The 2013 VW Beetle: Perfect for the Summer

Looking for that new vehicle that is perfect for evening drives in the summertime? Look no further than the brand new 2013 Volkswagen Beetle convertible. This car takes everything you've learned to love about the classic VW Beetle with all of the up-to-date amenities of a 2013 VW. At 21 MPG city and 27 MPG highway, this vehicle is perfect for cruises around town in the summertime, as well as any other time! Check it out here: http://bit.ly/12HYul8

Why do YOU choose VW?

Triathlete and trainer Andy says that he always wanted a car "with a little fight in it." In this video, Andy shows how the performance of his Volkswagen GTI complements his active lifestyle.

Why do YOU choose VW?

Another Awesome 5-Star Review on Yelp!

Another 5-star review on Yelp!

"The entire staff at Sheehy Volkswagen of Springfield is phenomenal! I can't say it enough. Thanks again guys... I'll be using them in the future!"

Find out why everyone is talking about Sheehy Volkswagen here: http://bit.ly/10bEby1

VW confirms Golf GTD diesel coming to US for 2016

Part of the Volkswagen Golf recipe that has helped the car sell more than 30 million units in just under 40 years is the number of variants in which the hatchback is offered. Building on that range here in the US, Automotive News is reporting that we will finally be getting the sporty Golf GTD, likely as a 2016 model. It's the GTD, you'll recall, that crosses the performance abilities of the venerable GTI with a powerful and fuel-efficient diesel engine.

After speaking with Andreas Valbuena, Volkswagen product manager for the Golf, AN not only says that the GTD will for sale in the US in a couple years, it also estimates a baseline price of around $27,000, which would place it between the current pricing for the GTI and the Golf R. The GTD is launching in Europe this summer, but we won't be getting the seventh-generation Golf in the US for another year. The news about the performance diesel model isn't entirely unexpected – VW officials have been hinting at it for at least a year now, going so far as to import a sixth-generation model for media test drives on US soil, a task we happily took them up on last year.

The Mk VII GTD uses VW's 2.0-liter TDI engine with output increased to 184 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, allowing the car to sprint to 60 miles per hour in about seven seconds while returning more than 40 mpg in highway driving. We can't wait.

Maintenance Monday: Conserve Your Gas

Fill up with a lower-octane gasoline. Buy the lowest grade or octane of gasoline that is appropriate for your car. Unless your car requires premium gasoline, filling up your car with high-octane fuel is a waste of money. That pricey premium fuel won't boost your car's fuel economy or performance in the least, so skip it.

If you're not sure what grade of fuel works best for your car, open up your owner's manual and take a look. As long as your engine doesn't knock or ping when you fuel up with regular unleaded, you're good to drive on this much cheaper gas. Passing on pricey premium gasoline could save you hundreds of dollars a year.

Don't top off. Don't bother topping off when filling your car's gas tank. Any additional gas is just going to slop around or seep out. Why waste your money paying for gas your car won't use? Stop pumping at the first indication that your tank is full when the automatic nozzle clicks off.

Tighten up that gas cap. Gas will evaporate from your car's gas tank if it has an escape. Loose, missing or damaged gas caps cause 147 million gallons of gas to evaporate each year, according to the Car Care Council. So be sure to tighten up that gas cap each time you fuel up your car.

Go for the shade. The hot summer sun that makes the inside of your car feel like a sauna also zaps fuel from your gas tank.

"If you let your car bake in the sun there's going to be a greater amount of evaporative emissions that take place than if you park in the shade," says Jim Kliesch, research associate at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and vehicle analyst for GreenerCars.com.

So park your car in the shade of a building or tree whenever possible. And buy a good windshield shade. A windshield shade blocks sunlight and helps to keep heat out of the inside of your car.

Use your garage for your car. Got a garage? Clear it out and make room for your car. Parking in your garage will help your car stay warm in winter and cool in summer, and you won't have to depend as much on your gas-guzzling air-conditioning or defroster when you drive.

Pump up your tires. Don't get caught driving on underinflated tires. Underinflated tires wear down more quickly and they also lower your car's gas mileage.

"Tires that have low pressure offer more resistance so the engine is going to work harder to keep the car at 60," says Brian Moody, road test editor at Edmunds.com.

Your car's gas mileage may plummet by as much as 15 percent. Driving on underinflated tires may also reduce the life of your tires by 15 percent or more.

