How do you know that your car is in great condition? The best way is to have it inspected by professionals on a regular basis. If your vehicle is due to be looked at, you may be asking: “how long does a car inspection take?” This guide goes over what the process entails to keep you prepared.

The Elements of a Car Inspection

There are four main elements of a vehicle inspection:

Fluid Check

Because fluids can run low, they all need to be checked. A variety of systems rely on fluids, such as:

• Brakes
• Power steering
• Transmission
• Master cylinder
• Heating/cooling system
• Windshield wipers

Any fluids getting low can be topped off. Certain fluids — such as the oil and transmission fluid — can also be changed if they are thick and dirty.

Tire Examination

Your tires will get a visual examination to make sure that they are in good condition and that the treads are at a safe level. The tire pressure will also be checked to see if it is at the right level. If necessary, you can have your tires rotated as well.

Brake Inspection

Your braking system will be looked at closely to determine how everything is working. This includes the brake pads, shoes, and rotors.

Battery Test

Your car’s battery will be tested to determine how much charge it has. Technicians will also look for corrosion, a swelling case, or other signs of trouble.

Schedule Your Car Inspection with Lyon-Waugh Auto Group

If all these areas look good, your vehicle inspection probably won’t take more than an hour. If, however, some replacements are necessary, it may be a little while longer. If you would like to have your car inspected, get in touch with Lyon Waugh Auto Group to set up an appointment.

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Are you shopping for a luxury car and planning to finance the purchase? Whether this is the first car you’re buying or just the first time with luxury car financing, this guide will help you understand what this involves.

The Basics of Financing

With financing, you put up some money right away for the down payment and the rest you will borrow. The recommendation is to supply 20 percent of the sale price. Using an older vehicle as a trade-in can help with the down payment. Then you will pay off the loan — as well as the interest — over time every month.

Car Loan Length

The length of car loans, also known as the loan term, can vary pretty significantly. They can be as short as a year or perhaps as long as seven years. It will be up to you to decide on your loan term. Somewhere in the middle is probably your best bet, as this can result in reasonable monthly payments without having too much interest accrue.

Cutting Financing Costs

There are things you can do to reduce your financing expenses. Choosing a cheaper new model or a pre-owned or Certified Pre-Owned vehicle can help you save quite a bit. If you can swing it, you could also put up a larger down payment so you won’t have to borrow as much money. Going with a shorter loan term – while it will raise your monthly payment – will end up saving you a lot in interest.

Starting the Financing Process in Peabody

If you’re ready to get the financing process started, Lyon-Waugh Auto Group in Peabody aims to make it easy. Contact us and we will help you get pre-approved and behind the wheel in no time!

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No matter which luxury vehicle you drive, you of course want to keep it in fantastic condition. Fortunately doing this isn’t difficult. The most important thing is to know what luxury car maintenance entails and when to get it. This guide offers great insight.

Oil Changes

There’s a reason why oil changes are considered the most vital car service. For an engine to function properly, motor oil needs to flow through it. But not just any oil — it has to be clean. Over time, oil gets dirty, and it also gets thicker. When this happens, an engine won’t be able to perform as well. Another bad side effect is that this hurts fuel economy. You should make a point to have your oil changed about every six months.

Tire Rotations

To get the best performance from your tires, they need to be rotated regularly so the treads can wear down evenly. Doing this will also give them a much longer lifespan. If you don’t rotate your tires, they may last about 20,000 miles. With rotations, they can last as long as 50,000 miles. You should get this service task done twice per year.

Battery Tests

A brand-new battery doesn’t typically have a very long life. At most, it will probably last around five years. To gauge how much power your car’s battery has remaining, it should be tested yearly. Once the charge starts getting low, you will then be able to replace it. 

Brake Inspections

For the sake of your safety, the braking system in your vehicle has to be in very good condition. This is something that should be closely looked at on an annual basis. Things like pads, shoes, and rotors eventually wear out, and an inspection will let you know if you need to make any replacements.

If your car is due for service, it will be in the best hands at Lyon-Waugh Auto Group. Contact us to make an appointment at one of our service centers in the Nashua area.

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How many times have your brakes prevented a near calamity? Whether it was somebody changing lanes without looking or a careless pedestrian, your braking system has probably saved you (and others) from disaster countless times. This is why regular brake service is so vital, as this ensures that they are in good condition and doing what they need to do to keep you safe. Here are some important things to consider about your brakes.

