Dress them up, or dress them down, but dark wash, slim-cut jeans are easily the most versatile aspect of your wardrobe, for both women and men. If you’re going to invest in a good pair of jeans, these are them.
Cashmere/Big Knit Sweater
Another ubiquitous wardrobe piece is an all-purpose sweater. Whether this is a fitted cashmere sweater or an oversized cable-knit pullover, spend more on a good sweater that will carry you through the season.
Long-sleeve Layer/Flannel
The fall/winter season is all about layering, and you’ll always need good basic layers regardless of this year’s trends. Invest in good, light long-sleeve shirts and/or a plaid flannel that you love. You’ll be able to incorporate these staple pieces into any outfit once the weather gets cooler.
Chambray/Denim/Quilted shirt
A classic look for women is the Chambray button down. It’s like a denim shirt, but lighter, and wears like a lightweight flannel. The same goes for denim or quilted shirts for men. These heavier top layers will deliver optimum comfort and style, with little effort.
Bright Coat/Down Jacket
When shopping for a warm jacket, it may be tempting to go for black because it will go with anything. That’s perfectly fine, but also consider opting for a brighter color for your outer layer. You’ll appreciate the pop of personality during the grey days of late winter, and you’d be surprised how well the right color will coordinate!
Knee-high Boots/Work Boots
A good pair of boots is a must-have. This is one aspect of your wardrobe for which you should prioritize quality, because you’ll wear good boots for years if they hold up. For women, knee-high boots in a neutral color are essential, and for men a quality pair of work boots or desert boots will stand up to the elements and keep you looking suave at the same time.
Sweater Dress/Tweed Blazer
Who says dress season is over when it’s cold outside? Invest in a sweater dress or shift dress that will serve as your “little black dress” of the winter season. Men, your LBD will be a tailored tweed/neutral blazer. Throw it over a button-down with dark wash jeans for a more dressed-up look.
Cozy Scarf
Wind chill stinks, but it does give us an excuse to stock up on scarves. Both men and women should invest in a quality, warm scarf that will add both style and protection against the elements.
 Whether it’s stocking the fridge with fresh produce or wiping down the counters to keep critters away, a home’s healthy lifestyle depends on a clean, healthy kitchen. If you haven’t updated these essential kitchen tools, however, they could be counter-intuitive to clean-up, and might even be endangering your health. Take a look at this list and make sure your kitchen safety is up to snuff.
Smelly Sponges
Even if it doesn’t smell yet, the porous and damp nature of sponges makes them perfect homes for nasty bacteria you’ve worked so hard to avoid. If you’re using an old sponge to wipe down your kitchen counters, guess where all that bacteria goes? That’s right, everywhere. You can quickly disinfect a sponge by rinsing with hot water and sticking it in the microwave for 30 seconds, but you should still be replacing your sponges every two weeks, at least.
Dirty Dish Towels
Everything about sponges applies to dish towels as well, except towels have a greater surface area, all the better to soak up even more yummy bacteria. You also normally use a dish towel both to clean up and wipe your hands, which means lots of bacteria spreading. Wash dish towels as often as possible, and replace them sooner rather than later.
Cut-up Cutting Boards
You might think little nicks and cuts on an old cutting board are harmless, but they’re actually perfect venues for bacteria parties. Worst of all, it’s really difficult to clean a razor-thin cut made by a very sharp knife thoroughly. Regardless of their material make-up, cutting boards should be replaced if they’re damaged and scarred. Good cutting boards are fairly inexpensive, so a replacement is a small price to pay for safety.
Plastic Containers from the Past
You’ve probably heard of a little something called bisphenol A, or BPA, a compound found in manufactured plastics that has been linked to a long list of health problems that would make any physician shudder. If you’ve had your plastic containers for a long time, this compound could be seeping into your food and endangering your health. Luckily, companies are phasing BPA out of production, so it’s easier nowadays to find BPA-free plastic products, once you toss your old ones.
Nasty Nonstick
This is a relatively controversial issue, but research has shown that heating nonstick pans to temperatures higher than 500 degrees Fahrenheit possibly releases toxic fumes that can make you sick. They’re not deadly, and normal cooking won’t necessitate a temperature that high, but scratched nonstick surfaces are more likely to release fumes at a lower temperature. If you’re cooking with scratched and outdated nonstick pots and pans, it might be worthwhile to upgrade.
