SUP in the OC

by Sue J.

As the dog days of summer wind down and the streets are calmer and the beaches are quieter, I remember all the adventures I went on over the course of the summer months. The one that especially stands out in my mind is stand-up paddle boarding.

I’m not sure about you, but my definition of “fun” in the summertime usually includes sun on my skin, wind in my hair, and water on my fingertips. What better way to incorporate all of my favorite things than to give stand-up paddle boarding a try. I had heard about this trendy sport and I had seen photos of locals paddling all over Hawaii, where the sport originated, and I was finally ready to get out on the water and try it for myself.

As luck would have it, as I was discussing my plans to try this new sport, a friend of mine mentioned that she had a couple of paddleboards that she suggested we take out on the Newport Harbor for a ride that weekend. I admit I had some hesitations. I didn’t know what to expect for my first SUP (as it is referred to by many) attempt…would I fall off the board? Would I struggle to paddle? Would it be difficult to navigate around boats in the harbor? I wouldn’t know the answers to any of these questions unless I got on a board and found out for myself.

That Sunday morning, my friend and I managed to get her two paddleboards on top of her Jeep Wrangler and set out down Orange County’s gorgeous coastline towards Newport Beach. After some technical difficulties…or rather, me trying to balance by focusing on looking ahead rather than at my feet, we were paddling away on the water in the harbor. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I wasn’t even close to falling off my board, paddling was a piece of cake and the boats in the harbor are actually very mindful of “sharing the water” with the helpless paddle boarders. We leisurely paddled around the harbor and waved at passing boats and fellow paddle boarders as we made our way towards Balboa Island. Next to the iconic Ferris wheel, we noticed an ice cream shop that sold Balboa Bars. We took a break from paddling around and decided to visit the shop and treat ourselves with chocolate and peanut covered ice cream bars. There was no better way to reward a hard day’s work than with chocolate!

 

If you haven’t tried stand-up paddle boarding, I highly recommend turning your cell phone off, taking a break and getting on a board. The beauty of the sport is that anyone can do it. Out in the water, we saw children as young as 10 and adults in their 70s paddling around. Another perk of living in Southern California is that you can easily go to the harbor, rent a board and take it for a spin anytime of the year. The board is long and wide enough that it is easy to stay dry.

As the afternoon went on and we grew tired, we called it a day. With boards loaded back up on the Jeep, we drove home and with the warm wind swirling around us I started planning my future paddle boarding adventures. I’d start by purchasing my very own SUP board. My next concern would be that of logistics; I would obviously need a strong, rugged car to lug my board around. I remembered seeing some great Jeeps in the Tuttle-Click Tustin Chrysler Jeep Dodge showroom that would look even better with my new SUP board mounted on its roof.

Chrylser 300: Car of the Month

By Kristin Keller

Due to its “exceptional performance, efficiency, features, options and appeal,” industry experts at NADAguides named the 2011 Chrysler 300 its Car of the Month for July.  Here are just some of the standout luxury features that the 300 boasts:

• chrome accents
  

  Having one of our cars voted Car of the Month is like having your child on the honor roll. We're so proud!

• LED lights
• ambient lighting
• heated and cooled cup holders
• power rear sun shade
• blind-spot monitoring
• Uconnect Touch system
• rear heated seats and steering wheel
•  IIHS Top Safety Pick

Troy Snyder —Director of Product Development, NADAguides says the 300 is “for those looking for a proven sedan with luxury features and sharp design elements; the 2011 Chrysler 300 is the perfect combination.”

To visually check out the NADAguides July 2011 Car of the Month, see the 2011 Chrysler 300 Flickr Set or come into Tustin Chrysler Jeep Dodge to see – and drive – one yourself.  View our Tustin Chrysler 300 or Chrysler 300C  inventory online.

 

Appearance is Everything

by Kristin Keller

We all know to get regular oil changes and tire rotations to keep our cars running like new and maintain their value.  Yet some of us neglect one of the most crucial car maintenance habits:  keeping our vehicles CLEAN!

KBB says aesthetics is one of the top considerations when a person buys a car.  Whether you trade your car in, or sell it yourself, the appearance of the paint, body, interior fabrics and plastics, and wheels can add or detract a lot from your vehicle’s value.

You may not be able to visually see them, but there are contaminants in the air, especially here in Orange County, just south of Los Angeles.  These contaminants can corrode paint.  Weather is another factor.  While we don’t get the snow and harsh temperatures that lead to problems like rust, we do get rain and heat.  Tustin weather conditions can contribute to exterior wear and tear.

