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How do you fix a fogged up headlight? Much like all things in life, headlights (and their casing) will degrade over time. Even the most expensive vehicles eventually will suffer from the malady of foggy headlights. UV rays have negative effects on your vehicle. It’s just the way things are. You don’t have to just settle for it, though, as there are tried and true techniques and repair tricks that will allow you to restore the clarity of your headlights to like-new condition. It isn’t hard at all when you know how to fix foggy headlights. It’s cheap and pretty simple, given you can find out how to remove the headlight casing on your vehicle. Most vehicles make it easy on you, with some famous exceptions. There are headlight restoration kits on the market that you can purchase that’ll have everything you need, but you’re also able to use cleansers like baking soda if you need. A scrubbing brush of some sort will get the job done, but as with most cleaning, a toothbrush can also make a great alternative tool.   Step one in the process of restoring your headlights is simple. Get rid of the dead bugs, road debris, dirt, and other contaminants on the surface. This allows you to have a blank canvas to work with. Step two is drying everything off. This is the last step of preparing your headlight for the process itself, and it shouldn’t take long at all.   Step three is applying your cleanser to the headlight. We advise going with a hefty serving of your cleaner in the application process, as this will only help to amplify the end result. It’s important to remember that, if you’re using baking soda as your cleaning agent for restoring your headlights, you’ll need to ensure you mix it with water to form a paste that will adhere to the surface. Step four of getting rid of headlight yellowing is using your cleaning tool or toothbrush to brush around the headlight, working firmly but with care not to damage the plastic. It’s better to repeat step three and step four again instead of bearing down too hard during step four.   Step five is to clean off all cleaners and liquids and examine your finished product. If you’ve performed all five of these steps, you should be looking at a vastly improved headlight. Fixing blurry headlights is something that you can do anywhere. This is an excellent example of a low-budget way to maintain your vehicle without having to take it to a professional. Sometimes a DIY fix is the best way to go.   For more complicated fixes, schedule a service appointment at our local repair shop in Miami, Oklahoma today.

With dozens if not hundreds of repair shops near Miami, Oklahoma, it can be hard to sift through all of the listings to find the most trustworthy one. Not all mechanics are the same. Some are more expensive, some are less experienced, some are transparent about pricing, and some are trusted by your friends and family. You might prefer a local mechanic that’s more sociable and is excited to tell you about their process, but another person could enjoy the luxury of not having to know any details other than the price.   Not all mechanics are the same, and the same statement could be made about the expectations of customers. You need to find the right repair shop in Joplin for your needs, and we’d like to prove to you that that’s us. Sometimes you know what’s wrong with your vehicle. Sometimes it’s immediately obvious what is wrong, and you can go into a situation knowing about what parts and labor will cost. It’s safe to say that this isn’t true the majority of the time. If it was, it would matter far less where you take your vehicle, as you’d be certain enough about the projected costs to not get ripped off by the auto mechanic in Miami, Oklahoma. Usually, the issue your vehicle presents you with is an unknown clunk, squeal, or rapping. The type of situation that immediately gets in the way of your commute.   In a city like Oklahoma City, you need a personal vehicle to stay gainfully employed. Commutes are far and public transportation is lacking at best. This means that you’ll often have to bite the bullet and handle repairs as they happen. That’s what makes it so important to deal with a repair shop near me in Joplin, Missouri that you trust. John Vance Auto Group has been dealing in the auto world since 1983. For context, a song by The Police was the top song on the radio that year, so it’s fair to say that we have been around long enough to pick up on how to fairly treat people in this industry. Unlike big corporate repair companies, we’re family-owned and family-operated. Repair costs aren’t dictated by some out-of-touch millionaire from out of state, but instead are kept low by a true local and member of the community, John Vance. Go the extra few miles outside of the city and choose the local auto repair shop that’ll also go the extra mile for you. Schedule your service appointment here.

