When someone asks if you’re thinking about the future, you probably think they mean things like your life’s path, your love life, your kids… but in this case, I just mean the winter. Are you thinking about the winter? It is, after all, coming our way sooner rather than later. How’s your garage looking? Think about that for a second. If you have a garage, you should probably also be thinking about cleaning it. If your garage is already clean then you’re ahead of the game, but if it’s not, well. Read on.

So, you’re reading on, which means that your garage is a black hole nightmare of leftover summer detritus, junk, and trash. Same, honestly. But since winter is on its way whether we like it or not, we should be working on making sure we can actually fit our cars into our garages so that we won’t have to scrape them off or even leave the indoors to get into them. I hope you feel me on this.

First thing you should do is haul everything out of your garage and onto your driveway or lawn or other flat open area. Sweep or vacuum or wash your garage floor. Separate what you like and want to keep from the actual junk, and then throw the junk away (or if it’s paint or similar, dispose of it safely). Take this opportunity to assess your storage. Maybe invest in some shelves if you don’t have any. Then, get everything back in there. Hopefully you’ve weeded out a lot of it.

You should be able to fit your car in! And that’s really all you need to do to be able to take advantage of your garage the way it was intended to be used. Seriously.  

Defensive driving is something we typically learn about in Driver’s Ed and then never actually think about ever again. However, we should really be thinking about it more, because it not only helps you as a driver but it really does keep you safe on the road. Here’s what defensive driving entails:

• Paying attention

• Expecting the unexpected

• Maintaining a safe speed

• Not tailgating

• Anticipating the moves of other drivers

• Being conscientious about the weather and road conditions

• Not being distracted

• Respecting other drivers on the road

With these tools, you should be able to drive defensively, and therefore more safely. Remember that your primary goal as a driver is getting to where you’re going safely. That doesn’t include speeding or driving like a crazy person! Always pay attention, and always make sure you’re obeying the rules of the road.

When we stop through the gas station, we pretty much always see that there are three types of gas: regular, midgrade, and premium. However, a lot of us still have the concept of “unleaded” gas in our vocabulary as a choice when in reality all gas is unleaded. So, what’s the difference between these types of gas and why do we still use the term “unleaded” – and where did it come from?

First, the difference between the different types of gas is the octane level of each type. At the risk of getting too science-y, I will speak as plainly as possible. Basically, everything is made of molecules, right? In gasoline, there are certain molecules called hydrocarbons, which are from the oil that is used to produce the gas. One type of hydrocarbon that’s in gas is isooctane (aka just plain old “octane”). Regular old hydrocarbons are pretty good at just exploding whenever they feel like it, presumably, but isooctane is resistant to that spontaneous combustion. The more isooctane in the gas, the higher the octane rating. The higher the octane rating, the less chance your engine will “knock,” which is a result of the gas exploding too soon. See where I am going with this?

Your next question might be, “does my car need this higher octane gas?” The answer to that is, well, it depends. Do you have a super aggressive engine under the hood? Does your owner’s manual say to fill up with premium gas? If not, you’re fine with the regular stuff. If you put higher octane fuel into your vehicle when it doesn’t need it, you’re basically just wasting money.

And finally, a quick history on “leaded” versus “unleaded” gasoline. Before they got into the whole natural octane thing, car makers didn’t know how to minimize the knock in their vehicles’ engines. That is, they didn’t know until someone remembered that tetraethyl lead could boost the octane ratings while keeping the cost of gas down – AND it got rid of the “knock.” Sure, it was poisonous and sure, it led to a lot of deaths due to lead poisoning between the 1920s and the 1990s, when leaded gas was banned – but hey! Cheap gas!

Nowadays, lead is banned from being in gas and pumps still have to say specifically that the gas is unleaded, and now you know why!

If you’re like me, you love your dog like a child and want to take him everywhere. Yeah, so? I LOVE HIM. HE’S MY SON!!! Anyway, when I say “everywhere.” I mean it. That means bringing my dog with me in the car, which seems like a difficult thing to some people. But, since my dog and I are seasoned travelers, I thought I’d take this chance to share some of our tips with you for traveling with your best friend, who is specifically your dog and not a human best friend.

First, make sure your friend is healthy. This means regular vet visits to make sure you’re not traveling with a sick dog, because traveling with anyone who’s sick – human or not – is never fun for anyone.

