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Keeping the Driver Entertained on a Road trip

There are plenty of entertainment options available for passengers during a road trip. Thanks to modern technology, they can enjoy their own personal music, movies, and video games, or, if you prefer the oldies of in-car entertainment, there’s always literature, magazines, or activity books. Personally, I always go with naps.

Unfortunately, most of these options are closed to the driver. Especially on longer road trips, highway hypnosis can quickly take hold of the driver, decreasing their reaction time and general awareness of the road. Really long trips can create crushing boredom that’s impossible to shake.

There are a few alternatives for the driver’s entertainment. Exploring these is a great way to make your road trip more enjoyable, and safe.

  • Modern music streaming – While in the past you may have been limited to what you can find on the radio or your CD collection, modern music technology has a lot more to offer. Many vehicles are equipped with either Bluetooth technology that can stream music from your phone or an auxiliary input cable for your MP3 device. If your vehicle is enabled for Satellite radio, you can access your favorite programs wherever you are in the country.
  • Audiobooks - Driving is one of the best times to listen to an audiobook. Today everything from science fiction to classic literature, and from comedy to history, is available on CD.  Many local libraries have a large selection of audio books that you can borrow. Websites like Audible.com allow you to borrow and download audio books right to your iPod, as well.
  • Stimulating conversation – Make it the special responsibility of whomever is sitting in the passenger seat to engage the driver in conversation. It may be tempting to passengers to lose themselves in their own activities, but road trips can be a great opportunity to learn more about each other, and keeping the driver engaged is important for everyone in the car.
  • Switch off – No one said that the first driver had to stick to their role. If there are other available drivers, switch it up. Before you leave, set up a rough driving schedule for when you’ll switch between drivers. This will make sure that everyone stays fresh, alert, and more willing to do their part.
 
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Environmental Progress is Honored by Lexus at the 22nd Annual Environmental Media Awards

Lexus ES 300h Hybrid

At McGrath Lexus, we do more than offer great luxury cars for sale near Chicago — we also keep drivers up to date with all of the latest news regarding the luxury automaker we know and love. Fortunately, Lexus has some fantastic initiatives beyond making exceptional vehicles. To stay up to date on all of the great initiatives that Lexus gets behind — such as promoting the Environmental Media Awards — visit our dealership in Westmont and have a chat with our friendly team. We will gladly show you around all of the different environmentally friendly vehicles that we have to offer!

Hollywood and Lexus Team Up for the Environment

Along with Toyota’s America branch, Lexus sponsored the 22nd annual Environmental Media Awards, where the entertainment industry is lauded for their efforts to promote environmentally friendly vehicles to the world.

The honorees for this year include Tesla CEO Elon Musk, as well as actor Ian Somerhalder, actress Jessica Alba, and political activist Kelly Meyer. Some of the works nominated included films like Disneynature Chimpanzee and 21 Jump Street as well as television shows like Happy Endings and Dallas.

Bob Carter, the senior vice president of automotive operations for Toyota, praised the entertainment industry for making the driving of their popular hybrid vehicle seem stylish and cool well over a decade ago, saying that there was little doubt that this greatly helped both Toyota and Lexus increase their sales and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The lineup of great new hybrid vehicles from Lexus was presented at the ceremony, which was held at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California. At the forefront was the ever-popular 2013 Lexus ES 300h.

This was the 11th year that both Toyota and Lexus sponsored this celebratory event, partnering to congratulate the actors, writers, directors, and activists of Hollywood for doing their part in ensuring that more drivers across the world drive an environmentally friendly vehicle.

Test Drive a Lexus Hybrid at McGrath Lexus Today

Hybrids have come a long way in the last decade, and you’ll be surprised just how much they can feel like traditional luxury cars for sale in the Chicago area, except when you find yourself hitting the gas station less and less. Visit our website for hours and directions to our Westmont dealership — we can’t wait to serve you!

 
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Have You Heard These Lexus Facts?