How often should you get new tires? How to check if you need new tires? This blog will answer these questions and more in an effort to leave you more informed about proper maintenance of your car’s shoes. It’s a common saying in the auto world that buying a good pair of tires is the best performance upgrade you can get for your vehicle, and unlike many sayings or oft-repeated quips, it’s entirely true in this situation. When buying something like, say, a new Jeep Wrangler, most people feel the entirely understandable urge to make it look as capable as possible. More often than not, that means throwing a lift kit, light bar, or brush guard on your rig. While there is nothing wrong with any of those upgrades, a good pair of new all-terrain tires in Miami, Oklahoma is going to have a far more significant impact upon your offroad performance than any light bar or lift ever could. Buying a new pair of tires isn’t the most glamorous purchase, but it is the smartest one.   So.. How often should you get new tires? The answer to this question is more complicated than just a simple “You need to replace your tires when…” as your situation and driving habits are what really dictate the situation. If you put significantly less miles on your car than the national average, it’s possible that you could make it to the maximum recommended amount of time between new tire purchases. Per the NHTSA, you should replace your tires every six years at the absolute minimum, but the average person’s usage of their vehicle will dictate a much more frequent schedule.   If you listen to the experts (as you should), you’ll be replacing your tires every 3-5 years (if your annual miles align with the average at around 12,000 – 15,000 miles). As with all rules, there are some critical exceptions to the rules of how often you should replace your tires. The most important factor in when to replace your tires is the tread / condition of the tire. You need to be able to recognize the signs of when your tires need to be replaced, and this next part will dive into exactly that.   Your eyes are a very practical tool in assessing your tire’s tread level and general health. Be sure to visually inspect the entirety of your tire for uneven wear, damage, or other anomalies that indicate issues with the wall or tread of your tire. Another classic way to test your tire’s tread depth is by doing the penny test. The penny test requires a penny, which you’ll position with the head facing the tire in between the treads. If you can see most of Abe’s hat, it’s probably time to consider buying new tires at John Vance Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram’s tire shop in Miami, Oklahoma. With the above-detailed techniques, rules, and tests, you’ll be able to accurately estimate the frequency of when you should buy new tires. Now that you have all the information you need, all that’s left is to set up a service appointment and make a selection for your next pair of tires. Our five-star rated dealerships service a variety of locations across Oklahoma, and we’d love to help you today.

Midwest Jeepfest 2021 - Wheeling for a Wheely Good Cause This year’s Midwest Jeepfest was a massive success that topped both our expectations and our records in previous years. We had a wonderful time out there with all of our new friends and some old friends too, and we just wanted to take the time to thank everyone for coming out and showing support. We had everything from Wranglers and XJs to Hummers, F-150s, and home-brewed monsters come out, and we loved the opportunity to see such a wide array of 4x4s out on our dirt track. While the name of the event is Jeepfest, this event has always been about inclusivity for all different makes of 4x4 vehicles. It’s part of what makes this event so special. We can’t thank Dan Mullenix of Dirtwerx of Oklahoma enough for the absolutely amazing upgrades and expansion he pulled off on our offroad course. This year’s course was miles ahead of any other years’, which was critical in making sure that people had the time of their lives testing out their 4x4s. This year’s charity we worked with was Paralyzed Veterans of America, Mid-America chapter, which is the local chapter of an organization that works to help out our veterans who no longer have full mobility. We have greatly enjoyed working beside Bill Kokendoffer on this year’s event, and we couldn’t have made this happen without him. Our hard-working Midwest Jeepfest committee involved folks from all over the state, including Guthrie Chamber of Commerce, The Guthrie News Leader, Tim’s Bodyworx, Dirtwerx of Oklahoma, Red Dirt Jeep Club, Duck Duck Jeep, The Edmond Way, and more. Local leaders stepped up to ensure this went off without a hitch, and we’re beyond grateful that they used their free time in such a charitable way. It has made all the difference having a high level of involvement from our neighbors. We sincerely could not have pulled this off without their selfless participation. We couldn’t have raised the incredible amount of funds we were able to raise without the direct contributions from charitable local businesses like Wanderfolk Spirits, Mack and Ike’s Good Times Saloon, Ally Financial, Dealer Express, and D&S Automotive Wrecker. Thank you to all the companies and individuals who made the decision to donate. With your efforts, we were able to raise a colossal amount of money (still being calculated as of the writing of this post) for our veterans. 100% of all donations and funds raised during Midwest Jeepfest 2021 are being given directly to PVA Mid-America chapter, and a figure like this is one that will make a big difference in the lives of the veterans in this chapter. Unlike nationwide charities, this money is going specifically to locals, meaning you’ve helped out your friends and neighbors with your participation. Each year we attempt to topple the records set the previous year, and we hope that we can count on all of you to help us make Midwest Jeepfest 2022 an even more successful event. Don’t forget to tag us or use the hashtag #midwestjeepfest so that us and everyone else can see what this awesome event was like. View our new Jeep inventory.

