American Car Center Official Blog
The American Car Center Guide to Great Holiday Memories & Family Fun
By digital | Posted in King of Credit Posts on Friday, November 8th, 2019 at 5:38 PM
Do you want to make the most of the holidays and keep the fun simple and budget-friendly? You’re in the right place. Let’s talk about great activities for your family to enjoy and discover.
Have the kids produce their own play or pageant
Don’t sweat the script or costumes, just sit back and enjoy the creativity and enthusiasm. The production could be a one-time event, be replaced by a new one the next week or run for the entire season. Make relatives and neighbors welcome to join!
Designate a movie night
Modern or classic, animated or live-action, everyone has a favorite holiday-themed film. Let it be a perfect opportunity to turn off the lights, snuggle under blankets soft and warm, and unwind as the pictures and sounds float through the air.
Visit a Christmas tree farm
Start the holiday festivities off by bundling-up and heading to a local Christmas tree farm to find the ideal tree. Chances are, you’ll find so much more, as many farms offer hayrides and other family-fun activities – plus hot chocolate and baked goods.
Recall holidays past
Recruit grandma and grandpa to share stories and tell tales of how they experienced holidays when they were children, no doubt chopping firewood and walking in snow six-feet high. Whatever the embellishments, tots to teens will be engaged and enthralled and may share the experience with grandchildren of their own.
Get crafty
Whether it is creating a menu for the holiday feast, baking or decorating cookies or creating ornaments for the tree, a child’s imagination is a wonder to behold, requiring only sprinkles, pinecones, macaroni and construction paper – and more than enough glue.
Get active
Keep holiday restlessness at bay by taking the family for a skate (learning is easy: just push-and-glide), playing a game of touch football or touring the neighborhood to find the best and brightest light display.
Give back
The holidays are joyous and a great time to extend warmth and care to others. Children are especially skilled at making the holidays brighter by way of small gestures, such as, bringing cookies to an elderly neighbor, donating time for a local food or toy drive, or writing a note to an American service person stationed overseas.
Come to American Car Center right now – a location is conveniently nearby – to drive away in a late model vehicle that’s perfect for you this winter. All vehicles include a limited powertrain warranty and oil changes for up to three years or 36,000 miles! Our exceptional service will save you time and money. American Car Center wishes you and your family happy and cheerful festivities, for any of the holidays you may be celebrating this season. Remember to share your Instagram-worthy snaps with us.
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Let’s Celebrate the Great Tailgates
By digital | Posted in Uncategorized on Friday, October 4th, 2019 at 1:05 PM
There is no better reason to be a gridiron fan than to gather with family and friends, eat great food and whoop it up for your team in the tradition of the great American tailgate party – a longstanding festive pre-game carnival of football, food, and fun. Let’s see which teams have some of the most lively, unique and enthusiastic tailgate events across the Southeast.
The University of Mississippi hosts its fans not in a large parking lot but across 10 shady acres of oak trees, lavish tents, and catered food on its Oxford campus. From the original Tiger Walk to Toomer’s Corner and the Homeplate Tailgate, the gameday celebrations at Auburn University, in southeast Alabama, sprawl across the small city affectionately called the Loveliest Village on the Plains rich in football lore with rivalries dating to 1892. With so much intense focus on the team itself, the tailgate at Florida State University, in Tallahassee, is low-key but devout. The hottest spots are the booster lots outside Doak Campbell Stadium, especially when rivals from the Panhandle or Miami come to play.
Despite its location in Kentucky’s largest city, the tailgate at the University of Louisville has college-town charm, right down to the Cards March, lending inspiration to players as they face off against conference and state rival the University of Kentucky Wildcats in the annual Governor’s Cup game. The next installment takes place on Wildcat turf in Lexington this November. At Tuscaloosa, the University of Alabama tailgaters may drink a Yellowhammer, named for the state bird and enjoy a side of Southern barbeque while singing, “Yea, Alabama”. The University of South Carolina fans tailgate on a train, near its Columbia campus. The 22-car South Carolina Cockaboose has comfy interiors and rooftop bars.
