What to Know About Child Safety Seats

The leading cause of preventable deaths and injuries to US children are road injuries. Luckily, car seats can reduce the risk of death by as much as 71%, but only if they’re used correctly--there’s a lot more to using them than just making sure they fit in your back seat. Read on to learn how to find the right car seat for your child and how to use it correctly.

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Three Kinds of Car Seats

·         Rear-Facing Car Seat

·         Forward-Facing Car Seat

·         Booster Seat

Rear-Facing Car Seat

Rear-facing seats have harnesses to secure your child, and are designed to protect babies in case of a crash. They’re specifically constructed to protect an infant’s delicate neck and spine. Some rear-facing seats are specially made for newborns and small infants, but children tend to outgrow these seats by eight or nine months. At that point, you should find a larger, rear-facing seat that will fit your child comfortably.

Children should remain in rear-facing seats until around the age of 2, and sometimes longer depending on their height and weight.

Forward-Facing Car Seat

In a forward-facing seat, children are elevated and secured with a harness. Although your children can graduate from this sort of restraint system to a booster seat as young as four year’s old, (depending on their weight and height), it’s recommended that you keep them in a car seat until at least age seven.

As with all car seats, be sure to check the manufacturer’s recommended height and weight to see what’s safest for your child.

Booster Seat

A booster seat (depending on whether it has back of neck support) is primarily designed to lift a child up so that their seat belt fits correctly. Booster seats that have back and neck support are especially useful if the backseat of your car doesn’t have headrests.

Other Helpful Information

·         Children, regardless of whether they’re in a car seat, are safest in the back seat. Don’t let them sit up front until they’re at least 13 years old.

·         Once you’ve installed your car seat, try to move it around. If it slides more than an inch in any direction, you need to adjust it.

·         If your child is buckled into their seat, make sure their harness is taut across their chest, but not tight. A good rule of thumb is to try and pinch the strap at your child’s shoulder. You should not be able to pinch any excess webbing.

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Interested in seeing if your car seat will fit in one of our Nissan models? Be sure to stop by Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville today and find out in person. Because choosing the right car seat is only part of keeping your kids safe as you drive. Choosing the right car is just as important.

The Rogue is Getting a Technology Makeover

Two years ago, a new generation of Nissan Rogue made its way on to the market. Today, Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville is excited to announce that the 2016 Nissan Rogue is getting more upgrades and will have a lot more technology options for buyers. Here's a little background on the equipment that will be available to Rogue buyers this fall.

The biggest change in safety technology is the Forward Emergency Braking (FEB), which will use radar technology to monitor the vehicle in front and keep a safe distance from it. When FEB senses a collision could occur, it will automatically apply the brakes and send a signal to the driver. This system is already available on the Murano and Maxima.

For practicality, the new Rogue will be offered with a Motion-Activated Power Liftgate, perfect for the countless times you approach your vehicle with your hands full. Inside, drivers will have Siri Eyes Free, which allows you to use natural language voice commands and your vehicle's built-in controls to utilize your iPhone or infotainment system.

Speaking of infotainment systems, the one in the 2016 Rogue will be centered around a large touchscreen and six physical buttons. The touchscreen displays your apps similarly to an iPhone and the physical buttons can be used to access various popular features, such as navigation and audio. The navigation system also gets an upgrade, and users will be able to search points of interest instead of just addresses and locations.

We hope you are as excited about what the 2016 Rogue has to offer as we are. Contact us or stop by the dealership today for more information on this vehicle or any other models.

Terry Grant Sets World Record with Nissan Juke NISMO RS

Stuntman Terry Grant set a world record with a Juke NISMO RS, the sportier version of the Nissan Juke, at this year’s Festival of Speed (FoS) in England. Grant had six attempts to beat his previous record of fastest mile while balanced on two wheels, but he only needed one. In 2 minutes and 10 seconds, Grant successfully navigated the Goodwood hillclimb course.

This was a reduction of 45 seconds compared to Grant’s previous record, something he was very pleased about. "I was shocked at how much faster the JUKE NISMO RS was, and to take 45 seconds off what was already a quick time, was unbelievable," said Grant. "To break it by so much on my first attempt was a great way to kick off the weekend, and I'm looking forward to seeing if I can go faster."

What's the Ideal Highway Speed?

When you sit behind the steering wheel of your car, you control your destiny. You choose where you want to go, when you want to go, and how fast you want to get there. The latter choice carries with it significant risk in the form of traffic tickets, fuel economy, and the urgency of your situation, so take some time to evaluate the ideal highway speed for your situation before you let your lead foot have its way.

Stay Connected While You Drive: Tech Tips from Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville

Recent news headlines have highlighted the dangers associated with staying connected while you drive. Rather than risking your life and the lives of other drivers, use these tech tips from Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville to safely stay in touch.

Tips for Properly Using Your Rearview Mirrors

Your car has rearview mirrors for a very good reason. These mirrors greatly increase your visibility when driving and maneuvering your car, and without them, you could not really drive your car to any safe extent. Strangely enough, this still does not seem to deter some drivers from largely ignoring them, but as every driving instructor will tell you, using your mirror should become second nature. Here are four simple tips from Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville to ensure that you use your rearview mirrors safely and effectively.

Nissan Adds Twist to 'Ride of Your Life™ 2.0' Campaign

Driving a sedan doesn’t mean that you have to drive a boring vehicle. In fact, when you step behind the wheel of a Nissan Altima, nothing could be further from the truth. Proving this point is Nissan’s new “Ride of Your Life™ 2.0” campaign. It is the second installment of a similar Altima promotion from last year, but this time it is bigger and better than ever. Keep reading for details from Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville.

