Erie County Fair

It’s that time again! The Erie County Fair is back from August 10th to 21st. It’s an inexpensive way to have fun with your entire family. There are different events going on each day that everyone will enjoy. You can walk around and enjoy the food, rides, and entertainment, or, enter yourself into a contest! There are plenty of things to do around The Fair and here are just a few of them…

• Sea Lion Splash (free)- Every day 10:30, 1:30, 4:30, 7:30
• Bengal Tiger Encounter (free) Everyday 12:00, 3:00, 9:00-
• Stars of the Pecking Acrobats (free)- Wed- 7:30, Sun-Thurs- 1:00, 4:00, 7:30, Fri & Sat-1 2:00, 1:30, 4:30, 7:30
• 5k Run- Friday August 13th
• Nick Charlap's Ice Cream Eating Contest-August 14 at 1pm
• BW's BBQ Pulled Pork Eating Contest -August 17 at 3:30pm
• Pie Eating Contest-August 18 at 2pm
• The ultimate night of destruction, Demolition Derby! - Thursday, August 18

If you have kids that would like to show off their talents, enter them into the talent contest for their 3 minutes of fame!

The Erie County Fair is a great way to spend a day at a place everyone will enjoy. So hop in your car with the entire family and head over to the Erie County Fair!

Keeping up With the Latest Technologies

Who was struggling in our recent heat wave? I know here at Basil Resale Center, everyone likes being in the cool air conditioning to get out of the heat, but we had to go a few days without it! Our air conditioning seemed to have a little melt down right when we needed it most. We had no way to escape the heat, but luckily it was only for two days and it was back working again!

It's crazy when we step back and take a look at how often we rely on our modern technologies, and for many people, air conditioning is something we take for granted. When that hot summer day comes along we are so thankful that it's working.

Our cell phones, computers, and mp3 players are all things most of us currently couldn't live without, but just over ten years ago all these things were just becoming popular and they weren't necessary in our lives. It's funny how much things can change in such a short period of time. Most people don't even know any of their friends phone numbers, becuase its programmed into our phones. Similarily, when a transformer went down because of a car accident, we lost internet and we were literally at a stand still. Without our computers and phones here at the dealership, we would be running around trying to find salesmen, details on cars, and prices. Technology has helped not only in our personal lives but also in the business side of things.

Now that technologies are changing so fast, we can never be happy with what we have and we always want the latest thing. If you're looking for the latest car for a great price, come to Basil Resale Center and check out our collection of used cars. We can help you find just what you need so you can have the latest technologies too!

Ten Things NOT to Leave in Your Car During the Summer

On a hot summer day all you might be thinking of is a way to cool down, but don't forget about your things! There are many items you might regret leaving in your car. A car can reach alaraming tempertures if left outside on a hot summer day.

Medication: This should be kept at room temperture and the 100 degrees in your car isn't exactly room temperture. The heat can change the medicine and get you sick, so be careful where you keep this!!!

Sunscreen: Check it's hot before you put it on! It can burn your skin easily if it was in your car for hours! the heat also makes it less reliable to protect you from the sun.

Disposible Lighter: This can be extremely dangerous in your car! The heat and pressure can cause it to give a small explosion.

Expensive Electronics: Mp3 players and digital cameras often get left behind in a car, but the heat can ruin these electronics. The safest thing to do so they don't break is to take them home with you.

Glasses: If you have expensive glasses this might concern you. The heat can cause the flames to melt and change how they fit your face; in an extreme case it might even change the prescription lens.

Soda: The movement of the car along with the intense heat will cause a canned soda to explode and leave a sticky residue al over your car CDs, DVDs can lose their quality and reliability!

Plastics: I know I'm gulity of leaving half empty water bottles in my car. If water bottles are left in the car, DON'T DRINK FROM IT!!! The heat can cause the bottle to release chemicals into your water.

Lipstick: I hate it when I leave my lipstick in the car; it melts, fallls apart, and creates a mess. The color of the lipstick might even change. So be careful, where you put your lipstick.

Groceries: have you ever left your last bag of groceries in the car? or maybe something fell out? Either way food quickly cooks and rots in hot weather, so make sure all your food is out of your car. It can create a mess and leave a smell that can last for days.

Here at Basil Resale Sheridan, we look forward to meeting your needs. So if you need something done to your car we will be happy to fixt it. If you're in the market for a new car check out our website: we have an inventory of over 300 cars. Don't forget to stop by for a test drive!!!