Many people have fallen prey to an assumption that, while possibly true in the past, is certainly not relevant in today’s market. Telling your salesman that you’re paying for your car in cash isn’t the power move that you may think it is. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with buying a car with cash. In fact, for some people it’s the absolute best way to go. What is isn’t, however, is a thing to say to your salesman in an attempt to “sweeten the deal” or barter. When you tell us that you’re paying for your car with cash in an attempt to get a lower price, it’s telling us that we might not make any money from this deal. It’s critical for both parties to benefit from a transaction, and given financing provides the brunt of a dealership’s profits, paying cash isn’t the incentive to offer a lower price that you may think it is. In order to stay in business, we need to make a profit from our sales. We don’t get greedy with our pricing, and we try to provide our best price up front and on our website. You’ll still get the same five-star treatment paying cash as you would were you financing with us, but it’s imperative to understand that telling us you’re paying with cash isn’t a negotiation chip in your pocket that’ll change the amount we need to make to keep this small business running. Here at the John Vance Auto Group in Miami, Oklahoma,  we try to be as open and transparent through the entire car-buying process as is humanly possible, and that extends to helping dispel misconceptions about what creates leverage in your purchase. When we’re all on the same page, it allows for everyone to have a level playing field and helps erase any feelings of hoodwinking or subterfuge. As it can be to your advantage to finance, we did want to provide some perspective on why you benefit from financing your car purchase. One of the most important factors in your financial landscape is liquidity. The ability to use or invest your cash reserves in savings or emergency funds is worth paying an additional 3.5% in financing interest if it means you can keep your cash reserves up. Obviously everyone is coming from a unique situation, but these general principles apply to most scenarios we see. It can be intimidating signing up for a few years worth of payments, but knowing that you’re financially prepared for any occurrence between now and the end of your loan is a very reassuring bit of knowledge. View our full inventory here!

Oklahoma’s temperature can hit in the upper 90s and even 100s during the summer, which means it’s a critical need to have a fully functioning air conditioning system that constantly blows cold. You might think that repairing your car’s air conditioning is too expensive or time consuming, but we guarantee that you’ll be thankful for it when the sizzling sun is high in the sky. Due to our low overhead cost, we’re able to supply a superior service at a price that’s tailor-made to fit your budget. This is a company that cares for quality, and that care for quality shows in the experience that we provide. We offer affordable air conditioning repair for your truck that will ensure that you’re prepared for even the most sweltering of days. You can set up a service appointment now and breathe a sigh of relief when you see the 7-day forecast. Our professional team of certified technicians are on standy-by to provide you with a quality service at the drop of a hat. We’re trained and ready to help with any and all auto air conditioner services. Car air conditioner repair in Miami, Oklahoma is all about finding a local repair shop that you can trust to take care of your vehicle in every stage of the repair process. It’s about not just finding the right auto ac repair near me, but it’s about knowing you’re getting the five-star treatment that you deserve. AC car repair has some great side-effects that you can only realize once you’ve experienced Summer heat without backup. Your phone won’t be constantly overheating in the car, which is an unfortunate reality of driving around in the Oklahoma heat without backup. We specialize in automotive ac repair near me because we know how bad it can be driving around and sweating non stop in the car. Don’t you think it’s about time that you invested in the comfortability of your commute? Vehicle ac repair near me in Miami, Oklahoma isn’t something you should have to put off for months. It’s hot now, and we can help now. Schedule your service now.

