Grand Rapids Auto Repair

Hi Again! We've talked about making sure that your vehicle is road trip ready, but how about your family?  Depending on how long the trip is and how old your kids are this can look so different. Road trips definitely changed for us over the years and for the better! Here are some of the tips I have picked up over the years of 12+ hour trips.    We like to make sure the kids are excited about the trip.  We talk about the states we'll go through and the things we'll see.   As the trip we make is one we make yearly, we also talk about landmarks (tunnels in WV and VA are a hit)  and favorite parks to stop at and run!  As our kids have gotten older we keep them involved in where we are, what our driving goals for the day are (we usually stop for one night on the way there and back), walking the dog - because yes, we bring our dog in our prius with us, and telling us when they're done in the car for the day.  O ... read more

We’re all counting down the days -spring break is coming!  My family and I would like to share how we get ready for a road trip.  My husband’s mom lives in North Carolina and his dad is in Indiana, so we’re well versed in long car trips with small kids.    If you’re taking your personal vehicle on the trip, make sure to see us three to four weeks before departure. We have a Road Trip Inspection, and we’ll make sure that your family starts their trip as safely as possible.   Some key items you’ll want to make sure are checked out before your trip are: Road Test - This is helpful for the technician doing the inspection.  He can feel how your vehicle is driving down the road, see if lights pop on, and can also listen for any sounds that are problematic.  Get any lights on the dash checked and diagnosed.  Heading out on a road trip with warning lights is a dangerous game to play! Heating and Coo ... read more

Did you know we sponsor a few podcasts at Ervine's and Grand Rapids Hybrid?  One of the podcasts is called GR Rideshare Adventures Podcast. It's a podcast that talks gig-economy but mostly Uber and Lyft driving. On a recent episode Jason Teri and I sit down and chat all things Ervine's Auto Repair and Grand Rapids Hybrid! Though it was a bit out of my comfort zone, I fell back on my expert knowledge of Ervine's Auto Repair and Grand Rapids Hybrid.  We talked about our history, 25th birthday celebration, culture, awards, and shenanigans that make Eric (my dad) shake his head.  We also talked about the newly added service to BMW and Minis!  Since this episode was recorded, I have vowed to never say "I don't know anything about cars" again and I'm now learning  abou ... read more

Hi Everyone, Megan Here!  My family and I  are getting ready to hit the road for a summer road trip.  In all, we'll be driving our 2013 Toyota Prius just over 1,700 miles from Michigan to North Carolina.  As parents, we start thinking through plans for the trip a few weeks in advance.  The destination and route are the same as years past-my husband Brian's family's home in North Carolina, but we still have other aspects of the trip to plan out.   Fuel Economy Brian and I were debating renting a minivan instead of taking our Prius.  I went to the EPA's website to figure out the fuel economy for the trip.  Our sweet Toyota Prius will have us spending just under $50 each way on our road trip! When contemplating renting a van (an added $350 expense) we saw we would easily double the amount of money spent on fuel.  That sealed ... read more