Happy Holidays!

2012 Dodge Challenger 392 SRT8

According to MSN the 2010 Dodge Challenger 392 SRT8 is a Manly Machine.

You can't talk about Ford and Chevrolet muscle without mentioning Dodge, but this is far from a courtesy call. The Challenger SRT8 is Dodge's answer to the Mustang and Camaro, and with a 470-horsepower V8 engine, it's a firm retort. You won't be waiting for an automatic transmission to decide when to downshift, either; this one has a 6-speed manual transmission. And don't forget to tick the option box for the Green with Envy exterior paint (yes, it is the actual color name), which gets you two fat, black stripes along the top of the car.

Rick's Tips: Preparing your vehicle for winter driving.

Today Rick Cain is going to talk about preparing your vehicle for winter driving, where it is very important your vehicle is safe for your family and yourself.

All too often drivers neglect to do maintenance before winter arrives which could end up with a low battery, bad tires, bad brakes, bad wiper blades, all causing hazardous driving during the winter. I want to go over a few items here to show you how to prepare your vehicle for good driving in the winter months.

One of the easiest things to check, and one of the most important is your wiper blades. A worn wiper blade will cause streaking which could blur your vision while driving. You must also check the tips to make sure they are still in good shape. Most vehicle come with all season wiper blades. In the winter time, you may opt to install winter blades which are covered in rubber to stop freezing and streaking on the windshield and promote safe driving.

The next item we want to check on your vehicle is your battery. You want to have a good reliable battery with long cranking time for the cold weather. Make sure your terminals are clean and the level checked if available or applicable. It would be a good idea to have your battery checked by your technician to ensure you have enough cranking hours when it gets cold.

Your engine coolant should be clean and also good for approximately 45 degrees below 0. There are various types of anti-freeze recommended depending on the make of the vehicle. Ensure you have the right type of coolant for your car or truck. We recommend a coolant flush every 2 years to make sure your anti-freeze is efficient.

All seasons tires are great in the rain, during the summer months and even in the fall months. But for winter driving in Canada, you need snow tires. Snow tires are made of a different composition of rubber and they help grip in the colder weather. At 14 degrees Celsius, all seasons tires become very hard and they don’t grip the road as well as snow tires do. All seasons tires have on average 4 to 5 millimeters of treads. On snow tires, you get around 10 to 11 millimeters. More traction means more safety.

Southbank Dodge Chrysler Jeep is ready to prepare your vehicle for winter driving. We have a special package that includes changing your oil and filter, checking all fluid levels, checking brakes and tire as well as a wheel alignment if necessary. Contact Southbank Dodge Chrysler Jeep Service Department today at 613-731-1970 .

You can also watch the video on Preparing your vehicle for winter driving.

Rick Cain is a long time Service Manager at Southbank Dodge Chrysler Jeep.


Southbank Nation Blogs are part of the Southbank Nation Community with encompass Southbank Dodge Chrysler Jeep, Leisure Days Gatineau, and RMB Récréatif

What's new at Dodge 2012

According to MSN...

Like its parent company, Dodge has a new zeal for life. Take a look at last year's Charger, with its better-quality build and materials and sleeker design. Dodge hasn't announced any entirely new 2012 models; it has, however, revealed a few high-power variants of existing models to keep things interesting.

2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 All you need to know is this: 470 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. The all-new 2012 Dodge Charger can now propel itself to 60 mph in the high four-second range and top out at 175 mph. Amazingly, it also nets a 25 percent increase in highway fuel economy. Other goodies for 2012 are a new adaptive suspension and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.
Availability: Fall 2011

2012 Dodge Avenger R/T Unveiled at the 2011 New York International Auto Show, the 2012 Avenger R/T is the new top-of-the-line version of the recently redesigned Avenger model. Featuring a 283-horsepower engine and a thoroughly reworked suspension, the new trim is designed to breathe some driving excitement into the midsize sedan. Despite the added power, the acclaimed Pentastar V6 engine returns decent fuel-economy figures of 19 mpg city/29 mpg highway.
Availability: Fall 2011

