Tires: Here’s the thing about your tires, they are SUPPOSED to be the only part of your car that makes contact with the road. Potholes smash that dream into a thousand tiny pieces…sometimes literally. A potholes’ jagged edges can wreak havoc on your tires so if you see any bulges, tread separation or flats be sure to get those issues taken care of immediately.  Keeping tires properly inflated can help with this a bit.

Wheels: Much like your tires, the wheels to which your tires are attached will feel the cold and angry force of a pothole. Wheel damage looks like bends, chips, or cracks in the wheel itself. Fun fact about a bent wheel: it is no longer a round object. I may not know a lot about wheels, but I do know that if it’s not round it’s not rolling. Be sure to have the wheels checked out for hairline fractures that might not be as easily visible as chips or bends.  

Suspension: Perhaps you enjoy the invigorating feeling of having your car violently shake every move it makes? If not, and you’d much rather a smooth ride in which you don’t feel like a mixed drink, you will appreciate all that your car’s suspension does for you. It takes the impact of the road and provides a nice smooth ride. A few things that a pothole can really mess up with your suspension including misalignment, broken ball joints, and damaged shocks or struts. You should 100% have a qualified mechanic from Destination Nissan check these issues out for you.

Exhaust: Your exhaust pipes are basically sitting ducks when it comes to potholes. Potholes will take these guys out without any remorse. Deep potholes can cause your car to bottom out and tear up your undercarriage which, I promise you, will ruin you exhaust pipe’s day. What’s worse, a leaky pipe can let exhaust fumes into the cabin, posing a potentially serious health hazard. Again, get that checked out by a professional. Risking your health isn’t worth it.

Body: The thing about cars that are lower to the ground is that, while they handle much better than most, they will inevitably fall victim to potholes lurking around every corner. It’s not their fault, it’s just how they are built. In addition to the issues listed above that require attention to be able to drive safely, a pothole can mess up your nice, new polished vehicle’s crisp appearance. While it won’t affect performance, it can be a real bummer when you have a nice car.

The good news is that MOST potholes aren’t big or deep enough to pose a threat to your car. With correctly inflated tires and aligned suspension, chances are it will roll right through them. However, as seasons change and potholes grow, you need to stay alert and avoid them as best you can. If you don’t, you risk expensive car part repairs and replacements. If ever you feel like your car has been damaged by a pothole you can stop by Destination Nissan’s Service Department and we’ll be happy to thoroughly check your vehicle to make sure that it’s safe to drive.

1. DO drive slowly through the parking lot. This is not Grand Theft Auto, you don’t get points for hitting people in the parking lot. You do, however, go to jail. So maybe don’t speed around parking lots.

2. DO signal if you plan to take a parking space. I usually love a good guessing game, but friends, I’m not a mind reader and can not tell where you intend to go without those sweet little signals.

3. DO NOT take a spot that someone else is signaling for. I feel like this should be an obvious one, but, as it happens all the time, let me reiterate. IF SOMEONE ELSE IS SIGNALING, THAT IS NOT YOUR SPOT.

4. DO NOT park too close to another car. I am 100% pro cuddling, ok. That is great. DO NOT cuddle your car up to my car. No one wants that. No one.

5. DO NOT park across multiple spots. Just don’t do it, man. Come on, we get it, don’t touch you. But like, taking up all those spaces and messing with the natural order of the parking lot is not going to enact a protective barrier around your car. Please, pick 1 spot.

6. DO NOT park in an electric vehicle charging spot. That’s just a jerk move. Don’t be a jerk. People need that spot. Unless you have an electric vehicle, don’t do it.

7. DO NOT block someone’s trunk or tailgate. So if you’re at a grocery store, it seems fairly obvious that they will, upon returning to the car need to access their trunk. Maybe don’t block that. That sounds like a good plan.