Midwest Jeepfest - September 4th Midwest Jeepfest is a few short weeks away, and we’re so ready to see everyone out in Guthrie. Given the craziness of last year, we were only able to have a small, social-distanced meet and greet event, so this is the first real Midwest Jeepfest since back in 2019. Needless to say, we’re itching to get out there and tear up the track. Given the dramatic pause between 2019’s Midwest Jeepfest and 2021’s Midwest Jeepfest, we came to the conclusion that an ordinary experience just wasn’t thrilling enough. With that need for awesomeness in mind, we made the call to expand the dirt track. The Vance family acquired some land directly behind the original dirt track, and now we’re in the process of making good use of it. Our friends at DirtWerx of Oklahoma are working hard to ensure this expanded experience is ready to go before September 4th when everything kicks off, which is a tall order given the size of the new track. This year’s Midwest Jeepfest will be filled with both return visitors as well as a large amount of newcomers to this charity 4x4 event. While the name of the event is Jeepfest, the spirit of the event is inclusion, and that means there will be plenty of variety on display in terms of vehicles. We’ve seen everything from Willys and 90’s Cherokees to Silverados and 4Runners. This gathering only exists to make a difference, and it takes all hands on deck to raise the funds required to make a massive impact. Due to that same reason, we’ve partnered up with organizations like Duck Duck Jeep, Ally Financial, and more to maximize the good we’re working to do in our community. Key partners like these are critical in ensuring we hit or exceed our goal of $20,000 raised in total from Midwest Jeepfest 2021. We hope that with the combination of inflatables and fun kid events, remote control crawlers, vendor booths, and our offroad track we’ll be able to make this a fantastic time for everyone. We’ll see y’all in September!

Skipping the lines and ordering a custom vehicle from the factory It’s no secret that new inventory is hard to come by for dealerships as well as customers. COVID, chip shortages, canal-related mishaps, and other disasters have all led to the strangest auto market situation that we’ve ever seen. If you’ve been shopping around for your next vehicle, you’ve likely already seen how difficult it can be to find exactly what you’re looking for. You might find the perfect SUV with everything you need, BUT it’s in the wrong color. You might find a sedan that would be a great fit for your family, but it doesn’t have steering wheel controls, and that’s a deal breaker for you. You might be looking for a new heavy-duty truck and find nothing at all. When it comes to something you plan on using for years, it’s hard to compromise on features, color, or even the exact model you want. When you custom factory order a truck at John Vance Auto Group, you’re able to get exactly what you’re looking for, and without the frustration of searching Autotrader and local dealership websites. You get to skip the line when you order a new car, is what we’re telling you. While it’s definitely no secret that the current situation is a crazy one, it’s much less known that you can simply go straight to the factory through John Vance Auto Group. Customize what features and specs your factory ordered truck has without spending hours of time searching online. You can get the process of custom ordering your SUV from our website and have it delivered to your nearest John Vance Auto Group dealership. You might want to ask the question “ How long does it take to order a car from the factory?” Normally it might be quicker to pick something up from what’s currently available on the lot, but that’s no longer the case with inventory constraints. Ordering a new car through a dealership doesn’t have to be stressful. In fact, it can even be an enjoyable experience when you partner up with a reputable dealership and take the time to ensure what you’re ordering is the exact right car you want. You’ll never have as much freedom of choice in your cay-buying experience as you will find in your special ordered vehicle experience.

