Did you know it’s recommended to get your car detailed at least twice a year? And to wash your car 1-2 times a month? All of this depends on your car type and wear, but this is the average recommendation. The best way to detail your car is to have it done professionally, but we know that’s not always possible so here are 7 tips to detailing your car.

1. Do wash the car before you detail
It’s best to get all those bugs, bird poop, dust, and pollen off your car before you detail it. If not your products won’t work like they’re supposed to.

2. Do use good quality products
Pay the money for the good products if you’re going to detail your car yourself. You want to care for your car, so don’t choose cheap products that might damage the car.

3. Do wax your car when you’re finished
This is an easy step to want to skip, but the wax seals all the hard work you put into detailing. It will help protect your car longer as well!

4. Do protect your own body
Most car detailing products can be harsh on your skin and sometimes clothes, so be sure to wear the protection you need for your body.

5. Don’t allow your car to air-dry
Air drying leaves so many spots on your car and defeats the purpose of detailing. This can also mean you left residue on your car, so be sure to go over the whole car with a high-quality drying towel.

6. Don’t use household products
Using products that aren’t meant for your car can damage the paint job so skip the dish soap.

7. Don’t use a sponge or bristle brush
Instead, use high-quality microfiber cleaning cloths and mitts. You won’t have to worry about them scratching the car or not cleaning well.

8. Don’t forget the inside
Your inside needs detailed too! Hydrate your leather, clean your cloth seats and floor, then detail the rest.

Tags: car cleaning tips, car detailing
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Are you shopping for a new vehicle, but have never been on a test drive? Test driving is exciting, but it is easy to forget good questions when deciding if it is the vehicle for you. Here are ten questions to ask yourself and the salesperson during a test drive.

10 questions to ask yourself or to check out during a test drive:

1. Always start by observing your space as the driver. Do you have enough legroom? Is the seat easy to adjust? Does the steering wheel adjust?
2. Check out the cooling system to make sure it is easy to use. If you want separate controls, heated seats, or cooling seats check for those too. 
3. As you begin to drive, see how well you can see your surroundings with your mirrors. Do not forget to check the back seat if you typically drive your kids or animals in the vehicle.
4. Think about the sounds of the vehicle. Is it too loud? Do any sounds annoy you? Any sounds of concern?
5. If you like the radio on then try it out. See if you think you will be able to figure out the infotainment system or if it is too much. 
6. Pull into a parking lot while you are testing it to see how parking goes. Is it easy to park? If not, do you think it’s something you could get used to?
7. Leave the driver’s seat on your preferred settings and move to the seat behind it. See how the space is in each seat as if you were a passenger. 
8. Think about what you typically haul around. Will it fit in the trunk? Ex. stroller, car seat, wagon, sports gear, etc. 
9. Ask yourself how this vehicle compares to your current vehicle. What do you like or dislike compared to your current vehicle?
10. If you love the vehicle, be sure to ask the salesperson questions like the vehicle’s warranty, specials, the longevity of the vehicle, opinions on the different versions, etc. 

Tags: buying a car
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Winter is here, but is your car ready? Prepping your car for winter is a great way to help your car live its full life span. Here are 7 simple tips to prepare your car for winter. 

• Wash it
  • We all know this is something we should do more often, but doesn’t always get done. It’s important to get it done before the winter because build up on your car from salt and snow will happen in several states. Washing your car before winter can really help your car’s exterior. 
• Check your tires and breaks
  • Make sure your tires have tread and your breaks function properly so if the roads are icy your car can function as it should. Some would even recommend having winter tires put on your car, but this isn’t always necessary in all parts of the USA.
• Get your oil changed
  • Your car needs lots of juice to function well in cold weather, so an oil change is a must. Make sure your oil is up to date and check your manual to see if your car needs a lighter oil to run better in the winter. 
• Check the battery and tire pressure
  • When you’re getting your oil changed be sure to ask them to test the battery and check your tires. Being stranded in the cold because of an old battery or flat tire  is a nightmare, so get it checked before the cold hits. 
• Fill fluids
  • This is another simple thing to have done when you have your oil changed. Just ask them to top them off, especially your wiper fluid. 
• Replace the wiper blades
  • Most people don’t realize you should change your wipers based on the weather, so check out https://www.monkenauto.com/blogs/4263/best-wiper-blades-for-your-vehicle for details. This can help if you’re driving in winter weather!
• Prepare an emergency kit
  • This might sound silly, but you can’t prepare for every situation to keep your car from having issues, so it’s smart to have a car emergency kit. Put all you could need in a bag and toss it in the trunk with a blanket. 

