1. Look farther up the road and stay focused on your driving so you can know ahead of time when you may be turning to face directly into the sun. Think ahead and be ready.
2. Have good sunglasses at the ready. By this I mean within a seconds’ reach and not stuffed away in the glove box, purse or sliding around the floor of the vehicle. Ideally, keep them on your head, ready to be swung down in a split second when needed.
3. Expect traffic to slow when you do head into the sun.
4. Be prepared to pull off the road in a safe place if you still can’t see. Don’t stop on the travelled portion of the road as the driver in the aforementioned SUV did. The sun will rise high enough or sink low enough in a few minutes to allow safer driving. Be patient.
5. Your car’s sun visor should be lowered when needed so the sun is blocked.
6. Try not to look directly into the sun but towards the edge of the road. Looking directly into the sun can cause eye damage.
7. Reduce your speed to reflect the fact that visibility is compromised. You don’t have to slow to a crawl but slow down enough to compensate for reduced visibility.
8. Leave a bigger gap between you and the vehicles in front of you and remember to keep an eye on your rear view mirrors for any vehicles rapidly closing in from behind.
9. Keep your windows clean, especially the inside of your windshield. Off-gases from the vinyl dashboard will start to coat the inside surface of your windshield with an opaque film that greatly reduces visibility when the sun shines directly on it. It is much worse for those who smoke in their vehicles. A good quality glass cleaner or a simple mixture of vinegar and water will clean this film off.
10. Put your headlights on, (not just your DRLs), not so much for the light ahead of you but for your tail lights, which only come on when your headlights are on full. Having your tail lights on will enable motorists behind you to see you better.

Kids are precious cargo and Rudolph Chevrolet would like to share some general tips on how to keep your kids safe on the road. Common sense dictates children should ride secured in a car seat while in the vehicle. However, navigating the landscape of car seats and installation can be daunting. Good news, there are several online and local resources to help parents understand the do’s and don’ts of car seats.

CarSafety.org is an excellent online resource to start with and offers a car seat buying guide in addition to many other tips and articles.

Parent Central has an interactive car seat selector to help you decide on the right car seat by child’s age and size.

Once you’ve decided on the right car seat, have your car seat inspected by National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) . Certified technicians will inspect your child car seat, in most cases, free of charge – and show you how to correctly install and use it. Use the
Child Car Seat Inspection Station Locator  to find a station near you.

General Tips from SaferCar.Gov

• Select a car seat based on your child’s age and size, and choose a seat that fits in your vehicle and use it every time.
• Always refer to your specific car seat manufacturer’s instructions (check height and weight limits) and read the vehicle owner’s manual on how to install the car seat using the seat belt or lower anchors and a tether, if available.
• To maximize safety, keep your child in the car seat for as long as possible, as long as the child fits within the manufacturer’s height and weight requirements.
• Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12. Kids 12 and under should ALWAYS ride in the back seat. This cuts their risk of death by 36%.
• Kids should be in a carseat or booster until they can be seated properly in a seatbelt. For most kids, this is around 8-12 years old or 4′ 9″ tall, but proper seatbelt fit is the most important factor.
• Never place a rear-facing carseat in the front seat when there is an active frontal airbag.
• Keep your baby rear-facing as long as possible. That can mean up to 35 or 40 pounds in most current convertible seats, unless they outgrow it by height first.
• Make sure that the harness fits snugly on your child, the carseat fits snugly in your vehicle, and that your vehicle seatbelts are locked properly.
• When you buy a carseat, make sure you have a good return policy in case it doesn’t fit or in case you find you don’t like it. Have your seat inspected by a certified technician for free at a checkup event or fitting station.
• Please be wary of used car seats, especially those over six years old, those with an unknown history that may have been in a crash, those that show any form of cracks or damage, and those with missing labels, model number, manufacturing date, instructions or parts.
• Please give driving your complete, unimpaired attention and wear your own seatbelt all the time. These two simple steps are among these easiest ways you can protect yourself and your passengers from injury or death.