The 2014 “Ride of Your Life” campaign showed off just how capable the Nissan Altima is by taking consumers on a racetrack with a stock Altima disguised as a racecar. This year’s event took it to the next level.

2015 Nissan Versa Note Added to ‘10 Tech-Savviest Cars Under $20K’ List

For the second year in a row, the Nissan Versa Note has been named to the Kelley Blue Book ’10 Tech-Savviest Cars Under $20,000’ list. The Versa Note earned its spot thanks to the vehicle’s multitude of standard and available tech options. Buyers can opt to add hands-free texting, Bluetooth with Pandora capability, the AroundView Monitor system, a 360-degree overhead view that assists with parking, and more.

Ask a Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville Technician: Why Is My Car Dripping Oil After an Oil Change?

Q. I just got the oil changed in my car, and a couple of days later I noticed my car was dripping a little bit of oil. What’s going on? Is this related to the oil change? Is this normal?
Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville says: You shouldn’t have any drips after an oil change if it was done properly. A few things can go wrong and cause the drips you’re seeing.

2016 Nissan Maxima: '4-Door Sports Car' Turns Heads in NY

Nissan is used to making bold moves. Why, just one look at all the adventurous designs peppering the company’s lineup of vehicles is enough to notice that Nissan isn’t your average car company. That desire to break free from boring is what makes Nissan so special. At the 2015 New York Auto Show, Nissan showed off another special vehicle—the all-new 2016 Nissan Maxima.

Despite teasing us during the 2015 Super Bowl, the 2016 Maxima’s debut in the Big Apple provided a lot of solid details surrounding the new model. Most notably, it will feature a revised 3.5-liter V6 engine that’s mated to a continuously variably transmission. Unlike the current model, however, the new Maxima will boost horsepower to 300, up from 290.

Nissan Sway Concept: A Glimpse at What's to Come?

Oh how we love concept cars! Not only do they typically possess a wealth of future tech and styling, but they often provide the public with a glimpse into the future, be it a design element or even a future model. Which brings us to Nissan’s latest concept car, the Sway.

Recently debuting at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, the Nissan Sway Concept is a sneak peek at what future-generation compact Nissan models might look like if the company’s striking new design language was applied to a European hatchback.

Teen Car Insurance Tips from Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville

All drivers need car insurance. For many young drivers, however, the cost of insurance costs more than their car. Parents handle teen drivers differently, depending on their values. Some parents will pay for car insurance for their teens, while some teens must buy their own insurance. Regardless of family arrangements, the following tips from Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville for buying teen car insurance can help.

Explain insurance

Parents should spend time explaining insurance to their teenage drivers. Important information parents should emphasize includes:

• Why car insurance for teens costs so much. More teenagers die in motor vehicle accidents in the U.S. than from any other cause.
• How a ticket costs far more than a fine. Teens must know that a single ticket can cost thousands of dollars in the form of higher insurance premiums.
• Common reasons for accidents involving teen drivers. Speed, distracted driving, and alcohol all contribute to teen auto wrecks.
• Teen driver safety tips. Teens should always use their seatbelts. Also, teens should stay off the roads between midnight and 4 a.m.
• Strict household driving rules. Parents must insist on teen-driver accountability. Teens that repeatedly drive too fast and demonstrate other unsafe driving habits should lose their driving privileges until they complete additional training.

Mandatory insurance

Drivers do not choose whether to buy car insurance—states require drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance before they can take a car onto the road. Banks and finance companies usually require car buyers to have collision and comprehensive coverage on financed vehicles.

Teen drivers must understand why they need insurance. Insurers insist that insurance policies list all licensed drivers in a household. Parents may choose to add their teen driver to their existing policy if the teen does not buy separate insurance.

Affordable car insurance

The term “affordable” rarely describes a car insurance policy for a teenage driver. However, parents and their teens can work together to get the best rates possible using the following tips.

Shop around. Different insurance companies have different premiums, so spending the time to shop around usually pays off.

Get discounts. Some companies offer discounts for good students. Other companies offer parent-guided safety discounts. When asking for quotes for auto insurance for their teen, parents should ask each company about the teen discounts it offers.

Use tracking devices. Some car insurance companies offer a discount for teens with GPS-enabled tracking. These systems track the location and speed of a car. Sophisticated tracking devices have cameras that activate when the system detects risky driving practices. Parents should speak ask prospective insurers about what tracking products qualify for a discount.

Share policies. Teen insurance often costs more when purchased separately. Parents willing to add their teen to their existing insurance policy can substantially reduce the cost to insure their teen. However, this option may not appeal to parents who expect their teens to pay the extra cost.

Nissan Accepts the 2015 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award

Nissan has earned the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award. The Sustained Excellence Award is only given to organizations that are committed to protecting the environment by making operations processes at their facilities more energy efficient.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gives the award out annually. Nissan’s “continued commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy management” has landed the organization on the list for the fourth year in a row. Nissan has reduced energy usage by changing to more efficient LED lights, fixing compressed air leaks, and incorporating an environmentally friendly paint process.  

"Since Nissan became an ENERGY STAR partner in 2006, we have made continual improvements to our operations, which has helped us reduce both our environmental footprint and manufacturing costs," said John Martin, senior vice president, Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management and Purchasing. "In 2014, those improvements reduced the amount of energy required to build vehicles by 13 percent—that's the same amount of energy it would take to power more than 5,400 homes for an entire year."