Tags: winter
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Monken Automotive was started by Harold Monken in 1967. His son, Wes Monken, joined the dealership in 1997. The dealership currently has two second generation employees with Wes Monken and Amy Monken-Brandt and now a third generation employee, Eric Monken.

Eric’s parents moved from Hoffman to Georgia where he was born, and shortly after moved back to Hoffman where he grew up on Monken Road near the rest of his family. Since grandpa, Wayne Monken, died at an early age, Harold Monken, Eric’s great uncle, was right down the road and quickly became a grandfather figure in his life.

Growing up, on Tuesday mornings Harold and his friends would all drink coffee in his barn, so it was a special occasion for Eric to get to crash these mornings. He also enjoyed going to horse shows and getting ribeye sandwiches at DuQuoin with Harold every year.

He’s been getting to know Wes more recently and even mentioned the fun memory of taking Wes to a crawfish boil earlier this year. Wes said it was a lot better than he thought it would be, but for Eric it was fun to see Wes in a different element.

Eric currently serves as the Used Car Manager. Although he may have more agriculture experience, Eric grew up changing oil and helping around the dealership, so he’s excited to be back. At work you can find Eric appraising used vehicles and assisting the sales department.

When Eric was asked what it meant to be a third generation Monken he said, “The whole Monken family takes that name pretty seriously. I live on Monken Road and we weren’t ever going to move anywhere else. The Monken roots are here and it’s an honor to work here.”

Aside from the honor of being a third generation employee, he also really loves working at Monken Automotive because of the people. It’s family owned and they treat everyone as if they’re all one big family.

Eric closed by saying, “I’ll be confident that the business will stay in the family and nothing is going to change from the time when Harold started it all.”

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All major automakers offer a car with third row seating, but it can take time to compare them all, so we’re going to do it for you. The list below are functional third row vehicles. There are some vehicles on the market that include a third row, but are not very functional. This list includes vehicles where most teenagers would fit comfortably in the third row. Check out our breakdown of the top 6 third row SUVs we sell based on space, seating, cost, gas, and user reviews. 

Nissan Pathfinder

The Nissan Pathfinder seats 8 passengers, unless you choose captains seats in the middle. It’s the perfect design between a SUV and minivan. This SUV gets 23mpg combined and runs between $35,000-$48,000 depending on the model. The Pathfinder has good cabin space, but cargo space is smaller compared to other third row SUVs. As far as comfortability, users say it’s a very quiet, smooth ride, but the seats can be a little uncomfortable. 

Toyota Highlander

The Toyota Highlander is very comparable to the Nissan Pathfinder seating 8 passengers unless you choose captain seats. The back row in the Highlander is a little tighter than other SUVs. It ranges between $36,000-$50,000 depending on the model and gets 24mpg combined. It is available as a Hybrid with 35mpg combined. Cabin and cargo space are very similar to the Pathfinder as well. This SUV has a really high safety and reliability rating.

Chevy Traverse 

The Chevy Traverse is an 8 passenger, but like the others it can come with captain seats. This SUV has the most cabin and cargo space. The Traverse has the lowest gas mileage at 21mpg combined and sells for $34,000-$52,000 depending on the version. It doesn’t have lots of fancy extras like some of the other SUVs.

Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The Jeep Grand Cherokee L is a 7 passenger SUV, but can actually be a 6 passenger with captain seats. The middle row adjusts to give more room to the third row, so most people can sit in the third row comfortably. As far as cargo space it is pretty spacious. The Grand Cherokee L costs around $44,000-$69,000. It has the same combined 21mpg as the Traverse, but when it comes to quality, you do get a little more in the Jeep aside from space. 

Jeep Grand Wagoneer 

The Jeep Grand Wagoneer can be either a 7 or 8 passenger vehicle, depending on captain seats or bench seat. This car has a very nice interior, lots of high-tech features, and space in front of and behind every seat. Since the Wagoneer is so large it gets a combined 16mpg. Pricing varies a lot with the Wagoneer, but the base is around $80,000. 

Nissan Armada

The Nissan Armada can be a 7 or 8 passenger. There is a lot of storage room and leg room in every row. The Armada ranges from $51,000-$68,000 between the 4 models, and also gets 16mpg. Although it has lots of leg space, it doesn’t have as much trunk space according to reviews.

This blog is based on the top 6 SUVs from the brands sold at Monken Automotive.