Keep water on hand, either distilled or from your tap at home. Basically, keep water that’s familiar to your dog on hand for the ride. Our pets’ digestive systems are pretty fragile and they need to drink a lot of water, so the best way to keep them happy and healthy is to give them familiar water to drink.

If your dog is going to travel in a crate, make sure the crate is big enough for your dog to stand up, sit down, turn around, and lie down in. Make sure there’s enough room in your vehicle for a crate of the right size.

If you’re going to let your dog roam free in the car, make sure that they are used to it first (introduce your dog to your car while you’re at home, let your dog walk around inside the car, and make sure they’re familiar with the space) and then make sure your dog is properly secured. Get a seatbelt collar or harness tie-down, and make sure the windows aren’t open enough for the dog to stick their head out of. Flying bugs, debris, and other road dust can actually cause damage to your dog’s eyes and ears, so it’s better to err on the side of safety.

When you’re on the road, stop for potty breaks often and let your dog do their business, drink a little water (no food on the road!) and get some exercise, and there’s your recipe for a happy travelin’ pup!

Getting your car serviced is different from getting regular maintenance done. I am just going to preface this blog with that. Essentially, maintenance is what you get regularly done on your vehicle to make sure it stays in fighting form. Maintenance is something that’s scheduled – like an oil change – whereas service is when you need something specific fixed or tuned up that’s outside of your regular maintenance schedule. It’s a really tiny distinction but it’s important. If you don’t get regular maintenance on your vehicle, you’ll probably have to get it serviced more, and those services will be more expensive than normal.

Maintenance of your car works the same way as taking care of your body – if you take your vitamins regularly, eat healthy, exercise, and take care of yourself, you won’t have to go to the doctor’s as often, and you’re at a lower risk of getting a disease or serious illness. The same applies to cars! You should stick to a regular maintenance plan because making sure you get your oil changes, tire rotations, and other inspections done regularly means that you won’t have to get things fixed as often.

Talk to us here at Fiore VW about your maintenance schedule. With the Volkswagen Care Maintenance Plan, you won’t even have to think about scheduling maintenance on your vehicle – we’ll help figure out when is best for your vehicle, and all you have to do is bring it into the shop. Check it out! And remember – regular maintenance saves money, time, and heartache!

It’s important to mind your manners in the parking lot. I’m leading with that because this blog is entirely about how to behave yourself and have good etiquette in the parking lot – something we don’t tend to think about too much but makes a huge difference when it comes to staying safe! And these rules don’t only apply to drivers – these are for pedestrians as well, because when we’re in the parking lot it’s important that everyone try to stay safe. You can’t rely on other people or drivers to make the right decision, so if we all make the right decision then we’re all taking care of each other! Anyway, keep reading to check out our rules for Parking Lot Etiquette (we’re sure Miss Manners would approve).

Park straight in the parking space. Make sure that your vehicle is not only straight in the parking space, but also centered. If your vehicle is crooked, that makes it harder for not only you but the drivers on either side of your car to get in and out of their own vehicles, and puts your vehicle at risk of dents, scrapes, or other minor injuries. Also, if you drive a shorter car, make sure you’re pulled in just enough that your tail end is on the same level as the vehicles on either side of you so that your space isn’t mistaken for an empty one. If you drive a larger car, make sure you are as far into the space as you can be so that your tail end is not sticking out too far, which can impact other cars’ visibility as well as put you at risk of being hit by an oncoming vehicle.

Don’t take up more than one space. If you have a newer car and don’t want to risk the paint job, park further out where there are fewer cars. Don’t be selfish and keep someone else from a closer spot just because of your paint! If taking up two spaces is the result of a poor parking job, just pull out and straighten out. Another thing to remember is that if you’re driving a larger vehicle (i.e. a truck), a lot of parking spaces are measured out for smaller vehicles that are less wide. If you find this to be the case in a spot, your best bet is to park farther out so that you have the space you need.

Take turns waiting for a parking spot. Don’t speed up to steal a parking space from someone who has been waiting longer than you! That is just plain rude, and can lead to angry driving which in turn can lead to accidents in the parking lot. You will find another open spot, and you’ll be safer for your patience. Walking is good for you, anyway!

If you’re a pedestrian, make your intentions clear. Don’t walk down the middle of the aisle, and make sure you stay on one side of the aisle. Let the cars driving around the lot know where you are and what you plan on doing, so they have one less thing to worry about and so you don’t put yourself at risk of being hit. 

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!