Driving around Aurora
I-225 stop and go is rough on brakes and transmissions, and anyone driving out to DIA on Peña Blvd or E-470 racks up highway miles fast. East Aurora gets plains weather: wind, dust and some of the worst hail in the metro.
If your car sleeps outside in east Aurora, a cheap car cover or a spot in a parking garage on hail-watch afternoons can save you a deductible. And if you drive I-225 every day, ask your shop to check brake pad thickness at every oil change, not just when it squeals.
Front Range driving, in general
- Altitude. At a mile up, non-turbo engines make noticeably less power and turbos work harder. Coolant boils at a lower temperature too, so a weak radiator cap or a small leak shows up sooner here.
- Hail. Spring and summer storms can total a car in ten minutes. Comprehensive coverage and a garage are the real fix.
- Winter. Magnesium chloride on the roads is hard on brake lines, exhaust parts and undercarriages. Rinse the underside in spring.
- Mountain grades. I-70 and US 285 are hard on brakes and cooling systems. Fresh brake fluid and a healthy water pump matter more here than at sea level.