car Archives - MomStart

4 Tips For Safe Driving This Summer

August 20, 2019 by Beeb Leave a Comment

This is a guest post in collaboration with Kwik Fit.

Summer always seems to be the perfect time to go on last-minute road trips or weekends away with the family as a way to make the most of the hot weather and the kids being off. It can also mean late-night driving or driving for longer distances which can often get boring, especially when the rest of your passengers doze off and leave you with nothing to do but look out the window and out into the distant roads.

Keep Entertained

Being bored at the wheel might have you wanting to reach for your phone for a hot minute, but this can be a costly mistake. Kwik Fit has developed an interactive game that allows you to test your reaction time when using your phone on the roads to highlight the importance of staying safe on the road. Instead, why not prepare a music playlist with your family, or download an audiobook or podcast to listen to?

Sweet Treats

Long journeys can be hard, so why not reward yourself with some of your favourite snacks as a job well done? It’s important to mix it up and get a range of nutritious fruits and veg to allow for a slower energy release, and perhaps one or two more indulgent treats that will give you something to look forward to when you’re feeling jaded.

Stay Hydrated

Being dehydrated will always have you feeling sluggish, so it’s always important to have plenty of fluids at hand to keep you feeling awake. Getting coffees or a sugary drink can help give you an extra buzz if you need an extra boost.

Regular Stops

Often, being sat down for long periods can make you sleepy, so a perfect way to counteract this is by going for a brisk walk to wake yourself up and get those juices flowing again. Making regular stops will not only allow you to do this, but you can also freshen up and even buy those waters and coffees that you need so desperately as mentioned before!

These are just some ideas on ways to keep safe on the roads and make sure you aren’t #DrivenToDistraction, but if you are ever finding yourself feeling tired or losing concentration then it is always best to take a break and have a quick nap so you are keeping you and your passengers safe.

4 Main Rules Teenagers Should Know Before Driving

April 2, 2019 by Beeb Leave a Comment

This is a sponsored guest post.

If you have a teenager that’s about to start driving, no doubt you’ve started to wonder what to impress upon them when it comes to safety and smart driving rules. You don’t want to quash their enthusiasm, but you also know that driving is a risky action if done by inexperienced drivers who aren’t paying attention.

These rules are some of the most important for beginner drivers. While they still need to gain experience from actually driving, following this handful of tips will allow them to enjoy their time behind the wheel while protecting them from the possibility of an accident.

Always Wear a Seatbelt

Firstly, make sure that your teenager knows that a seatbelt is not an optional article. It should always be worn no matter what. In fact, it should be the first thing that they do as soon as they sit in the car, even before they turn on the engine. Seatbelts are known to save lives and no car or driving experience is worth anyone’s life.

A good way to promote this rule is to practice it yourself. If your teen sees you constantly engaging with the right, safe behavior, it might seem more natural for them to do the same. If they find that seatbelts are uncomfortable in the driver’s seat, make sure that they know how to adjust their seat settings so that there’s no reason for them to fail to engage their seatbelt.

No Cellphone Usage!

Cell phones are one of the highest causing of traffic accidents and automotive-related fatalities all across the world. Teenagers (and adults) love to use their phones, especially when they’re bored or in traffic. However, just because cars aren’t moving at one moment is no reason to take the phone out for a quick peek!

Paying attention to your environment and other drivers is critical to driving safely. Even if you are following the rules of the road, other drivers may not be. Every second you spend on your phone is another second when someone could be making a mistake you could avoid if you were paying attention. Teens absolutely must be educated on the dangers of using their phones in the car.

Make it clear to your teen that the phone is always a second priority. Everything on the device can wait until the car is parked and they are no longer driving.

Drive Slowly in Inclement Weather

When it’s raining or snowing, driving becomes exponentially more dangerous, even for experienced drivers. Teenagers should know that even though they might feel confident and capable the moment they get behind a wheel; difficult weather can be a challenge for any driver and can change the capabilities of a particular car.