Grisly Grill Brushes
If you’re firing up the grill for a cookout, make sure to check your grill brush bristles. If your brush is old, these bristles can detach from the brush and attach to your food, posing a significant health risk. Swallowing sharp, dirty bristles is bad news for your body. Grill brushes should be replaced every two to three months, especially if you’re an enthusiastic griller.
It’s never a bad time to track down and toss out the kitchen tools that could be harming your health. Take the time for a quick update, and you’ll have a happier, healthier, kitchen in no time.
 At DCH Audi Oxnard, we know a little something about buying and selling cars. Have you ever wondered why some owners sell their vehicles every couple of years instead of keeping them for the long haul? It turns out, for many owners selling early can be a very logical decision. In our experience, here are the top six reasons why selling your car might be the best option:
- Avoid Expensive Maintenance and Repair Costs – as your car gets older, your service bill gets higher. Expensive engine replacements, broken parts, and other major repairs can add up fast, and sometimes it makes more financial sense to avoid the whole process altogether.
- More Money in the Bank – besides maintenance costs, by selling your car you also avoid annual registration and insurance fees, not to mention that monthly car payment.
- More Room in your Driveway or Garage – If you have an extra vehicle laying around, it could be taking up valuable storage space! Many families choose to sell an extra car to free up space for a workbench, basketball hoop, or hey – a new car.
- Pay Less Each Month for an Upgraded Vehicle – when you’re able to apply the value of your current vehicle to your new vehicle purchase, it’s likely you will end up with a lower payment each month for a vehicle that offers you more advanced technology, comfort, efficiency, and safety.
- Avoid Depreciation – unless you drive a rare or collectible vehicle, your car loses value at a rapid rate (about 20% per year during the first 5 years of ownership). The earlier you trade in or sell, the more your car will be worth.
- Guaranteed Cash Offer – With our trade evaluation and guaranteed cash offers, you’ll get a fair price you can count on. We’ll offer you market price (or higher) for your make and model. You can either use your “selling price” to trade your car for cash, or put the value toward payment for a new vehicle.
Think selling your car might be the right choice for you and your family? Stop by or contact us online today, and we’ll help you get started.
 It’s that spooky time of year again – time to embrace all that goes bump in the night. There’s no better way to get into the Halloween spirit than with a movie marathon. For horror lovers, this is the perfect opportunity to break out all the best slashers and thrillers, but horror isn’t for everyone. If horror flicks are likely to leave you at the end of the night in a cold sweat gripping the poor soul’s arm next to you out of sheer terror, don’t worry. There are plenty of lighter must-see Halloween classics that won’t strip you of your dignity.
Ghostbusters
This quintessential 1980’s classic is pure, ghost-laden, comedy. Do yourself a favor: pop this masterpiece into the DVD player, embrace the 80’s special effects, and let Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd show you who ain’t afraid o’ no ghost.
Young Frankenstein
Based on the 1930’s Frankenstein adaptations, this parody is a must-see. While it’s a little older and slower paced, it’s pure Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder combined genius. The only thing frightening about Young Frankenstein is how many quotable one-liners are incorporated into the script.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Co-written and produced by Tim Burton, this visually stunning stop-motion film has generated a growing cult following since its release in 1993. It’s creative, creepy, and only moderately scary for younger kids. The story follows Jack Skellington, “The Pumpkin King,” who pursues his obsession with Christmas by opening a portal to “Christmas Town” from “Halloween Town.”
Zombieland
Who doesn’t like a good ol’ zombie apocalypse? This gem is quite possibly the most hilarious account of an extended encounter with the undead out there. While this film has its fair share of violence, its constant quips, Bill Murray cameo, feature of a crazy Woody Harrelson, and heart-warming love story make for an apocalyptic comedy that’s downright delightful.
Beetlejuice
If you haven’t seen this movie, please get in your car right now, go pick it up, and watch it. Do it for you. Do it for comedy. Do it for Michael Keaton. Keaton’s role as a freelance “bio-exorcist” ghost in Tim Burton’s ghoulish comedy is arguably one of his best. The plot of Beetlejuice centers around a ghost couple who, desperate to oust the annoying new tenants of their home, employ “Beetlejuice” (Keaton) to scare them away. Chaos and hilarity ensue.
