No Salesman Car Shopping #HOULovesAutos

Have you ever dared to go to a dealer to just to look around?  There is no such thing.  The salesmen make you feel like fresh meat from the minute you drive in.  They are ready to pounce on you.

Thanks to the Houston Auto Show for inviting me to the Preview Party.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

I have had some horrible experiences at dealerships and have ended up just leaving disappointed.  Why?  A really pushy salesman or salesmen can really ruin your experience to walk around, look, and check out all that is available on the lot. Also, the selection.  If you are like me, you may not know what you want until you see it, feel it, touch it and drive it.

The 2017 Houston Auto Show is back at NRG.  A mall of cars under 700,000 square feet with the latest autos from the world’s top automakers under one roof.  And trust me, there are no pushy salesmen trying to sell you cars. You can walk around, get in the cars, and even test drive.

Why ride and drive?  Take the autos out for a spin.  Try them all. Get comfortable.  Ask all the questions from the knowledgeable people available at each test drive who are not salesmen.  The car facts are there for you to see the real numbers.  If you decide you want more information, sign up to receive the information you want and even receive exclusive auto show offers.

Knowledgeable car representatives are available in each area.  You can connect with your favorite brand.  Don't have a favorite?  You do not have to have a favorite.  Put them all to the test.

Get in the cars.  Heck, get the entire family in.  How do like the vehicle?  Do they fit comfortably?

 Is there enough room for you and your needs? Is there trunk space?  Be realistic about your needs.

 Find out the facts.  What does this vehicle have that the others do not?  Is it a smart vehicle? 

How safe is this vehicle?  Are there extra features available?  What is the latest and greatest?

Get all your questions answered.  Don't need a new car.  You are just a car enthusiast.  There are beautiful classics to drool over and there is even an auction to partake in.

The Houston Auto Show is family friendly.  Bring your walking shoes because there is a lot to cover from one side to the other side, indoors and outdoors.  Don't forget your driver's license if you want to do the ride and drive. 

APRIL 05 - 09, 2017

WED - FRI : Noon - 9.30 pm
SAT : 10 am - 9.30 pm
SUN : 10 am - 7 pm

Adult - $12.00
Kids - $5.00 (6-12 yrs old)

Tickets are available at houstonautoshow.com.

Y Ahora Que, Now What #VayamosJuntos

Twenty years ago, I graduated from high school.  I was the first person to graduate out of my family. 

It was so important to me to achieve this not only for me but for my immigrant family that worked so hard for us to live the dream in America.  When you are from a different country and you immigrate, you soon learn how blessed you are being here.  The type of life, choices, and future is different.

For twelve years, I work my butt off trying to do the best in every area.  I worked so hard that I graduated with Advance Honors, #10 in my class.  I even got to sit on stage.  Everything to this point was outlined for me.  I knew what the next step was for twelve years.  My parents worked day and night to support my three brothers and myself.  What they kept instilling in me was that I had to get an education.  My mother started school at the age of twelve and when she got pregnant with me in 9th grade, had to quit school.  She never was able to go back.  My stepdad made it all the way to third grade.  Never tried to go back.  He always told us that he never tried and no one made him.  He could not read.  They wanted more for us than what they had been providing.  But neither one of them talked to me about after high school or made plans with me for college.  Right before I graduated my mother told me, I cannot pay for you to go to school.  If you want to go to school, you will have to figure out how to pay for it.  And I did.  I figured it out.

Fast forward to now.  I have a seventeen year old son who will be a Senior in high school next year.  We have been talking about college since he was in elementary school.  This is our last year of prep with him.  Part of the prep is getting him ready to go out into the world on his own.  What does that mean?  You graduate and then, now what?

Getting your high school senior ready for freshman year tips:

1)  Life Skills-Laundry, dishes, take out, etc.