Because of these problems, there’s nothing wrong with driving more slowly and carefully when the weather is rough. Even if traffic behind them becomes clogged due to impatient drivers who think they can’t make driving mistakes, teenagers should know that safety is always more important than speed.

They need to know to take their time and be very vigilant in these situations. It’s far better to be late to class or work than to hurry along in some kind of storm and end up in an accident that could have been avoided if everyone paid the proper respect to Mother Nature.

Take Care of the Vehicle

Finally, a good vehicle needs constant maintenance. If a teenager doesn’t understand the lengths to which proper care is needed for vehicle safety, they shouldn’t be allowed to drive. Along this vein, teach your teen some of the basics about car care.

Things like car tire changing and tire health, oil changing, and all the other security lights and alerts which can illuminate the dashboard should be gone over before they have a chance to drive a car of their own. Not only will this approach keep them safer, but it’ll also likely end up saving everyone money since they’ll be on top of repairs and needed maintenance.

Maintenance that is put off for too long can result in worse or more expensive repairs at an auto shop. Or worse, they might result in a failure of some critical automotive system, leading to an accident. Make sure that your teen knows how to take care of their vehicle, even if they just got it as a gift.

Conclusion

If they follow all of these rules, your teenager will be safer than ever on their journeys through America’s roadways. Driving a car is a fantastic experience and privilege that many young adults look forward to as they grow older, but it’s also a great responsibility. Cars can be dangerous, but they don’t have to be with the right mindset and proper respect for the rules of the road.

Off Roading in Complete Luxury: Toyota Land Cruiser #LetsGoPlaces #ToyotaPartner

January 26, 2018 by Momstart Leave a Comment

We received the Toyota Land Crusier for a week to test drive.

Off Roading isn’t exactly something that I’ve ever considered doing myself until I drove the Toyota Land Cruiser. This car isn’t a car. It’s not exactly an SUV either I mean it is but to me it didn’t feel like one and it’s not a truck. In a way it’s like an overly luxurious jeep type vehicle. Sitting in the Toyota Land Cruiser was like sitting in the lap of luxury. I LOVED driving it. The seat was super comfy. The seats included heating, and ac and the steering wheel was also heated. But like I said, I was inspired to go off roading.

I didn’t though! (I LOVED THIS VEHICLE)

I have no idea where to go to go off roading. In fact, I was probably boring when driving this car because it was made for difficult driving. I didn’t even take the Toyota Land Cruiser to the mountains and I really wanted to. I just hate driving in the snow even when I’m in a vehicle that can handle it.

The Toyota Land Cruiser is so freaking amazing it can get itself unstock from dirt, the mud, and of course snow. Oh, and all on it’s own. This is the kind of car you would drive on an African Safari. You might not drive this particular one though because this one starts around 80,000 because it’s completely decked out to the nines.

A big touch screen

leather seats

heated steering wheel

up to three remembered seat positions

IT EVEN HAS A FRIDGE INSIDE.

That’s right, the Toyota Land Cruiser has a little cooler inside and my son used it to keep his cheese cool while he was at his martial arts class. Who needs a cooler in their car? Someone that’s going on a road trip that’s for sure. Let’s see, what else does this car have? The Toyota Land Cruiser has heated seats in the back and an optional third row in the back.

(Sadly those seats are not heated). We used the Toyota Land Cruiser LE to go to tea time for my daughter’s birthday.

This particular model also had the two TV screens for the middle row back seats.

This little view button will put the camera view on the touch screen so you can see the cameras that show you all around the vehicle on the bottom for easier parking. I loved using this view because I could find the curb without bumping it. My daughter and I really want this car but we can’t keep it and with the steep price tag, it’s just a fantasy for our family.

I’ll just keep dreaming that’s me in the driver’s seat.

The 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL Best Features

January 3, 2018 by Momstart 2 Comments

Mitsubishi loaned us a vehicle for a week for us to review.

