- The first step is to make sure your vehicle is operating properly. The lights, oil, tires (condition and pressure level), belts and hoses, brake fluid, antifreeze fluid and the condition of the battery should all be checked by a professional before leaving. You can schedule an appointment online to have our qualified service department do a thorough inspection, and be sure to check our service specials for savings on any parts and labor your automobile might need.
- Plan your route in advance and check traffic reports and weather conditions before you leave. As a backup, bring along a paper map. Even with a GPS system it's wise to bring along another option should something occur where using a GPS is not possible.
- Follow speed limits and remember excess traffic and congestion on the roads may mean you'll have to travel below posted limits. Drive defensively and don't respond to aggressive drivers: It's far less frustrating to let an aggressive driver pass than to become aggressive yourself.
- It sounds simple, but a good night's sleep before departing can help make the trip more enjoyable. Be sure to take regular breaks during long road trips as it can be very dangerous to drive when you're overly tired. Pull over and stop in a safe area if you are tired, or around every 100 miles or 2 hours.
- Be prepared for emergencies - keep a blanket, boots, an extra pair of gloves and a flashlight in the trunk of your car. Traction mats, kitty litter or sand can be used to improve traction on icy surfaces. Also, keep the gas tank at least half-filled to prevent fuel line freezing in colder climates.
- Don't forget to secure your home when you leave, and do not post on social media sites that you will be away. Timers to turn lights on and off can give the impression that the property is occupied. If possible, have a neighbor or relative check on the house and even park a car in the driveway. Let someone know where you are going and what time you expect to be there.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Happy Halloween from Benson Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram!
The spookiest time of year is upon us, and there are tons of activities going on for kids of all ages all over the Upstate. Greenville hosts events appropriate for even the youngest trick-or-treaters, like Boo At The Zoo, at the Greenville Zoo, and Booseum at the Greenville Children's Museum, and a Halloween Costume Contest hosted by the Greenville Humane Society for ghouls of both the two and four-legged kind. Those looking for a more interactive experience for teens and older folks looking for a good scare can check out the Madworld Haunted Attraction in nearby Piedmont. This attraction is one of Greenville County's newest and features top-notch actors, make-up, and the unique chance for participants to "shoot" zombie hordes in a zombie-apocalyptic setting. For the serious paranormal fan, a tour of downtown Greenville's most haunted locations is available with local psychic and paranormal reasearcher Jason Profit. Details about these and other Upstate South Caronlina attractions, like Nightmare Hollow in Spartanburg, a haunted trail that lies along the Tyger River, and Wompus Woods Haunted Trail in Cowpens, can be found at www.ourupstatesc.info and greenvilleonline.com.
- Slow down in residential neighborhoods and obey all traffic signs and signals. Drive at least 5 mph below the posted speed limit to give yourself extra time to react to children who may dart into the street.
- Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs. In dark costumes, they’ll be harder to see at night.
- Look for children crossing the street. They may not be paying attention to traffic and cross the street mid-block or between parked cars.
- Carefully enter and exit driveways and alleys.
- Turn on your headlights to make yourself more visible – even in the daylight.
- Broaden your scanning by looking for children left and right into yards and front porches.
- Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours
Friday, September 19, 2014
The 8th Annual Benson OctoberFAST 5K Twilight Run/Walk
In just two short weeks, the 8th Annual Benson OctoberFAST 5K Twilight Run/Walk, celebrating the life of J.B. Day, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 6pm at Greer First Baptist Church, Poinsett St., downtown Greer (will be held if it rains).
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Thank You, Mr. Jim Benson!
The Benson Automotive Group, has been an icon of automotive capitalism for the last 50+ years in the Upstate of South Carolina which is a globally-recognized hub of automotive industry. It's owner, Jim Benson, and the Benson family, have been pioneers in philanthropy, giving back to the community, with charitable donations and in actively participating in the community, that has made the Benson name synonymous with automotive success in the Upstate.
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Strong-Arming the HEMI Engine: 1964 and 1965 HEMI Drivers Got an Added Workout!
By Steve Magnante As we celebrate 50 years of 426 HEMI engine power, lets remember that Chrysler Corp. actually created three distinct generations of this fabled dome-head power plant. The first generation appeared in Chrysler vehicles in 1951 and with unique variations for use in Dodge and DeSoto models was offered through the 1958 model run. The second generation is the one racers love. Thats the mighty 426 HEMI engine of the 19641971 era. Of course, the third generation of the HEMI engine is whats driving so much excitement at Dodge these days. Available in 5.7-, Read More
The post Strong-Arming the HEMI Engine: 1964 and 1965 HEMI Drivers Got an Added Workout! appeared first on The Official Blog of Dodge.
http://blog.dodge.com/heritage/dodge-brand-history/strong-arming-hemi-engine-1964-1965-hemi-drivers-got-added-workout/
Monday, July 28, 2014
Mopar Custom Hood Decal for Your Jeep Brand Vehicle
Never forget your map at home again. With the help of Mopars Jeep Performance Parts, the hood of your Jeep brand vehicle can now be customized with a topographical map of the area of your choosing. To start creating your vehicles decal, visit the customizer on the Mopar website. From there, you can select the map, style and border color that best fits your Jeep brand vehicle. If you dont have a particular map location in mind for your decal, you can always use an infamous off-roading location option such as Hells Revenge or the Rubicon Trail. Once youve selected your map and border, you can add a bulls-eye or compass icon to pinpoint an exact location on your map. After your design is complete, all youll need to do is submit your e-mail address to secure your design. Mopar will e-mail you a unique code that matches with your exact design. You can then take that code to your local dealer where theyll be able to place an order for the decal as well as help you schedule an installation appointment. The decals will be available for Jeep Read More
The post Mopar Custom Hood Decal for Your Jeep ® Brand Vehicle appeared first on The Jeep Blog.
http://blog.jeep.com/company/mopar-hood-decal-jeep/
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Five Tips for Off-roading on Sand in your Jeep Brand Vehicle
To many Jeep brand fans, the summer season means one thing: finally taking a long-awaited off-roading trip to a sandy spot. Whether youre taking your Jeep brand vehicle to the beach for the day or attempting to climb to the top of a sand dune along the shoreline, its important to understand how your vehicle performs in sand. For all the beginners out there, weve come up with a few tips to help you prepare for your next sand-filled excursion. As always, remember to drive consistent with your experience level and the conditions. 1. Make sure your vehicle is properly equipped. Before your vehicles tires even touch the sand, its important to make sure you have all the proper equipment. When driving on sand dunes, this may include a tall antenna with an attached flag to help make your vehicle more visible to others in the area. Make sure to check with the parks guidelines before heading out for a full list of requirements. 2. Drop your tire pressure. Dropping your tire pressure 10-12 pounds below normal can help maintain traction in sandy conditions. Just dont forget to air up Read More
The post Five Tips for Off-roading on Sand in your Jeep ® Brand Vehicle appeared first on The Jeep Blog.
http://blog.jeep.com/adventures/five-tips-roading-sand-jeep-reg-brand-vehicle/