Nissan is among the top 25 percent of the automotive manufacturing industry in energy management. Nissan’s Vehicle Assembly Plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, which produced more vehicles than any other auto plant in 2014, and Nissan’s plant in Canton, Mississippi, were awarded the ENERGY STAR certification for the ninth year in a row.

Nissan works with ENERGY STAR to complete its company sustainability program, the Nissan Green Program, which pledges to reduce Nissan’s carbon footprint by 20 percent by 2016.

We are honored that Nissan has been awarded the 2015 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year award here at Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville. To learn more about Nissan’s sustainability initiative or want to test drive one of Nissan’s energy efficient vehicles, stop by today!

Shop the Seasons at the Farmers' Market: Spring

Grab your reusable grocery bags, small wheely cart, and a wad of cash with plenty of small bills. It’s time to go to the farmers’ market! There’s nothing quite like fresh, local produce. Every season has its own flavor. Going to your local farmers’ market is a great way to make the most of seasonal ingredients, buy organic and help out the little guy in the process.

Here are a few tips from Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville to help you get the most out of your shopping:

• Get there early and have a plan, but be open to new ideas.
• Make a loop to get a lay of the land.
• Talk to the farmers. They know their stuff and are usually more than happy to give you tips on how best to prepare the food.

Ah, the joys of Spring! The flowers are blooming, the birds are singing and the Yankees are headed to Florida. And, it’s a great time to head out to your local farmer’s market and start enjoying some of nature’s abundance. Here are just a few of the fruits and vegetables that spring has to offer.

Arugula - Spring is about greens. Arugula is just one of the many delicious greens available. Baby forms of greens have wonderfully tender leaves which are great for salads.

Apricots - Look for these in late spring and early summer. If you’ve never tried it, apricot cobbler is a great spring/summer desert.

Artichokes - Tastiest. Thistle. Ever. Don’t let it intimidate you. Get some kitchen sheers and show it who’s boss. Pluck off some of the straggler leaves and steam or braise for a tasty side dish.

Asparagus - Grill it, roast it, steam it. Serve it with a drizzle of olive oil or a little lemon butter. Get creative and chop some up and toss into an omelets.

Baby carrots - They might be immature, but they sure are adorable and good for you too. These are not the whittled down big carrots you buy at the grocery store; these are the real baby deal. Eat them raw or cook them and add a little dill butter.

Green garlic - They look a bit like leeks, but don’t let that fool you, this is genuine, fresh, hasn’t had a chance to dry yet garlic. They’re versatile and can add flavor to oodles of dishes. Make a pesto or a soup or plop in whole with your roast.

Fava beans - This buttery, nutty and sometimes bitter bean comes in a big alien head pod. They’re great in salad or pureed with cream and butter. Oh, and don’t forget a nice Chianti!

Fiddlehead ferns - This crazy little veggie is only available for a few weeks in spring, so be on the lookout. They’re the unfurled fronds of a small fern and look like something out of a James Cameron movie. They taste a bit like asparagus. Try them gently sautéed with garlic and butter.

Mint - Mint starts appearing in the spring and is usually available up until fall. How does some tender lamb with a nice mint chutney sound? If you’re not sure about minty food, you can always mix yourself up a Mint Julep and retire to the veranda. Oh, Magnolia!

Morels - This mushroom has built up a virtual cult following. And, if the idea of eating a little fungus among us doesn’t bother you, you’ll soon see why. Try them in a cream sauce with some Madeira, shallots and garlic.

Peas - Whether they’re snow, garden or snap peas, spring is a great time for peas. Sides, salads and soups. Peas do it all with a smile.

Strawberries - They’re beautiful, sweet and chock full of vitamin C. Put them on some ice cream, make some strawberry shortcake or just eat them by their little old selves.

Spring onions - These little guys are like the scallions’ big brother. They’re great in soups and salads or just grilled.

Meal Suggestion: Try a fiddlehead and morel salad on a bed of baby greens with a little Gouda cheese. Follow with roasted chicken flavored with spring onions and sides of snow peas and grilled asparagus. Top it off with an apricot cobbler and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Caring for Your Car Battery in the Heat

Many car drivers experience problems with their car battery during the winter. Damp, cold weather can wreak havoc with this critical car part. Many an early morning has been made more stressful by a car battery that doesn't want to work. However, the warmer summer months are not entirely plain sailing when it comes to your car battery, with the sun and hot temperatures posing challenges. Here are some tips from Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville on caring for your car battery during the summer.

Excess heat

The excess heat of summer can cause problems for the car battery. If the car is left in the sun for a long period of time or out on the road, the internal temperature can soar. The excess heat can cause the battery fluid to evaporate, which can damage the internal parts of the battery. If the components fail, the battery could eventually stop working entirely, which could be disastrous for you.

Checking the battery and electrical system

Before the summer starts, ask your service department to check the battery and electrical system. An expert eye may identify problems before they become too serious. While you may need to spend a bit of cash up front, you could easily discover that this is a good investment in the long run. As a general rule, if your car battery is more than three years old, you should have it fully tested to see how much more life there is in it.

Additional Battery Pressure

Even if the battery checks out, it is important to look after it during the summer months to ensure that it works at maximum efficiency. Ensure that you check your battery on a regular basis, and certainly before every long journey. Add distilled water as necessary and make sure that you carry additional distilled water for long journeys. Remember that the battery may be under additional pressure on long journeys. Idling in traffic, air conditioning, and the use of electronic devices such as GPS systems or portable DVD players can all place additional demands on your battery.

