Monthly Archives: September 2017

Tips for teaching your teen to drive

“Mom, Dad, can I borrow the keys?”

That’s a phrase that sends chills down many a parent’s spine. A teenager behind the wheel of the family vehicle (or their own) is a scary thought, but only if they’re not properly prepared. So, some teaching is in order.

Still, teaching a teenager to do anything can be a challenge, let alone something as difficult and important as driving. Here are some tips for getting all the important points across without anyone getting on anyone else’s nerves.

Ditch the distractions

Trust us, they don’t need their phones to learn how to drive. Nor do they need to hear that new Bieber track, even if it is super catchy. Once they’ve got the basics down, then you can do your carpool karaoke, family edition.

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Plan your route in advance

Don’t wing it when it comes to where you’ll be training. An empty lot, downtown during a non-busy hour, the outskirts of town…just know where you’re going.

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Don’t get frustrated

Do you remember what it was like being a teenager? Things can be a little…imbalanced. So, when you’re teaching them the ways of the road, make sure that you always do so with a calm and cool disposition. Even if they’re losing it, don’t let your teen put pressure on you.

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Correct with questions

Rather than pointing out an error, ask them a leading question. When they discover the answer themselves, they’ll feel more accomplished and be more open to your pointers.

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Lead by example

You know that old expression “monkey see monkey do?” Well, it’s actually about teens. They’re always watching you, so wear your seatbelt, signal, don’t forget to shoulder check and for goodness sake, don’t hot-rod.

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Decide what the lesson is before you set out

It’s tempting to just get out on the road and address things as they come up, but making a list of things to focus on during driving sessions is a much better teaching technique. It’ll also help you make sure that you don’t forget anything important. Involve your teen in deciding what to tackle for each lesson. Again, this will also help you realize all the little things you do when you drive that you normally don’t think about.

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2018 Acura RLX: The Queen’s New Nose

During the Monterey Car Week, Acura unveiled the new style of its RLX flagship sedan. The big four-door car didn’t drastically change, but like a good wine, it only got better with age. Let’s go through its most obvious changes and less obvious modifications.

Styling:

The first thing you’ll notice when looking at the new RLX is the changes made to the front end. The hood is all-new, as is the recognizable front grille. Gone is the chrome “beak” that had become the signature of Acura in the last few years—in its place is a sleek-looking pentagon grille. The rest of the car’s front end is also new. For example, check out the stylish chrome lines circling the fog lights, or the new LED fog lights themselves.

The RLX has also been thoroughly modified at the rear: new LED taillights give the car a more modern look, while the black lower diffuser anchors a sportier appearance.

2018 Acura RLX

Drivetrain:

There are also some changes under the hood. The powerful-yet-economical 3.5-litre V6 is back, still delivering 310 horsepower. However, sitting underneath it is an all-new 10-speed automatic gearbox. While it has been seen in the Honda Odyssey, Pilot and Ridgeline, this is the first time this unit is used in an Acura product.

The rest of the car’s mechanical bits are unchanged—Acura’s Precision All-Wheel Steering still comes standard, as does the FWD layout. Acura hasn’t yet published the fuel economy ratings for the 2018 RLX, but we can only assume that the 10-speed transmission will only improve them.

 

Interior:

The most notable change inside the 2018 RLX is the new front seats, which we look forward to sitting in. Throughout the cockpit, various surfaces are now richer than they were on the outgoing model, and there’s even an Espresso interior colour now on option. The most notable piece of technology that has been added to the already impressive list of features proposed on the RLX is the Traffic Jam Assist. This clever tech will automatically follow the car in front of you when you’re stuck in gridlock, helping those who have to go through congested city centers every day.

2018 Acura RLX

The 2018 Acura RLX is set to arrive in November. When it lands in dealerships, we will finally be able to experience just how far the brand’s high-tech limousine has come. Stay tuned!