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It's important to adjust alignment every six months, or even immediately if the car has suffered an impact. Tire alignment can be affected by normal use over time, if the car hits curbs or minor obstacles, or if it is in an accident. Professional maintenance is important for your car for several reasons. Here are a few. more Alignment Keeps You Safe If your wheels are poorly aligned and you let go of your wheel slightly, the car could veer left or right without your intention. This is unsafe. It means that your car is not driving in a steady, natural line and that its direction is not fully controlled. This creates a greater risk of slipping or veering into neighboring lanes. Alignment Can Maintain the Quality of Your Tires If tires are not aligned and they are left this way, this aspect could ruin the quality of the wheels over time. The wear is usually uneven across the tires so that one tire will be less effective than the other. This uneven wear can further impact the safety of the tires. Replacement is expensive, and if you can't afford to buy new tires, you're in danger while on the road. Even after replacing the tires, if professional alignment is not continually sought out, then the situation can repeat itself with each new set. The risk and cost of leaving your tires without an alignment is not worth the negligence. Alignment Can Maintain the Operation of Your Car The uneven pressure that is placed on the differently worn tires can make your car labor more extensively in order to maintain itself. This is due to the unparalleled or irregular tension created between the tires and the road, which makes driving less effective and thus takes a toll on the car's capacity. The car might have to work a lot harder to keep pace. This could also mean that fuel is burned at a faster rate. With fuel pricing so high, do you really want to spend more? Misaligned Tires Can Make Driving Uncomfortable Your car isn't the only thing that will feel the impact of misaligned or uneven tires. You might feel the impact as a driver. The most common experience is sensing a vibrational feeling on the steering wheel. It's also possible you could hear added noise as the tires clash against the road — this is especially true if the road is not very even. Plus, your steering wheel might slide freely if you are not paying attention to your grip. Likewise, the steering might just feel off or the wheel could drift toward different directions. Misalignment often goes without symptoms though. Therefore, catch any problems before they worsen by bringing your car to a pro. You might also want to check your tire pressure to see if there are any other signs of wear. There are many things you need to do when caring for your car, but how often do you have your tires aligned by a professional? You might wish to keep these reasons for correct alignment in mind and regularly visit your local mechanic. Image via Pixabay by danvolks99

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee expertly pairs a sporty base with impressive off-roading performance. Additionally, each of its eight distinct trims packs a set of powerful hardware and modern comforts — everything you need for a superior ride. Let's take a look at what the all-new Jeep Cherokee has in store for 2019. Trim Levels This guide begins with a six-trim lineup available in both front-wheel and four-wheel drive. The Latitude, Latitude Plus, Altitude, Limited, High Altitude, and Overland introduce a few standard options to buyers. Meanwhile, the four-wheel-drive-exclusive Trailhawk and Trailhawk Elite deliver plenty of off-roading mastery and confidence. more Exterior The 2019 Jeep Cherokee is decked out from head to toe in adventure-ready accessories. LED daytime running headlights, taillights, and fog lights make it easier to see where you're headed, while variable intermittent windshield wipers and heated outside mirrors help you tackle a variety of weather conditions. Additional available accessories include aerodynamic active grille shutters, stylish chrome grille surrounds, a convenient power sunroof, and a foot-activated, hands-free power liftgate. These features make it simple to customize your ride to suit your tastes. Engine At the base of the Jeep Cherokee sits a 2.4-liter MultiAir inline-four engine churning out 180 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. Next is an available 3.2-liter 24-valve V-6 packing 271 horsepower and 239 pound-feet of torque. Lastly, you have an optional 2.0-liter inline-four DOHC turbo engine producing 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Each unit runs alongside a nine-speed automatic transmission and fuel-preserving stop-start system, both of which encourage max efficiency. Performance Fuel ratings vary across trims, but estimates peak at 22 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway in select front-wheel-drive models. Additionally, each trim is road-ready thanks to a full set of anti-lock disc brakes, electric power steering, and a four-wheel-drive Selec-Terrain Traction Management System with Auto, Snow, Sport, and Sand/Mud modes. The Trailhawk and Trailhawk Elite make off-roading even easier via an off-road suspension, low-speed crawling proficiency, and a ground clearance that reaches a top departure angle of 32.2 degrees. Interior Inside the 2019 Jeep