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The Truck Life of Drew Baldridge

Drew Baldridge is a country music star from Patoka, Illinois. Drew recently got a 2021 Ram 1500 from Monken Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM and we wanted to hear what he loves about the truck and more about his “truck life.” He has quite the history of vehicles, both new and old, but memories from each of them that will last a lifetime. Check out what we asked Drew and learn a little more about him!

You just got a new truck, what are your favorite features about your RAM 1500?

I love having the big screen, heated seats, and it rides so nice. I love having everything on the screen, it’s like two feet long. It also just rides so much smoother than any other truck I’ve been in. I can also automatically start it and it turns on my heated steering wheel and seats. We haven’t hauled anything with it yet, but I can throw all of my merch into the truck bed and it fits!

Katie (Drew’s wife) loves the heated steering wheel and how happy it makes Drew!

Have you had any friends comment on your truck?

Oh yeah! Every one of them. Every song writing friend, everybody. They all talk about how much RAM has stepped their game up. Someone told me they’ve always driven a big Escalade, but they could see themselves driving a truck if they had one like it. Everyone comments on how clean and nice it is.

Have you ever driven a truck prior to your RAM?

I got my first truck when I was 16, it was an F150. Then after that I bought a RAM 1500 and loved it, but was so broke when I moved to Nashville I had to sell it. Then I bought a completely hail damaged black Chevy Cobalt. It looked like a black golf ball, but now it feels so good to be back in a truck.

One of the first times I was writing at a new place, I arrived early and the door was locked so I was sitting on the hood of my black Chevy Cobalt. It looked terrible, but I was just trying to make ends meet. Then this really nice Chevy truck pulled up beside me and out stepped Thomas Rhett. He came walking up and I was telling him how much I loved his truck. He looked at me and said “What happened to your car?” I told him I actually bought it like this. So… the new RAM is a big step up!

How did you get your first truck?

So my mom made me a deal when I was 14 that said she would match whatever money I made to buy a truck. I worked hauling hay for my grandpa and started my own mowing business. By the time I was 16 I had a lot of money saved up and my parents were generous enough to match it, so I bought a 2001 Ford F150.

What Is something fun you used to do with your truck?

I remember back home when we used to get big snows. I had an F150 that was pretty jacked up and had pretty big tries on it. Then my brother had a truck that was a little bigger. So every time it would snow we would take our trucks to see if we could get stuck and then use our chain to pull the other out. Then we would find a field that was frozen over and do donuts on it.

Did your family have a vehicle that you loved or dreamed to have one day?

My dad had an old blue stick shift Dodge Dakota. It was one of the trucks I learned to drive stick on and it had a bench seat so we had to call the window seat. Then whoever sat in the middle would work the gears while my dad worked the clutch. There’s just a lot of memories in the old blue Dodge Dakota. Now my dad and my brother both drive RAMs.

Do you have any great memories from family road trips?

We used to take so many family road trips. My mom and dad used to have a minivan, so we piled in and slept in the back of it. We drove every year for beach trips to Florida and Alabama. Then we got one of those DVD players that would Velcro to mom and dad’s head rest, which was a huge deal.

Do you have any upcoming road trips you’re planning?

I’d like to take a whole family road trip out west. They all haven’t been so I think it would be so cool to take them. Show them the Rocky Mountains, elk, different animals we don’t have, and so they can see the beauty out there. We are going to elk hunt as well.

Trucks have been a big piece of Drew’s life between the memories and the traveling. We had a great time getting to know Drew more and learn about his truck life. Make sure to follow his country music journey on social media and listen to his songs on any platform!

Tags: trips, trucks
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Gas is an essential item every non-electric vehicle owner must buy, but it takes out a large chunk of your budget. It’s easy to get rewards for gas, so why not take advantage of them!

Join a Fuel Rewards Program

Most gas stations offer a reward program so you can earn rewards points when you purchase gas. Each program is different when it comes to the amount you must spend for rewards and how much you can save, so be sure to find the one you love. 

Find a credit card with rewards

Various gas stations offer their own credit cards or some credit card companies offer cards with gas rewards. Make sure you read the fine lines of the credit card program and pay it off each month so you’re not paying interest. Some credit cards even offer cash back rewards or in station credit, which means you should choose a station that is nearest to your home or you’re most likely to stop at. 

Use apps to find the cheapest gas

Gas Guru, Waze, and Gas Buddy are a few great apps that can help you find the cheapest gas wherever you may be. If you’re planning a road trip you can check the prices before your trip and pre-plan where to stop. 

Gas Buddy also offers their own reward program for free and there’s a few paid options too. They also help with roadside assistance through paid programs. This is a great app that’s worth paying for if you travel often!