The Camaro legend was born Sept. 29, 1966 when GM introduced it’s answer to Ford’s popular Mustang. The Camaro was designed to bring the sports car driving experience to the average driver. The first Camaro went on sale in September 1966 with a base price of $2466. The base engine was a 230-cubic-inch (3.8-liter) straight-six rated at 140 gross horsepower. The option list was long and included four different small-block V-8s and two big-blocks. The top choice was the 375-hp, 396-cubic-inch (6.5-liter) L78 big-block.

The Camaro is all American Muscle and has been featured in several movies over the years. Here is a list for Camaro enthusiasts where the Camaro was featured. Whether a getaway car or a car -to- robot, the Camaro has made its mark on the silver screen.

1. Christine
2. Better Off Dead
3. Cop and a 1/2
4. Transformers
5. Transformers 2 & 3
6. Fast & Furious
7. 2 Fast 2 Furious
8. Aloha Bobby & Rose
9. Tuff Turf
10. A Walk to Remember
11. Body Double
12. Once a Thief
13. Executive Target
14. Remember the Titans
15. After the Sunset
16. The Other Side of the Tracks
17. Fast Times at Ridgemont High
18. El Cartel
19. Summer of Sam
20. Brewster McCloud
21. Eat My Dust
22. Six Pack
23. The Gumball Rally

Summer has arrived to Novato and there are plenty of fun activities the whole family can enjoy in the area. The beach, local shopping centers and museums. We think you would find the Space Station Museum interesting.

Space Station Museum
The Space Station Museum is a privately funded, volunteered staffed space exploration museum that is operated by the 501c3 non-profit corporation, “The W Foundation”. TWF owns one of the largest private collections of U.S., Russian and Soviet space exploration artifacts. The organization has attracted legendary figures such as Apollo 12 Astronaut Dick Gordon, award-winning actor Bill Pullman and video game designer Will Wright to its Board of Advisors.
It is located in the Pacheco Plaza, a shopping center located in the upscale Ignacio neighborhood of Novato.
The museums mission is to have permanent space exhibits in the Bay Area to help educate children about the exciting history of space exploration, and to increase the public’s understanding that a strong global commitment toward future space travel is an important key to accelerating our civilization’s development. The emphasis will be on the history of space exploration, and how discoveries in science and technology allowed the U.S. to be a leader in space travel.
This is especially important in California, because this state was the birthplace of America’s spacecraft such as the X-Planes, the Apollo Command Module, the Space Shuttle, the Hubble Telescope, Spaceship One, the Space X Falcon Rocket and the robotic rovers that are currently roaming Mars.

Hitting the open road is one of summer’s greatest pleasures. So buckle up, roll down the windows, and hit the gas—America awaits. Here are the 10 best, most adventure-packed road trips in the country as noted by Outside magazine.

Eureka, California, to Coos Bay, Oregon
Soak in the Pacific on this 250-mile trip from Eureka to Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area—it’s every bit as stunning as California’s iconic Highway 1, but without the crowds.

Southern Colorado Loop
Bomb down epic singletrack, play in Class IV whitewater, and take in Colorado’s famous 14,000-foot vistas on this 500-mile multisport tour of a lifetime.

Grand Canyon, Arizona, to Moab, Utah
Hit six classic national parks in a ten-day, 862-mile epic through the best canyons in the Southwest.

Jackson, Wyoming, to Glacier National Park, Montana
See the country’s most iconic wildlife and mountains at five stunning national parks along this 600-mile route.

Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Forge your way through 495,000-acre Chugach State Park and the 1.9-million-acre Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on a 500-mile pilgrimage through the Last Frontier.

Olympic Peninsula loop, Washington
Get soaked on this 550-mile journey past 73 miles of Pacific coastline, dozens of whitewater rivers, and a temperate rainforest in a million-acre national park.

The Big Island loop, Hawaii
Play in the waves and summit a snow-covered volcano in the same day on this 300-mile tour of paradise.

Las Cruces, New Mexico, through West Texas
Explore the biggest, starkest landscapes in the country on this 950-mile, ten-day adventure.

Duluth, Minnesota, to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan
Get your fill of Lake Superior views on this 550-mile, five-day tour through prime hiking and biking country.

New Orleans, Louisiana, to Apalachicola, Florida
Gorge yourself on this 425-mile seafood tasting menu, with plenty of opportunities to surf, kayak, or hang out on the beach along the way.