Cherokee sits modern marvels such as an AC system with air filtration, a full-length floor console, smartphone integration, and a Uconnect 4 infotainment system. In the back, you have rear heating vents, an armrest with cup holder, and a 60/40-split folding/reclining seat. If you don't mind stretching your budget a bit further, optional accessories are a great way to customize your Cherokee for the road. Enjoy premium features like leather-trimmed bucket seats, power front seats with heating and lumbar support, dual-zone air conditioning, and multimedia gadgets like Uconnect GPS navigation and complimentary SiriusXM satellite services. Safety This SUV doesn't skimp on active and passive safety systems either. Advanced multistage and supplemental air bags intensify front-passenger protection, a ParkView rear backup camera offers extra coverage when reversing, and an enhanced accident response system jumps into action immediately following a crash while alerting others to your situation. We round out with optional features that deliver the best in cutting-edge safety. These range from blind-spot monitoring with pedestrian detection to full-speed collision warning with crash mitigation. If you're looking for a sporty vehicle backed by reliability, off-road capability, and comfort, the 2019 Jeep Cherokee has it all. Image via Flickr by truckhardware

The great thing about buying a car in modern times is being able to equip it with high-end safety features that will protect you while you're out on the road. If you're not familiar with these features, however, it can be hard to know which you should add to your next vehicle. Here are some of the safety features you should get on your new car if you want the fullest protection possible. Forward Collision Alert Virtually every driver fears being involved in a frontal collision because of the damage they can cause. If you want to limit your chances of experiencing one, then forward collision alert is a safety feature you should get on your new car. more Forward collision alert, which can be found on a wide range of Chevrolet vehicles, monitors the road for possible frontal collisions. If an impact is possible, this feature will notify you so you can either brake or steer out of the way. When you have forward collision alert in your car, you can drive confidently knowing you'll have the warning time you need to avoid a serious accident. Automatic Emergency Braking Sometimes you don't notice a collision alert soon enough to prevent a wreck. Fortunately, if you add automatic emergency braking your car, you won't have to worry about getting an accident because you didn't respond to a notification in time. Automatic emergency braking is a feature that can stop your vehicle if you don't respond to a forward collision alert. The extra level of protection provided by this feature will help keep accidents few and far between. Blind Spot Monitoring Failing to notice a vehicle in your blind spot is a major cause of accidents. To help make sure you don't try to change lanes when there's a vehicle where you can't see it, you can add blind spot monitoring to your car. If you're looking for a family vehicle, the Chrysler Pacifica minivan is a great choice for a number of reasons, including its inclusion of a blind spot monitoring system. When you're out on the highway and another vehicle enters your blind spot, you'll receive a notification so you won't accidentally steer your minivan into the other car. Adaptive Cruise Control Adaptive cruise control is another top-notch safety feature available in many new cars, including the Dodge Challenger. The benefit of this feature is that it allows you to set your desired speed like normal cruise control, and it can also adjust your distance from other vehicles to prevent accidents. Imagine, for instance, that you're out for a drive in your Challenger and you set your cruise control to 60 mph. If a vehicle pulls into the lane in front of you or you catch up to another car in your lane, the adaptive cruise control system will apply your brakes to keep you a safe distance from the other driver. Adding active safety features to your car is the best way to stay secure while on a drive. If you're interested in any of these features, visit your local dealership to find out which you can add to your new car. https://www.flickr.com/photos/mulmatsherm/3154173285/sizes/o/ Image via Flickr by C Jill Reed

A noisy car isn't necessarily a cause for concern, but if yours starts making strange and abnormal sounds, you should take notice. Before you shrug it off and hope it goes away, or panic and jump to conclusions, read about a few of their possible explanations and get a clear idea of what you may be dealing with. Clicking and Tapping If you hear clicking and tapping sounds which get louder as you increase speed, there could be one of two things wrong: either your oil pressure is low, or there is a damaged part. You can rule out low oil pressure by checking your oil pressure gauge or taking the dipstick out and seeing whether there's enough oil. If there's a damaged or worn-out part, you will need a mechanic to investigate further. more Squealing If your car is screaming like a banshee, you have cause for concern, other than the obnoxious sounds. This is a telltale sign that your car's serpentine belt is loose or worn. If you keep driving with this squealing