We recently had a discussion in a mother's group of where our kids' skills landed.  Some had never washed laundry or done the dishes, ever.  Your kid will most likely move out one day.  If not college, life will make him or her move forward.  Do they have the skills to survive and be a good citizen?  Not a sloppy, stinky, messy child in his twenties.  My son has been doing his own laundry for years now.  We started in his teen years.  My mother never taught me how to cook because she was always working.  Take time out of the week and let the soon-to-be college kid cook a meal.  Cook meals together.  Growing up, I filled out all of my parents' applications.  Everywhere I went I was the translator.  That helped me talk to people when I was a grown up.  Do your kids' know how to fill out legal documents?  Trust me, from this helicopter parent, it is hard to let go of the reins.  We need to prepare them for life after high school.  Some things my parents never taught.  I was so sheltered.  I do not want to make that mistake and hinder my son from his progress.

2)  Money Management-Do your kids have a bank account?  Do they balance their accounts?  How do you think they will do on their own?  A suggestion is to give them a budget senior year.  They will receive monthly payments like they would in college.  They will have to purchase their own necessities.(shampoo, toothpaste, etc...)  This will include their spending money as well.  No extra money unless they work for it.  What would happen?  Would they be able to have enough money the entire month?  You do not have to go to this extreme but work out a plan to help them understand how finances work. 

-I had a friend get their scholarship money for the entire year at the beginning at the year.  They paid for the first semester and spent the rest.  So guess what, no college money for second semester.

3)  Goals-College is not for everyone but it gives you a better chance at bigger opportunities that may pay more.  We as parents know that, but our kids listen in one ear and it goes out the other.  We have sat down as a family and have decided that college is in my son's future.  He wants to be a Mechanical Engineer.  I am not sure how we will pay for college but that is our goal.  We also discussed how this goal can be achieved.  My son will apply for as many scholarships as possible, loans, and work through school.  Making our kids think about the next step will help them be prepared to face those steps.

4)  Relationship-A relationship in high school may or may not be what you have in college.  When you are kids, a break up can be the end of their world.  A strong relationship with your parents can be helpful to our kids who could easily be persuaded, misled, and  misunderstood.  Whether it is a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship, parent/child relationship, or working relationship, it all starts with good communication.

5)  Getting Around. -Most of our kids entire lives we have taken them everywhere.  We have arranged rides or planned how they were getting home.  Have your kids ever taken the bus, rail, tram, or driven a car?  Do they know how to read a map?  Their way around town.

I remember learning how to drive at age 18 and shortly thereafter getting my license.  I had rarely driven anywhere must less across town.   

My son cannot tell you what side of town he is on, much less guide you to find his location.  He has used mass transportation before but never alone.  We will be working on getting his license and driving skills too.  He will have to learn how to get around. 

Once I graduated and enrolled in community college, transportation was the only thing standing in my way.  I do not want that to be the only thing standing in my son's way. 

Thanks to Toyota Latino for allowing me to test drive the Toyota Camry for a week.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

We still are not sure what university or college my son will be attending or get accepted to in a year.  We have talked about him staying in the Houston area and him going to a near city like College Station.  As parents we want them to have reliable transportation. 

Toyotas have been in our family over the years.  It is a trusted brand for us.  The Toyota brand has many safety features that can help young or new drivers, such as:

-Blind Spot Monitor-Alerts a driver when it is ok to change lanes.
-Rear-Cross Traffic Alert-Alerts a driver when they are backing out when a car is approaching.
-Back-Up Camera-Lets a driver see and make sure there is nothing behind them.
-Lane Departure Alert-Alerts a driver when an inadvertent lane departure is detected.
-Tire Pressure Monitor System-Comes standard on all new Camrys.  Alerts a driver when a tire or tires become critically under inflated.
-Dynamic Radar Cruise Control-Adjust vehicle speed to help maintain a preset follow distance and the vehicle in front of you.
-Pre Collision System-It anticipates when a frontal collision is imminent and can apply the brakes.
-Whiplash-Injury-Lessening Seats-The front seats are engineered to help reduce the risk of neck injuries.

It also has 10 air bags.  The 2016 Toyota Camry has a sporty new look.  It is very roomy. 