Getting Your Brakes Inspected

Brake inspections should be part of the regular service you get for your vehicle. Ideally, the entire system should be examined every year so you can feel confident that everything is working properly.

Brake System Replacements

The good news with brakes is that they generally stay in fine shape for a while. Eventually, however, things will need to be replaced. The pads typically last until about 20,000 miles. The shoes can usually go to around 30,000 or so. Rotors have a lifespan of about 50,000 miles.

Signs of Brake Trouble

In between brake inspections, it’s important to pay attention to your system. If you notice any of these things, something is wrong:

• Squeaking or Squealing: If you hear a high-pitched noise while applying the brakes, chances are good that this is the built-in warning telling you that a brake pad is getting thin.
• Grinding: A grinding sound is a lot more troubling, as this could be an indication that the pad has completely worn through and that now the caliber and rotor are rubbing together.
• Spongey Pedal: If the brake pedal is suddenly very soft and you have to press it hard to engage the brakes, this could be related to a leak in the brake line.

You never want to take a chance with your brakes. If you’ve noticed anything wrong with them, schedule an appointment with the service center at Lyon-Waugh Auto Group.

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If you’ve never leased a vehicle before, you might think that it is a complicated process. The truth is that it may be a lot simpler than you realize. If you’re ready to lease a luxury car, this guide goes over the steps to take.

Choose Your Vehicle

The first step in the leasing process is to pick out the car you want. The dealerships in the Lyon-Waugh Auto Group family always have a big selection of luxury models to pick from, including those from Acura, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. Plus, we offer a variety of quality pre-owned and Certified Pre-Owned vehicles.

Pick Your Lease Term

Your next consideration is how long you want to lease your car for. You could go as short as a year or perhaps as long as five years. Most people lease a car for three or four years. It’s important to note that the shorter the lease, the higher your monthly payments will be.

Consider Using a Trade-In Vehicle

If you’re looking for ways to cut costs with your lease, you should consider trading in your current vehicle. While leasing doesn’t require a down payment, you will need to put up some initial fees, and the value of your trade-in could take care of those. They also may be able to reduce how much you will need to pay every month.

Lyon-Waugh Auto Group Makes the Leasing Process Easy

If you have any questions about leasing a luxury vehicle, get in touch with the Lyon-Waugh Auto Group in Peabody, MA. We can show you what’s in stock and help you pick out the right car with the right lease terms. Visit us today!

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When it comes to car care, you have a lot of choices. One that you don’t want to take lightly concerns the parts in your vehicle. There are two basic types: original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and aftermarket. This guide goes over OEM car parts and aftermarket components so you can see why one is superior to the other.

OEM Parts

As the name implies, OEM parts come right from the carmaker. They are designed and built by automotive experts. They are also meant specifically for your car’s make, model, and trim so they offer a precise fit and the best performance. OEM components are comprised of high-quality materials, and they have excellent durability and longevity. These parts also come with warranty coverage.

Aftermarket Parts

Aftermarket parts come from third-party parts companies. They are mass-produced and intended to be used in a variety of different types of vehicles. They are also generally cheaper, as they are made with lower-quality materials compared to OEM parts. As such, they tend to wear out faster. Most aftermarket parts don’t come with any sort of warranty, but if they do, it is generally very limited.

Choose Only Genuine OEM Auto Parts

Eventually, some of the parts in your car will wear out and need to be replaced. When this happens, it’s important to pick your replacements wisely. At Lyon-Waugh Auto Group, we only use OEM components. Whether you need to order something from our parts department or have something installed in our service center, you can be sure that you will get quality parts you’ll be able to count on. 

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Shoppers looking to replace their pre-owned cars have a big decision on their hands. Should they sell their old vehicle? Trade it in? Or maybe just keep it? This guide can help them figure out the best course of action.

Sell It

While it’s true that in many cases selling a car will get you the most money, this can also be a hassle. You have to advertise your vehicle and hope you can find a buyer willing to give you what you’re asking.

Selling can also be a nuisance because when you do sell it, immediately you won’t have a car, which could be tricky, even for getting down to a dealership.

Trade It In

The best part of trading in a vehicle is that the entire process can be done at the dealership. They’ll let you know what they will offer you and then you can immediately pick out your replacement.

Plus, right now, pre-owned car values are still high, which means that what a dealership offers could be very comparable to what you could get from a private sale.

