If you’ve ever been in the market for a new car (which, hey! Do you need a new car?) then you know that the most important part of the process, besides actually buying the new car, is test driving everything you’re interested in so that you can make an informed decision. But I for one always get carried away with the test drive itself and focus on how awesome the car is instead of the things I should be focusing on, which are the factors that really go into making a decision on buying a car. So, keep these things in mind when you’re test driving and you should be good. Check it out.

• Is the ride good?. Is it bumpy, smooth, or does it seem disconnected? Depending on what kind of car you’re testing, you should have certain expectations, but make sure the vehicle meets or exceeds them.

• Are the brakes responsive? Would you trust them to save your life, if they had to? Test them out by trying all different types of braking – slow, short, forceful, etc. – and see how you feel. Remember that hybrid cars will feel different than other types of vehicles when it comes to braking.

• How is the acceleration?. Make sure that the one you’re testing can get up to speed the way you want it to. If not, look at a different car. Can it handle hills and merging into highway lanes?

• Is the inside of the vehicle noisy? Make sure the sound level in the cabin is bearable, because things only get worse over time. You should also make sure the sound system is what you want.

• Do the steering and handling meet your expectations? This is what people really notice about driving, and so if it’s not the best, the car might not be the one for you. Try quick maneuvers as well, like pulling a U-turn on an empty road. How is the turning radius?

• Can you actually see out of the car? Visibility is SUPER important, so if you can’t actually see out of the vehicle because of blind spots or windshield position or whatever, pick another one.

If it helps, print out this list and take it with you so you remember what to think about. Good luck!

If you’re planning on taking a road trip this season, especially with kids, you’re going to need a way to keep everyone in the car entertained. This is where games come in! Check out our list of tried and true games to play in the car that will keep everyone happy and having fun, at least until they fall asleep.

Some quick ones for everyone, including kids:

• Two Truths And A Lie – Going around the car, everyone tells three short stories (or facts) about themselves. Two are true, and one is a lie. Everyone else has to guess which is the lie. It’s all about making everything sound either plausible or totally ridiculous, making it harder for everyone else to guess the lie.

• Mad Libs – Not necessarily a game, but fun for everyone and easy entertainment.

• Would You Rather – A game of difficult choices! Ask questions like “would you rather sniff the inside of Grandpa’s shoes, or never wear shoes again” (but, of course, better than that).

For the adults:

• Car Spotting – Try to guess makes (and models) of other cars on the road from further away than everyone else. This is really good for those of us who know our cars, and can be educational for those who don’t.

• Swear Jar – Decide on a word that will be the “swear word” for the time being (usually between stops). It can be anything, like “car” or “foot” or “turn,” seriously. If anyone says it, they put either a coin into an actual jar, or get a point. Whoever has the most points at the end of the trip buys everyone else a drink at the end.

• License Plate Game – Not what you’re thinking. Every time you see an out of state plate, punch the person next to you. Lightly! On the arm. This is most similar to Punchbuggy (or ‘slug bug,’ if you prefer).

There are several things that you may think you can do to upgrade your vehicle or fix it in case of a broken part… but that you probably should not do at all. So, instead of telling you what DIY projects you can do at home, we want to make sure you’re being safe and responsible – and so here are the DIY projects you should NOT do and instead leave them up to the pros. Reasons? Because you can end up costing yourself a lot more money if a tiny thing goes wrong. Check out our list.

1. Upgraded sound system. You might think you can do this, but it involves delicate wiring that could start a fire, fry your system, or just not end up working. Take your vehicle to a pro and let them do the work for you!

2. Windshield repairs. Sure, you can find kits that will “fix” your windshield, but if a crack or chip is big enough (or is there at all) it can lead to more serious issues. Think about how much force is going against your windshield as you drive, and then think about that force spreading cracks that you might not even see. Take this one to the pros!

3. Engine diagnostics. You can buy a device that’ll turn off any lights or tell you what the problem is, sure, but turning off the light won’t fix the problem. The cost of taking this issue to your shop or dealer is about the same as the device, and will actually get the problem fixed without the risk of serious issues with your vehicle.

