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One of the more prestigious stops on the PGA Tour – the Buick Open – was in full swing this past weekend. If you’ve never been to one, you don’t know what you’re missing. It takes place in the upscale suburb of Grand Blanc, Michigan, just a few miles south of Flint and about an hour north of Detroit. But there are many more things you might not know about this prestigious event. Here are some interesting facts about “the Open”:

1. The first Buick Open had a prize of only $52,000. At the time, that was the largest prize awarded on the PGA Tour. To put that amount in perspective, the person who places 23rd in this year’s Buick Open will earn that much. That’s a far cry from the first place prize of $5 million.
2. The golf course on which the Buick Open is played was once a farm. Arnold Lenz, the vice president of GM at the time, provided the foundation for the course’s clubhouse.
3. Currently, Robert Wrenn holds the record for the lowest score at the Buick Open with 26-under 272. He has held the record for 21 years.
4. Tiger Woods has appeared in eight Buick Open tournaments. He has never shot over par in any of those rounds.
5. Buick was the first corporation to sponsor the PGA Tour in 1958. The automaker decided to sponsor the event as a way to celebrate GM’s 50th anniversary.

Are you starved for more interesting Buick Open facts? If so, visit this website. If you’re in the area, visit a local Buick dealer for a great deal on one of these luxurious cars. One area dealer even holds the record for selling the most Buicks in the world. That’s quite a feat for a small town like Flint.

Do you love your Starbucks coffee every morning? Or are you one of the many people giving up their morning jolt in order to put gas in their tank?

If you’re like one-quarter of the nation’s population, you’re giving up those delicious frapuccinos in order to make room in your budget for more fuel. When you think about it, for the price of one venti drink you can put a whole gallon of gas in your car!

But Starbucks isn’t the only company suffering from the gas prices. People are skipping other luxuries in their everyday life as well. As a nation, we’re buying fewer DVDs. We’re not going to as many sporting events as we once did. And restaurants have noticed fewer patrons since gas prices reached $4 a gallon, too.

Another interesting aspect about people cutting back on their expenses is that they expect their new spending habits to be a permanent change. Nearly 75 percent of consumers think the economy is going to get worse before it gets better. The only way to counteract the worsening economy is to save money where they can. Here are some numbers to mull over:

• 28 percent of consumers have admitted that they aren’t buying CDs or DVDs anymore.
• Nearly 30 percent of people no longer attend any sporting events while another 25 percent said they aren’t going to as many events as they once did.
• 60 percent of consumers are eating out less often.
• Nearly 70 percent of people are buying fewer items that they deem “non-essential” or “frivolous.”

So where’s the bright side? If you want to save money, visit your local Buick dealer today. With a largely fuel-efficient inventory and great prices, you can afford to spend a few bucks on your favorite caffeinated drink or at your favorite restaurant. Check one out today and get back to “life as usual.”

Have you ever gone to a mechanic and tried to explain what’s wrong with your car? You’ve probably tried to make the noises your car is making and the mechanics probably look at you like something’s wrong with you instead of the car. So how do you explain what’s wrong? Here are some tips to help you the next time you need to report a car problem.

Compare the Sound
One way to explain a strange sound your car is making is to compare it to a more familiar sound. Did it sound like glass breaking? Or does it sound more like a knocking sound? You might not make sense of the sound, but it will make more sense to the mechanic.

Write It Down
Keep a pad of paper handy so you can write a description of the sound immediately. If you wait for a few hours or a couple days, you might imagine a totally different sound than what it actually made. Also write down when it happens, such as when you speed up, slow down or make a turn. All of that information will help the mechanic know what’s wrong.

Take Your Car to the Dealer Soon
The sooner you take your car to the dealership, the more you can mitigate your repair costs. Even a simple sound could mean a major problem. You might even be doing more damage the longer you wait.

Of course, you can always get a great deal on a new or certified pre-owned vehicle at your local Buick dealer. With extensive warranties and quality cars, you simply can’t go wrong. If your car does happen to have something go wrong, it’s all covered so you can simply enjoy the ride.