We spent a week reviewing the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander and found the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL Best Features which is basically what we love about it. The things we love about the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander include things like the fact that it seats 7 people and when you have family in town like we did that’s a life saver. We enjoyed the entertainment system and the ability to drive in the snow. I mean the weather gave us all kinds of driving conditions while we reviewed the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander. We took this car to go out to eat and out shopping. We drove it on the highway and just around the block to my son’s martial arts class.

We got groceries and took boxes to the shipping store. So here are the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL Best Features that we just love.

The 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL Best Features

1. All Wheel Drive. While we were reviewing the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL it snowed and the roads were a little slick. We found that changing the drive mode was just as simple as hitting a button. The car would automatically move into snow mode, normal, lock and AWC ECO mode. Making it the perfect vehicle for all kinds of various weather conditions. I live on a hill and it wasn’t dicey to drive in the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL. The car has active stability control (ASC) helps keep the vehicle on its intended path as you drive around the corner.

2. 7 seats with optional third row. We are only a family of four but for Christmas we were a family of six. We had to take two cars everywhere we went until we were able to start traveling in the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL. Then when we put the optional third row up we had enough seats for me, my husband, my parents and my two kids. With traffic and traveling it’s much easier when you can travel in one car than it is trying to have someone follow you. We had no more nights where someone was left behind at a light. It was fantastic.

3. Apple Play. I’ve been reviewing cars for so long and I have a good idea when it’s easy to sinc your phone and when it’s not. With this car you can either connect your car over Bluetooth or over a cord. If you have an iPhone and you plug the phone in over USB, your phone will not only charge it will connect your Apple apps that work on the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL. I love how easy it is to use your phone. You have instant access to your music and your contacts and your maps that are downloaded to your phone. Or you can just use the navigation app from your phone. We loved using Apple Play. I would have to say that the Apple Play was our favorite feature of the car.

4. Heated Seats and Heated Steering Wheel. I hate being cold. hate hate hate being cold so while I’m driving around, even if it’s around the block, I like to be warm. The heated seats and the heated steering wheel were so nice and they heated up so quickly. My back was nice and toasty while my hands were nice and warm. My husband also loved how the steering wheel heated up. He usually wears driving gloves to keep his hands warn, they weren’t needed as we drove 45 minutes for a game of bowling, billiards and dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.

5. Sporty and Fun to Drive and only 23,795. The 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL feels sporty.

The steering wheel is lose, I don’t remember what that’s called. My husband loved that. I prefer it to be a little stiffer but it was super fun to drive anyway. It’s qualified as a sub compact car. The two front seats were comfortable to sit in and like I said before I was happy that we could put more people in this vehicle. It really has me interested in looking for a new bigger car for our family and this one has everything we need because when we don’t need that back row we can pack that 63.3 cubic feet of cargo space.

A few other things that we used that are features that I’m used to but might be a little improved on this vehicle are things like the adaptive cruise control. The cameras on the car that help me parallel park and back up.

It was a great family adventure!!!

Oh and lastly take a look at the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL interrior.

3 Tips For Car Seat Safey

October 30, 2017 by Beeb Leave a Comment

Sponsored post.

Whether you’re expecting your first child or just need a refresher, car seat safety is paramount. Here are three tips to guide you as you deal with common car seat concerns:

1. Invest in a New Car Seat

Car seats are one item that is worth investing in. Experts advise staying away from secondhand car seats, as buying used makes it difficult to determine if the seat is still safe to use – parts could be expired or recalled, or it could have been damaged in a previous accident. There are many highly-rated car seats that can be bought new for a reasonable price, but if you’re struggling financially and cannot afford one, there are organizations that work to provide car seats for free or at low cost to those in need. Try calling your local police station, hospital, or WIC for recommendations, or Google “Can’t afford a car seat” for other organizations to contact.

