If you don’t control your money, your money will control you. Today let’s focus on getting control over the cost of auto repair and maintenance.

The Cost of Owning a Car

Here’s a look at all the budget categories you may want consider when attempting to nail down your auto expenses:

• Purchase price – payment (cash and/or financing and interest) to acquire the vehicle
• Taxes - paid when you buy or sell the vehicle
• Fuel - the gasoline/fuel you need to make the vehicle run
• Insurance – all levels auto insurance including personal liability, collision, comprehensive, roadside assistance, etc.
• Tags and registration – state vehicle registration, license plates, and renewal tags
• Repair and maintenance - tires, oil changes, and all other repairs and maintenance necessary to keep your vehicle operational

Benefits of Controlling These Costs

Many of the benefits of controlling your auto maintenance costs are similar to those you experience when gaining control over any area of your money, so let’s focus on those that are specific to the topic. Proper budgeting for auto repair and maintenance will allow you to:

• Have a better relationship and better communication with your auto mechanic
• Prepare/plan better so you don’t have to race to get oil changes before your next trip
• Reduce your maintenance expenses going forward
• Relax in the knowledge that you’re prepared

You can achieve all of these things simply by setting aside enough money to cover your expenses. That way you won’t have to stress or worry about where the money is coming from – if it can be found at all.

THANK YOU.

I personally want to thank ever customer who donated a toy, or donated their rewards dollars towards this years Peel Region Police and Salvation Army “Toys for Tots” campaign.

Our customers donated $285.00 rewards dollars towards toys for the campaign and well over $50.00 in Canadian tire money was raised by our Service Advisor Lorraine Riley. As a company, we contributed a donation of $500.00, as those kids this year may not have had a toy otherwise.

For 35 years Sil’s has been involved with the community in some form or another and at the end of the day it is our customers who support us every day that allow us to give back.

On behalf of Myself, my wife Melanie, our founders Silvano and Anna and all my staff – Corey, Brian, Lorraine and Gabriela, we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Carlo Sabucco
Sil’s Complete Auto Care Centre

Toys For Tots Campaign Photos:

Don’t forget to bring in your Toys for Tots toy donations into our shop by Monday, December 12th! We are especially looking for gifts for children ages 12-16, who are often forgotten this time of year.

How Can You Help?

• Drop off your Toy Donations at Sil’s Complete Auto Care Centre now through Monday, December 12th!
  
• Donate your existing Sil’s Rewards Card Dollars towards purchasing toys. 
We will use your Rewards Card Dollars to purchase toys for underprivileged children this Christmas through Toys For Tots. Call or come into our shop for details. 905-823-2626

Learn more online at the Toys For Tots website.

Our December Charity of the Month is TOYS FOR TOTS.
Toys for Tots’ mission is to ‘bring the joy of Christmas to needy children’.

Sil’s Auto Care will donate $5.00 to the Toys for Tots for every online appointment scheduled this month. Book your Online Appointment Here.

When booking an appointment online, please select the charity you want to donate to from the Charity Drop-Down Box.

Learn more about Toys for Tots here.

Does your vehicle pass it’s winter physical?

Vital fluids checked and double checked?

Vision is good shape with wipers, lighting and aquapel ready?

Winter tires ready to go to by enhancing your braking and vehicle safety?

The mechanics here at Sils Comlpete Auto Care in mississauga are ready to ensure their professional skils are ready to go when your vehicle comes in for its physical. Schedule your vehicle in for a Seasonal Maintenance Package. Including warranty approved Oil change (4.5L oil), Tire Rotation and pressures set, 50 Point ++ Vehicle Inspection, No Charge Top Up all Fluids, Test Full Charging System including Battery, Alternator, and Starter draw. Lubricate chassis, door hinges and under hood components. Technician Road Tested vehicle and reset any maintenance reminder monitors.

Seasonal package is only $99.95 and it ensure your safety, reliability and budget for this winter season.