Here we go again. You’ve probably read article after article about how to save gas. But if you haven’t gotten your fill (no pun intended), here are some tips you may or may not have come across until now. And even if you have, it never hurts to look over them again in case you forget a couple.

1. Plan Your Routes
One of the biggest gas-guzzling activities is just driving from one side of town to another and back again simply because you didn’t think of your route before leaving. If it helps, make a written list of your errands and then separate them by where they are. Then try to map it out so you don’t do any unnecessary driving.

2. Accelerate Smoothly
Taking off from a complete stop is hard on your fuel economy. That’s because it’s not easy getting a heavy object to start moving. And if you take off fast, it’s even worse. Instead, accelerate smoothly and slowly to give your gas mileage a boost.

3. Check Your Tires
Underinflated tires can greatly decrease your gas mileage. Overinflated tires are dangerous. Check your tires periodically to ensure they have the right amount of PSI in them. If you’re not sure how much air they should have, simply look around the sidewall of the tire. They usually tell you the recommended pressure for optimum safety and economy.

4. Take Care of Your Car
A well-maintained car runs smoother than a car with troubles. Get your car repaired at the first sign of trouble and keep up with the regularly scheduled procedures. A small amount of preventative maintenance can make your car go a long, long way.

5. Switch Cars
If you have a car that guzzles gas, visit your local Buick dealer and get a new, more efficient vehicle that you can be proud of.

If you’re serious about saving a few cents on gas, one solution could be to move to another state. That might sound extreme, but did you know drivers in Missouri are paying about 20 cents less per gallon than the national average?

That just doesn’t seem fair, does it? But if you live in Missouri, you’re probably not complaining as much as people in, say, California. But why does the price of gas fluctuate so much across the nation?

One reason gas is so “cheap” in Missouri is because the state doesn’t produce any oil for itself. It is, however, close to many other oil-producing states, including Oklahoma and Texas which are two of the biggest oil producers in the country. In addition, many major oil pipelines run through the state and the two huge rivers – the Mississippi and the Missouri – are popular thoroughfares for oil barges.

On the other hand, states like California pay much more for gas because of the distance from major oil supplies. In addition to its location, the Golden State also has the toughest emissions standards in the nation. That requires oil companies to put the product through a more stringent refining method to meet the standards.

Other factors include state taxes. New Jersey, for instance, has the lowest state-imposed gas tax in the nation at 14.5 cents a gallon.

If you’re looking for the least expensive gasoline in your state, the price also tends to fluctuate between individual businesses. Convenience stores and “big box” retailers tend to have less expensive fuel because they have other income besides gas.

Wherever you live, you can make your gas dollars stretch farther by purchasing a new or used fuel-efficient vehicle from a local Buick dealer. With recent technologies, you can be assured that these luxurious cars will get you where you need to go without draining your budget. Test drive one today and see for yourself!

There’s probably not a single person reading this blog that hasn’t been affected in some way by rising gas prices. You probably have your own way of expressing your frustrations, whether it’s changing your driving habits, venting to friends or taking alternate forms of transportation. But this guy has a truly unique way of dealing with his frustration over fuel prices.

Brent Burns has an Internet video called “Pain at the Pump.” When I saw it, it was posted on CNN.com, but you can check it out at BrentBurns.com. Just be warned that he’s very angry and tends to be a little “crude” at times.

Brent is a man that drives a minivan. As we all know, those aren’t the best vehicles when you’re trying to increase your fuel economy. He wrote his now-popular song about a year ago, but he’s been following gas prices for decades. In 1979, he wrote a song about fuel that put him on the charts with a Top 40 record. That song was called “Cheaper Crude or No More Food.” I haven’t found any videos or recording of that song yet.

Are you sick of singing the “Pain at the Pump” blues, too? If so, visit your local Buick dealer and get a new fuel-efficient vehicle. You’ll undoubtedly find one that gets decent fuel economy to lessen the pain every time you fill up. While you’re at it, make your own song, poem or essay about your fuel experiences and feel free to post them hear. We’d love to hear ‘em!

If you’re going on vacation this summer, you’re probably going to spend a fortune in gas. I know I’m planning a trip to Georgia and it’s going to cost me more than twice as much as the same trip last year.