Keep It

It could make the most sense not to sell or trade in your car. If you only have the one vehicle and there are multiple drivers in your household, the smartest move may be to hang on to it for a while.

Not sure what you should do with your cold car? Lyon-Waugh Auto Group can help you make the best decision. In addition to offering top dollar for your trade-in, we have a big selection of new, pre-owned, and Certified Pre-Owned models that could be the perfect replacement.

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While you may have a rudimentary idea of how some car parts work, it often pays to dig a little deeper. The spark plugs, for example, are a component most people know about, but they’d probably have a hard time describing what they do exactly.

This guide aims to offer some insight. 

The Role of Spark Plugs

The spark plugs aren’t named by accident. When you turn your car on, they provide the spark of electricity needed for the engine. This spark ignites the fuel and air mixture in order to get the pistons moving.

Replacing Your Spark Plugs

The good news with spark plugs is that they usually last a very long time. Because they can hold up well to 100,000 miles, you may never need to worry about them.

If your car is getting close to that number, however, it’s a good idea to have the spark plugs examined.

When Spark Plugs Go Bad

While age is generally the biggest factor when it comes to spark plugs wearing out, they can go bad. This can happen when carbon builds up, which is often attributed to an old and dirty fuel filter. When the fuel-to-air ratio is incorrect, this is another factor that can lead to faulty spark plugs.

Signs of Bad Spark Plugs

There are some warning signs to look out for with your spark plugs. If you have trouble getting your car started, it could be that the plugs are starting to fail. Rough idling or lackluster acceleration are other issues that could indicate you need new spark plugs.

To have your spark plugs looked at, you can make an appointment with the service center at Lyon-Waugh Auto Group in Peabody.

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There are so many perks toaluxury car lease. While lease prices are certainly attractive, you’ve probably noticed they’ve started to climb. These are the ins and outs of securing an auto lease at Lyon-Waugh Auto Group.  

Leasing a Vehicle

When you lease a vehicle, you’ll benefit from a lower auto payment than you’ll see when financing. You will work with our team to set up a term for your lease, which usually last two or three years. Then, at the end of your lease, you just need to return your vehicle to our dealership – there’s no selling stress involved.

Lease Payments

You’ll be responsible for making regular monthly payments throughout the duration of your lease. The cost of your lease is determined by looking at your vehicle’s current value and its estimated value at the end of your lease, also known as its residual value. You’ll have to pay the difference between the two, which is your vehicle’s depreciation.

Leasing is much more affordable than financing, but it does include restrictions. Since your vehicle’s cost is dependent on its value, if it has extra mileage or wear at the end of your lease, you will likely owe more.

The Reason Behind the Rise

As we mentioned, your vehicle’s cost is dependent on its current value. Unfortunately, since everything has been so shaken up in the market in recent years, car production has decreased. However, the demand for vehicles is still high, so that forces vehicle prices to rise.

Want to discuss your lease options? Stop in at our car dealership in Peabody, MA to visit with our team about your options or get started securing your luxury lease today! 

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There are so many benefits to buyingpre-owned cars, but you have to make sure you are getting one you can trust. Keep these car-buying tips from Lyon-Waugh Auto Group in mind when buying a pre-owned car, truck, or SUV.

Don’t Skip Your Research

As new vehicles hit the market, research can be limited. However, with pre-owned vehicles, you can see reviews from people who have already owned the vehicle and see what consumers think. Plus, it’s helpful to look up reliability scores and see if the vehicle has had a lot of reported issues.  

Don’t Just Look for the Best Deal

Pre-owned cars often deliver serious savings and it’s easy to be influenced by a killer deal. While price is undoubtedly an important factor when car-shopping, make sure it isn’t the only one. You still want to carefully consider your must-haves out of a new vehicle.

Don’t Forget to Review the Vehicle History Report

The vehicle history report is a thorough report of the life your vehicle has lived so far. It lets you easily see how your vehicle has been cared for, so you know if it’s been taken care of properly. Some factors you’ll be able to peruse are:

• History-based value report
• Ownership history
• Title history
• Additional history (open recalls, reported damage, etc.)

Don’t Buy Without Taking a Test Drive

No matter how great a vehicle looks, or even how clean its history is, you still need to take it for a test drive. You want to make sure the car is everything you expected, first of all, and you can comfortably navigate it. You also need to make sure it performs the way it should.

When you shop at any of our car dealerships in Peabody, MA, you can shop with confidence. There are no clunkers on our lots. Stop in and shop today!

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