Fall Foliage is Beautiful in Virginia
|
 Fall is definitely for leaf peepers, but the popular spots can also be quite crowded. Driving on Skyline Drive or the Blue Ridge Parkway, while beautiful, can often mean more exhaust fumes than fresh air. A little known-secret is that the Virginia Department of Forestry has several recommended driving tours that are off the beaten path.
And since the routes are prepared by foresters -- the guys among the trees every day, you know there will be plenty of beauty surrounding you. Here are four driving tours in the Commonwealth that you may want to consider for a wonderful fall weekend or outing.
Harrisonburg area: There are two featured routes, one in Rockingham County and one in Shenandoah County. Click on the links for the route directions from the Division of Forestry web site.
You can find other fall drives and fun things to do in Virginia at the official Fall in Virginia web site, here: http://www.virginia.org/Fall/. |
Picking the Right Car for Your Son or Daughter
|
|
As most parents can attest, teenagers long for a car or truck of their own when they reach driving age. And while teens stare longingly at the new-car ads in magazines and on television, for most parents, buying new really isn't a viable option. It's not the best investment, either, when you consider new cars lose a substantial amount of value as soon as they drive off the lot.
We see parents and their young drivers regularly, and here are a few bits of information we share with both driver and buyer.
Buy Used -- You can get a lot more car for your money when buying a pre-owned vehicle. But not all used cars and trucks are a good value. If you buy from a private seller, take the extra time to go with the owner to one of our locations and have a qualified mechanic go over the car. We can't guarantee there won't be problems down the road, but we can generally rule out or identify major issues or immediate repair and maintenance needs.
If you buy from a used-car dealer, make sure they have trained mechanics on staff. That way you know the car has been mechanically reviewed, and that the dealer is able to stand behind the sale.
Function Not Fashion -- The first rule for teen drivers is to find a safe vehicle that meets their transportation needs. That cute two-door coupe isn't so cute when your daughter can only take one friend with her. Look for vehicles that have lower insurance costs and high MPG ratings.
Buy Dependable -- Do a little research and pick a car or truck with a good track record for dependability and no major issues. The internet is a treasure trove of information on reliability. Be sure to ask for the CarFax of any car you're serious about, and be sure to buy from a pre-owned vehicle that will stand behind the sale.
Older and Cheaper Is More Expensive -- You can save hundreds or thousands of dollars buying a 10-to-15-year-old car. However, that savings quickly disappears when major systems start failing. It's not just the cost, either, it's the thought of a son or daughter stranded by the side of the road. We see it every month when that older deal is no longer running and it's time for a newer model used-car.
Lastly, make it fun. Get your son or daughter involved in helping with the research, identifying the pros and cons of different models, and narrowing down the choices. The more they're involved, the more ownership (and care) they'll have for the new used car.
|
Service Tip -- Wiper Blades
|
|
This month's tip is simple -- next time you change your oil, replace the wiper blades. Most of us recognize the blades need to be replaced only when they're failing, and we notice that when we're already driving in rain. Then, most of us forget all about the bad blades until it rains again. Our suggestion is to get ahead of the rain. If you can't remember when your blades were changed last, replace them with your next oil change and you can be sure you'll see clearly next time it rains. |