McGrath Lexus has Some Fun and Interesting Auto Facts for You

As your Lexus dealership in Westmont IL, all of us at McGrath Lexus feel that we have a duty to be more than just a source for great new and used vehicles. Beyond our friendly Financing Department and our skilled service technicians, we think we owe it to our customers to be a source of auto knowledge, too.

While we often cover certain tidbits that will make your driving experience easier or improve the maintenance of your vehicle, sometimes the trivial things can be pretty entertaining. Read on for some of these fun details.

Auto Trivia You Probably Didn’t Know

Mcgrath Lexus of Westmont

Let’s talk about origins first; do you know where we get the term “automobile?” It originates from the French words “auto,” meaning “self” and “mobile,” which means “moving.” So an automobile is a self-moving thing, which makes sense when you consider that prior personal vehicles were often driven by animals.

Well, most prior personal vehicles, at least, considering that the very first automobile was designed in 1672 by Ferdinand Verbiest. He created a steam-powered trolley as a toy for the Chinese Emperor; while there is no direct evidence of it construction, he had access to the finest metal workers in China and the design was sound, which is why we credit him as the first automaker.

Things have changed a lot since then, though, and now our auto techs are so versed in the inner workings of vehicles that they even do speed trials on removal and repair jobs. On November 21 in 1985, the engine of a Ford Escort was removed and replaced in 42 seconds — this is the fastest recorded engine replacement. We don’t work quite that fast in our Service Department, but that’s to ensure that your vehicle gets all the attention it needs. We’re okay without the world record if it means giving you quality service.

Part of being an auto dealer is accumulating little bits of trivia like this. We’ve got plenty more that we can share with you on your next visit to McGrath Lexus of Westmont, IL, so stop in and chat with us about the storied history of the automobile.

Visit McGrath Lexus Today

Whether you’re in the market for a luxurious new Lexus, a pre-owned vehicle from a different automaker, or quality auto service, then McGrath Lexus of Westmont, IL is your dealership. If you’ve got any questions about our inventory or about these neat pieces of car trivia, visit us today and speak with a member of our team!

 
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Customers Share Their Opinions On Leasing Vs. Buying

McGrath Lexus Customers Give Their Opinion in Our Leasing vs. Buying Poll

Some of our customers prefer buying while others would rather lease. Whatever your personal preference, there are plenty of excellent options to choose from at McGrath Lexus of Westmont, including the LX luxury utility vehicle and the newly revamped GS, with an available sport performance model. Stop by during our showroom hours to learn more about the great choices that Lexus offers.

Leasing vs. Buying is a Matter of Personal Preference

We asked customers what they thought on our Facebook page, and there were some strong opinions. One customer wrote “I would rather buy a car knowing it will be mine someday, free and clear! Love my 2008 RX350!” While some preferred buying, many drivers enjoy picking up a completely new vehicle every few years like leasing entails. One trend remains the same, though — whether customers are buying or leasing, everyone enjoys driving their Lexus!

Our customers have their opinions, but what about you? Many drivers feel that they don’t have enough information to decide about one or the other, and simply default to a choice that seems more familiar. If you lease, you may be surprised to know that your down payment and subsequent monthly payments are typically lower than if you were to buy. Repair costs are usually lower as well, because the vehicle is often still under warranty. Typically, though, you can only put a set amount of miles on a leased vehicle each year, otherwise you need to pay for them at the end of the leasing agreement. If you purchase a vehicle, you can drive it as much as you want and treat it as you please. The trade-off is that you have higher payments and are responsible for repairs after the warranty period ends.

Learn More About What McGrath Lexus Has to Offer

Whether you’re looking to buy or lease, we can help you find the right vehicle at McGrath Lexus of Westmont. Learn more about our great selection from a member of our sales team. We’re located at 500 E Ogden Ave. in Westmont. We look forward to helping you find a vehicle you’ll love to drive for years to come.