8. DO NOT pull your car so far into the parking space that the space appears to be free. Here’s the thing friends, there is nothing more soul crushing than thinking that a space is open, only to realize that it’s just a CRAZY small car. The light literally leaves my eyes. Please try to keep your vehicle visible.

9. DO park if you don’t want your car hit or scratched and want to keep it safe, rather than taking up 4 parking spots(I have seen this done and honestly it’s excessive) you can park farther off it the lot so that people will leave your car alone.

10. DO NOT park unevenly. That’s why the lines exist guys. To show you where your car should go. It’s like coloring in the lines, I know that we can do this.

11. DO back out slowly. I don’t know what it is about parking lots, but every time I go to pull out there is a random small child sprinting behind my car. SO, pull out slowly. Save a life.

Accidents happen, but taking safety precautions can help to reduce those numbers. Stay safe and be respectful!

This weekend is the 4th of July weekend, so naturally, a few of my friends and I decided that this would be the perfect way to celebrate. These friends have never been camping before so we decided to get together to figure out what we’ll need to pack with us.

When we gathered at my apartment it immediately became apparent that they just packed everything they could think of. Maybe even over packed. They each had like 3 suitcases for a 2-night camping trip. That in addition to the tent, wood for the fire, tarps in case of rain, a small grill in case the rain is a pain, Sleeping bags, pillows, food AND TOILET PAPER, it was looking like we might have trouble fitting everything in my 2017 Nissan Versa. Don’t get me wrong, I could fit all of our things in there, it’s got a lot of space, but I wouldn’t be able to fit my friends too.

One of my friends announced that her mom JUST got a 2017 Nissan Armada from Destination Nissan, and we could probably borrow it. Her mom drives a and I promise you, I’ve never felt more sure that a vehicle was meant for a camping trip in my life. We were able to pack LITERALLY everything and still have plenty of space to spread out for our long drive. Upon arriving at the campsite, we quickly realized that we had to drive up a steep unpaved hill. The Armada drove up that hill like it was nothing. Smooth as butter, friends.

In short, this time our trip is shaping up to be a MUCH better experience. The only thing we forgot was sunscreen…but…how burned could we get really? Right? RIGHT? *Skin starts burning*

This new model is called the “Rogue Dogue” project vehicle and it recently made its official world debut at the 2017 New York International Auto Show! This dog-friendly concept vehicle was developed by the brand in order to provide a traveling option that pays special attention to the unique traveling needs that dog owners face on a daily basis. It is also a fun way for owners to more easily incorporate their pets into their travels without having to remember to pack a bunch of extra necessities since this model has been equipped to accommodate everything that your pooch might need.
 
“For all of the dog lovers at Nissan, the Rogue Dogue is so much fun – the equivalent, I guess you could say, of riding with your head out the window if you were a dog,” said Michael Bunce, vice president, Product Planning, Nissan North America, Inc. “Of course, we also take pets’ safety very seriously, which is why the Rogue Dogue includes secure leash fastening attachments in the second row and rear cargo area – along with numerous other features designed to make family travel with dogs more enjoyable for everyone.”
 
When beginning the design process for this vehicle, Nissan surveyed dog owners to discover their opinion on what they feel are the most desirable dog-friendly features. And the top three suggestions were a clip-in harness hook, a non-spill water dispenser, and a slide-away dog ramp. Overall, they found that over 75 percent of dog owners stated that the availability of optional features would impact their decision when deciding on a new vehicle to purchase.
 
Along with the previously mentioned modifications, few of the other custom features that have been included on the Rogue Dogue include side wall mounted poop bag dispenser, dog first aid kit, second-row fog hammock, removable pet partition, 360-degree dog shower with a 10 gallon pressurized water reserve, and integrates dog drying system with compressed heated air dryer and outside hose attachment, and so much more.
 
So if you have a few furry family members that you can’t imagine leaving behind on your next road trip then this all-new customized Rogue may be exactly what you are looking for. Be sure to keep checking back here for more information on the Rogue Dogue!