Battery Cleanliness

It is also important to keep the battery clean. Excess dust or dirt on the battery can become a conductor which, in turn, can drain battery power. Accumulated corrosion on the battery terminals may insulate the battery and inhibit the flow of current. Both these things can add additional pressure to the battery. You can easily clean the battery and terminals with an old toothbrush. Always clean the battery before the car heats up. Contact the Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville service department for more information.

The Right Wax for your Car from Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville

Protecting your car’s paint work ensures that your vehicle looks great and is resilient to the rigors of driving on the road and constant exposure to the elements. Dirt and debris on the road surface quickly and easily flicks up onto your car’s paint work, causing chips and small dents. Exposure to bright sunlight can quickly take its toll too, leading to faded, patchy coloring. Waxing your paint work won’t completely eliminate the risk of these types of damage, but it will certainly help, so it’s a good thing to add to your maintenance schedule. With so many types of car wax on the market, how do you know which one to use? Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville is here to help.

Car wax normally contains some form of natural wax, such as carnauba wax or beeswax. Most are sold in a clear format, so can be applied to any color paint work. Some enthusiasts prefer a colored wax if they are able to match it exactly to the color of their paint work. Ask the Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville team for advice on colored wax that can match your car.

Car wax is then offered in two further forms. A cleaner wax will clean, polish, and protect the car, all through one product. These products often contain carnauba wax. A finishing wax will not have any cleaning capability and is used to focus on protecting the paint work and creating a superb finish. These products are often called show car waxes.

So what form of wax is best for your car?

Liquid wax. Liquid wax gives a great finish, and can be buffed by a novice or an expert to achieve a very glossy look. Liquid wax is normally very durable too, so it doesn’t need to be re-applied as often as other products.

Liquid wax is probably the hardest to apply to the paint work very quickly. The liquid form is difficult to manage, because it’s very easy to use too much, resulting in a lot of mess and wastage. According to the type of liquid wax that you use, it can be a race against time to buff out the wax to a good finish before it dries on the car. While it is always better to apply wax in warm weather, this can work against you with liquid wax, which will dry more quickly.

Paste wax. Paste wax is probably the easiest to apply. The consistency means that you can easily apply just the right amount, and you won’t find lots of mess and wastage like you would with a liquid wax. Paste wax may be a good option for a beginner, who is looking for something that doesn’t require a lot of skill, partly because the wax dries very quickly.

Paste wax is very susceptible to temperature, however, and is therefore extremely difficult to apply in the colder months. You always need to apply paste wax on a warm day, or in a heated garage. Paste waxes don’t tend to produce as good a finish as liquid waxes, and don’t always protect the paint work as well as other products. You do tend to waste a certain amount of paste wax in the bottom of the container, because it is very difficult to get out.

Spray wax. Spray waxes are particularly good for new cars, where the paint work is brand new and shiny. They’re very convenient to use, and have a lighter finish, so can normally be used on a variety of different surfaces on the car, including plastic. There’s generally no waste with a spray wax, as you apply just the amount you want, and they’re also less reliant on warm weather. Spray wax is a great option if you are looking simply to touch up a small area of the car, due to the ease of application. You can also quickly and easily wipe off a spray wax if it ends up somewhere you don’t want it to.

Spray waxes are the most superficial of the different wax products, however. They generally offer only a very thin layer of protection, and therefore need to be re-applied frequently. A spray wax would not be suitable for an older car, where the paint work needs more care and attention.

2015 Nissan Sentra Garners ‘Top Safety Pick’ Award from IIHS

The 2015 Nissan Sentra has been chosen as a ‘Top Safety Pick’ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The award recognizes passenger vehicles with superior ratings in moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraint tests. Vehicles must also earn a “Good” or “Acceptable” rating in a small overlap frontal test. The Sentra scored “Good” in all five categories.

Buyers can expect standard safety features such as the Nissan Advanced Air Bag System (AABS); three-point front and rear seatbelts; front seat belts with pre-tensioners, load limiters, and adjustable upper anchors; and the LATCH System. Also included on every Sentra is an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist; Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) with Traction Control System (TCS); zone body construction featuring front and rear crumple zones and occupant zones; an energy absorbing steering column; child safety rear door locks; the Nissan Immobilizer system and anti-theft alarm system; a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with position monitoring; and a Bluetooth® Hands-free phone System.

When you purchase a new 2015 Nissan Sentra from Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville, you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with an extremely safe vehicle. Our superior customer service is just a bonus. Call, contact us online, or stop by today to schedule your test drive in the new Sentra or one of our other new Nissan vehicles.

Image: Nissan

Tips to Teach Your Teen Driver

Teaching your teen driver can often be a frustrating experience, resulting in hurt feelings on both sides, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind when teaching your teen driver.

Confidence

Your teen driver may feel or seem confident, but sliding behind the wheel for the first time is an intimidating experience for anyone. Probably the number one reason for a lack of confidence behind the wheel is the belief that the car will be hard to control, and driving it may result in at least a dent, if not an accident. You have to keep your teenager’s confidence up. Practice in an open space where the risk of damage is minimal, and keep tempers down. Encouragement, not punishment, teaches.

Patience

You may not remember, but it will have taken you a long time to get used to driving a car, and in the early days of learning every operation of any control inside the car will require a lot of concentration on the part of your teen. Once you have been driving for a while, everything begins to occur automatically.

You may turn the car through a corner and accelerate, which you do pretty much automatically. What your teen is thinking while doing exactly the same thing is, “How far do I turn the wheel, is the car is travelling too fast for the corner, is there anything in the way, are there cars approaching, when is the best time to push on the accelerator pedal, where is the accelerator pedal, how far should I push the accelerator pedal down?” And that’s just a simple turn.