4. Fuel pumps. This is an expensive part, so you might think you can cut costs by installing it yourself. False! This is a super precise piece of equipment that needs to be installed just right, and if you mess it up you can literally total your car from the inside out. Leave this one to the professionals, friend.

5. Anything to do with the transmission. Even replacing the fluid in your transmission is something that should be done by a pro. If you think you can replace the entire thing yourself, you’re mistaken! Let a professional handle it. You’ll spend money either way since it’s not a cheap fix or replacement. But when you trust a professional, you’ll get what you pay for when it comes to the fix actually working.

These are just some of the things you shouldn’t do yourself – but remember, there are things you can do at home! Keep your car clean, check the oil, and make sure nothing’s wrong.

Fall is quickly approaching (read: is here, technically), and after a couple of hot days this past week, I think we can all agree that it is HIGH TIME for some beautiful fall weather – cooler days, rainy weekend mornings, sweaters and pumpkin spice, and changing leaves. Let’s talk about that last one, shall we? There is such a thing in this world as leaf peeping, which is where you pile your family, friends, and/or loved one(s) into the car and drive to the most scenic places to look at the beautiful changing leaves. If this has piqued your interest, you should know that there are so many great places in our great state of Pennsylvania to do just that! Keep reading for our recommendations on the best places to bring yourself to look at the leaves and absorb the fall!

The first place on our list is Big Pocono State Park, where the leaves will peak (i.e. be at their most beautiful) in the middle of October. This place is great because you can look at the leaves while hiking, or choose to stay in the comfort of your vehicle. You can also take a kayak along the Delaware River with a Fall Foliage River Tour, but make sure the weather is warm enough for you if you choose to go that route.

Number two is Gettysburg National Military Park, which peaks in late October. Not only is this park a great place to visit year-round due to its awesome historical significance, monuments, memorials, and the occasional reenactment or two, but in the fall it comes alive with color. There’s nothing better than getting your history on AND looking at the beautiful changing leaves, at the same time!

The third place is Pine Creek Gorge, whose leaves peak at the beginning of October. Because of the types of trees that grow here, you’ll get to look at all sorts of different colors and leaf types. The best places to go are Leonard Harrison or Colton Point State Park, where you’ll get the most superb views of all. Check out the Pine Creek Rail Trail, where you can bike, walk, or even ride a horse through the beautiful changing leaves.

Number four (and did we mention this isn’t in any particular order?) is Presque Isle State Park, on the scenic shores of Lake Erie. There’s the Karl Boyes Multipurpose National Recreation Trail, where you can walk and bike through the leaves, but you can also drive through the park’s roads or hike through the 11 miles of trails through the park.

Leaf peeping can be a fun day trip for you and your family and friends, but remember to stay safe out there! There might be a lot of other leaf-oriented tourists, so make sure you don’t get in anyone’s way or ignore the rules of the road in favor of some of that sweet, sweet leaf action. So get the lattes, get the sweaters, and hit the road!

Are your headlights out? Do you think your headlights are out, but you’re not sure? Might be time for you to give that a check. If you know that your headlights are out – or even just one headlight is out – you need to get that fixed ASAP. Not only is that a serious safety concern, it’s against the law to have one or both headlights out while driving. And imagine driving at night – why would you do that without all the light you need to see? Here’s how to fix your headlights and even make them a little better, to help you out in the long run.

So, like I said, your headlights are one of the most important safety features your car has. Especially in the night or in the rain, your headlights not only help you to see but help other cars to see you as well. With one or both headlights out, your chances of getting into an accident rise exponentially. With only one working headlight, your full-sized car could be mistaken for a motorcycle, which takes up significantly less space on the road.

In order to fix your headlights, you can take your car into the shop or dealership, or you can take care of things at home. Here’s how to do things the DIY route! First, you’ll want to check your owner’s manual to see what type of light capsules (the word car people use for bulbs) your vehicle takes. Then, you can see if there are upgrades you can do. In most cases, this means switching out the prior halogen capsules for brighter, longer-lasting, energy-saving LED capsules. If you don’t want to switch the color of your headlights (LED bulbs are often a bluish cool light) then there are higher-brightness halogen capsules on the market that you can use. Anyway, switch those out, put your headlight assembly back together, and bada bing! You’re all good.