 
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Tips on Keeping Your Kids Entertained

McGrath Lexus’ Tips to Keeping Kids Entertained

Long summer road trips may be over, but your Chicagoland Lexus dealer knows that you’re still spending plenty of time on the road carting kids to and from school, sports, play dates, and weekend road trips to visit family and friends. That’s why McGrath Lexus of Westmont wants to make sure you can enjoy your time in the car by keeping your kids entertained on long trips. Whether you’re going on a road trip or just shopping downtown, there are a lot of opportunities for fun memories to be formed in your Lexus.

Fun Car Games

Not all Chicago drivers have a rear DVD entertainment system to keep their kids occupied on long car trips, and smaller children can’t entertain themselves with video games yet. Parents.com recommends fun games that both kids and adults can play together to not only make the time pass more amicably, but can also help children learn. Check out these fun car games you can play while out on the road in your Lexus with kids of all different ages:

  • The License Plate Game. See how many different state license plates you see while driving. The person to spot the most wins. This is best played if you’re going on a long trip across state lines.
  • Twenty Questions. One person secretly thinks of a person or thing, and everyone gets to ask 20 questions about what it could be before they guess the answer.
  • Alphabet Game. Pick out objects along the road that start with each letter of the alphabet in order. The first person to successfully get to Z wins.
  • Alphabet Memory Game. Each person takes turns assigning an object to a letter of the alphabet starting at the beginning (A is for apple) then continues by adding an object to the next corresponding letter but also repeating each previous letter and object. The last person will have to remember everything!

Your Family’s Lexus Journey Begins at McGrath Lexus

There’s lots of ways to have fun on the road, and what better way to do it than in a Lexus? Our sales team can help you find the car or SUV that’s right for you and your family so you’ll always have fun no matter where you drive. Visit McGrath Lexus, and let your Lexus journey begin!

 
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Find Luxury Vehicles at McGrath Lexus

McGrath Lexus Has the Used Luxury Vehicles Illinois Drivers Want

While it’s true that Illinois drivers in Westmont and Chicago know us for our incredible selection of new Lexus models, here at McGrath Lexus we are also proud to offer a huge number of used and certified pre-owned Lexus vehicles! All of our used vehicles are inspected on site by our expert Lexus service technicians for quality assurance, and Lexus’ Certified Pre-Owned program is among the best in the industry. Our team of enthusiastic and courteous sales representatives are here to answer all of your questions, so stop by our showroom and let us help you research the value in a pre-owned Lexus today!

Lexus CPO vs. Mercedes-Benz CPO

While automakers often stress the advantages of their new vehicles over other automakers, it’s important to remember that competition is steep among certified pre-owned programs as well. While Lexus and Mercedes-Benz continue to be fierce rivals in the showroom and on the test track, when it comes to used vehicle protections, Lexus has Mercedes beat.

One of the things we notice here at McGrath Lexus is that the automaker takes their vehicle quality very seriously — a fact that’s all the more evident with Lexus’ certified pre-owned program. At McGrath Lexus, when you shop CPO you can take comfort in the fact that your vehicle will not be certified unless it’s six model years or newer, and it absolutely must have less than 70,000 miles. Mercedes, on the other hand, is willing to certify a vehicle with as much as 75,000 miles.

The actual certified warranties offered by both programs also differ sharply. While Lexus offers a 3-year/100,000-total-mile CPO warranty no matter the model year, Mercedes-Benz will only extend the balance of the new-vehicle warranty by a year. Because Mercedes’ new-vehicle warranty only lasts 42 months, any CPO Mercedes that’s more than two years old offers less protection than Lexus. Throw in the fact that your first vehicle maintenance is on Lexus, whereas Mercedes won’t pay for it, and the question of which program offers more value is clearly in favor of our brand.

Schedule a Test Drive of a Used or Certified Pre-Owned Lexus Today

So if you’re looking for a great value, check out our selection of used Lexus cars, SUVs, crossovers, and more! At McGrath Lexus we offer two locations for your convenience, so schedule a test drive in one of our excellent new, used, or CPO Lexus vehicles today!