Tailgating at the University of Arkansas, in Fayetteville, is a beloved tradition of the Razorback gameday experience centered at The Gardens, south of the stadium. There are also many surrounding green spaces fans to go Hog wild. Woo Pig Sooie! Tiger Lane is the hub of the University of Memphis tailgate and gateway to the Liberty Bowl. From Tom the Tiger to the Mighty Sound of the South marching band, Memphis football fans are well entertained. The sights of maroon and white and sounds of the cowbell highlight the unique and wonderful tailgate and football atmosphere at Mississippi State University in Starkville. Bulldogs fans congregate at the Junction, where even visiting fans are welcome or cheer on players during the Dawg Walk.
At the University of Tennessee, in Knoxville, sail-gating is the thing. On gameday, a fleet of 250 boats, called the Vol Navy, parade the Tennessee River and musters outside the stadium decked out in bright orange. South Carolina’s Clemson University has a pre-game tradition described as “the most exciting 25 seconds in football”: After its players walk from the parking lot, greeting fans, they finish the procession, called the Tiger Walk, assembled on a hill above the east endzone before charging into Memorial Stadium upon cannon fire. The University of Florida, in Jacksonville, hosts one of the most anticipated tailgates on the college football calendar when the rival University of Georgia comes calling. The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party gets its name because the revelers who keep the party going in the parking lot might outnumber the spectators who actually enter the stadium for kick-off.
This season share your tailgating snacks and recipes with us on Facebook and tell us about your own traditions and memories. Before you start the BBQ and the teams rumble from the tunnel, make the dash to American Car Center. Our more than 50 conveniently located stores have a huge collection of terrific cars and SUVs, each with a limited powertrain warranty and oil changes for up to 3 years or 36,000 miles. We’ll call the plays to have the best football fans in America easily drive away in a standout vehicle.
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Keeping your car interior clean and organized
By digital | Posted in Maintenance on Tuesday, September 3rd, 2019 at 2:24 PM
Easily Keep Your Vehicle’s Interior Looking Great
Following a few simple steps, you can almost effortlessly keep the interior of your vehicle in top shape, maximizing its appeal and value – something especially important during the hectic back-to-school season.
Just like the inside of a home, the easiest way to keep a vehicle interior clean is to have a place for everything (for example, a backseat caddy to store children’s items like books, games, and crayons) or to remove unwanted items entirely from the glovebox, underneath the seats or trunk.
Keep a trash bag or canister with a lid on the door console. Empty frequently.
Keep essential cleaning supplies like clean clothes, paper towel, a microfiber dust mitt, water, and wet wipes in an enclosed container. If you are waiting to pick up the kids from practice or the library, use those minutes to give your dash and doors a shine.
The best way to keep your vehicle clean is to avoid eating or drinking inside as much as possible. When it’s necessary, sweep away or vacuum crumbs and wipe up or blot any spills with a cloth or paper towel immediately. Clear out food wrappers and empty drink containers right away.
Knock your shoes together before getting into your vehicle, especially from the dusty or muddy ground, to reduce the build-up of grime in the footwell.
Drive with your vehicle’s windows up to reduce the accumulation of road dust and pollen and improve interior air quality.
If you have a pet, use a seat cover to preserve the appearance of the vehicle’s fabric. Use an inflated balloon against the seat cushion to collect pet hair.
Visit American Car Center today for a vehicle to exceed your expectations this fall. With over 50 convenient locations across the Southeast and a vast selection of late-model cars and SUVs, covered by a limited powertrain warranty & oil changes of up to three years or 36,000 miles, let American Car Center do it for you.
The King of Credit Wants to Approve You Today!
Have a Splash at a Great American Water Park
By digital | Posted in Locations on Tuesday, August 6th, 2019 at 3:02 PM
American Car Center is your summer source for an outstanding late-model, low-mileage vehicle with a limited warranty of up to 36,000 miles or 3 years, with oil changes. Visit one of our convenient locations – where no credit is no problem – today to find the right car or SUV for you. Then visit one, or all, the amazing water parks in the Southeast. Is there a better way to keep cool and spend time with family than by having a splash? Let’s discover the best.