2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 While the Challenger wasn't included on our list of redesigned models for last year, Dodge did introduce its maximum-performance 392 variant to the world in 2011. For 2012, the model carries over largely unchanged, meaning it still packs a mean punch from its 6.4-liter 470-horsepower V8 engine. The most significant change lies in the suspension, which is now an all-new 2-mode adaptive damping design.
Availability: Fall 2011

What's been Refreshed: Chrysler

According to MSN Chrysler is hard at work reinventing itself post-bankruptcy. We've already seen the fruit of that labor in the vastly improved quality of last year's all-new 200 and 300 models. For 2012, the 300 line is getting its tire-melting SRT8 variant. Other than that, however, Chrysler doesn't have much going on. Unfortunately, it appears that it may be another couple of years before the company's much-hyped Pentastar engine is fully breathing easy atop a bed of solid, high-quality products. 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 The latest 300 full-size sedan launched last year, and it was a vast improvement over the outgoing model. This year, we'll see the 300 in SRT8 trim, complete with snarling V8 engine and improved performance all around. With a stout 470 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, the 300 SRT8 will smoke its way to 60 mph in less than five seconds, on to a top speed of 175 mph. An all-new adaptive suspension will help the large sedan cope with its newfound power, while the obvious list of look-fast bits will signal the SRT8's intentions.

Should You Be Thinking About Winter Tires Already?

You may want to consider a new set or prepare for a long, tough winter drive.

Are you planning on getting through the winter on your car's all-season tires? Are your tires good enough to perform in winter driving conditions? Your life may depend on your answer. How much tread do they have left? If the tires have less than 4/32 tread depth left, you should consider a new set or prepare for a tough winter drive. Remember that with a two-ton vehicle, it is just four hand-sized contact patches that touch the road, provide the grip needed for accelerating, braking, and handling. That's not much keep you and your passengers safe, especially in the cold, with a glaze of ice.


If you want winter tires, don't wait — the retail season is in full swing right now. You might find yourself out of luck if you procrastinate until the first snow fall. We have great offers at Southbank Nation to help you find the right winter tires for your vehicle.

Here are some tips to guide you through the process:

All-season tires: all-season tires provide good all-around traction to handle dry, wet, and wintry conditions, but they tend not to be a master of any one condition. All-season tires are a good choice for modest winter conditions or when you can wait until the roads are plowed.

Winter tires: These tires are specially made for use in freezing temperatures and on snow and ice. Winter tires have a mountain and snowflake symbol on the sidewall indicating they meet challenging snow traction criteria. But like all-season tires, there is some compromise to consider, with so-so dry and wet grip and fast wear for many models. Consider winter tires if you have to drive in severe winter conditions.

Bottom line: Consider your winter tire needs now to be sure you can get the tires you want before the snow starts falling.

My trip to Chicago guess the mileage contest

Alright, time for a contest! This one is going to last a little over a week. Just to give you a quick run down, I went on vacation with my family (5 kids and my beautiful wife). We went to Chicago, Illinois and Fort Wayne, Indiana for my godson's wedding. I was driving in a Southbank Dodge Grand Caravan SE Stow'N'Go.

The contest is simple: Guess how many kms I did on this trip. The person with the closest answer will have the choice between a full car detailing (worth $150) or $1000 off the Grand Caravan I will be driving (It's a 2010 demo). Again, I will try to give as much details as possible so you can figure out how many KMs I am doing. You give your answer on our facebook page Southbanknation

Alright, let's get going!

Day 1

It's 6PM on a Sunday night and we just finished packing the van and are ready to roll. I am expecting to get to Chicago in one shot so the kids and wife can sleep most of the way and I (thank god) can listen to MY music. (First tip: We live in l’Escarpement Limbour in Gatineau).

The idea was to have diner on the way just so we feel on vacation. The only problems is that as soon as we left home, the kids started inquiring about diner... So we ended up at Swiss Chalet in Barr haven. LOL not even an hour done on the road.

Day 2

OK this time, we are rolling for good. The plan was to take the 402 and cross the border in Sarnia to avoid any possible delays in Detroit. So anyway, around 2-3 AM Olivier and I started talking about hockey and all the cities we have been through that host an OHL team. Guess what, I missed the exit for the 402 and decided to drive through Detroit. Well believe it or not, there was nobody at the border. We were literally the only vehicle in sight. "Passports please! Where are you going? Have a nice trip!" was all this nice Custom Agent asked us and back on the road we were.