 
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Learn More About the Lexus Advanced Pre-Collision System

The Lexus Advanced Pre-Collision System

With features like adaptive cruise control and assisted parallel parking, modern vehicles are showing signs of becoming more and more autonomous. Your leading Orland Park area Lexus dealer, McGrath Lexus of Westmont, is proud to announce that Lexus has pushed the envelope even further with their new advanced pre-collision system. Combining several different technologies, this new system uses both radar and optical sensors to determine if a collision is going to occur. If it senses a collision, the system can even apply the brakes and prevent the impact. While it’s still a far cry from a completely autonomous vehicle, this new system from Lexus offers a glimpse into the capabilities of the cars of tomorrow.

Making the Road a Safer Place

Distracted driving is a leading cause of automobile accidents, so the engineers at Lexus decided to come up with a way to help prevent these collisions. The new pre-collision safety system features several cameras that watch the driver’s face, allowing the computer to check for signs of distracted driving. If the system detects that your eyes have been off the road for too long, or if it appears you have fallen asleep, a warning light and a chime will activate to get your attention back to the road. In cases where the system detects an upcoming collision, it will apply the brakes with over twice the braking force that can be achieved with the brake pedal — even without your action. This impressive new safety system is effective at speeds up to 30 miles per hour and makes it practically impossible to collide with an object or pedestrian.

This exciting new technology will debut on the 2013 Lexus LS460 when it arrives in November, and it’s sure to be a pioneering step in automotive safety technology. This technology could be especially effective for younger drivers who are more frequently and easily distracted from the road.

Choose McGrath Lexus for all of Your Automotive Needs

If you have any questions about this innovative technology we would like to invite you to come by our dealership. You can also stop by our Facebook page to stay up to date on all of the latest Lexus news and events. Our friendly staff would love to assist you in any way that they can. Here at McGrath Lexus of Westmont, we take great pride in keeping our customers satisfied and informed, so come by today for all your automotive needs — you’ll be glad you did.

 
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Looking for a New Lexus Vehicle?

Our Chicagoland Dealership Gives You the First Peak at the New Face of Lexus

Take advantage of the Golden Opportunity sales event at your Chicagoland Lexus dealer, and get in line for the 2013 GS, the beginning of a new era in automobiles. Engineered from scratch to provide a new level of performance and handling, the GS is configured for the new millennium, featuring next-gen technology and a sense of style that flows smoothly from hood to exhaust. Heads will turn as you cruise down Lake Shore Drive in the driver’s seat of this masterpiece of modern engineering, starting at an MSRP of only $46,900

Options Abound in Three Separate Levels of Performance

2013 Lexus GS 350

The 350 is your basic model, featuring a 3.5L V6 engine that will hit 60 mph in just under six seconds thanks to its 306 hp and a gripping 277 lb-ft of torque. Best of all, that level of power will not have you draining your wallet into the tank, as the 2013 GS 350 maintains a fuel economy of 28 mpg on the highway.

The 350 F Sport takes it to the next level, featuring power-sliding sport seats, a variety of performance enhancements, and style options unique to this trim. Upgrade to the Dynamic Handling system for the next step in fusing driver and car, providing an almost intuitive sense of handling on top of a precision-tuned suspension.

Finally, for the ultimate driving experience, get behind the wheel of the 450h. That “h” stands for “hybrid,” as the exhilaration of the GS is combined with a fuel-efficient, eco-friendly electric/gasoline hybrid engine. This pioneer of an automobile is the first of its kind to embrace an Atkinson-cycle engine that features direct-injection, netting 34 mpg highway and managing to hit an impressive 338 effective hp. But that’s not all — the 450h also includes paddle shifters to maximize performance and control as well as a steering wheel trimmed with bamboo to give it a character unlike any other.

Experience Award-Winning Customer Service in the Chicagoland Area

McGrath Lexus is committed to customer satisfaction, with associates who specialize in preparing financing solutions for your new or pre-owned vehicle as well as servicing your car once you have decided to take it home with you.

We’d love to chat with you about the 2013 GS, so give us a call at (800)733-3163, or visit us online to take a look around our virtual showroom.