Orlando, Florida is certainly the world’s top destinate for water park lovers. Discovery Cove is a tropics-themed park, operated by Sea World, where visitors can interact with dolphins, tropical fish and more. The park is an all-inclusive day resort where most activities and all drinks and meals are included with regular admission. Blizzard Beach at Walt Disney World Resort resembles a defunct ski resort and features the Summit Plummet waterslide, Tike’s Peak for toddlers, and the longest multi-person white-water raft ride in the world. Typhoon Lagoon is the second water park at the Disney resort. Universal Studio’s Volcanic Bay includes almost 20 rides and a wristband for additional amenities and special effects within the Krakatau-inspired park with regular admission.
Adventure Island in Tampa Bay, Florida, near Busch Gardens, is a 30-acre park with mat-racing slides, a lazy river and a beach volleyball complex in a Key West theme. Splash Island in Valdosta, Georgia has 10 impressive activities, including slides and a wave pool. At the Ohana Bay area, parents can supervise from the comfort of a lounge chair as children glide on multiple slides. Two-day access to Wild Adventure Theme Park is included with standard admission. Alabama Splash Adventure in Bessemer is a large park with a half-pipe slide, obstacle course, wave pool, and an interactive play structure.
Wilderness at The Smokies in Sevierville, Tennessee is a three-park, indoor and outdoor, a family resort near Great Smokey Mountain National Park, totaling 17 waterslides and 9 pools. Teens will love Lake Wilderness and younger children will keep active at Salamander Springs. Just south is Splash Country at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Smokey Mountain-themed interactive attractions include a huge lagoon, rustic water tower, waterfall, and the Bear Mountain Fire Tower play structure. River Rush is the only water coaster in the state. Water Country USA in Williamsburg, Virginia is an alternative to the historic sites in the local area. The park has climate-controlled pools, Virginia’s largest wave pool, and the 500-yard Hubba Hubba Highway. Children 6-months and older can take swim lessons.
Come to American Car Center now and let us make it easy for you to drive away in a great vehicle this summer. Our focus is on exceptional service and saving you time and money. Then, as you slide and glide at one of the fantastic parks in the Southeast, share your photos and stories with us on Facebook.
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Roof Rack Basics
By digital | Posted in Maintenance on Monday, July 8th, 2019 at 2:27 PM
American Car Center knows that you have things to do and places to be which can often mean bringing along bulky belongings. Roof rack systems are designed to safely haul oversized sporting gear, camping equipment, or other cargo safely, allowing you to enjoy an active lifestyle with less fuss and more fun. Rack manufacturers and sellers have web-based or in-store selection tools that make it simple to find the system best for your vehicle and activities. Let’s better understand your vehicle’s roof type and the parts of a base rack system.
Vehicle roof types
- A bare roof has no built-in attachment points. A clip-fitted rack snug to the vehicle’s door jams is a reliable solution for a bare roof.
- A raised-rail roof has rails that run parallel to the doors with space between the rail and the roof itself.
- A flush-rail roof has rails that run parallel to the doors with no space in between it and the roof body.
- A fixed-point roof has four (hidden) attachment points allowing for quick and easy installation of base towers. Some vehicles with a raised- or flush-rail roofs vehicles also come with these built-in mounting points.
- A track roof is one with long metal channels or slots that run parallel to the doors.
A base rack system has only a few key parts
The tower (foot) of the roof rack carries the weight on for cargo and are placed at the roof’s strongest points.
The vehicle-specific mount or fitting kit – clips that attach the towers to the roof and rubber bottom pads that rest between the roof and tower – fasten the towers to your vehicle.
The crossbars are the usually two bars that run across the width of the roof, to which activity-specific
Accessories, such as cargo carriers, can be attached. Crossbars support the weight of all the gear you’re adding to the roof and transfer the weight to the towers.
Again, rack system manufacturers and retailers make it easy for you to find one best suited to your vehicle. Better yet, most today systems are fully complete and assembled; they are ready to be mounted right out of the box on the roof rails with all installation tools provided.
Simple Steps to Installing a Fully Assembled Rack
The commonly purchased fully assembled rack is easily mounted to a vehicle’s rails:
- Place both tower/crossbar combinations loosely on the roof rails;
- Adjust their placement so that they are centered on the roof for best weight distribution and ease of access;
- Tighten and secure the four mounting points using the knob and any provided locking mechanism;
- Check your work, making certain the connection points are solid.