I couldn`t dream of such a pleasant drive with 5 kids. They all had their laptops connected to kill some time and then they fell asleep for the rest of the trip. Can you believe that my Southbank 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan could keep 4 laptops running at the same time?

Now it is 7:30 (Central Time) and I am at the Chicago South Loop Hotel, of course our rooms weren`t ready so we decided to have breakfast at the Original Pancake House. It was not so attractive from the outside but since the hotel recommended it we just went. WOW!!! The crepes were phenomenal, the raspberry sauce was home made as was the orange juice. It was an expensive but worthy breakfast.

Ok, now we need to spend the day as our rooms won`t be ready until 3pm. Let`s go see the Museum of Science and Industry... This place is very nice. It is huge and lots to see; A real live tornado, a real opened Boeing 737, a real U-505 submarine and so much more. A must if you are in Chicago.

Now back at the hotel. I haven't slept in 26 hours. A nap before dinner. Again we had a taste for Italian (We are in Chicago...) Mart Anthony was recommended. After believing we were in the Bronx version of Chicago, we saw a corner restaurant where I believe the Great Great GrandSon of Al Capone would own. Again I said, it was recommended so let's go. Ok what is wrong with this city? This has to be one of the best Italian restaurant I ate in.

After a bit of a drive in the city which is beautiful at night btw, we went back to the hotel and fell asleep like babies...

Day 3

Tuesday, what a warm and humid day. Couldn't see much all day because of the fog. Anyway, I did some groceries on 12 street in the morning then went for the Shedd Aquarium. What an Aquarium. One of the best I have seen. Actually, the whole grounds where the Field Museum and Soldier Field (Home of the Chicago Bears)is just breathtaking. Chicago really has some great parks and structures.

Side note: If you ever come to Chicago, I urge you to buy the City Pass to avoid waiting lines, especially for the Shedd Aquarium, the most visited place in Chicago.

After a long visit, we came back to the hotel and ordered the famous Chicago Style Deep Dish pizza from Connie's pizza. This dish really lives up to his name.

Tonight we spend a the Navy Pier, also a major attraction. It is nice but all the restaurant and booths are ripping you off (9$ for a small sunday). The Ferris Wheel was worth it with the view of Chicago all lighted up at night. Now back to the hotel for a well deserved night of sleep.

Day 4

Last full day in Chicago and still a lot to do. We started off the morning by visiting the Chicago Art Institute. Beautiful building, awesome galleries, but definitely not a place for kids (BORING as they would describe it). Then off dropping the family at the Field Museum except me and Olivier. We couldn't come to Chicago without going to one of the oldest Ballpark still functional, the Wrigley Field. What a feeling to sit in this Ballpark. We witnessed the Cubs getting a baseball lesson by the Philadelphia Phillies, but just being there was something in itself. Could you believe that the stadium was almost full and it was 1:30PM? Don't people work in Chicago? Oh and BTW, I personally can confirm that the Wrigley Field has the best hot dogs in the whole world...

Ok, let's get out of here and grab the family. Time for a quick change and back downtown to visit Skydeck in the Willis Tower, the second tallest building in the world. The view is just amazing. You can have a 360 view of Chicago and even step in the glass booth where the floor is... a glass. Takes nerves but pretty cool feeling.

Last drive downtown Chicago, diner at Miller's Pub (Not bad) and back at the Hotel since we have to leave early in the morning.

Day 5

10AM, let’s go let’s go, we need to be in Fort Wayne by 1PM to drop off my youngest, Keliane, for the wedding rehearsal (she is play a big role at the wedding). Ok, traffic, wide convoy, construction, we arrived at 2 and had to drop Keliane directly at Baker Street restaurant as they had a pre-rehearsal lunch. The rest of us went to the Glenbrook Square Mall. After spending a few American dollars on clothing, we went to our hotel, the Marriott Courtyard Downtown and spent the rest of the night there. Lie, we had dinner with a few family members at Applebee’s on Clinton Street. Then back at the hotel again… this time, for the night!