2. Make Sure it’s Installed Correctly

Installing your car seat correctly is crucial to ensuring safety. Because there’s so many variables in each car seat and vehicle, having a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician show you the best practices is extremely helpful. The organization Safe Kids Worldwide does free Car Seat Checkup events around the country, and they also have a database of technicians that are on staff at places such as fire departments and police stations.

3. Do Your Research

Every car is different, so when it comes time for relatives or babysitters to drive your child somewhere, you may wonder if your car seat will work in their vehicle, or if they should take your car. Cars.com has an ongoing Car Seat Safety Check series where certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians walk through popular cars on the market and give them a grade based on the amount of room available for the car seat. This is very helpful information for knowing what to expect from different vehicles, whether you’re considering a new car yourself or just planning for Grandma’s next visit.

Awesome Technology in The Mazda3 #DriveMazda

March 23, 2017 by Momstart 3 Comments

Meet my new ride for a few days! It’s the Mazda 3 @mazdausa #drivemazda #car #travel #travelblogger @driveshopusa #driveshop

A post shared by Louise Bishop (@momstart) on Feb 23, 2017 at 7:49am PST

Oh wow, so, reviewing cars was sort of shelved for me while I was traveling with my kids as they were acting. So I sort of feel out of touch with technology in cars. I only say I’m out of touch because when we drove the Mazda3,

I was introduced to a new technology that I haven’t seen in cars before and of course my husband has…..

The Active Driving Display…. WOW this is such a cool feature.

The Active Driving Display looks like a projection on the windshield. I mean I can see it’s not but look at it. It’s right there in the line of sight. It projects critical driving information allowing you to process information faster by keeping your eyes focused on the road ahead.

I’m loving the digital display on the Active Driving Display on the 2017 Mazda 3! It feels like a hologram! #supercool #travelblogger #travel #zoomzoom #drivemazda @mazdausa

A post shared by Louise Bishop (@momstart) on Feb 23, 2017 at 12:34pm PST

Of course you want to know how does it drive? I love how it drives, it has some great get up and go, some zoom zoom. It’s super comfortable with comfort features like heated seats and even a heated steering wheel. At least the one I drove did.

Connecting my phone was easy. I mean pairing phones with cars should be easy by now since most cars do it but I still feel I should mention it.

The interior is beautiful.

moon roof was nice

The trunk space, oh wow the trunk space. My current car has a battery in the trunk making me forget how spacious a trunk can be.

Even with plenty of leg room in the back the trunk had so much space I think I could have loaded kids in the back like a clown car, instead of just having my son back there.

I was really happy with the gas MPG too.

FWD Manual Transmission (City / Highway / Combined)^²: 27 / 37 / 31
FWD Automatic Transmission (City / Highway / Combined)^²: 28 / 37 / 32

I also really like the little things in cars. I really liked the nob to adjust everything. The MAZDA CONNECT has a touch screen but while driving it is deactivated. So while you are driving you can use the big nob.

Then you can find your navigation, settings, music. You know all those things right there. The multifunction Commander control positioned on the center console offers a seamless way to control the functions displayed on the standard 7” full-color touch-screen—such as audio, hands-free telephone, and the available navigation system.

The music sounds good too through those BOSE speakers.

I don’t usually get into engine details and package deals. You can visit. Mazda to find out more about the Mazda3.

Perfect First Car: 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage G4

December 2, 2016 by Momstart 1 Comment

Last week I spent my time test driving the 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage G4. Mitsubishi loaned us this car so we could experience it’s features first hand. They sent us a base model without a lot of bells and whistles and it was kind of refreshing to just test out a basic car. It reminded me a lot of my first car because it had only a 3-cylinder engine. So it was a bit slow on the uptake but that’s kind of perfect for a teenager or first time driver which is what we decided this car is perfect for.

For college students this car would be an excellent idea as well. The car is cute, clean and environmentally friendly. So for someone that is strapped for cash this is going to be easy on the budget when filling the tank. I drove for a week and barely used any gas making it the perfect little around town or college campus driving. The around town MPG is 35 in city 42 highway and about 37 combined. Plus for a college student that is moving in our out or travleing home for the holidays this car has amazing trunk space, 12.4 cubic feet to be exact.