going on, the belt will eventually break, and you'll lose all drive torque and your car will stop running. Make an appointment with your mechanic in a timely fashion, unless you want to end up stranded and waiting for a tow truck. Grinding and Clunking A grinding or clunking sound probably signals an issue with your car's transmission. If it's a manual transmission, the sound will worsen when you shift gears. This problem could be caused by dirt and grease blocking the transmission. The grinding sounds could also be due to your brakes, so in order to rule this out, check the front brake pads for signs of wear. Hissing or Gurgling A hissing sound could mean your car's engine is overheating due to a problem with its cooling system. If there is a problem with one of the hoses involved in the cooling system, high-pressure air, steam, or fluid may be leaking in or out. A gurgling sound could come from the coolant reservoir. You might even see steam, or see puddles of liquid under your car in the morning. A leaking vacuum device could also be the culprit, and will probably also come with a feeling of rough or uneven idling. Rattling and Whining If your car begins to rattle or whine when you accelerate, it could mean the camshaft belt, or timing belt, is badly aligned or slipping. A roughly-idling engine, smoking engine, or low oil pressure could also be symptoms. If you have the right knowledge, a bad timing belt is something you could look at yourself to diagnose. You'll want to have it fixed by a skilled mechanic, though, because while this problem isn't an emergency, you could wind up with more trouble down the road if neglected or addressed poorly. If you notice any of these signs, you are already ahead of the curve and have probably caught the problem in time. Though there is no need to panic, you will still want to get it serviced as soon as you can. Left untreated, any abnormal sound could turn into a problem down the road. Photo via Flickr by WalterPro | Licensed by cc BY 2.0

The sleek and stunning 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia is a luxury sports sedan that's sure to get your heart racing. With impressive beauty on the outside and all the features you want on the inside, the Giulia showcases a refined breed of Italian luxury. Discover more about the Alfa Romeo Giulia so you can see why this is one premium sedan you should definitely take for a spin. Head-Turning Good Looks Featuring smooth and elegant lines, the 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia is designed to look like nothing else that's on the road. The bi-xenon headlights and LED daytime running lamps and taillights cut a striking image and help you see clearly in any amount of light. Other standard features you'll enjoy on the sedan include power-folding and heated side mirrors and 10-spoke 17-inch wheels. The luxury car also has an assortment of available 19-inch wheels to help add even more style to the outside. more Incredible Power and Performance While the Giulia looks great on the outside, the part of the vehicle you'll really love is under the hood. Here you'll find a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that produces 280 horsepower and 306 pound-feet of torque. If you need even more power, go for the Quadrifoglio model, which has a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine that offers an incredible 505 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. Even more impressive, step on the gas and this engine can take you from zero to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 191 mph. Luxurious Interior Climb inside the Alfa Romeo Giulia to discover a luxurious interior designed with your comfort in mind. The automatic dual-zone climate control comes standard and makes it easy for you and your passenger to find the perfect temperature setting. You'll also enjoy a soft touch with the standard leather front seats and leather-wrapped steering wheel. For even more beauty and convenience, go for the available genuine aluminum interior trim, heated front seats, and heated steering wheel. Great Technology Features Along with lavish comfort, the 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia also comes with all the technical features you need. The available 8.8-inch widescreen display includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which make it easy for you stay connected without taking your hands off the wheel or your eyes off the road. To help you and your passengers charge your mobile devices, you'll find three USB ports throughout the vehicle. Plus, the available 14-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system offers crystal clear audio. Plenty of Safety Not only does the Alfa Romeo Giulia come with impressive technology and luxuries, but you'll also find some of the latest safety features. The available blind spot monitor warns you if another car is in your blind spot. Additionally, you can add the available Driver Assistance Dynamic Package to get lane departure warning, forward collision warning, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. When you want to experience some of the best that Italian manufacturing has to offer, get behind the wheel of the 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia and experience all of its power and luxury. Photo via Flickr by GUERILLAAUTO | Licensed under Public Domain Mark 1.0