Nothing is more freeing than jumping in your car, putting your foot on the pedal, and rolling down the window to let your hair fly around during a road trip. When you take a road trip you get to experience new scenery, explore cool places, and try new things. Follow this guide to the best road trip hacks for an even better adventure.  Since you will be in the car for a majority of the trip you will want space to stretch your legs, move around, and take a nap in a comfortable position. Invest in a rooftop cargo storage box to save space.  Prepare for road trips by downloading a roadside assistance smartphone app, GasBuddy to find you the cheapest gas, and Waze to help you get to where you are going without traffic.  Pack frozen water bottles in your cooler, not only will they keep your food cold you can also drink them after they are melted. It’s also a good idea to bring your own refillable water bottle, they are more durable and you won’t fill you ... read more

It’s almost always cheaper to keep an old car running than it is to buy a new one when you consider all the facts. It’s easy to get swept up in the shiny-new-car syndrome, but if you can find a way to breathe life into your old one, you can put the money you’ll save to another great use. Keep in mind, however, that Mast Service Center will never judge you for buying a new car! We get it. The shiny-new-car syndrome is real! Let’s take a look at just how keeping your current vehicle saves you money. We will start with the most obvious: the new car payment. Unless you are seriously upgrading makes and models because you’ve inherited a considerable sum or received an enormous pay raise, the chances are that you will stick to something similar to what you currently own. Even if there’s only a couple of years difference from the old to the new, you can count on a significant increase in car payments. If you have paid off your most recent vehicle, then tha ... read more

You may have wondered if there is a recommended type of gas for your vehicle and if you don’t use that gas, are you harming the car at all? We’re here to clear these questions up for you to ensure you are getting the best gas for your vehicle without breaking your wallet.  Start by taking the time to check your car’s owners manual or inside of the fuel filler door to identify if your dealership listed a specific type of gasoline recommended for your vehicle. Often this is a recommendation in the form of suggesting the use of premium gas.  Many brands like Audi, Toyota, BMW, General Motors, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Volkswagen, Honda, and Mercedes-Benz have started to recommend Top-Tier gas to their customers so their engines first performance and emissions remain unchanged over time. So what is Top Tier? This premium gas gets its name because it has additives and detergents that prevent residue build up on the valves which can negatively impact your engin ... read more

Winter is over and Spring is finally here! You’re excited the sun is out and you can’t wait to go on a road trip and take in some beautiful views. You’ve taken your car into the shop, packed your favorite snacks, and planned out where you are going. Do you think you’re already? Think again! You’re missing the most important part, the playlist! Your Spring road trip playlist should be upbeat, exciting, and keep your spirits high through the entire drive. The first playlist you should download is a no brainer, it’s called Classic Trip Songs. It’s full of songs about driving including Rascal Flatts “Life is a Highway” and “Born to Be Wild” by Steppenwolf. This playlist will get you excited about your car and driving down the highway. Another great playlist is called ... read more

Gummies! Everyone loves a tasty snack while traveling. Sometimes planning your snacks can be the most exciting thing about an upcoming trip. Hopefully not, but the right munchy can turn around the worst of travel days. If you are the driver on this trip, then take that aspect into consideration when choosing just the right tasty treat to pack! Picture yourself trying to eat a cup of yogurt while driving. Hmmm… not so much.  Something else to consider is distracted-driver laws. A lot of places you can get a ticket for eating while driving. Make sure you know the rest stops along your journey. Or be good at being sneaky, but we didn't suggest that option. There are distracted driving laws in Indiana. Those mostly revolve around cell phone usage, but it does discuss eating and driving as one of the ways you are distracted on the roads.  Eating exacerbates the degree of distraction when combined with other distractions, of which things like being tired or upset. Ther ... read more

  Even if you have no children or a single pet, it’s still so easy for the interior of your vehicle to get, well… you know… kind of gross. And no one likes gross, but also no one likes to fork out a lot of money in order to get it really clean. Guess what? You probably don’t have to if you’re willing to put in a little time and some good old fashioned elbow grease. If you’re a millennial (or newer), you may not be familiar with that phrase, but I know you can Google it!   Make up brushes work great to clean out the vents, but use a new one. And don’t “borrow” one from the female of the house. She won’t be pleased. Pet hair or people hair: either one tends to get left behind and add to the unnecessary debris. Easy peasy fix: spray bottle with just water, lightly spray surface, use a squeegee to wipe the upholstery down. The hair, with the help of the slight moisture, will cling to the squeegee. And wa la! Aft ... read more

If your 2019 goals include more fun-filled, family adventures with the kids, we have some excellent wintertime road trips to consider. We love our families, and we know how busy life can get during the work week. But sometimes, short weekend road trips are a great way to spend quality time with the family. Here are a few suggestions: Drive to Koteewi Run Seasonal Slopes in Noblesville, IN, go sledding, and make snow angels. Drive to Fort Wayne and hit the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo or visit the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society. Drive to Summit Lake in Henry County where you can go ice fishing. Take a weekend trip anywhere in the region to visit longtime friends. Go camping in the great outdoors at Shakamak State Park in Jasonville, IN. Go “glamping” and skiing at Perfect North Slopes in Lawrenceburg, IN. Hit your favorite sports arenas in Indiana and root for your teams. We hope you found this list of road trips useful. Before you head out, we encourage yo ... read more

Indiana boasts friendly locals, Midwestern charm, and lots of festive holiday activities. The Hoosier State always offers something to do. Check out some of the best places to see Christmas lights while you’re in Indiana. 1. Charlestown "The Christmas City" is the loving nickname of Charlestown and it indeed is one of Indiana's jolliest cities. The main street turns into a magical Christmas Village during the holidays. The annual festivities include an incredible light show and activities that include mini-golf, ice skating, and other activities for the whole family to enjoy. Take a ride on the Charlestown Express holiday train and enjoy some hot chocolate and apple cider. You can even get a picture with the one and only Santa Claus. If you want to keep the celebration going, go across the street to Greenway Park’s Winter Wonderland light display. 2. Santa Claus How can a town called Santa Clause not be "the place to be" during the Christmas seaso ... read more

With winter approaching, it’s smart to be mindful if your car has tires that suit the weather conditions that you live it. A general rule of thumb is that’s it’s seriously worth getting winter tires if you reside in a region that drops below 40 degrees in the winter. Mast Service Center wants you to be prepared and safe in a car for the colder season. Below is some information on snow tires VS regular tires that can guide you in making a choice that is right for you. Having winter tires can enhance braking performance in snowy & icy conditions. They work well in an array winter condition – ice, snow, slush, sleet and even on roads that are dry and cold. They have tread designs made for winter conditions because it has a special tread rubber that stays flexible at freezing temperatures for better car control. Also, it reduces the build-up of snow. Many drivers are at ease knowing that they have tires designed to handle the challenging winter weather conditi ... read more

Packing a trunk doesn't need to be a daunting task. Whether it's a minivan, a sedan, or a vehicle in between, it's possible to put your items in the trunk in an organized, straightforward fashion. Here are some tips to pack in your essential cargo: 1) Get your bags organized Believe it or not, the best way to have an organized trunk is to be sure the items in your bags are arranged. Compression bags are helpful to store things inside a suitcase. To get more into your trunk, it makes sense to first get more into your bags. Rolling your clothes not only creates space, but it also keeps your pants, shirts, and dresses wrinkle free. Packing your socks in your shoes and placing your shoes along the edges of your suitcase is a good place to start. 2) Allow everyone to have 1 bag In addition to everyone traveling in the car to have one bag, they should also be the same size. It's good for the children to determine what is essential. This allows for uniformity in the trunk, a ... read more