Carlo Sabucco ( Photo – Dr.Brian, Dr.Corey, Dr. Gabriela)

I just wanted to say Thank you to our customers thus far with almost $200.00 in rewards dollars offered for the Toys for Tots campaign and for those who have passed by our office.  Niki from Peel Region Police representing The Toys for Tots camping is being joing by several other automotive repair shops in the GTA and southern Ontario regions. As a group we hope that this Christmas will be enjoyable for all families.

Please pass by our shop or donate your rewards dollars or Canadian Tire money towards the campaign. Maybe there is a family out there that last year they did not need a service like this but this year they do. I asked myself “what would happen if I was in this situation” Sils Complete Auto Care is here to assist with the community whenever possible.

Many Thanks

Carlo Sabucco

Constable Jody Wilson and Glenn Colling of Eastside Auto Service

Sil’s Complete Auto Care Centre has teamed up with seven other automotive repair facilities to support the Toys For Tots campaign this holiday season. Each one of these seven participating facilities will be donating $500 in cash along with all the presents collected for Toys For Tots.

With your help, we are collecting toy donations at our shop now through December 12th! We are especially looking for gifts for children ages 12-16, who are often forgotten this time of year.

How Can You Help?

• Drop off your Toy Donations at Sil’s Complete Auto Care Centre now through Monday, December 12th!
  
• Donate your existing Sil’s Rewards Card Dollars towards purchasing toys. 
We will use your Rewards Card Dollars to purchase toys for underprivileged children this Christmas through Toys For Tots. Call or come into our shop for details. 905-823-2626

Toys for Tots’ initial objective, which remains the hallmark of the program today, is to ‘bring the joy of Christmas to needy children’. Its goal is to deliver a message of hope that will build self-esteem and motivate children to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders. Learn more on the Toys For Tots website.

Our November Charity of the Month is TOYS FOR TOTS.
Toys for Tots’ mission is to ‘bring the joy of Christmas to needy children’.

Sil’s Auto Care will donate $5.00 to the Toys for Tots for every online appointment scheduled this month. Book your Online Appointment Here.

When booking an appointment online, please select the charity you want to donate to from the Charity Drop-Down Box.

Learn more about Toys for Tots here.

Some insurance companies are offering discounts for using Winter Tires.

Sil’s Complete Auto Care Centre offers these great services:

The Benefits of Winter Tires
The facts about winter tires and why all-season tires just won’t do.

Ever since the introduction of the all-season tire, Canadian drivers have slid and spun their tires through the coldest months of the year. Here’s the kicker: it doesn’t seem to matter whether there’s snow on the ground or not.

Unlike all-season tires, severe-condition winter tires (identified by mountain and snowflake symbols on their sides) have tread patterns and rubber that are tailored for colder conditions. And that helps them perform better than all-season tires once temperatures plummet, whether or not they have to dig through the white stuff.

In contrast, all-season tires can turn into four round black rocks when the cold hits. Even on dry pavement, at a balmy 5 degrees C, a severe snow-rated tire outperforms an all-season tire. And a study conducted by the Quebec Ministry of Transport showed that a proper winter tire can improve braking by up to 25 percent over an all-season radial and CAN IMPROVE COLLISION AVOIDANCE BY ABOUT 38 PERCENT!

Drivers should also not be tempted to skimp and buy only two tires. Do you want to slide off the road forward or backward? Four winter tires are necessary to maintain proper handling and balance.

Regardless of where you drive, you need to keep a close eye on the condition of your tires. Ensure that your tires still have deep treads to help with snow traction. And pay attention to their inflation. In winter, temperatures can drop rapidly. Tire pressure varies by approximately 1 p.s.i. (pounds per square inch) for each 5 degrees C rise or fall in air temperature.

In winter the temperature can easily slide from 5 degrees to -15 degrees overnight, dropping tire pressure as much as 4 p.s.i. In an already under-inflated tire, that could put you into the danger zone. Tires, therefore, should be checked monthly. If you’re not up to keeping track of the pressure of your tires when winter’s chill sets in, consider stopping by Sil’s Complete Auto Care Centre.