Check and maintain your vehicle

Lots of people don’t know this, but there’s various things on your vehicle that can help you save gas in the long run. The lighter the vehicle the better, so remove racks and accessories added to the car when it’s not needed. Make sure your oil is changed routinely and keep your tires inflated to the correct amount of air. These may be little things, but every dollar counts!

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If you are a Centralia High School alumni or had a child attend Centralia High School, then you are familiar with the Centralia May Fete tradition that has existed for over 100 years.  The Monken Family has been proud to be a part of this tradition and all family members have participated in the dances and/or court during their high school years.

Jan Monken’s mother, Dorothy Rixmann Miller, was the 25th May Fete Queen.  At that time May Fete was held outdoors and Dorothy made her own dress and train.  Her daughters, Jan, Melissa, and Wendy, were all attendants their junior year.

Kim Monken McMillian’s daughter, Megan Marcum, was a flower girl for Stacey Smudrick, a freshman attendant and May Fete Queen.  Her sister, Andrea Walton, was a freshman attendant the same year that Megan was queen. Both girls were involved with dances when they weren’t on the court.  Lance and Megan’s kids, Hadley and Eli Marcum, served as scepter bearer and crown bearer. 

Shawn Monken Hartmann, was a flower girl for Carol Jo Vaccaro and an attendant her senior year.  Her children, Bredesen Hartmann and Katie Hartmann, along with their cousin, Will Miller, served as the trainbearers and flower girl for Megan Marcum.  Bredesen Hartmann participated in the couples dance every year and became a May Fete escort during his junior year.  Katie choreographed and participated in multiple dances all four years.

Wes Monken, was the trainbearer for Jan Johnson when he was seven.  He wore the first white tuxedo ever used in May Fete and participated in the dance. Wes’s older daughter, Jalyn Monken, participated in dances all four years. This year Wes’s daughter, Addison Monken, will wind the senior maypole for her last year at Centralia High School. She has participated in dances every year.  Addison is the last Monken grandchild to participate in May Fete.  We look forward to all the great-grandchildren participating! 

Tags: History, tradition
Posted in Community, family, May Fete, Monken Family | 2 Comments »

Tags: buy a new car, buying a car, buying a used car
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Apps for your phone, there’s so many of them. Did you know there’s even apps to help with your car and travel?  We have researched and found some of the top apps that will soon be your vehicle’s sidekick. Our cars are becoming more tech savvy, but we’re still thankful for these apps that do things our car can’t! 

Waze

 Waze is a map app, much like Google or Apple maps, but maybe even better. It’s a daily commuter app, full of time saving tips and tricks! The app warns drivers of traffic jams, road closures, speed traps, construction delays, and even potholes. Another interesting aspect is when more drivers utilize the app, more road data is available because of the frequency of data recorded by drivers. These aspects make planning your commute easy and doesn’t require an account of any kind. 

GasBuddy

 GasBuddy is an app which helps you find the cheapest gas, wherever you are at the time. Like Waze, it relies on crowdsourced data, by drivers reporting gas prices through the app. Then you can use the data shared to find the best and cheapest gas for you. There’s fun perks too like prize drawings for fuel reports. The app by itself is free, but you can get a premium membership which has perks for discounted gas and roadside service. 

Roadtrippers

 Roadtrippers is a road trip planning app, which might be our favorite app we’ve found yet. All you do is enter your start and finish goal, then it will give you some of the coolest “off the beaten path” places throughout your trip. This app helps you escape the tourist bubble, while still finding some of the coolest stops along the way. With this app, you don’t even have to plan a trip, just let the app plan it for you!

Drivvo

Drivvo is one of the best apps to track car expenses and keep on top of your car maintenance. The core of the app requires you to enter the vehicle’s mileage after a fuel up, and it builds a record of your car’s cost to operate over time. This can help with budgeting for car expenses, and helps you know how much money you’ve spent on your car. The app also keeps a log of past vehicle service work and reminds you of upcoming vehicle maintenance that’s needed. 

Turo

 A lot of people don’t know about this app, but Turo is basically an Airbnb for cars. You can choose from a very unique selection of cars, like a truck to help you move, or your dream car for a fun getaway. This would be a great app to use on a vacation, or when you need to rent a car, but there’s no local rentals available. This is both a safe and trusted app, whether you want to find a car or maybe make a little money listing yours. 

Check out all these apps on your next roadtrip or commute to work! We can’t wait to hear what you think about them. 

Tags: drivvo, gasbuddy, roadtrippers, technology, travel tips, turo, waze
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