Category Archives: Dealer Information

Repair or Replace – The Ultimate Vehicle Question

For many consumers, owning a car is not a luxury but a necessity. That doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy their car, but time and road miles tend to wreak all sorts of damage and wear on even the best-kept vehicle.  Sooner or later, the decision must be made whether to repair or replace your car.  So how do you decide?  Here are a few helpful tips.

When repairs or maintenance cost more than the car is worth. You’ll know it’s time to get rid of the car and get a new one when the dollars start adding up to the point where it’s going to cost you more I repairs or continual maintenance than the old car is actually worth.  And don’t forget to look at potential future repairs. Plunking down $1,500 or so for a repair job now may help you eke out a few more miles from your old car, but what’s likely to come next? This is the automotive equivalent of a home money pit.  The more the repair estimates or forecasts climb, the closer you may be to deciding to replace.

We always have to think about safety.  New cars today come equipped with a lot of standard safety equipment, things like advanced airbags, side airbags, better handling and brakes, electronic stability control, and even rearview cameras. Optional active safety technology includes blind spot monitoring and lane departure warning systems, forward collision alert, and automatic parking. Since your old car likely doesn’t have these safety features, when it starts to show its age, maybe it’s time to look at a new car as a replacement.

There’s also a lot to be said for getting out of your old car and into a new one just because you’re past being okay with what you have. You may have started a new job and want something more appropriate for business or you’ve yearned for a new car for the past few years and kept nursing the old one along as long as you could. In this case, if the financial picture makes sense and you can snag a good deal, go for the new car.

Our biggest tip – know what your car is worth. Before making the decision to go ahead and pay for repairs on your old car, you should take the time to find out what it’s worth.

Beach Auto Brokers has been in business since 1985, Driven by excellence and proudly serving the Hampton Roads community for over 25 years. The Beach Auto Brokers full inventory of vehicles is available for you to look at, test drive, and ask questions about.  And our knowledgeable staff is ready to help you.  And while you’re here, we’ll take a look at your current vehicle and tell you what its worth – on the retail market and the trade-in value.

Beach Auto Brokers Is Proud To Be Partnered With The US Marine Corps Reserve Toys For Tots Program As A Drop Off Site!

The Mission of the US Marine Corps Reserve:
To collect new, unwrapped toys, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.

Beach Auto Brokers is whole-heartedly supporting the effort this holiday season!!!  We are proudly accepting donations as a drop off site through December 21, 2013.  The holiday season is a great time of year to be involved in the community and lend a helping hand.  In the spirit of the holidays, we are adopting and carrying out the objective of the Toys For Tots program:  to help less fortunate children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas; to play an active role in the development of one of our nation’s most valuable resources – our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and to contribute to improving communities in the future.

Over its lifespan, the US Marine Toys For Tots program has distributed over 469 million toys to over 216 million less fortunate children.

Help us out and stop by with an unwrapped toy today!!

At Beach Auto Brokers, our goal is to help you in finding the right vehicle for you.  Check out our inventory page to see what we currently have in stock.  Don’t see what you’re looking for?  Give us a call – that vehicle may be on its way in.  If not, we’ll find it for you!

Did you know Beach Auto Brokers is a MAPP Dealer?

We are proud to be a MAPP Dealer.

People often ask us what this means, so we thought we’d share the details:

  • Dealers are accredited by the Better Business Bureau of Greater Hampton Roads (BBB).
  • Dealers follow the Virginia Independent Automobile Dealers Association (VIADA) code of ethics.
  • Third party contract review upon request.
  • National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) or Kelley Blue Book (KBB) value provided before you sign contracts.
  • 24-hour hold on your vehicle with a fully refundable $100.
  • Deal canceled if the sale is not approved as written by the dealer.
  • Copies of all paperwork including MAPP documents.
  • Test drive with salesperson.
  • On-the-lot inspection.
  • MAPP point of contact for problem resolution.
  • BBB and Military Legal Assistance for unresolved problems.

Beach Auto Brokers has been in business since 1985, Driven by excellence and proudly serving the Hampton Roads community for over 25 years. The Beach Auto Brokers full inventory of vehicles is available for you to look at, test drive, and ask questions about.  And our knowledgeable staff is ready to help you.