It’s a fantastic small car for big city life. It features a responsive electric power steering with best-in-class turning radius and a long wheelbase provides for a very spacious driver seat.

The car has push button start which seems to be more an more common in cars. In fact I haven’t driven one without it for quite a while. It has a 6.5” display, 4-speaker and AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system. You can connect your phone over bluetooth for hands free or you can connect it over the cord to use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This allows you to have maps, contacts, all kinds of things directly loaded from you phone into your display.

Safety Features:

Anti-theft engine

Child safety rear door locks

Height Adjustable front shoulder belts with pretensioner

LATCH child-restraint system

Three point seatbelts for all seating positions

Front and rear park assist sensors available with Park Assist package

Rear-View camera (SE)

Advanced 7 air bag SRS system including driver’s side knee air bag, dual-stage front air bags with occupant seat position sensors, front seat mounted side-impact air bags and front & rear curtain side air bags

Hill Start Assist

Active Stability Control

EXTRA PHOTOS:

This car is not only a fantastic first car but it’s a great car for the value. The Mitsubishi Mirage G4 starts at 13,995. It’s a small car for big city life.

Seattle International Auto Show – Get in the Driver’s Seat with Drive FCA!

November 27, 2016 by Momstart Leave a Comment

By Lynn Hooper

(We were provided with press passes)

I was recently able to attend the International car show here in Seattle. If you’re thinking of getting a new car, it has a great advantage of going to visit – there are so many different cars in one place; a great place to compare “apples to apples”.

While we decided to not test drive any cars there (raining, little kids in tow) we did take a close look at a few. My husband was with, and he really knows a lot about cars. I can call up a random name and he’ll describe in detail what the car looks like and it’s engine, etc, so it was helpful for me.
We’re still in the “minivan” era and so we took a look at the Chrysler Pacifica, it did have more styling than most minivans, it was less “box like”. It also had a beautiful panoramic sunroof.

My 6 year old instantly fell in love with the fact that there were TWO screens for the middle row, one for her, one for sister. She wanted to buy the car right then and there and didn’t understand why we couldn’t and proceeded to burst into tears. She was VERY sad, poor thing!

Next up we checked out the Dodge Durango – American made alternative to the Honda Pilot. It had a more aggressive look than typical SUV, access to 3rd row is less easy than a minivan, but you get more ground clearance and off road capability.

For fun we looked at the Fiat 124, it’s a very nice looking sporty two-seater. Not a car for our household right now, but a good opponent to the Mazda Miata

We also sat in the Fiat 500, this was a tiny car 2 doors and our 2 small children fit in the back seat. This acre gave me the impression that it is very zippy.

Another car that caught my children’s eye was the Bright green Jeep.

As I said in the beginning, the advantage of the car show was to compare cars side by side, my hubby got to see a Volvo XC90 he’s been considering. So we could walk from one vehicle, to another and back again.

There were lots of people on hand to answer questions and were helpful.

Also, for the kids there were these Push pedal cars that were fun to look at as there were all decorated and then some battery operated jeeps for them to ride around in.

And finally a tip: If you’re going with little kids, get there early! It got crowded really quickly.

Enjoy!

The 2018 Volkswagen Atlas-The Perfect Family Midsize SUV

November 1, 2016 by Gayle Turner 1 Comment

Disclosure: I received a trip to Santa Monica in order to review the 2018 VW Atlas but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are 100% my own.

For most of us when you hear VW, images of the iconic VW Bus and Volkswagen Beetle immediately come to mind. Back in the 60’s whether it was all about the perfect family van or the fun and frolic that the Bug brought, the name Volkswagen was synonymous with fun, durability and was built to last for generations to come.