Best outdoor seating restaurants in Joplin Missouri 2021 We’re coming off of a year of isolation, and now that life has begun again, it’s time to get out and enjoy the company of our friends and family. That means it’s time for good eats, preferably ones with a great outdoor patio. We compiled a list of restaurants in and around Joplin that have patios or outdoor seating to take full advantage of the beautiful Missouri Summer. Tropicana Bar & Grill We wanted to start with Tropicana Bar and Grill in Joplin for a few different reasons. The top reason is their incredibly-strong review level online, which is usually a pretty great indicator of quality. Their self-described “balcony seating” has us intrigued, and we’re planning to give their american-style cuisine a try next time we’re in town. Since we’re located just a short distance from Joplin, over in Miami Oklahoma, we spend a great deal of time mingling with our neighboring city. Crabby’s You’ll “sea” why we recommended this crustacean-themed restaurant the moment you walk in, as their crab cakes are to die for. When you’re looking for something as specific as outdoor seating at a Joplin seafood restaurant, it’s hard to find a more appropriate location than Crabby’s. They even offer takeout, so you’re covered if you want tilapia to go. Screamin’ Chicken With a name like Screamin’ Chicken, it’s hard to imagine this place is anything other than a blast. Reviews of this downtown Joplin food truck leave us with the impression that this is a fantastic spot for a quick wing fix while spending time in the great outdoors. We have it on good authority that their buffalo sauce is top notch, but what about the lemon pepper? Visit and let us know! WISEGUYS Italian American Comfort Foods This place may look like a hole in the wall, but the hundreds of five-star reviews this place has raked in leaves us certain that it’s worth the trip. This is potentially the highest rated italian restaurant in Joplin, and they’ve earned a cult following of folks who make sure to drop by every time they are in town. Their front porch area is not the most fancy spot to dine down, but this isn’t fine dining. It’s casual Italian food that you can even take out. Joplin is a beautiful city that’s just a stone's throw away from our dealership in Miami, Oklahoma, and we’d love it if you’d make the short leap over to see us.

Jeep has been hinting at something big, and there are a multitude of theories floating around as to what exactly is coming. Here’s what we’re working with so far. “A sign of things to come” read the tweet accompanying this image posted on June 21, 2021. -but what does Jeep’s mysterious 40.4 tweet MEAN? We’ve spent a lot of time crawling through all of the countless other articles casting guesses and compiled them here so that you don’t have to. With that being said, let’s figure out Jeep’s newest teaser. Some folks in the auto field have made guesses that, while awesome, are extremely unlikely. Guesses like that includes ground clearance (come on, now. That’s just a fantasy number), breakover angles, water fording (while possible, this would be a huge leap), mileage (haha), a wrangler roadster (this is perhaps the least likely of all of the guesses, as Jeep already has a bevy of new jeep vehicles in the works and the Wrangler already sells like hotcakes), climate control (this one wasn’t particularly inspired), and more increasingly crazy speculations. One potentially valid possibility is that it’s referencing the kWh battery. The current Jeep Wrangler 4xe has a somewhat miniscule battery pack clocking in at 17.3 kWh, but a 40 kWh battery would take the electric-only range up to about a 50-mile area which is a third of the range of the comparably-equipped Nissan Leaf. What we, along with at least one other automotive outlet, think is most likely to be the meaning behind Jeep’s 40.4 tweet is that it’s referencing tire size. Just by googling Jeep on 40-inch tires, you’ll get a taste for 1. How extreme this looks and 2. How there is a precedent for it being done. That’s as close as we can get to a definite answer for the time being, and even that is just speculation on our end. Here’s hoping that Stellantis will pull back the curtain on this 40.4 Jeep treat soon.