But have you ever considered a “staycation”? This means using those vacation days you’ve saved up and taking the time off from work, but simply staying home and relaxing. A staycation allows you to spend some quality time with your family instead of spending hours and hours behind the wheel of a car. It’s also a great way to explore your surrounding community. Visit some neighborhood parks and other outdoor features that you probably never even noticed before. There are probably even museums in your area that you haven’t noticed before.

With a staycation, you can also get some much needed rest. Take a few days to sleep in instead of having an itinerary that makes you exhausted every day. Have you ever heard the phrase, “I have to go back to work so I can get some rest”? With a staycation, you can just take it easy and use the time to refresh yourself.

The best part about a staycation is that you won’t drain your bank account simply by putting gas in your car.

While you’re on your staycation, don’t forget to visit your local Buick dealer and take a few new models for a test drive. Better yet, purchase one before your staycation and enjoy your vacation days driving around in luxury.

If you want to meet a lady, your local Buick dealer might be a good place to start. A recent report stated that more and more women are buying cars these days. In fact, they’re spending more than $300 billion each year on buying, fixing and maintaining cars and trucks.

You might remember the days when the only decision a woman could make on the car lot was which color to choose (don’t send me hate mail – those are the article’s words, not mine). But younger women are now the fastest growing segment of car buyers. Internet sites like AskPatty.com have given women more information and confidence to walk into a dealership and make a car buying decision. AskPatty.com offers a variety of resources specifically for females, including a list of “female-friendly” dealers, advice pages, comparison pages and much, much more!

The CEO and president of AskPatty.com had this to say about the new surge in female car buyers: “Women car buyers want to be treated with respect at the dealership and enjoy their car buying experiences, just like any other retail purchase.” The website offers advice on how to get that respect from the moment you step foot onto the dealer’s lot.

To celebrate the millions of women who have recently taken the initiative to purchase a car without a man by their side, AskPatty.com is offering an incentive to dealerships across the country. Car dealers can sign up with the website between now and July 4th so they can get added to the list of female-friendly dealers. This can help them attract more female buyers. Since this looks like a trend that’s going to continue, who wouldn’t want to be a part of it?

Used cars are the “in” thing nowadays. Every day, more and more drivers are going to their local car dealer and trying to turn in their gas-guzzlers for a smaller, more efficient vehicle. And more often than before, they are choosing used cars instead of new ones. As a result, the demand for used cars has increased by about 30 percent in recent months.

One reason for the switch is because people are trying to save as much money as they can. With soaring gas prices, they figure they should keep as much money in the bank as they can. An uncertain economy also adds to the rising demand.

First-time car buyers are also main buyers of used cars. They generally don’t want to spend more money than necessary on their first car so they turn to the used section of the lot for their purchase.

Lastly, another major factor that makes used cars more attractive is that more manufacturers are offering a certified pre-owned program. With these vehicles, buyers are more comfortable with the “used” moniker because the cars are higher quality than the typical used car. Certified pre-owned cars also have extensive warranties and attractive features that make more people want to buy them.

If you’re looking for more value for your money, isn’t it about time to consider a used car? Your local Buick dealer has several CPO autos and quality used cars at great prices. Don’t delay. Check them out before it’s too late!

If you know anything about Flint, Michigan, you know that it’s not the most affluent city right now. In fact, people have been leaving the home of Buick City for a few years now because of dwindling jobs. But I’ve been saying it’s going to come back as a powerhouse pretty soon. And this story might just prove me right.

There are several colleges in Flint – Mott Community College, Kettering University, Baker College and a branch of the University of Michigan. That makes Flint a perfect candidate for becoming a college town. The only problem is the city’s reputation and its lack of dormitories and living areas for students coming from other areas.

But leaders in the Flint area have been trying to change that for years. They’ve created a few places for student housing and some people are making financial commitments to build more student facilities. There are also some buildings in the area that they plan on turning into student housing, including the vintage Durant Hotel and others.

I’m excited about these plans. If the plans actually go through, this could mean big things for Flint. In a couple years, you might find new airports, hotels, Buick dealer facilities and many other businesses contributing to the local economy. I’ll keep an eye on this story and report anything else that comes along.