Watch the American Car Center video guide, Easily Install Your Roof Rack, for an easy how-to guide to mounting a pre-assembled base rack.
A roof rack is a must for taking your lifestyle essentials with you as you explore our beautiful parks, trails, rivers or streams or your cherished possessions to new beginnings. American Car Center has more than 50 incredible locations with an amazing inventory of SUVs, cars, and trucks – each with a limited warranty of up to 3 years or 36,000 miles, oil changes included – to match your summertime adventures. Don’t delay, The King of Credit Wants to Approve You Today!
Top Food Towns of the Southeast
By digital | Posted in Locations on Monday, June 10th, 2019 at 3:58 PM
For as long as anyone can remember, mouthwatering barbeque has drawn foodies from afar to the Southeast and, likewise, satisfied the savory cravings of Southerners. In recent years, homegrown appetites have been infused with outside flavors and cuisine, creating startling diverse and dynamic food scenes across the Southeast’s cities and town. For those with an adventurous palette, there is no better time to live in the region as new influences have only bolstered the Southeast’s reputation as a mecca for great food. Let American Car Center celebrate and guide you to the Southeast’s top food town and their mostly wallet-friendly tastiest restaurants. Share your top spots and special finds with us at one of our more than sixty of convenient stores across eight states.
In this collection, Nashville, Tennessee tops state rival Memphis and its BBQ nachos. Infamous for sizzling hot chicken and other Southern-fried delicacies of Arnold’s Country Kitchen, the Music City has broadened its foodscape. House of Kabobs serves up delicious kabobs, kofta, and gyros.
Oxford, Mississippi is a charming and laid-back college town with serious foodie credentials. Old souls meet late-night at Ajax Diner then at Big Bad Breakfast for massive, flakey biscuits in the morning after or head to Handy Andy Grocery for pit-smoked BBQ. For distinctly local Southern dining, head to City Grocery and the century-old Taylor Grocery & Restaurant for renowned catfish and homegrown folklore.
Birmingham, Alabama, of fried green tomatoes fame, represents the culinary 
landscape of the Deep South. Yet, these days, the Magic City’s restaurants have something on the menu for everyone, from Cafe Dupont and Roots & Revelry to Chez Fonfon, a date-night worthy burger joint and Post Office Pie for wood-fired pizzas and small batch beer to and Miss Myra’s and Saw’s for tender barbecue. At Pizitz Food Hall diners can sample Middle Eastern, Asian and Ethiopian dishes. EastWest is the city’s home of budget-friendly casual fusion.
Winter Park, Florida, near Orlando, is a small center that has captured the essence of mid- and northern Florida’s restaurant scene. Shrimp and grits top the menu at The Ravenous Pig. At Luma, you’ll find amazing burgers and seafood ravioli. Cocina 214 adds pizazz to Tex-Mex.
The food scene in Atlanta, Georgia is sprawling, diverse and delicious. When in the Big Peach, start at esteemed Empire State South and then El Super Pan Latino Sandwiches & Bar. You’ll find phenomenal seasonal Southern cuisine at Miller Union, or you can chow down on big, buttery biscuits at Home Grown. Krog Street Market houses edgy eateries such as Ticonderoga Club and La Oaxaquena Taqueria.
Charleston, South Carolina is considered the Southeast’s top food town, effortlessly bridging Southern hospitality and innovative modern food. Still, the casual eats of contemporary country resto Butcher & Bee, Bertha’s Restaurant for soulful fried chicken and slow-smoked pork at Rodney Scott’s BBQ draw crowds. At breakfast, the honey-soaked chicken and waffles, biscuits and gravy, and shrimp and grits of Early Bird Diner make morning mouths water.
Beyond the authentic Shirley Mae’s for fried chicken and Bambi Bar for old Kentucky roadhouse grit and zesty burgers, Louisville, Kentucky taste-makers are blending experiences at Holy Grale, Against the Grain and the restaurants of Ed Lee (Whiskey Dry, 610 Magnolia and MilkWood.) The Silver Dollar and Garage Bar have a menu of Southern staples in a funky setting. For dressed-up but quirky, head to Proof on Main inside the boutique 21c Museum Hotel.