Throughout the decades, the look of the Volkswagen may have changed but one thing has remained and that is the VW maker’s commitment to make nothing but the very best when it comes to a family car. This past weekend I was privileged to be on the Santa Monica Pier at the end of historic Route 66 as the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas was unveiled ushering in a a new chapter in the company’s American history.

Built in Tennessee, the seven-passenger Atlas offers class-competitive levels of technology and spaciousness combined with hallmark Volkswagen driving dynamics and attention to detail, all at a price designed to draw customers’ attention in the family SUV segment.

“This is the biggest and boldest Volkswagen we have ever built in the United States, delivering the distinctive design and craftsmanship we’re known for, now with room for seven,” said Hinrich Woebcken, CEO of North America Volkswagen. “The Atlas marks a brand new journey for Volkswagen to enter into the heart of the American market.”

Built entirely in the United States in Chattanooga Tennessee, at 16.5 feet long, the Atlas offers a three-row SUV that’s bigger than the brand’s present largest offering, the Touareg SUV, but is still considered a midsize. Inside, the Atlas makes maximum use of its dimensions to offer space for seven adults and their luggage. The third-row can be easily reached by an innovative folding seat solution, one that works even with child seats installed in the second row.

Having tested out all three rows I can personally attest to the fact that no matter what row you sit in, this is comfort at its very best with plenty of legroom to spare, even in the third row which was surprisingly easy to access, something that is not always true of all third-row vehicles. And the best part, if you don’t need the last row of seats, they easily fold down leaving you even more room for cargo. The interior cabin is luxury all the way featuring seats wrapped in high-quality leather and adjustable with your comfort in mind.

Performance Plus:

Coming to showrooms next spring, Atlas will be offered with either a 2-liter turbocharged, direct-injected four-cylinder engine producing 238 horsepower or a 3.6-liter V-6 engine with 280 horsepower. Both will be paired with an eight-speed transmission. Woebcken said, at least initially, he expects the six-cylinder engine will be the most popular.

Designed With Safety In Mind:

VW plans to equip Atlas with an array of safety gear, offering available driver assistance features that had previously been reserved for premium SUVs, at a pleasantly affordable price. These include: Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC); Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist); Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert; Lane Departure Warning (Lane Assist), which actively helps the driver steer the car back into its lane; and Parking Steering Assistant (Park Assist).

In addition, Atlas is the only vehicle in its class to offer the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System. This builds on the premise that a collision is rarely a single, instantaneous action, but rather a series of events that follow the initial impact—the most significant of which can cause additional collisions. The Automatic Post-Collision Braking System addresses this by applying the brakes when a primary collision is detected by the airbag sensors, thus helping reduce residual kinetic energy and, in turn, the chance of additional damage.

Technology On The Go:

The Volkswagen Car-Net® system provides a full suite of connected vehicle services, including standard App-Connect technology that offers integration with the three major smartphone platforms—Apple CarPlay™, Android Auto™ and MirrorLink®. The vehicle also features an available Fender® Premium Audio System that is the most sophisticated yet seen in a Volkswagen, with 12 channels, a 480-watt amplifier and 12 speakers. Simply put, with the Fender Premium Audio System passengers will be able to hear a powerful, arena-sized sound while driving the all-new 2018 VW Atlas.

All in all, Atlas is the largest Volkswagen ever assembled in America and offers:

Five trim levels, priced for the heart of the competitive SUV market
Available interior features include innovative Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation with the centerpiece being the large touchscreen display fitted with the updated infotainment system designed specifically for Atlas
Two engine options: Four-cylinder TSI® turbo or the available powerful VR6®, both with eight-speed automatic transmission
Seating for two adults in the third row, with innovative access system
Based on the award-winning Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB) architecture
Optional 4Motion® all-wheel-drive system on VR6 models or standard front-wheel-drive

Room For The Whole Family & More:

With ample room for seven as well as luggage, the latest in technology, comfort and safety, the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas is the perfect family vehicle whether you’re driving the school car pool, taking the hockey team and their equipment to the finals, or if you’re finally taking that trip of a lifetime across the country. This spring, get ready for newest addition to the VW family-the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas-it’s the midsize SUV you’ve been waiting for and it was worth the wait.