Here are some tips to help you keep up appearances in your Chrysler, Jeep, or Dodge:

• Keep it in the garage, if possible.  The small yards most of us have in Orange County mean that most of our gear gets stored in the garage (bikes, camping equipment, surfboards, etc).  That doesn’t leave much room for our vehicles.  However, keeping your car, truck, or SUV in the garage or in covered parking as much as possible will help protect it from the elements.
• Aim for twice a month cleanings.  It might seem like a lot of work, but once it is part of your routine, it will be a quick, maybe even enjoyable part of your weekends.  Plus, who doesn’t love getting into a clean car for their Monday commute?
• Don’t make the mistake of using dishwashing soap or a household cleaner on your car; they contain harsh detergents that can strip wax and damage paint.
• Start at the top and wash downward, one section at a time.  Rinse first to loosen dirt.  Don’t rub too aggressively.
• “Clear-coats can give drivers a false sense of security by appearing to protect the underlying base coat,” says Matthew Broderick, group vice president of marketing at Turtle Wax Inc. “They are fragile and susceptible to scratches, abrasions and swirls that make the paint look dull.”  Therefore, waxing your vehicle three to four times a year will help remove paint oxidation and surface dirt, while adding another layer of protection against grease and grime.
• To clean the inside, first vaccuum.  All you need on the surfaces is a lint-free cloth (like microfiber) and clean water.  Solvents and cleansers can leave shiny films.  Cotton swabs are useful for tight areas that accumulate dust, such as A/C vents and cupholders.

Doing it yourself will save you hundreds a year.

 

 

Every visit to our Tustin Chrysler Jeep Dodge Service Department comes with a free car wash!  We also have a Tuttle-Click Collision Center in Orange County to help with dent removal, headlight restoration, paint jobs, collision repairs, and scratches.  We’re here to help you keep your car running – and looking! – like new.

 

 

Adventure is out there. It’s hard to reach it without my Jeep.

Few are familiar with our hobby.  Geocaching is like treasure hunting.  People hide “caches” in secret locations, publish the GPS coordinates online, and we find them (usually).  Some caches are camouflaged Tupperware containers in the woods, some are Altoid tins stuck with magnets to road signs, some are tiny film canisters hung discreetly in trees.  Some contain small objects you can swap out for your own, like keychains, coins, pencil erasers, or small plastic toys.  Others contain only a rolled up piece of paper, a log you sign to prove you’ve found it.  Every cache is different; some require solving a riddle or deciphering clues to find.

My husband and I have found hundreds of caches in four states.  Our latest project is a series called “Around the World in 80 Caches,” which, as its name suggests, is a collection of 80 caches hidden throughout Orange County.  Each has a theme of a specific country.  You have to complete all the countries in a continent to collect the clues to find the continent, and then you have to find all the continents to find the grand finale:  Planet Earth.  Many of the caches are containers painted to look like the nation’s flag, and contain currency and other items from that country.  We’ve only found seven so far, but we’re determined to conquer “the world” by the end of the year.

A good GPS device is crucial, as well as some rugged shoes and a sense of adventure.  However, our greatest tool is our Jeep Wrangler.  It gets us to places others cannot reach.  We don’t go home until it, and we, are filthy and tired.  Our Wrangler is 16 years old and has driven cross country, up mountains, through mud puddles the size of jacuzzis, and over enormous boulders.  It tackles any terrain expertly and gives us a fun ride.

To anyone interested in geocaching, I say follow three easy steps:  sign up for an account at geocaching.com, get a good GPS device, and buy a Tuttle-Click Jeep.  We’ll see ya out there… and when we do, we’ll be sure to give you the “Jeep wave.”

I’m off to Tustin in my Jeep Wrangler to find Pakistan!

There’s a Chrysler Movement on the Horizon. And We’re All In!

It’s no secret that our beloved Chrysler needed some change. Done. It’s also no secret that people are looking at the product…and boy do we have some great product coming! Not to look away from the Charger, Challenger, 300, Wrangler, Ram and other great models we have now…

And we appreciate the flood of support that you, our customers, have given us. Not only is Chrysler, Dodge, RAM and Jeep here to stay, Tuttle-Click has a long history to back you up with. And we realize it’s more about the car you have now most of the time so our service and parts teams are making greater efforts than ever. Competitive pricing plus the factory certification allow us to give you levels of service you can’t get away from Tuttle-Click Chrysler Jeep Dodge.

Understanding that you want more value than ever, take our challenge and let us exceed your expectations. Have a question that hasn’t been answered elsewhere? Have you not been able to get the maintenance for you car just right other places? Trust us to tackle it!

There is a movement going on at Chrysler. There is also a movement going on here. And we’re all about you winning! Thanks for checking in…

The Tuttle-Click Team
Tustin Chrysler Jeep Dodge