Day 6

The wedding crew picked up Keliane at 8:30 AM, I went back to bed and woke much later (1PM), had lunch at the hotel and prepare for the wedding. We went to Lakeside Park for the Ceremony. What a beautiful place for a wedding ceremony. The grounds are breathtaking, but at 50 Celsius with humidity and in a black suit, we were kind of looking forward to go to the reception at the Masonic Temple.

Bottom line, a beautiful wedding. Everything was just perfect. And I am so proud of my little girl who fulfilled her task perfectly!

Day 7

Every good thing has an end… time to go back home.

We left around noon and took the 69 all the way to Port Huron. We had our first fast food meal in Imlay City (McDonalds). Beware if you come back to Canada through Port Huron, the Duty Free shops are off the highway. If you continue following the directions to Canada you will do as I did, miss it completely (what a shame).

The Custom Agent there was a nice as the other one: “Passports please. Where do you came from? Roll down the rear window please. Welcome back to Canada” and off we go. We stopped at Montana’s in Kingston for diner and arrived home around 2 AM Sunday morning.

Conclusion

It was an amazing trip. I had a lot of worries before we left driving so long with 5 kids. Everybody who saw us said that we were crazy. Well, au contraire, we all had a lot of fun and were all sad to come back home. One of the reason the drive was so pleasant is the fact that we had a Dodge Grand caravan Stow’N’Go. It is amazing how much room this vehicle has for luggage at the back and underneath the benches. I don’t think any other vehicle would have done as great as a job.

Now back to the CONTEST

I think I have given you enough details so you can figure out how many KMs I did on that trip. Be the closest and choose between a full detailing (a value of $150) or $1000 off the dodge caravan I was driving.

You can view the van at: http://www.southbank.ca/view/2010-Dodge-Grand-Caravan-3660

You have until Friday July 29 to give me your answers on our facebook page Southbanknation

Did you know?

SouthBank Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Ottawa Ontario

Ottawa Chrysler Dodge Jeep Fiat by southbank is conveniently located in Ottawa Ontario, just north of Bank St and Hunt Club. SouthBank Dodge Chrysler Jeep Fiat has the area’s largest selection of Chrysler Dodge Jeep Fiat and certified preowned vehicles from cars and trucks to vans and SUVs.

Ottawa Chrysler in Ottawa

If you are looking to buy a new or used vehicle and need financing, SouthBank Chrysler is the dealer for you. Our finance team can assist you with securing affordable options on any new:

2011 Chrysler 300

2011 Chrysler Aspen

2011 Chrysler

2011 Chrysler

2011 Chrysler Pacifica

2011 Chrysler PT Cruiser

2011 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible

2011 Chrysler Sebring or Town & Country

Ottawa Dodge in Ottawa

If you are looking to buy a new or used vehicle and need financing, SouthBank Dodge is the dealer for you. Our finance team can assist you with securing affordable options

2011 Dodge Caliber

2011 Dodge Gran Caravan

2011 Dodge Charger SRT8

2011 Dodge Dakota

2011 Dodge Durango,

2011 Dodge Durango Hybrid

2011 Dodge Magnum

2011 Dodge Nitro

2011 Dodge RAM 1500

2011 Dodge RAM 2500/3500

2011 Dodge RAM 3500,Heavy Duty Chassis Cab or Sprinter.

Ottawa Jeep in Ottawa

If you are looking to buy a new or used vehicle and need financing, SouthBank Jeep is the dealer for you. Our finance team can assist you with securing affordable options on any new:

2011 Jeep Commander

2011 Jeep Compass

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

2011 Jeep Liberty

2011 Jeep Patriot

2011 Jeep Wrangler

2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

Best of all, SouthBank Chrysler Dodge Jeep Fiat has a great staff on hand to assist you with your all of your needs when it comes to Chrysler Dodge Jeep Fiat parts, factory service and OEM accessories for your vehicle

Visit our Ottawa Chrysler, Ottawa, Jeep and Ottawa Dodge showroom today at:

Southbank Dodge Chrysler Jeep in Ottawa
1255 Johnston Road at Bank Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1V 8Z1

It's a SouthBank Nation Summer!