-Caroline Cary

Avoid Getting Your Car Stolen

Isn't it crazy that every year about 1 million cars in the U.S. are stolen. Facts say that generally the cars being stolen are 10 years or older. There are some devices that are great to have in your car to prevent it from being stolen, along with simple things like always locking your car.

• A great thing to have is the GPS Tracking System which can allow you to know exactly where your car is all the time. This way if your car gets broken into, you can track down the car and usually recover it.
• There is the Ultrasonic Interior Monitoring System, fancy for something that detects movement inside the car after it has been locked.
• Something pretty high tech would be the Secure ID Device that uses biometric fingerprint and only registered fingerprints are able to start the car.
• Then there is the Radio-Frequency Transmitter System. This is a small Radio-Frequency transceiver hidden in the vehicle, that automatically activates when the car is reported stolen to the police. The system causes silent radio signals to be sent out and the police are able to follow the signal to track and recover the vehicle.
• The coolest one there is, is the GSM Car Alarm! Using a SIM card the owner is notified on a certain phone if the car is broken into. Then the owner can actually communicate with the thief through a speaker and tell them that they are able to cut the fuel supply of the car. They can completely stop the car by doing this!
• You can do simple things like being aware of where you're leaving your car, and for how long. You don't want to leave your car in a bad area of a city over night, or you are leaving your car at high risk!

The best way to make sure your car isn't going to be stolen, is to have a car that is newer than 10 years old. Most newer cars have better technology to stop thieves from starting your car or even just breaking into it. If you're looking to get into a newer car, come stop by Basil Resale Center where we can help you find an up to date car that is sure to have the right technology to avoid your car from being stolen.

Staying Safe on Facebook

You don’t always think about it, but posting the wrong thing on Facebook could have serious consequences. Here are some tips to keep your information safe and you out of trouble.

Don’t give away all your personal information.

It may seem silly but putting your address or telephone number on Facebook could give someone the information they need to steal your identity. If you want a Facebook friend to know your address or phone number send them a private message. Also, try not to leave clues to online passwords you may have. It’s hard to think twice about a status update with your dog’s name or your mother’s birthday, but if those are the passwords to your email or bank account you could be in trouble.

Keep the party posts to a minimum.

I know it’s hard to resist partying, but try not to post the snapshots of your epic night on Facebook. When you apply for jobs, many employers head to Facebook to see what their potential new employee is all about. If they see nothing but pictures and status updates of a wild night out, they will likely choose someone over you for that job even if you are more qualified.

Don’t talk bad about your job/employer.

Ever since Facebook became a hit, countless jobs have been lost because someone vented their frustrations about work on Facebook. If your boss is really an idiot or you hate dealing with annoying customers everyday fine, just don’t put it on Facebook for the world to see. Your employer has every right to terminate you if you talk bad about the company online.

Remember to keep your information safe on Facebook and be smart about what you post. Become a fan of ours to learn more about us and get an opportunity to win prizes. Basil Resale Sheridan wants you to be as safe on the road as you are on Facebook. That’s why all of our vehicles go through a 101 point inspection by our awesome service team.

Jerome Singletary

Concerts in Buffalo, NY

Do you love listening to the radio and jamming out in your car? A concert in Buffalo, NY would be a great way to bring the music to life. Concerts at Darien Lake can be an inexpensive way to have a great time with friends, hanging out and dancing on the lawn while hearing some great music. We all love a cheap way to have a great time!

If your teens are looking for a concert with multiple performers Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Keri Hilson and Far East Movement are all performing July 24th at Darien Lake. You know what always makes a band ten times better? When they started in Buffalo, NY! So you know the Goo Goo Dolls are going to be amazing. To top it off, we're lucking enough to be having some of the greatest rock bands come to Buffalo, NY like ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynrd.

Don't forget you can enjoy free concerts every Tuesday night in Lewiston at Art Park's Tuesday in the Park. If you don't feel like making the drive, there are always free concerts at Thursday at the Square in downtown Buffalo.

• Darien Lake (9993 Alleghany Road, Darien Center) has tickets available for a combined performance of Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Keri Hilson and Far East Movement and of course Buffalo's own Goo Goo Dolls on July 29th.


• Art Park (450 South Fourth Street, Lewiston) we have Cheap Trick on July 19th, Lynyrd Skynrd on July 26th, ZZ Top August 2nd, and O.A.R. August 3rd just to name a few.


• Thursday at the Square (Hanover St and Commercial St, Buffalo, NY) has Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes July 21st, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic July 28th, and lastly Tokyo Police Club August 4th.