Vehicle Safety – Driving With Children

It seems adults, specifically parents with young children, are just as guilty as everyone and anyone else when it comes to engaging in distracted driving.  Researchers from the University of Michigan surveyed more than 600 parents to find out what distractions they face while driving with their children, whether they use age-appropriate child restraints and if they had ever been in a motor vehicle accident.  They found that almost 90% of drivers reported engaging in at least one technology-based distraction while driving their child in the past month, drivers who reported engaging in distracting behaviors were more likely to report having ever been in a crash, and drivers of children who were not restrained in an age-appropriate restraint had 2.5 times higher odds of reporting a child-related distraction than drivers of children who were restrained properly.

The results were shocking to us, and got us thinking about what could be done to help prevent these hazards and keep all children a little safer.  At Beach Auto Brokers, we came up with a few things for you to take a minute and think about next time you get in a vehicle with your child:

1 – Set an example and wear your own seatbelt.  Inspiration: Parents who reported always wearing a seatbelt were significantly more likely to report their child always uses the age-appropriate restraint.

2 – Ensure you have the correct and age-appropriate restraint for your child.  Inspiration: Many children are not using the right safety seat for their size.  Check your state’s law for specific child-restraint regulations.  The safety guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics include the following details:

  • Infants should ride rear-facing until they are at least 1 year old and weigh at least 20 pounds.
  • Toddlers should use a forward-facing safety seat with a full 5-point harness until they exceed the weight and/or height limit of the seat.
  • Young children should use a booster seat until they are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall and can wear a properly positioned adult seat belt.

3 – Have you child in the safest place in the car.  In general, kids should ride in the back seat until they are 13 years old, even if they are tall enough to wear an adult seat belt.

4 – Attach toys to your child’s car seat.  Those just-for-the-car items don’t do any good if they are on the floor, and you are putting everyone in danger when you try to reach down and grab them behind you or look back to see where they have landed.

5 – Put your phone down.  Inspiration: Almost 90% of drivers reported engaging in at least one technology-based distraction while driving their child.  That email, text message, or phone call can certainly wait until you get to your destination, especially when you weigh the importance of it against your children.

Beach Auto Brokers has been in business since 1985, Driven by excellence and proudly serving the Hampton Roads community for over 25 years. The Beach Auto Brokers full inventory of vehicles is available for you to look at, test drive, and ask questions about.  And our knowledgeable staff is ready to help you.  No matter which vehicle you decide is the best fit for you, remember to drive safely.

National Tire Awareness & Safety Week

 

 

 

 

At Beach Auto Brokers, we strive to make sure that our customers have the knowledge at hand to properly maintain their vehicle.  According to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 660 highway fatalities are caused by under-inflated tires annually. Since this week is National Tire Awareness Week, we thought we’d take this opportunity to share some tips on how to properly maintain and care for you tires so that you get the most out of them.

  • Tire Pressure – Don’t risk a blowout – you should check your tire pressure regularly as well as tire wear. You can usually find this information in your vehicle’s service manual, or on the vehicle information label found on the driver’s side door jamb. Also, don’t forget to check your spare tire as well.
  • Tread Depth – You can check tire wear with the quick and easy penny trick. Put a penny into each of the tread grooves, with Lincoln’s head toward the inside. If you can see the top of Honest Abe’s head, your tires are worn. Be sure to check several grooves across the width of the tire. Tires are worn and unsafe with anything less than 2/32” of tread depth.
  • Tire Rotation – Maintain consistent wear of your tires on your vehicle, this will allow you to control your car better.  To get the most out of your tires and the longest life to maximize your investment, rotate your tires every 5,000 to 8,000 miles.
  • Adjust for Loads – in the Hampton Roads area, we are constantly towing a boat, or loading down our vehicles for that trip to the beach, and packing up for vacation.  You may need to increase your tire pressure to accommodate the additional weight of your load.  Refer to your owner’s manual and/or the tire placard for recommended pressures.  And when you’re done, don’t forget to adjust back to the normal pressure your tires need.
  • Avoid Potholes – Driving through just one large pothole, even in the summer, can weaken a tire, reducing its long-term durability and ride quality.  Potholes can also knock a vehicle out of alignment, reducing handling and tire life.  Drive around large puddles as well, they often hide deep, rain-filled potholes.

We encourage all of our customers to be aware of and follow-thru with ongoing maintenance.  This is why we offer all of our customers a lifetime of free oil changes and state inspections with their vehicle purchase!  We are happy to help our customers with any questions they have regarding tires, fluids, brakes, lights, wipers, and dashboard lights.  So if something comes up, don’t hesitate it call us!