The world hasn’t seen a new Dodge Dakota roll off of the assembly line since 2011, and that’s all about to change. While the information we’ve compiled largely stems from rumors, there are some solid pieces of evidence to be found that the new Ram Dakota is very much a thing. One of the most legitimate clues is the appearance of what looks suspiciously like a modern Dakota camouflaged in spy shots. While the original Dodge Dakota was underneath the Dodge umbrella, Ram trucks have since been broken off into their own brand, and the new Dakota is more likely to fit in with the pickups than the sports cars and minivans under the Dodge nameplate. While it has been over a decade since we saw a new Dakota, we do fondly remember the stalwart, simple nature of the first Dakota. It was a compact truck that didn’t have a ton of fancy garnishing but did pack a punch for towing and general laboring. Oklahomans love trucks, so we anticipate they’ll be very pleased to see this historic nameplate return. The 2010 Dodge Dakota, while cool and great for working, got pretty terrible miles per gallon. We anticipate that the new Ram Dakota in Joplin will see much higher miles per gallon than the 14 mpg that the old Dakota got. The progress in technology since 2010 allows vastly more powerful engines to rake in excellent fuel efficiency, and we expect to see the 2022 Dakota take advantage of those advances. Looking at the architecture of this new Ram truck spy shot, it looks very much like roughly the same shape as the original Dakota, but with design touches that fit the time period. We cannot be certain of much other than the general shape, as what we’ve been allowed to see so far is heavily camouflaged. These pictures are far from isolated incidents, and you’ll find a great deal of proof that the Dakota is on its way to being announced. We’ll update this post with more information after the new Ram Dakota reveal, if we’re correct in our guess that it’s coming soon.

Comparing the new Rubicon 392 and the new Wrangler 4xe With two of the latest entries in this historic Jeep series, the Wrangler has ascended to never-before-seen levels of power, speed, and refinement. That statement may make these two new Wranglers sound dainty, but their raw ability where the pavement ends is unrivaled. Like the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is in its element at the track, so, too, are the Jeep 4xe and Jeep 392 at their best when thrown into a literal quagmire, bog, or occasional creek fording. Before we get into which is “better” than the other, let’s dive into what exactly these new Jeep Wranglers in Miami Oklahoma are. The new Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Jeeps haven’t always been the fastest vehicles on (or off) of the road. In fact, older examples such as the Jeep FC made an anemic 72 horsepower, which would send it scuttling zero to sixty eventually. New Jeep Wranglers near me have grown quicker, smarter, and tougher than ever before. -And now it has been taken to another level entirely with the addition of a V8 engine that’s able to claw from zero to sixty in just four point five seconds. It’s no overstatement to say that the new Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 in Joplin MO is the fastest Jeep Wrangler you can buy. If you know the precedent set by Jeep’s sister company, Dodge, you’ll know that the hemi is Dodge’s solution to just about everything. This is for good reason, too, as the Jeep Hemi is an absolute monster. Now not only is this thing fast, but it’s also bearing the Rubicon name and all the ability that comes with it. The Jeep Rubicon name is a promise, one that says right out of the factory it can conquer the legendary Rubicon Trail, and the 392 Jeep will be no exception. The New Jeep Wrangler 4xe The new 4xe is a plug-in hybrid that allows for hyper-efficient motoring, near-silent electric only wheeling, and all the bushwhacking Jeep is known for. Detractors of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles may suffer the misconception an electrified Wrangler isn’t as powerful as the new Jeep Wrangler, but the 4xe Jeep’s 470 lb-ft of instant torque would beg to differ. The new Jeep Wrangler 4xe can scoot from zero to sixty in six seconds flat, which is exceptional for a zero percent aerodynamic box of a Jeep. Horsepower may be an overrated measurement of ability, but just in case the Wrangler 4xe near me puts out an impressive 375 horsepower. The 4xe Wranglers near me can charge up to maximum capacity in about two hours, so you’re never too far out from being back on the trail. This new Jeep 4xe in Joplin MO can run on electric-only for up to 21 miles, making it a silent trail master that puts out nearly zero emissions. 392 vs 4xe - What’s the best Jeep Wrangler? When it comes down to it, the better new Wrangler is whatever fits your lifestyle the most seamlessly. For people that may use their Wrangler in Joplin MO for commuting as well as weekend adventures, the gas-saving 4xe Jeep near me may be the best choice. Meanwhile, if you’re less concerned with going green or saving money on gas station fillups, you may prefer the raw power of the new Hemi Wrangler 392. Snarling launches or silent climbing? Ultimately, it’s up to you. We’re your local Jeep dealership, and we’d love to help you get behind the wheel of either the 392 Jeep or the Jeep 4xe today, and at a payment that’s built to fit your budget.