Here at Basil Resale Sheridan we hope you find the perfect concert this summer. Along with finding the perfect concert, I assure you we can help you find the perfect car. Stop in and we will find the car you need, and of course you'll have to test out the speakers!

Gas prices still too high for your liking? Unfortunately, we can’t make the prices go down, but we can help you out with some tips on how to get better mileage and save some money.

· Make sure you have proper tire pressure. When your tires aren’t inflated properly you can waste about a mile or two per gallon, which definitely adds up over time. Be sure to check your owner’s manual or the driver side door for the correct tire pressure.

· Check to make sure that you are putting the right octane level into your car. Twenty percent of people put premium fuel into their car when only five percent of cars on the road need high octane fuel.

· This tip may be hard for some of you to handle! But…try slowing down! Just by decreasing your highway driving from 65 to 55 mph you could see a 15 percent improvement in your gas mileage.

· If you plan on being in idle for an extended period of time, turn your car off! Even try going into establishments, instead of going through the drive thru.

· Take all the extra junk out of your car! The more weight in a car the worse mileage you’re going to get.

· Enjoy the summer air, put your windows down and open your sunroof. Using the air conditioning utilizes the motor, eating into the gas. To help keep it cool, park your car in the shade and even keep the windows cracked a little bit.

The best way you can maximize your fuel is to bring your car in for tune-ups and regular maintenance check-ups. Here at Basil Sheridan we can help you with that. Your maintenance schedule can be found in your owner’s manual, so you know when you need to come in. Not only can it help you out with mileage but also it will give your vehicle its maximum performance. Come see us at Basil Sheridan in our Service Department, or come look for a vehicle on our lot that can increase your gas mileage even more.

Events this weekend in Buffalo, NY

Now that the Fourth of July has passed what will you do for this weekend to top the last weekend? You and your kids and friends can go to Darien Lake, the movies, or out for dinner. Orrrrrrr.......... Here is a list of fun local inexpensive events that might mix things up a bit.

The Annual Field Days (Carnival)
6777 Main Street, Williamsville

July 7-9, 2011

Come enjoy the carnival with rides, shows, and musical performances. Come with your family and friends. Free Admission. The carnival is presented by Main-Transit volunteer fire Department.

Universoul Circus

South Campus, University at Buffalo

July 7- 10, 2011
Come Bring your Family and friends to enjoy the Circus at UB. There will be man amazing acts that will leave you in awe. The showtimes for Thursday and Friday are 10:30 am and 7:00pm; Saturday 12:00pm, 4:00pm, and 7:00pm; Sunday 3:30pm and 6:30pm

University Farmers Market

South Campus, University at Buffalo
Saturdays 8am-1pm
Have you tired going to a framers market? You can get fresh local produce from the farmers and harvesters themselves. There's music and a lot of activities for the family here.

UB Outdoor Summer Movie Series

Special Events Field, North Campus, University at Buffalo

Fridays 9pm
Go enjoy a movie under the starry sky in North Campus. This Friday they are showing Battle: Los Angeles. If it rains then it will be showing in Norton Hall 102.

You should also stop by this weekend at Basil Resale Sheridan and buy a car, or take a look at our inventory of pre-owned cars. With over 300 cars on our lots, we have a car for just about everyone. And if you can't find the car you're looking for, we will find it for you.

Caroline Cary

Replacing Your Brake Pads

Your car makes a grinding noise whenever you stop. It’s a sound you hate to hear. Is it really time to replace your brake pads again? But what should you know before you get them replaced?

Is it really time to replace them?

It’s very easy to tell if you need new brake pads. On most vehicles you can simply look through the front wheel cover at the brake pads. If the brake pad on either side is worn down to less than ¼ inch they should be replaced. Once you hear that grinding noise, it’s definitely time to replace your pads. Otherwise you could risk damaging your rotor which will be very costly to replace. If you need help contact the service team at Basil Resale Sheridan for an appointment.

When should you replace them?

Once you determine you need new brake pads, you should change them right away. When you hear that grinding noise it means damage is being done to your car’s rotor. The worn down brake pads will grind a groove into your rotor and if it becomes too deep the rotor will snap when you try to brake. Your vehicle won’t be able to brake which could cause an accident!

What about the rest of the brake system?

You don’t have to replace your rotor as often as the brake pads. The rotor can be “turned” or grinded down until the entire surface is even. Once your vehicle gets older, you will also need to replace the calipers. Over time the calipers become sticky and don’t push down on the brake pads which will cause the brake pads to wear down more quickly.