Check your tire pressure once a month. Buy a digital gauge and keep it in your glove box. Compare the pressure in your tires with the recommended pressure listed in your owner's manual and on the placard in your car door. Then inflate your tires as needed. Be sure to check tire pressure when your tires are cold. A good time is early in the morning after your car's been idle overnight.

Keep your engine in tune. Fixing a car that is out of tune or has failed an emissions test can boost gas mileage by about 4 percent. So be sure to give your car regular tune-ups. You'll also want to watch out for worn spark plugs. A misfiring spark plug can reduce a car's fuel efficiency by as much as 30 percent.

Replace air filters. Keep a close eye on your engine's air filter. When the engine air filter clogs with dirt, dust and bugs, it causes your engine to work harder and your car becomes less fuel-efficient. Replacing a clogged air filter could improve your gas mileage by as much as 10 percent and save you 15 cents a gallon. It's a good idea to have your engine air filter checked at each oil change. The Car Care Council recommends changing your car's air and oil filters every three months or 3,000 miles or as specified in your owner's manual.

Use the right oil. You can improve your car's gas mileage by 1 percent to 2 percent by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. Opt for motor oil with the words "energy conserving" on the API performance label. This oil contains friction-reducing additives.

Don't skimp on maintenance. Be serious about auto care. Your car's performance depends on it.

"Always follow the manufacturer-recommended maintenance," Moody says. "The car's designed to run a certain way. If you neglect it, it won't be as efficient."

VW Up Buggy may be headed to showrooms

Volkswagen showed six conceptual takes on its Up at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, one of those being the Up Buggy. Although few will probably remember it, VW has not forgotten it, applying for a patent for the Meyers Manx revival roadster way back in March 2012 and being approved in June of this year, according to a report in Autocar. That will give the automaker a 14-year lock on the design while it decides whether to move forward with a reboot of its past.

A patent doesn't mean the Up Buggy will ever move beyond the sheet-of-paper stage, but Autocar says VW is studying the market to see if a production version is feasible. We can't see North America ever getting it, but even so, we wouldn't complain if they made it - especially if they put an exposed engine in back that was set off by 18-inch-long twin tailpipes jutting straight up into the air. However, for a company that aims to be the world's number-one automaker by 2018, a niche vehicle for its mass-market brand would be a surprising use of resources.

Via Autoblog

Avoiding Summer Breakdowns

The record-setting heat seen across the country can put extra stress on your car -- especially if it has a lot of miles on it. You'll notice an increased number of cars on the side of the road, particularly on these really hot days.

There are some simple preventative maintenance steps you can take to avoid walking instead of driving this summer.

Tires: Think about walking across the blacktop parking lot barefoot on a hot summer day -- that is what your tires experience during summer months. In addition, the heat is multiplied by the friction caused by the weight of your car. Heat pushes the materials your tires are made of to their limit, causing blowouts and flat tires. Make sure a reputable mechanic looks at your tires at least every 3,000 miles. Also, in between, make sure you keep your tires inflated to the manufacturer's specification, which is found in the vehicle's owner's manual. This will not only prolong tire life but help reduce fuel consumption.

Belts: Another wearable item that is put under extra stress in the summer months is the serpentine belt, sometimes called the fan belt. The added under the hood heat and the use of air conditioning weakens it, and if broken it immobilizes your car. For less than half of the price of a tow-truck ride home, you can buy a new serpentine belt and have it installed.

Cooling system: Oil changes are followed pretty regularly by most owners. However, an often overlooked fluid change is your cooling system fluid, or coolant. While this fluid lasts thousands of miles, and many manufactures call their coolant “100,000 mile” fluid, it should not be neglected. Have your dealer or mechanic test your fluid to ensure that it is up to snuff. Also, if your car does not have the high-mileage fluid in it, having it flushed and changed every two years is a good rule of thumb.

Air conditioning: While this system won't always leave you stranded when it fails (though it can), living without A/C on a hot day isn't fun. There is a lubricant in the system that can break down over time, and it should be conditioned every three years or as needed.

- Courtesy of Autoweek

5-Star Review on Yelp!

Check out this review we received over the weekend:

"We bought a new Volkswagen and our experience was outstanding!  Our salesman Momo was HONEST and made the experience easy and carefree.  We would definitely recommend him and this dealership."

Read other great reviews like this here: http://bit.ly/10bEby1