 It is an affordable car that won't break the bank too.  The 2016 Toyota Camrys start at $23,000.  If this is not in your price range, Toyota has other options at lower starting price points like the Toyota Yaris.  Like what we have.  The 2016 Yaris starts at $14, 895.

Help your kids be bold and let them make a statement in the world and on the road. 

New Driver-Car Tips

***Disclosure-I was allowed to test drive the new 2016 Scion tC for a week.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

As a new driver, what did you learn about your car?  I remember not learning anything about my car but learning about the road.  I wanted to pass my driving test so bad, I studied my book front to back.  But I did not study or learn about my car like that.  Now as a mom of an almost driver, I wanted to go over some car tips that I learned later on in my life.

Do you know what side your gas tank is on?  Have you ever driven someone else's car and needed to pump gas? 

Look in the picture, do you see the little arrow on the gas pump?  Whatever side it points to is the side that your gas tank is on.  Easy, right?  Did you know that? 
Also, some cars have a lever near the driver's side door to pull for the gas tank door to open.

Do you know how to use cruise control?  I never did.  I travel a lot and refused to use it.  I was so scared to try it.  I was afraid it would be stuck and I could not get out of the speed I was on.  Some cars are different but the same concept.

The Scion tC has a button that needs to be pushed in to set cruise control on.  Check that the icon comes on when you hit the button.

 Next, learn how to use your cruise control.  How do you set it?  Is it by a pull down of the lever or a push up?  How do you release cruise control? 

 A new driver may not need to learn how to do this just yet but it may cause a panic attack is they accidentally hit the button on.  I freak out when any light comes on in my vehicle.  Go over the different lights that can come on in the car, so that the driver will know what is going on.  A distraction can cause an accident.  In some vehicles when a warning light comes on, the vehicle can start making a dinging sound alerting the driver, and this could distract the driver.  It is better to know what to expect.

The first car I drove around was my dad's hand-me down used car.  It had many miles on it and it was a vehicle taking to and from school.  I was not complaining.  But again, I never inspected the vehicle and one day when I got a flat I was stuck on the road.  This was way back when not everyone had a cell phone, omg, yes there was a time.  So I was stuck on the road alone.  Someone stopped to helped me and asked if I had a spare?  I didn't know.  Yes, naïve.  Did I have a jack?  IDK...So now any vehicle I get into, I always check to see if I have a spare and a jack, just in case.

Do you know where to look?  Do you know how to use a jack or change a tire?  My name says it all, but it was not always like this.  I learned to become independent.  So in case I am ever stranded with a flat, I know what to do, do you?  Don't be the damsel in distress.  Or at least know if you have the right tools for someone to help you change your flat.  Remember to always be safe.  We once got a flat in my mom's old station wagon.  It sounded like a helicopter was following us.  But it was not, it was a flat.  My mom ended up getting stuck at the entrance of the freeway.  Luckily some good Samaritans stopped to help get us off the freeway and to a safe place for the tire to be changed.  I have heard too many horror stories of people getting hit on the freeway after getting a flat. 

Be safe.
If your car will make it, get off the road.
If you are on the freeway, head for the shoulder.
If your tire will make it, try to get off the freeway and head to a safe place to change the flat.
If you have roadside assistance, call them.
I always call a family member and tell them where I am, and my plan of action.

Tips like this can help when driving a new car, driving someone else's car, or being a new driver.

Recently driving the new 2016 Scion tC, I was able to check all of it's features out.  For this car being a 2-door vehicle, it has a lot of space.  Check out the truck space:

It fit my family of 4 comfortably.  My husband was skeptical at first but I think he is now looking at the Scions totally different.  My son and I even cruised down to San Antonio.  We had a smooth drive to and from.  And that truck space even allowed me to do all of my holiday shopping.

Stylish and sporty.  One of our favorite features was the panoramic moon roof.  But the feature that everyone loved the most was the interior floor lights that you can control by the push of a button.  My daughter wanted it pink when she was in the car.  My son picked blue.  My husband wanted it green.  I just agreed with whoever was riding with me.