It may seem like a hassle, but it is important to get your brake pads, rotors and calipers serviced as soon as you notice a problem. Basil Resale Sheridan has a first class service department if you ever need your brake system fixed or replaced. When you purchase a vehicle from us, you will also benefit from the Basil Difference which includes free oil changes for life, a 101 point safety inspection and a 6 month/6000 mile warranty.

Jerome Singletary

How to Get Your Car Prepared for the Summer

The most basic thing you can do for a car is check the fluids regularly and follow suggested maintenance. During the summer the motor is exposed to more heat and the fans work hard to keep it cooler. If there is something faulty with the fluids the motor will most likely overheat. This might happen in the most inconvenient of times like in traffic on the way to work.

I would recommend you to go to your neighborhood service center for a checkup. There are some things you can’t detect on your own. If you have a special car that you only use in the summer, have the batteries checked and engine checked. Sometimes cars that haven’t been in use for a long time may have problems that aren’t noticed immediately. You don’t want to wear out your perfectly good snow tires if it’s not snowing, so get them changed if you haven’t already. Make sure all your emergency equipment like jumper cables, flashlight, jack, and spare tire are in your car. If your car breaks down it’s always a much less stressful situation if you have all the materials.

Our service team here at Basil Resale Sheridan would be more than happy to check your car and address any of your concerns. If you are looking for a new car stop by or make an appointment to see any of our 300 cars on our lot.

Caroline Cary

How to Act When Being Pulled Over

No matter how long you’ve been driving, getting pulled over by a cop can be a nerve-racking experience. The first thing to remember is to be polite! Arguing with a cop isn’t going to get you anywhere.

Pull over to the side of the road

When you see a cop car; first try to remain calm, turn on your turn signal, and try to stop as far right or left as possible so that the Officer can stand next to your car without putting themselves in danger. Turn off your engine and if it’s dark, turn on your interior lights.

Avoid giving the officer a reason to search your car

If you’re rustling about in your car, the officer might think you’re trying to hide something. If anything illegal is in immediate view, like an open bottle of alcohol; he or she is allowed to take it.

You should never get out of your car

Only get out if the officer tells you to. They will consider it a threat if you get out of the car. Remember that many police officers die when pulling over a car; it’s when they are most vulnerable.

When talking to the Officer

Roll down the window completely. Be polite and honest. Try not to cry or argue with the officer because most of the time you can’t talk yourself out of a ticket. And you might just annoy the officer even more!

Take the ticket and go on your way

If you get a ticket keep it in a safe place. Don’t forget to signal and check your mirrors, when entering the road again. Remember police officers are just looking out for your safety and try to protect the safety of others.

Here at Basil Resale Sheridan, we remind you to always drive safe. If you got a ticket for a brake light, headlight or any other malfunctioning part; don’t forget to make an appointment with our amazing service team or just stop by at Basil Resale Sheridan 4131 Sheridan Drive, Williamsville, NY 14221.

Caroline Cary

How to jump start a car

Have you ever found yourself stranded in a parking lot because you left your lights on and your battery died? It’s happened to me several times at home, in a parking lot in front of Barnes and Nobles, and multiple times at school. Trust me you don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you don’t know what to do.
The most important thing to remember is the order in which you attach the cables, and making sure they are attached to the corresponding metal terminal. A neighbor helped me with a jumpstart, but put the cable on the wrong metal terminal causing my fuse to burn out.

Before anything make sure both cars are off.
1. Find out where the positive and negative metal terminals are on both batteries.
2. Make sure none of the metal clips touch each other or they will give you an electric shock.
3. Your red or yellow cable is your positive cable so attach that to the positive terminal of the dead battery.
4. Attach the other end of the red or yellow cable to the positive terminal of the good battery.
5. Attach the black cable to the negative terminal of the good battery.
6. Attach the other side of the black cable to a metal surface of the car, far from the battery.
7. Start the engine of the good car first, then after a couple of minutes start the engine of the other car.

Now you can remove the cable the opposite order in which you attached them. Let your car charge for a couple of minutes before you turn it off.

At this point, you should probably take your car to a service specialist to make sure everything is well. At Basil Resale Sheridan, our team of mechanics would be more than happy to check your car for any problems concerning your battery or anything else that might worry you. If you are a past customer remember to take advantage of The Basil Difference, like free oil changes for life and 6 month/6,000 mile warranty.

Caroline Cary