If your headlights seem to dim again or even die again quickly after you replaced the capsules, you’re going to want to take your vehicle into the dealership or shop to be looked at no matter what. There could be a more serious issue with your car than just the headlights!

So I just picked up a new Volkswagen Beetle from Fiore Volkswagen, and DANG. I love this car. I love it so much!!! If I didn’t already have a boyfriend, I would dump him for this car. I am not lying to you. This is true love. I thought I would share with you all ten things that I LOVE about my new Beetle, even though there are literally ten billion trillion things that I love about him (yeah, okay, his name is Steve and we have a connection). But I will whittle that down to ten things. Please pray for me.

1. The shape! We all loved the new Beetles when they came out in the early naughties, but this latest redesign is prime. Like, it looks retro? But also super modern. And the trunk opening is HUGE. You wouldn’t think that you could haul a lot of stuff in a car this small, but you fully can. It’s amazing!!

2. The interior. I have the Titan Black leatherette on the inside and my friends it is siiiick. My Beetle is white, so the dashboard where the exterior finish is brought inside just looks so good. I am really into minimalism lately so this is really fitting into my aesthetic. And the Käferfach-inspired glovebox (okay, I looked that one up) is just that right touch of retro. That’s where I keep all the napkins I steal from fast food places. They come in really handy.

3. The turbo engine. For a little car, this guy has a LOT of power. You can really feel the turbo when you’re accelerating up a hill… I never have to wonder if lil’ Steve can make it up. He doesn’t even slow down, not even a little. I feel like I am driving a racecar, no joke.

4. The ambient lighting. This kind of ties into the interior one, but I wanted to keep it separate because I really love it a LOT. I can change the color to match my mood or playlist or whatever, and it’s especially great because I have trouble seeing at night, so I can make the inside red if I want.

5. The screen. I have the navigation package, and it’s so great!! But everything else is amazing as well. I can connect my phone to Steve and play my music, look at some of my apps, and talk on the phone through the Bluetooth. And I also have the Fender premium audio system, so my beats are BUMPIN’.

6. VW Car-Net. Like, do I need to say more? I am really bad at remembering where I parked my car, but with this app, I know exactly where it is. Like. This is a game-changer, folks!!!!!

7. All the safety tech. The blind spot monitor, rear traffic alert, and park pilot have made my life a million times easier. Okay, sure, I passed the parallel parking part of my driver’s test, but that was literally over a decade ago. You can’t expect me to retain that kind of information for more than ten minutes after the test is over! So, park pilot. Life-saving!

8. Keyless access. I have a purse. Things get lost in it pretty much constantly. Yesterday I found a movie ticket from 2008 in there. So, it’s really great that I don’t really have to find my keys to open up my car.

9. Heated seats. I know not every Beetle comes with them, but Steve has them and they are incredible. Even when it’s not winter, I turn them on when I’ve just hit the gym to help relax those muscles a little. But they are going to be sooooo good in the winter, and I am SOOOO excited.

10. How I feel in this car. It’s a freakin’ Beetle! I feel so cool! I know people are always like, oh, your car needs to be safe and reliable and yeah, I agree. Steve is totally safe and reliable. But Steve is also REALLY COOL. And I feel awesome behind the wheel. I think that’s my favorite part, actually.

It’s Electric!

No, not the Electric Slide, but the all-new Volkswagen I.D. Buzz. You might recognize this vehicle as – and you should be sitting down for this one – the new, electric version of the classic VW Bus. Yeah. Seriously. It blew us off our feet too. This vehicle is so iconic and such a part of American history, and Volkswagen is taking that and running with it. We’re EXCITED. This vehicle is fully electric and fully connected and fully awesome. Of course, it’s not available yet, but Volkswagen recently announced that it would sell a production version of the I.D. Buzz in the US, Europe, and China in 2022. That’s really not that far away, especially when you think about how long it’s been since the VW Bus premiered. (Hint: it was 67 years ago.)