The car is a very complex machine to drive. After you have been doing it for a long time pretty much everything comes naturally and your brain hands many of the mundane chores to what people term “muscle memory.” Repetition over the years means your arms, eyes, ears, and feet know how to co-ordinate themselves to keep the car on the road. A teen does not do this straight away, and a lack of patience on the instructor’s side will only undermine the confidence of the teen.

Repetition

Again, this is where muscle memory comes in. It may seem boring, but get your teen driver to do the same thing over and over again. Find a local car park that’s as empty as possible (your teen will likely be intimidated if there are other cars even parked nearby, as they will be worried about going out of control and hitting them). Practice simple turns and shifting gears (if you are in a manual transmission car) to give your teen an idea of how accurately a car can be steered. Progress through more complicated maneuvers, concentrating on control and not speed. Let your teen “walk” the car around at very low speeds. The idea is to teach your teen how a car responds to inputs from the steering, accelerator, and braking actions.

Patience and understanding

Yes, patience again, but also understanding. Your teen will reach stages where they will feel out of their depth. If something does happen – say damage to the car – shouting will not help, and it will in fact hurt the teaching process. You have to trust your teen and your teen has to know that you have confidence in them, and understand that learning does involve the occasional fall.

Why Get Routine Maintenance at our Dealership?

It’s okay to admit it: sometimes fitting regular maintenance into your schedule can be tough. Your vehicle belongs on the road, not in a shop. But if you want to keep your vehicle running at its best, routine maintenance at our dealership can help.

Why bring your vehicle for regular maintenance? The short answer is that there are hundreds of variable to consider during the assessment of your vehicle, and our dealership has the skilled technicians to check each and every one. You may be able to analyze the health of your tire tread, state of your engine oil, and life of your brake pads, but by the time you have assessed all of these factors, another part of your vehicle may be suffering.

We are happy to give your car a thorough investigation and check all of these variables in a timely manner so that we can pin point a problem if there is one.

Another reason to keep service appointments scheduled on a regular basis is that our highly-qualified technicians know of the latest developments within the automotive service industry. You may be fully capable of identifying an issue with your car, but you might not have all the up-to-date information, repair techniques and OEM materials that we possess.

We are also happy to provide our expertise to you for the sake of your vehicle’s health.

We invite you to schedule your service appointment at Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville, or ask us about express service where no appointment is necessary. We look forward to helping you keep your vehicle in tip-top shape!

Family Fun Guide for St. Patrick's Day

Spring is around the corner, which means it’s almost time to celebrate one of the greenest holidays around – St. Patrick’s Day. Whether you and your family is Irish or not, March 17^th is a fun excuse to come together, celebrate, and maybe even learn a little something while you’re at it. Don your favorite emerald shade and take a look at this list of fun family activities to make this St. Paddy’s Day extra lucky.

Pot o’ Gold Treasure Hunt

This game is fun for the whole family, and couldn’t be easier. Find the most appropriate treasure holder you’ve got – bowl, box, bag, anything – and bonus points if it’s green. Fill it with gold chocolate coins, hide it somewhere in your house and send the kids on a treasure hunt. If you feel like going above and beyond, write up some clues to make the hunt more challenging, create a makeshift rainbow and put your “pot o’ gold” at the end.

Fun with Food

Plan on trying a traditional Irish recipe for dinner, and for extra fun for the kids, turn everything green in between! Add some food coloring to scrambled eggs to make green eggs and ham, and bake some delicious green cupcakes or shamrock-shaped cookies. You can even go so far as to encourage all green vegetables in the name of Irish pride – but good luck with that one. You might be better off whipping up some shamrock shakes.

Find a Parade

What’s not to like about the festive fun of a parade? Check to see if there will be a St. Patrick’s Day parade in your area, and bring your kids to watch. Better yet, dress up in your best Irish garb before you go – “Kiss Me I’m Irish” hat and all.

History Lesson

If your family does have Irish heritage, St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect time to teach the kids a little family history. Get together to look through old photos or tell family stories. Irish or not, you can also learn a little about the history of St. Patrick’s Day, and how it became a holiday here in the U.S. You can even give your kids a little quiz at the end to test their knowledge, and reward them with a chocolate coin or two.

Clover Crafts

It may be hard to find your own lucky four-leaf clovers outside, but you can make your own at home with your kids for a fun holiday craft. Cut shamrocks out of green construction paper or craft foam and arm your kids with glitter glue, markers, and stickers. Once the shamrocks dry, hang them around the house to decorate and celebrate your kids’ creativity. 

Automatic vs. Manual Transmissions: Which is Right for You?

When you get behind the wheel and pull out of that parking lot or driveway, do you like to shift gears yourself or would you rather have a transmission that does the work for you? Put another way, do you prefer manual or automatic transmissions? Perhaps a better question is as follows: which is better suited for you?

This will of course be dependent on many factors. While personal preference plays perhaps the biggest role, there are other things to consider as well, such as the driver's age, physical condition, multi-tasking skill level, and even where the vehicle in question will primarily be driven. With that established, let's examine each of these factors for a moment:

Many younger drivers enjoy shifting gears manually. For starters, the technique is not as hard to learn as some would lead one to believe, and it's actually fun. A sizable portion of this demographic, particularly automotive enthusiasts, can't envision driving a car without a manual transmission, and contrary to popular belief, this includes both genders. Many drivers begin to prefer automatic transmissions as they age. Of course, this isn't always the case, but for most, the passage of time also brings more aches and pains that pushing a clutch pedal and moving that shifter, can aggravate. This brings up the issue of physical condition.