The Southeast is home to many delicious, interesting and innovative restaurants catering to a diverse set of knowledgeable twenty-first-century foodies wanting not only great tasting cuisine but an inspiring or conceptually new dining experience. Across the region, ambitious chefs and restaurateurs are breathing new life into their respective culinary scene. It is a wonderful time for Southern foodies to discover worthy restaurants, be they old and trusted or new and exciting.
Just as great eateries dot the landscape of the Southeast, so too do the friendly locations of American Car Center. Come on by and show us your foodie photos and we will guide you through our impressive selection of pre-owned, late model cars, truck, and SUVs. Every stellar vehicle comes complete with a superior limited 3-year/36,000-mile warranty. Don’t delay – The King of Credit Wants to Approve you Today!
American Car Center Uncovers Atlanta!
By digital | Posted in Locations on Monday, May 13th, 2019 at 3:54 PM
Atlanta is a great city of the Southeast and the capital of Georgia, a city and region filled with immense cultural and historical significance. The Atlanta area is a modern hub of eclectic activity underpinned by a diverse and nimble economy. American Car Center is delighted to have expanded into Metro Atlanta with three convenient locations – including Chamblee and Conyers – and three more to come to make your vehicle selection experience incredibly smooth, simple and rewarding. American Car Center has been enriched and enchanted by Atlanta, let us share our discoveries. As a lively community of millions, the Atlanta area has something for everyone beyond famous soft drinks and cable news, from low-key jazz to riveting college sports, from the High Art Museum to vibrant street art on display throughout the city.
For the History Buff
Originally founded as the terminus of the Western & Atlantic Railroad line in 1837, Atlanta played an important part of the Civil War and was an organizing center of the Civil Rights Movement. The Atlanta History Center chronicles the city’s past and the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site explores his life and times. The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum surveys the contributions of Georgia’s humble Nobel laureate.
Outdoor Family Fun
Six Flags over Georgia has whole-family excitement, including, thrilling rides and live entertainment. Georgia Aquarium, the world’s second largest, is also ideal for a family outing. Piedmont Park is a nature lover’s dream; home to an array of bike trails, Lake Clara Meed, the Atlanta Botanical Garden, festivals, and more. Hike Stone Mountain or travel to its top on Summit Skyride and then visit our new Stone Mountain store so that we may see your snaps of the gorgeous vistas.
Festivals & Food
Atlanta’s top festivals include the Atlanta Dogwood Festival, Atlanta Arts Festival and the Atlanta Jazz Festival. Atlanta is now a city for foodies beyond the still delicious fried chicken, barbecue, peach cobbler, and sweet tea. The Krog Street Market is a flourishing collection of world-class good eats in a vintage 1920’s warehouse in the heart of Inman Park.
Star Power & Peach Street
Sometimes called Hollywood of The South, Atlanta is a hotspot of film and television production from likes of Tyler Perry to Clint Eastwood. Celebrities are often spotted in and around Atlanta’s distinctive neighborhoods, such as artsy multicultural Castleberry, counterculture Little Five Points, carefree East Atlanta and trendy Buckhead. They, too, may be attempting to visit every last Atlanta street with “Peach” in its name. We counted more than 70!
Atlanta is more than ever the economic engine and cultural heartbeat of the Southeast. American Car Center encourages everyone to re-discover and explore this bustling city. From Conyers to Marietta, Lawrenceville to Riverdale, The A has so much on offer. We are delighted to provide Metro Atlanta’s hard-working residents a dynamic and straight-forward automotive shopping experience of unparalleled ease and simplicity. American Car Center will have six modern stores situated conveniently throughout the Atlanta area to get you into the ride of your dreams right away! All our exceptional late model vehicles feature an outstanding warranty up to 36,000 miles or three years, oil changes included.
Atlanta – The King of Credit wants to approve you today!
Why Replace Your Gas Cap?
By digital | Posted in Car Safety on Monday, April 15th, 2019 at 1:55 PMAmerican Car Center is dedicated to seeing its hard-working and loyal customers in safe and reliable vehicles. A quick and easy measure to ensure just this is a check of your vehicle’s gas cap. Replacing a damaged or missing fuel cap greatly increases road safety and fuel economy.