The list doesn’t stop here. Other solid contenders for a winning Halloween movie night include:Hocus Pocus, Monsters, Inc., It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, Casper, Little Shop of Horrors, The Addams Family, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Gremlins. So, pop some popcorn, grab some candy corn, and embrace your inner Halloweenie this weekend with a (relatively) horror-free marathon.
 Gas prices fluctuate day to day, but have you ever noticed that they also seem to change with the seasons? As summer approaches, you can usually expect a slight price hike on gas, while winter is usually marked by lower prices at the pump. Here’s why.
The seasonal gasoline transition
The seasonal gasoline transition occurs twice every year in the United States. Although it sounds like an ancient oil festival, it is not accompanied by wild celebrations and revelry in oil producing states, such as Texas and Oklahoma. Instead, it is simply when oil companies switch their gas supplies from summer grade fuel to winter grade fuel or vice versa. The seasonal gasoline transition is one of the reasons gas prices rise in the summer and go down in the winter.
The Reformulated Gasoline Program
The Reformulated Gasoline Program (RFG) owes its existence to the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. The switch from winter to summer gasoline blends began in 1995 as an attempt to reduce pollution. Summer gasoline uses different fuel additives to prevent it from evaporating too quickly. How quickly a gas evaporates is based on its Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP). The higher a gasoline’s RVP, the quicker it evaporates. All gasoline has to be below 14.7 psi or it would no longer be liquid. Summer gasoline is usually between 9.0 and 7.8 psi. That’s something to think about the next time you’re filling up the tank.
Higher gas prices in the summer
The ultimate question when it comes to the differences between summer blend and winter blend gasoline is why it goes up so much in the summer. The truth is that there are many factors. Lower RVP gasoline costs more because of the additives that are needed to keep the RVP low. Demand is also higher in the summer. In addition, during the spring months, most energy companies in the United States conduct maintenance on their refineries, which limits their capacity. These maintenance shut downs are part of the seasonal gasoline transition and lead to a limited supply of fuel. This lessening of supply while demand is greater has a large effect on gas prices.
The environmental impact
The justification for lower RVP gasoline blends stems from the desire to lower emissions and smog during the summer months. With less gasoline evaporating into the atmosphere, air quality increases.
Posted in Q&A
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Tagged fuel, gasoline, pricing, season
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 Especially for novice cooks, venturing beyond your basic salt and pepper and into the spice aisle can be overwhelming. Highly-spiced recipes, especially ethnic cuisines, feature a long ingredient list that may be discouraging, but don’t give up! The truth is, the vast majority of popular recipes can be made with just a handful of spices. So, if you had to pick only ten spices to make most dishes, what would they be? While everyone’s perfect ten will differ slightly, and you won’t be able to make everything with just these few, this list of essentials is a good spice rack starter-pack.
Chili Powder
Especially if you’re just starting out, spice blends are your friends. Chili powder is one such blend that will make your culinary life easier because it usually combines multiple spices like chili peppers, cumin, coriander, and others, resulting in a full-bodied flavor with just one shaker.
Basil
Even though it’s best buddies with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese, basil is extremely versatile and you’ll find yourself reaching for it whenever you need an extra herby kick. If you’re feeling fancy, pick up a little basil plant to always have fresh leaves on hand.
Oregano
You’ll most likely recognize oregano’s bold flavor from sprinklings atop your cheese pizza or in your favorite Italian sauce. It’s also handy for Mediterranean cuisine, chili, or incorporated into some homemade chicken soup.
Rosemary
A cousin of mint, rosemary’s unmistakable flavor can be overwhelming, but used in the right quantities it adds extra depth to recipes. Rosemary is popularly used to accent chicken and lamb, or heartier stews and soups.
Ginger
The biting flavor of ginger can be used in sweet and savory dishes alike. It’s a good addition to a stir fry or holiday baking recipes, and it is also used to ease ailments like nausea, heartburn, and bloating. Buy it ground, or keep a root in the freezer to grate up whenever you need it.