The fact of the matter is that we don't stay 20 years old forever. As the years pass, our bodies age and certain muscles can become more worn and thus weaker than they used to be. Perhaps a touch of arthritis has affected the hands and/or legs and feet. In the case of pushing a clutch pedal with your foot while shifting with one hand, this can become cumbersome and even uncomfortable. If any of these issues plague you, then an automatic transmission makes life a lot easier when driving. There is far less multitasking involved. Just put the selector into Drive and go!

Where will you be doing most of your driving? Do you commute to work or school across wide, open spaces in a rural setting, or do you deal with bumper-to bumper traffic and stoplights situated every few hundred feet? Do you live in a mild climate, or do you see snow and ice for half the calendar year?

If you are blessed with an open highway, either type of transmission is equally suitable, but if you must routinely deal with urban congestion, an automatic makes more sense. Certainly, some people drive cars equipped with standard transmission in these settings, but the constant stop-and-go traffic is hard on a manual clutch. Likewise, a warm climate free of the ravages of winter is appropriate for either an automatic or manual, but in snowy and icy locations, vehicles equipped with manual transmissions have the advantage of better traction. If you're stuck in a snowbank, for example, placing the drivetrain manually into a low gear results in nearly as much gripping power as a vehicle equipped with 4-wheel or all-wheel drive. As for ordinary 2-wheel drive automatics? They will have a tougher time.

In days past, cars with manual transmissions got better fuel economy, but this is not necessarily true anymore. Automatic transmissions have made great advances in recent years, and many cars with today's examples will enjoy the same fuel mileage as their manual counterparts. Another factor many overlook is that while manual transmissions cost less initially and can last a good 30%-50% longer than those that shift themselves, there's a catch: the clutch typically has to be replaced at some point, and this isn't a cheap repair by any means. By the time this inevitable cost is factored in, the lifetime expense of that manual transmission will end up being about the same as that of an automatic. Finally, it is important to note that in the US, there are a lot more vehicles equipped with automatics than stickshifts. In fact, the ratio of automatics to manuals is about 9 to 1, and it's quite possible that the standard transmission will soon become a thing of the past.

The discerning car shopper is advised to take the factors listed above into consideration, but in the end, it all comes down to a matter of preference and practicality. A Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville sales associate will be happy to help you find the driving style that's right for you

Expert Business Travel Tips

Does your work travel schedule have you landing in NY on Tuesday, stopping by Chicago on Wednesday, and circling back through St. Louis on Thursday only to end up at a meeting in Seattle by Friday morning? Avoid travel whiplash and maybe even relax (a little) on your next trip by following these business travel tips from the experts at Business Insider.

Pre-pack a Travel Bag

If you travel often, save all the time you spend packing toiletries into TSA-approved mini containers by keeping a travel bag packed at all times. Packing will be a breeze when you can just grab your bag and go.

Pack Comfort Clothes

You may think you don’t want a pair of tennis shoes and sweatpants, but pack them anyway. This is something that you will not regret, and you’ll be patting yourself on the back when you get home from a stressful day of meetings and just want to walk around outside in a shoe without a heel or polished toe.

Stop, Fold, and Roll

Everyone has their own approach to maximizing space while packing. A great way to maximize space for clothes is to fold shirts and pants neatly and then roll remaining clothes to fill in the corners of your bag.

Skip Bag Check

If you’re headed out on a shorter trip, try to pack lightly enough to fit everything you need into carry-on bags. This will save you time during departure and arrival, and you’ll also avoid any potential lost bag stress.

Buy Checkpoint-Friendly Bags

Consider investing in a carry-on bag that is specifically designed so you can keep laptops and other electronics in your bag when you go through security checkpoints. It may only save a couple minutes, but you’ll be thankful that you won’t have to pack and unpack your bags while you put your shoes back on and try to find your belt.

Take an In-Flight Breather

Though it may be tempting to squeeze in that last bit of work during your plane ride, consider using that time to disconnect and unwind. Whether you prefer to read, watch a movie, or just take a nap, down time before a stressful, high-energy business situation may do you more good than you realize.

Cash in on Pre-Check and Frequent Flyer Programs

Most airlines offer some sort of frequent traveler program that gives you access to more amenities, shorter wait times, and overall less inconveniences. Sign up for pre-check whenever you have the option, and security checkpoints will be a breeze. If you consistently travel with one airline, it may pay off to check into their rewards programs as well.

Keep important documents at hand

Stack your passport, ID, and any other important documents together and keep them together as much as possible, especially at the airport. You may think you will remember that you stuck your passport into your back pocket, and that your ID is in that one pocket in your other jacket, but you probably won't. Keeping everything in the same place will save you a major headache later. 

Nissan to Partner With Japanese Government on Self-Driving Car Project

The Japanese government wants to get serious about self-driving vehicles, and it’s inviting three of the country’s largest automakers to partner up to make it happen.

The Nikkei, an Asian daily business paper, reports that Japanese auto giants Toyota, Honda and Nissan will team up with the government, as well as Panasonic and Hitachi, to develop new technologies for implementation in self-driving vehicles. The project will also enlist the help of the University of Tokyo and Nagoya University for data analysis.

The partnership comes in response to recent progress made by American and German automakers in the realm of self-driving cars. The Nikkei reports that Japan hopes to make strides in standardizing self-driving car technology in order to remain competitive with other global companies.