Spruce up Your Ride With 303 Automotive Car Care Products!

April 28, 2016 by Beeb 160 Comments

Product & gift card provided.

It’s Spring cleaning season, and that doesn’t just go for your house – that also means neglected areas like your car. April is National Car Care Month, and since we just took Grandma’s car up to Washington for a family road trip this past weekend, it was the perfect time to get the vehicle cleaned out and spruced up. As you can see from the fingerprints on the exterior, it was in dire need of a good washing!

Luckily, 303 Products came to our rescue. They already helped us get some outdoor Spring cleaning done earlier this year, and now we had a chance to try out their line of automotive cleaning products.

After giving the car a quick cleaning with soap and water and allowing to dry, Jai and I used 303® Automotive Quick Wax spray to buff the exterior out to a shine. Look at the gleam and how you can see the background reflected like a mirror!

Next, we went around the edges with the 303 Automotive Speed Detailer to turn the grime into shine!

Another handy item in the arsenal is the 303® Instant Windshield Washer Tablets. All you have to do is drop these straight into the reservoir with clean water to dissolve into windshield washing fluid. Cool!!

Now that the exterior was looking great, it was time to clean out the inside. This vehicle was made in 2002, so it’s had a lot of wear and tear over the years. First, we sprayed 303® Automotive Leather 3-in-1 Complete Care over the seats, dash, and other interior areas such as the doors. There was a LOT of grime to clean off!

I finished the job using 303® Automotive Protectant, which is available both as a spray and as handy wipes. A little bit goes a long way, and it really made the surfaces shine!

Seats after using 303® Automotive Leather 3-in-1 Complete Care

We were really impressed by how much better the car looked afterwards – you get so used to looking at something a certain way, that it really stands out when it’s buffed out to a sparkle! Grandma was thrilled and said, “You didn’t just clean this, you detailed the whole thing!” Everyone who has ridden in the car since then has commented that it looks like new again. Mission accomplished!

In addition to being easy to use, both Jai and I noticed that all of these products smelled good, so you didn’t get hit with icky fumes or find that the interior smelled like cleaning products afterwards. These are awesome products for making any car look like new, and I know they’ll serve us well for years to come!

Enter to Win:

In honor of National Car Care Month, 303 Products are giving one MomStart reader a package to help with your Spring cleaning projects:

303® Protectant offers superior protection of your vehicle’s interior and exterior surfaces against the harmful effects of UV rays. It brightens all vinyl, rubber and plastic to keep it looking new, longer. It also helps prevents fading and cracking, repels dust, lint and staining and dries with a non-greasy finish.

303® Protectant Wipes offer a convenient and portable version of 303 Protectant. Each container includes 40 individual wipes perfect for quickly brightening up vinyl, rubber and plastic surfaces.

303® Speed Detailer instantly shines and protects clear coat, fiberglass, plastic, chrome and glass. It blocks the sun’s harmful rays, helps protect against fading and keeps your vehicle looking clean between washes.

303® Leather is a 3-in-1 complete care solution- it cleans, conditions and protects. It is safe to use on all finished leather and vinyl and helps prevent fading and cracking, reduces dust, lint and staining and is a rinse free formula – just spray on, and wipe off.

303® Instant Windshield Washer Tablets – Eco-friendly and super concentrated tablets deliver three times the cleaning power of regular windshield wiper fluid. Simply drop a tablet into your car’s reservoir and add a gallon of water. No disposal of plastic containers required and the powerful solution removes bugs, dirt and grime to make your windshield sparkle.

$50 gift card to Amazon

To Enter:

Please use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Giveaway is open to US residents 18+, and closes on May 5th, 2016 at 11:00 PM PST. Sorry, no PO boxes. See widget for full details and click here to read our giveaway rules.

a Rafflecopter giveaway