 
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McGrath Lexus In Westmont is Your Lexus Dealer

Buy Your Next Car From McGrath Lexus of Westmont, IL

McGrath Lexus Westmont

McGrath Lexus Westmont

At McGrath Lexus we have Lexus cars, trucks, and SUVs for a variety of needs, and we’re confident that you’ll find a vehicle that’s just right for you when you peruse our lineup. Of course, we’re not just limited to all of the latest Lexus models — we’ve got pre-owned cars, trucks, and SUVs from an impressive array of manufacturers, which is to say that you’ll have no shortage of options when you choose to buy your car at McGrath Lexus of Westmont, IL.

Of course, a diverse selection isn’t the only thing we have to offer — we’re also proud of our emphasis on satisfying our customers. We are, in fact, one of the Elite of Lexus, a designation that’s only given to dealerships that exceed expectations in terms of both operational standards and overall customer satisfaction. When you come to McGrath Lexus for your car-shopping needs, you can do so with the confidence that we’ll treat you right.

New Models at McGrath Lexus

You can get the whole lineup of new Lexus vehicles at our dealership, and we encourage you to come in today for a test drive to experience them for yourself. Lexus is offering a number of sedans that work practically as family vehicles while still offering all the amenities you expect from the luxury automaker, including the LS, GS, ES, and IS.

Of course, SUVs are also nice because they wed practicality, power, and comfort, and Lexus has three such offerings: the LX, GX, and RX. Maybe you want a convertible? Then you’ll fall in love with the 2012 Lexus IS C. Befitting of such a cutting-edge automaker, several hybrid models are also available, including the LS, GS (coming in May), RX, HS, and CT. For more information on the entire 2012 lineup of Lexus cars and SUVs, visit McGrath Lexus in Westmont, IL.

Choose McGrath Lexus for Your Next Car

If you’re looking for a luxury car, McGrath Lexus in Westmont, IL should be your first and only destination. Come in today to test drive any of the vehicles on our lot and discover for yourself why we’ve earned the designation as one of the Elite of Lexus.

 
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McGrath Lexus Has Great New and Used Vehicles

For Great New and Used Vehicles, Visit McGrath Lexus in Westmont

McGrath Lexus Westmont

McGrath Lexus Westmont

Car buyers can find a great selection of brand new and gently used cars and SUVs here at McGrath Lexus in Westmont. In addition to our diverse range of vehicles, we also strive to provide high quality customer service in order to make your car buying experience easy and stress free. We’re proud to serve as your chosen dealership in the Westmont area for your next Lexus purchase. Call or visit us today, and let us help you find the car that’s right for your needs.

Vehicles of All Types for Westmont Drivers

We offer car buyers the chance to browse through our large inventory online. To make your search easier and faster, we offer search features that allow you to filter results based off of your vehicle criteria, including vehicle type, make, model, trim, price range, year range, mileage range, and even mpg range. We want to make sure you find just the right car for your needs, lifestyle, budget, and criteria. Contact us today for additional information or to ask any questions about a specific vehicle you’re considering. You can count on our friendly team members at McGrath Lexus in Westmont to have you covered.

Financing Your Next Vehicle at McGrath Lexus

We understand that not everyone is able to pay for their brand new or gently used car in full. To make your car buying experience more affordable, we offer various vehicle specials and financing options to choose from. Visit us online today to get started on your application for financing. One of our trained and experienced financial experts will get in touch via your preferred method. We’ll work with you one-on-one to create a custom financial package that works for you.

Visit McGrath Lexus Today

At McGrath Lexus in Westmont, we strive to provide high quality customer service the moment you drive onto our lot until you leave in your brand new or gently used car. Your complete satisfaction is always a top priority here. No matter your budget or vehicle criteria, we’ll work with you to find the car or SUV that fits your needs. Call us today or visit us on the web to schedule an appointment for a test drive — you can also get additional information on our dealership as well as our hours and directions. We’re proud to be your chosen destination for your next vehicle purchase.

 
 
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