The meeting is expected to be held sometime this summer. According to the Nikkei, the first step of the project is to standardize software utilized in autonomous vehicles. Later, the project will move towards developing infrastructure associated with getting self-driving cars on public roads.

At Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville, we’re certainly excited to see Nissan involved in such an ambitious project. We look forward to seeing how this partnership will contribute to making self-driving cars a reality.

5 Types Of Car Passengers You Don't Want To Be

When you're driving your car, it's important to keep your eye on the road and your wits about you. If you're on your own, that shouldn't be too difficult. But if you're carrying passengers as part of a carpool or otherwise, it can be a whole different ball game. Some passengers are no trouble at all, but others can make it feel as though you're never going to reach your destination. Here are five types of passenger you don't want to be.

1. The backseat driver

If you're driving the car, it should hopefully be assumed you've had lessons and passed your test. Why is it then that some people feel indebted to keep giving you directions and guidance? Tips on how to brake more effectively, get better gas mileage and handle corners may be well-intentioned, but they'll wear thin pretty quickly. Worse still, if you're this kind of passenger, your helpful advice is likely to get carried away, leading to tips that blatantly aren't needed. After all, if you have to tell somebody to 'watch out for that truck," why don't you just drive yourself?

2. The neurotic

Sadly, thousands of people are injured on the roads every year, thanks in no small part to carelessness, speeding, and overconfident driving. At the other end of the spectrum, you may have been unfortunate enough to end up driving with the neurotic, who seems capable of seeing the absolute worst-case scenario in everything. He or she will be nervous at night, frightened when it rains, and petrified if there's a lightning storm. The best thing to do is pull over, or you'll probably end up in the nearest ditch the next time he or she shrieks with fear and grabs the steering wheel.

3. The flirt

It pays to make sure that you check out the intentions of all of your passengers before you hit the road. You might just be doing your coworker a favor by offering him a ride home, but he could be reading more into things and that could lead to a whole lot of trouble. Keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.

4. The greedy-guts

Some people just never stop eating, and if they're doing it in your car, chances are you'll be the one that regrets. Sticky, smelly, salty foods will be sure to permeate the entire cabin of your car, and you'll be using air freshener for weeks to shift the odors. Worse still, no matter how well you look after the inside of your car, greedy-guts is still likely to drop crumbs and mess all over the upholstery, and you can bet your bottom dollar she won't be lining up to pay for a valet.

5. The rocker

There's a simple rule-of-thumb when it comes to driving. Whoever is behind the wheel gets to choose the ambience during the journey. That means that if he or she wants peace and quiet, that's what happens. If it's opera music, so be it. The rocker will ignore this, and will either keep changing the radio station or will bring out his own thrash metal CDs to torture your ear drums. Just when you think things can't get any worse, he'll also pull out his invisible air guitar, and it's all downhill from there.

Have no hesitations about kicking these characters out of your traveling party if possible - it'll be better for everyone. And if you ever catch yourself starting to act this way...start looking into bus passes.

Kelley Blue Book Praises the 2015 Pathfinder and Altima

Two 2015 Nissan vehicles were recognized by Kelley Blue Book in February for their outstanding commitment to quality and utility.

Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com named the 2015 Pathfinder one of the “15 Best Family Cars of 2015.” The KBB.com editors cited the Pathfinder’s spacious seating, as well as its “rich interior.”

“With plenty of cargo space and interior room, and a smooth ride with solid handling, the 2015 Pathfinder is a classic ‘family-first’ vehicle, and we’re elated to once again be included among Kelley Blue Book’s Best Family Cars,” said  Dan Mohnke, vice president, Nissan Chief Marketing Manager & Marketing Operations, in a press release.

Additionally, the KBB.com editors named the 2015 Altima one of the “10 Best Sedans Under $25,000.” Among other features, the editors praised its impressive fuel economy, as well as the Altima’s Easy Fill Tire Alert system.

“With a starting Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price* of just $22,300, the 2015 Altima offers a long list of comfort and technology features which make it a customer favorite,” Mohnke said in a separate press release. “We are honored that the Altima has been chosen for this honor by the experts at Kelley Blue Book.”

At Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville, we’re happy to see Nissan’s hard work in developing practical, efficient vehicles that meet the demands of our numerous customers recognized by a well-respected national publication.

* MSRP excludes applicable tax, title, license fees and $810 USD destination charges. Dealer sets actual price. Prices and specs are subject to change without notice.

Image: Nissan

5 Common Ways Drivers Lose Fuel Efficiency and How to Avoid Them

The advertised fuel efficiency of your car will normally be an estimate of the maximum output the vehicle can achieve under certain conditions. In reality, your car’s fuel efficiency will vary considerably based on how you drive it among other factors. If you’re looking to get the most from your car, read about the five following common ways that drivers lose fuel efficiency—and how to avoid them with tips from Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville.