Garlic
Okay, so garlic is technically a vegetable, though we would highly discourage snacking on cloves like baby carrots; that is unless you’re trying to keep the neighborhood vampires away. Garlic is a great base flavor for most dishes, whether you’re sautéing veggies or baking a meatloaf.
Paprika
Sprinkle this bright red powder on virtually any savory dish. Its subtle smoky flavor and bright color brightens up anything from white fish sautéed in olive oil to a flank steak simmering in butter.
Cinnamon
A dash of cinnamon brings oatmeal and baked goods from bland to cinn-a-man that’s good! Some studies have shown that it might help regulate blood sugar and reduce bad cholesterol. Coffee drinkers: sprinkle a little cinnamon on top of your grounds before you brew a pot of drip coffee, and get a completely different flavor.
Bay Leaf
Bay leaves are soup and stock essentials. Throwing a bay leaf or two into a simmering pot will broaden the flavor profile and you’ll be ditching canned options in no time.
Cumin
A spice with a versatile, pungent flavor, cumin is used in a multitude of Indian, Mexican, and North African cuisines. It’s great sprinkled on a plate of hummus and pita bread.
 This past August was a big one for Audi of America. Audi’s sales in August made U.S. sales history. AoA’s record sales increased by 22.1% to 17,101 vehicles, a total that marks August 2014 as the 44th consecutive month of record monthly U.S. sales for the brand. Audi U.S. sales year-to-date have increased 14.5% to 116,066 vehicles.
Audi has maintained steady momentum throughout 2014, with the best-ever August result. The previous August record was set in 2013 with sales of 14,005 vehicles.
“Audi dealers nationwide are selling new models as quickly as they are delivered to showrooms – resulting in the best month ever in AoA history,” said Mark Del Rosso, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Audi of America. “By accelerating 2015 model introductions we are able to keep pace with this momentum to carry it through the end of 2014 and beyond.”
At DCH Audi Oxnard, we stand behind every Audi vehicles on our lot, and we’re proud of the progress our favorite brand is making. We’re looking forward to even more record breaking sales in the future!
Image: Audi
 Quick, when you think “Labor Day,” what immediately comes to mind? Sales? Grills? Football? Before firing up the grill, driving to the mall, or donning your team’s colors, take a look at some facts about Labor Day from DCH Audi Oxnard that might surprise you.
Tuesday
The first Labor Day was actually a Tuesday. Tuesday September 5, 1882 in New York City, to be exact. The holiday didn’t officially move to the first weekend of September until 1884.
McGuire or Maguire?
The subject of Labor Day’s father is a little controversial. Historically, carpenter and co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, Peter J. McGuire, has been credited for suggesting the holiday to honor the working man. Others claim that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, was the real founder. Maguire fans cite research that shows he suggested the holiday in 1882 as secretary of the Central Labor Union in NY.
Average American worker
The average American worker in the late 1800s deserved a break much more than the average American worker today. Typical work weeks involved 12-hour days, seven days a week, just for basic living wages. Some factories and mines even employed children as young as five or six-years-old.
The Parade That Almost Wasn’t
The first official record of Labor Day recorded it as a celebration that should host a street parade to show to the public “the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations” of the community, then a festival for recreation and amusement. The first parade’s turnout was so paltry that it was almost cancelled, until two hundred marchers from the Jewelers Union of Newark Two showed up with a band and saved the day.
Canada was first
Yes, Canada coined the first Labor Day in 1872, ten years before the U.S., but it was more of a large demonstration for workers’ rights than a celebration of laborers.
White
Sorry folks, but it’s time to put away your crisp white linen suits and white leather pants, if you have them. Technically, it’s no longer in fashion to wear white or seersucker after Labor Day because summer is officially over.
Oregon Originals
Oregon was the first state to make Labor Day a holiday in 1887, making Oregonians the original Labor Day hipsters.
Good Old Grover
Labor Day wasn’t a national holiday until President Grover Cleveland made it so in 1894. As a result, many resident hipsters of Portland, Oregon stopped celebrating Labor Day around this time, because it had become too mainstream.*
Whether you find yourself snooping out sales, blazing up some burgers, or watching the first pigskin game of the season this Labor Day, we hope you enjoyed learning a little bit about the workers’ holiday.
*This is a joke, not a fact.
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