Modern automotive fuel systems require a complete seal of the gas tank. The total seal prevents dangerous vapors from escaping into the atmosphere. An improperly functioning gas cap may even actuate the dashboard’s Check Engine indicator. The threaded, slight turn-and-click cap design is meant to signal a proper seal.
A cracked or worn gas cap is a malfunctioning gas cap that requires replacing. A cracked cap or missing seal permits fuel evaporation, costing motorists money.
Purchasing a replacement gas cap is simple; visit your local automotive parts retailer with your vehicle’s make and model year to receive the matching O.E.M. part.
Installing your new fuel cap is a snap, or rather, a click.
Visit American Car Center today for assistance or to find the perfect late-model and low-mileage vehicle for you. Our more than 45 amazing stores have an extensive selection of outstanding cars, trucks and SUVs, each with a limited warranty to 3 years or 30,000 miles and oil changes, too. We make it easy for the hard-working people of the Southeast to drive a high-quality vehicle no matter their credit history. The King of Credit wants to approve you today!
The King of Credit Presents March Mania with American Car Center
By digital | Posted in Uncategorized on Monday, March 18th, 2019 at 2:01 PMThere is no better time to be a basketball fan than in March when everything is on the line and anything is possible. Come celebrate all the sick moves, crunch-time plays, and captivating tournament runs at American Car Center and drive away in a sweet ride that even the best ballers will admire.
Going to watch your team or the local court for a little one-on-one? Drive and arrive in all-star style with the late-model and low-mileage vehicle made for you. Don’t wait for the clock to run low – take the easy dish from American Car Center today.
All 50-plus amazing stores feature a deep, star-studded line-up of cars and SUVs, each with a limited warranty to 3 years or 30,000 miles, with oil changes, too. We’ll beat the buzzer to ensure that the best hardwood fans in the world quickly and easily drive away in a standout vehicle no matter their credit history. Get on your kicks, grab your rock and make the fast break for American Car Center. You can even show us your patented fadeaway jumper. The King of Credit wants to approve you today!
American Car Center’s Guidelines for Safe Winter Driving
By digital | Posted in Car Safety on Monday, February 18th, 2019 at 11:37 PM
With winter upon us, American Car Center is asking you to be our safety partner by doing your best to keep yourself safe on wintery roads this season. With some planning, you can remain collision free and enjoy the best of your destination. Previously, we summarized preparing your vehicle for snow and ice, now let’s discuss essential driving guidelines for winter road safety.
Wear comfortable clothes as bulky clothing can restrict your movement, making it harder to check your blind spot. Heavy or wet boots may also hinder proper pedal control.
Check the weather forecast and road conditions often so you know what to expect before leaving for your destination.
Keep a full tank of gas to help to reduce moisture in the fuel system and to add extra weight.
Clear ice and snow from your vehicle, including the roof and lights. Flying ice and snow is dangerous for others on the road. Wait for foggy windows to clear before proceeding.
Slow down and drive according to the road conditions around you. Give yourself extra time to arrive safely.
Pay attention to the road surface; asphalt should appear grey-white in winter. If it looks black and shiny it could be covered in ice. Shaded areas, bridges, and overpasses freeze sooner than other sections of roadway.
Give extra space because stopping on icy roads requires greater distance on which other drivers may be unfamiliar or unpredictable.
Look out for pedestrians and cyclists whose own visibly may be lessened by the elements.
Keep well back of snowplows and never pass one in operation for sightlines and visibility around them is very poor.
Avoid cruise control on slippery roads as it reduces reaction time and vehicle control.
Steer gently and avoid quick acceleration and hard braking especially on curves in the road. Sudden moves may lessen your control. When driving uphill try to maintain a constant speed as momentum is helpful.
Should you skid, release your brakes and steer in the direction you want to go. Be careful not to steer too far as your vehicle could spin.
Getting about in winter requires patience and composure but following some simple road-tested principles should allow you to get the most out of the frosty time of year. Partner with American Car Center to travel safely this winter – don’t delay, come right away to drive away from one of our convenient locations an outstanding winter-ready car or SUV with a 3-year/30,000-mile limited warranty, oil changes included. The King of Credit wants to approve you today!