• Constant heavy acceleration. Accelerating puts more demand on the engine, forcing it to burn more fuel. Your fuel consumption is related directly to how hard the engine is working. Constant heavy acceleration simply burns fuel with no real benefit. This includes racing away from traffic lights or zooming up to traffic on the highway and then having to hit the brakes hard. Drive moderately, accelerating steadily and smoothly to avoid guzzling gas.
• Losing traction on the road surface. When you are driving in wet or unusually slippery conditions, you need to drive more carefully. Driving and accelerating in the way that you would on clean, dry surfaces is likely to cause the car to lose traction and the tires to slip. This is also guaranteed to eat into your fuel unnecessarily.
• Inefficient gear changes. A manual gearbox is intended to maximize the performance and fuel efficiency of the engine. You therefore need to shift into the upper gears quickly. Revving hard in the lower gears burns up your fuel and drastically reduces your gas mileage. The ideal shift points will vary from one transmission to another, but you should generally aim to shift to second gear before you reach 15 miles per hour and reach the top gear by the time you hit 35 miles per hour.
• Resting your foot on the brake pedal. You should never drive with your foot resting on the brake pedal. Even the lightest touch affects the fuel economy and places unwanted demand on the engine. You will also wear the brakes unnecessarily, which may encourage you to ‘grab’ the brakes or press much harder, again eating into your fuel economy.
• Idling at traffic lights. If your engine is running idle at the traffic lights, then it is consuming fuel without any need. If the car isn’t moving, shift your transmission into neutral to drop the revolutions per minute. The car will stop consuming gas and your fuel efficiency will increase.

While the design and specification of your car is a major influence on your fuel efficiency, the way in which you drive also has a significant bearing. Avoid these common mistakes and get the most from your money—and visit Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville for more info about your fuel efficiency or to find a new or pre-owned vehicle that meets your driving needs.

Winter is No Match for the Nissan Juke Nismo RSnow

The winter storms up north sound awful, but Nissan’s shown us something that can conquer the winter elements: the Nissan Juke Nismo RSnow.

Originally built as a support vehicle for an ice-driving event in Lapland, Finland, the RSnow is a close-to-stock version of the Juke Nismo RS – with all-wheel drive, the Xtronic CVT, oh and of course huge indomitable tracks instead of wheels.

Capable of an estimated top speed of 62 miles per hour, the RSnow is an unstoppable force when it comes to fighting through the worst of the winter. While we probably won’t need the RSnow’s capabilities here, it’s still fun to watch it power through the powder in the video Nissan tweeted earlier this week: https://pbs.twimg.com/tweet_video/B8Y8nxuCYAA6GRT.mp4

Image: Nissan

Nissan Prioritizes Installation of Rapid Charging Stations Across the U.S.

Since the premiere of the LEAF back in 2010, Nissan has been focused on promoting electric driving across the nation by installing rapid-charging stations across the country and making emissions-free driving more accessible.  

Since the start of 2014, Nissan has already helped install more than 800 DC quick chargers compliant with CHAdeMO standards across the U.S. in locations like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington State, Oregon, Atlanta, Georgia, and Dallas.

Nissan aims to increase the number of installed quick chargers to around 1,700 by April 1, 2016. The charger-installation initiative echoes the same priorities Nissan promoted with its “No Charge to Charge” program last summer, which allowed new LEAF buyers to charge for free at participating public charging stations for up to two years.  

At Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville, we’re excited about the zero-emissions future Nissan is promoting. Stay tuned for all the latest news, or stop by to take a look at the award-winning LEAF vehicles on our lot. 

Image: Nissan

2015 Nissan Murano Named “Best New/Redesigned Midsize Crossover”

The sleek new 2015 Nissan Murano keeps turning heads and winning accolades. One of the most recent recognitions is Kiplinger’s “Best New/Redesigned Midsize Crossover.”

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance chooses winners for a series of vehicle categories based on price, performance, value, safety, and driving impressions to be featured in its annual buyer’s guide. The Murano stood out among competitors because of its winning combination of roominess, fuel efficiency, comfort, and style. 

The redesign of the Murano includes enhancements like a lower drag coefficient and advanced Xtronic continuously variable transmission earning it excellent fuel economy in both front and all-wheel drive options.

It goes without saying that the whole team here at Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville are big fans of the new Murano. Contact us or stop by today for a test drive to see why. 

Image: Nissan

Nissan #withdad Video: Roman Atwood's Giant Ball Pit

Remember the Nissan #withdad campaign that's leading up to Nissan's TV spot this Super Bowl Sunday? Nissan's been releasing videos featuring YouTube sensations showing what it means to be #withdad, and our team at Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville just had to share this one with you.

Web-celeb prankster Roman Atwood turned his kids' day from ordinary to extraordinary when he turned his house into a huge ball pit, complete with ball-filled trampoline. Watch the video below:



Nissan says the #withdad hashtag is a "celebration of the many innovative and exciting ways that dads make life better for their families" and this video is a great example of actions deserving of super-dad status.

We can't wait to see what Nissan has come up with for its game day spot. In the meantime, visit Nissan's YouTube channel for more #withdad videos.

Nissan's #withdad Campaign to Shake up the Superbowl

Nissan is gearing up to drop its first Super Bowl advertisement in 18 years. In advance of the spot, the company has launched a new marketing campaign titled #withdad. As part of the campaign, Nissan has partnered with seven well-known YouTube personalities to gather their impressions of just what exactly #withdad means.

So far, YouTube users Roman Atwood, Action Movie Kid, Epic Meal Time and Jabbawockeez released videos via Nissan’s YouTube channel. Each of the four videos offers its own unique take on the #withdad campaign, which, according to Nissan, celebrates “dads who find innovative and exciting ways to make life better for their kids and families.”

Atwood’s video features him and his kids constructing a massive ball pit in his house, just in time to surprise his girlfriend coming home. Never shying away from the ridiculous, the guys over at Epic Meal Time (with the help of their dads) construct a massive meat sled that features plenty of pizza and sandwich action. You can view all four of the videos here. 

Nissan plans to release more #withdad videos prior to the February 1 debut of its ad during Super Bowl XLIX. Check back with us at Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville for more dad debauchery!