Tires are black and round. For most drivers, tires are an afterthought, taken for granted and often poorly maintained. That, in itself, is funny because no matter how proudly purchased and carefully maintained a car is, its only connection to the road is those four small patches of rubber. Without those, the rest of the mighty powertrain, electronics, safety systems, etc., just don’t matter.
A driver can save more than $100 at the pump if the tires are kept properly inflated (driving an average 20,000 km/year). In addition to saving money, you will also be doing your part in preventing the release of an additional 1.2 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Make sure your car’s tires are in good working condition and that they are properly inflated.
Remember to put safety first, oxygen breaks down the rubber in your tires, weakening their elasticity an strength. Southbank Dodge Chrysler Jeep offers 4 tire Nitrogen-fill for only $29.95 plus tax. Nitrogen maintains tire pressure longer. Because of its larger molecular size, nitrogen migrates through a tire three times slower than oxygen. Reduces tire oxidation and eliminates interior wheel corrosion extending your tire's life. Nitrogen is a dry gas, which means it is free of moisture; the moisture in oxygen causes damage to your tires. Nitrogen is not affected by temperature like oxygen is, giving you cooler running tires.

Springtime maintenance prepares your car for summer!

Winter is without a doubt tough on a lot of things, including your car. Low temperatures, snow and ice, road salt and potholes put your car to the test.

If you are like most of us, you try to take your car in for service before the cold hits to make sure it will make it to spring. Well, spring is here and there are a number of things you want to do to your car to avoid breakdowns and ensure its best performance for those summer trips.

Spring is the perfect time to get rid of old man winter's effects and get ready to enjoy the warmer weather.

Our service plans pay attention to the most important parts of you car, making sure it's always ready to go.

Batteries work harder when it's cold. Testing and replacing old or weak batteries, can be cheaper than a tow and replacement on the road.

Cold weather can reduce tire pressure. We will make sure that all tires, including the spare, are properly inflated. This practice, along with keeping your tires balanced and wheels properly aligned, will also help you save on gas.

We will inspect and replace worn or cracked belts, as well as radiator hoses that are blistered, brittle or too soft. Belts and hoses older than five years, even if they look intact, might need to be replaced.

There can't be enough said about how important your brakes are. A spring checkup can uncover any winter damage such as rust. The brake system inspection, includes checking lines, hoses, pads, brake fluid and parking brake.

Deep potholes aren't friendly to shocks and struts. A suspension check up will determine wear or leaks which can alleviate bigger issues down the road.

We will inspect the antifreeze/coolant level, the transmission fluid, power steering fluid making sure they meet the specifications listed in the vehicle owner's manual for top performance and longer engine life.

Check out our Recommended Maintenance Schedule page to see which package suits your needs, and get ready to enjoy the summer!

$1000 Giveaway to a Non-Profit Organization

Have you heard? Southbank Dodge Chrysler Jeep will be donating $1,000 to a non-profit organization every month for the remaining of 2011!

To kick-off 2011 right, Southbank Dodge Chrysler Jeep will be taking part in a new initiative to show our appreciation to everyone in our community. This is our way of saying thank you to all of our wonderful customers; you make us a huge success every year and we couldn’t have made it this far without you!

How do we plan to show our appreciation? We will be donating $1,000 to a non-profit organization for every month of 2011. This could be any charity or non-profit organization, and remember no cause is too small. There are many organizations that can benefit from this money, so be sure to get involved and spread the word with us!

Do you have a cause you are passionate about? We want to hear about it! Join our Facebook page Southbank Nation by clicking the ‘like’ button. Once you have joined we encourage you to post information about your cause. We would also suggest you tell others to join and share their stories about the organization as well to better your chances of winning. We want to hear what the organization of your choice is doing to make our community a better place. Log on and share your stories today!

Get the word out! This is very exciting to all of us here at Southbank Dodge Chrysler Jeep, and we are hoping to get as many people involved as possible. We have already generated some interest and we want it to continuously grow throughout the year. Help us spread the word!

The draw takes place on the last Friday of every month, so we will be posting a blog the following week to inform you of the winner, and to share their stories with you. Let’s work together to give back to our community this year!

Thank you to everyone who is already a member of the Southbank Nation and to everyone else we invite you to join today!

For full contest details and rules click the link below:
http://www.southbank.ca/promotions

To join our Facebook fan page:
http://www.facebook.com/southbanknation