So what does the I.D. Buzz have? It has a light strip around the vehicle, LED headlights that act as “eyes” to communicate the vehicle’s status, 22-inch wheels, tons of space for passengers or cargo, autonomous technology, and everything else that you’ve come to expect in a vehicle – and more. Just remember, these are all conceptual. But it’s still exciting!

Check out this video from Volkswagen about the I.D. Buzz. You’ll love it! We definitely did. And now we’re super excited… is it 2022 yet?

https://youtu.be/H2O58X4NNbQ

We tend to think of getting our cars towed as something that happens if we make a parking mistake, or if we get too many tickets. So, generally, we think of tow trucks as our enemies and try to stay as far away from them as possible.

But what happens if we need a tow? When you Google search “getting car towed,” there are a lot of questions and answers about getting your vehicle out of impound or paying off tickets and the like. There’s not so much about what happens if you break down and need to call for a tow that you actually want, as opposed to some dark midnight operation by the forces of the Law. So, please read on – in this blog are some answers about what you should do if you need to call for a tow, and how to prepare both yourself and your vehicle for that event.

First things first – if your vehicle breaks down, make sure you’re all the way to the side of the road or as far from any traffic as you can be. Make sure your hazard lights are on, and if you have cones, flags, or any other indicators in your vehicle, put them out.

Gather everything you’ll need from your vehicle – not just your stuff, but the registration and insurance paperwork as well as your driver’s license and any roadside assistance membership information, like AAA. These are important to have out, especially when calling for a tow – programs like AAA have their own towing and maintenance vehicles and can be called directly to help, so you’ll need your membership information for that.

If you don’t have a roadside assistance membership, you can call your automaker if your car is still under warranty or your insurance provider, if your insurance includes roadside assistance. If you don’t have any of these, Google can be your friend. Make sure you have information for this saved for the future, though… and maybe consider enrolling in something like AAA.

Now, you wait. Think of where you want your car towed to – your preferred garage or perhaps your dealership – so that you can tell the tow truck driver when they arrive. It might be a while, so make sure you have something to occupy yourself in the meantime. Don’t let anyone besides the tow truck driver or the police approach your vehicle!

When the driver arrives, they’ll guide you through the towing process and might offer you a lift to where you want your vehicle towed to, unless you’ve called someone else to pick you up. From there, your vehicle just needs to get fixed by the people you’ve taken it too.

We hope this article has helped you out – towing doesn’t have to be a scary or expensive process if you know what you’re doing.

Have you ever been driving down the road at night and thought to yourself, “I thought my headlights were brighter than that”? Well, chances are, they were brighter than that before but now because of the amount you’ve driven and the age of your car, they might have dulled a bit. There are a bunch of simple solutions to this problem that are very easy to take care of at home, and you’ll notice a change in the brightness of your headlights the next time you’re driving in the dark!

First, just take some window cleaner and a soft cloth to your headlights. The problem might only be that they’re dirty and need some TLC – this is the easiest answer and easiest solution. If this doesn’t work out, however, you might have to put in a little more elbow grease.

So, you’ve cleaned your headlights and they still seem dim. You might have to go to the auto parts store and get a headlight reconditioning kit. This is a simple kit that lets you clean your headlights a little bit more by buffing out any dirt or UV damage, as well as scratches and divots from road debris. This is definitely a little more difficult than just washing your headlights, but hopefully, you should see a difference.

If they are STILL dim, you might have to replace the bulbs in your headlights. This involves going to your auto parts store and buying some replacement capsules – your owner’s manual will tell you exactly what type of capsules your vehicle needs. If they’re halogen, you can upgrade them to either a brighter halogen capsule or a drop-in LED capsule. This will really make a difference in the brightness of your lights, but make sure you are doing the replacement correctly. This isn’t super hard, but if you’re hesitant to try it yourself, come to Fiore Volkswagen and we’ll take care of it for you.

If you’ve tried all of these options and your headlights are still dim, you should have a professional take a look at your alternator. Dimming headlights can be indicative of a dying alternator – especially if your headlights brighten when you accelerate and dim when you’re slowing down.

We hope these tips have been helpful to you! Happy trails!