Car shopping means you have a decision to make once about financing the car if you aren’t paying cash once you’ve picked out the vehicle you wish to drive home. Novato Chevrolet would like to shed some light in this post about the differences between buying vs leasing a vehicle. If you are financing your vehicle, leasing is one option. Let’s look to see if leasing or buying makes the most sense for you. Below is a table that details some of the differences.

Benefits of Leasing a Car

Leasing a car is similar to financing the purchase of the car in many ways, but there are some key differences. You might be able to get more car for less money by leasing. That’s because a car loan is based on the full price of a new car, while a lease is based on only a percentage of the car’s price. For example, on a $30,000 car, you’d finance the entire $30,000 purchase price with a car loan. With a car lease, you only pay the difference between the car’s price and what it’s expected to be worth at the end of the lease, which is a car’s residual value. So if the car’s residual value is 55 percent after three years, for example, that means the $30,000 car would be worth $16,500 at the end of the lease. You’d make lease payments on the remaining $13,500 and not the full $30,000.
If you only have a small down payment saved up, leasing may also be better for you. Many car leases require anywhere from $0 to several thousand dollars up front, though the down payment is negotiable. Many advertised lease offers will promote low payments, but require a sizeable down payment. If you want to put as little down as possible, remember that your monthly lease payments will be higher.
Many leases last about three years, which is typically the length of many new-car bumper-to-bumper warranties. That means the car is usually covered under warranty for repairs for the duration of the lease. You still need to maintain the car, though, which includes oil changes, tire rotations and recommended maintenance from the manufacturer. Failure to properly maintain the car during the lease can result in fees when you turn the car in at the end of the lease.
If you enjoy having the newest high-tech features, leasing could be the better choice for you. Since you’d be leasing every few years, each new car you lease will have the latest and greatest technology and safety features. With a leased car, you don’t have to worry about selling the car or getting a good price for your trade-in. When the lease is up, you can simply turn in the car and walk away.

Benefits of Buying a Car
If you like to keep your vehicle as long as possible, buying is probably better for you. When you buy, you own the car when the loan is paid off.
One of the biggest benefits that buying has over leasing is that there are no mileage restrictions. If you do a lot of driving, buying is probably better for you.

When it comes to buying and leasing, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Consider your budget, driving needs, lifestyle and credit history before you decide whether to buy or lease. There are auto lenders who can provide you with financing that works best for you, no matter whether you decide to buy or lease your next vehicle.

If you have any questions about the purchase process please reach out to our team at Novato Chevrolet in Novato, California.

The New 2016 Chevy Silverado has a bunch of new features and an updated appearance you’re sure to love whether you’re a new truck shopper or a long-time fan of the Chevrolet Silverado. The new model combines a refined, beautiful interior with the strength and durability Silverado’s are famous for.

First, let’s take a look at the updated exterior. The 2016 Silverado is as tough, practical and good-looking as ever. Consider the new LED lights added to all models. If you go with the LTZ or High Country models, you’ll get LED lights for all exterior lights including the fog lamps, taillights and turn signals. Not only do these new lights look great, they’re perfect for lighting your way in the dark.

The new 2016 Silverado also features an updated body design with more definition in the hood’s peaks and valleys as well as an updated grille, giving the Silverado a sleek appearance that’s fitting for personal use as much as it is for a hard day’s work.

Inside, the new 2016 Silverado is designed to keep you connected in today’s wireless world. Any Silverados with the 7.0-inch touch screen will offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to sync your smartphone or tablet. Beyond hands-free phone use, when you sync your smartphone, you’ll also be able to access other apps and listen to music or an audio book or your phone’s GPS.

In addition to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, the new Silverados also have features available like wireless phone charging and safety features like collision alerts, lane-keeping assist to alert you if you cross the line and automatic high beams.

Under the hood, the Silverado engines have stayed the same but the V-8 does come standard on more models than before, including the LTZ and High Country models.

If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to a new Chevy Silverado, this is a great model year to do it. There are multiple updates and upgrades making the new 2016 Silverado modern and as reliable as ever.