How To Test Drive A Car

You always test drive a car before you buy it right?  Of course!  Some drive it like they are in a Nascar Race and there’s one lap to go.  Some drive like they are afraid that touching the gas pedal will make the car go, and then what?  At Beach Auto Brokers, our Sales Team is always happy to accompany the customers on a test drive.  Here are a few tips that we recommend while test driving a car to see if it’s the right fit for you.

1 – Take your time, you’re not actually in the Daytona 500.  Pick a few different roads to drive on at different speeds, and drive like you would on a daily basis.  You will get a better idea of how the car will perform under normal driving conditions.

2 – Park the vehicle.  Can you parallel park it?  Do you feel comfortable pulling into a parking space?

3 – Play with the radio a little and see how the speakers sound.  Is there additional technology on the car?  Ask your sales representative (who is sitting right next to you at this point) how it all works.  Check out how the seats move and fold down.  You may not be thinking about these things today, but we guarantee you will soon.

4 – Drive, and then ride.  See how the car feels as the driver, then ask to see how the car feels as the passenger.  A vehicle can feel very different from these 2 perspectives.

5 – Turn off the radio, and just listen to the car for a few minutes.  You want to get to know how the car sounds.

6 – Be meticulous and ask questions.  Review the Auto-Check with your sales representative and make sure you understand the information that is provided.  Ask questions if it isn’t clear to you, we want them all answered so that you have a strong sense of security.

7 – If you are the type of person that likes to have a friend or family with you, please bring them!

The Beach Auto Brokers full inventory of vehicles is available for you to look at and test drive.  Quality Care is the difference between buying the car you love and loving the car you bought. It is the commitment of Beach Auto Brokers is to provide you with the highest level of service and support possible.  Stop by today and let us help you find your next vehicle.

Buying New Verse Used The Beach Advantage Hampton Roads

Buying New Verse Used The Beach Advantage in  Hampton Roads

New cars often claim greater performance, fuel economy, comfort and space as well as an enhanced systems and new driver assistance technologies. The question is: Should consumers ignore the previous-generation model and pay thousands more for the new models? That’s what we’re here to help you to determine.

Budget: If you’re on a tight budget, then buying a used car gets you the most vehicle for the least amount of money. If you’re looking for common amenities, such as side impact airbags, automatic transmission, and four doors, you’re more likely to find more options when shopping used.

New Preowned Cars Hampton Roads

Appearance: High profile job? Clients to impress? If having the latest and greatest means making more money then you spent, you may have little choice but to buy new. On the other hand, can’t stand scratches and blemishes? Consider what a paint job would cost before you head to the new car lot.

Repairs: It’s true, when buying used, you don’t know how the previous owner cared for the vehicle. However, with car facts and diagnostics it is possible to look beyond the exterior and learn more about what’s going on beneath the hood. A used vehicle is likely to require maintenance and repairs sooner than a newer car, and most likely, won’t be covered under a warranty.

When buying new, it’s important to remember, new can break down too. While these repairs might be covered under warranty, the inconvenience may or may not include a rental car. When you get used, you gain the field-tested experience of previous owners.

Choice: Whether you’re looking for an Used SUV, midsized car, or truck, when buying used, you have several generations to choose from. However, if you’re tech savvy and looking for top of the class features, new will always win. State of the art technology features leave all of us in awe.

Reliability: These days the reliability and durability of vehicles is much greater, and the availability of warranties make buying a used car less of a gamble. Buying a car used allows a better overall picture of a cars long-term performance and user ratings.

How to Buy a Car With Not So Good Credit Apply Online!

Buying a car can be stressful for anyone. It is particularly stressful, however, for those with bad credit. They often wonder if they will be turned away immediately or if they will go through the process of purchasing a used car only to find that there is no payment plan that will work for them. Those with bad credit should not fear. There are options in Norfolk to find a used car for a reasonable price with payments that work for anyone.

Car Credit Hampton Roads

Online approval for financing is a great way for anyone to get started with their financing. Military personnel might love the convenience of the online application, but those who worry about their financing options can find quickly and easily that there truly are ways for them to get behind the wheel of the car they most desire.

Residents of Hampton Roads with less than stellar credit can use Beach Auto Brokers to find automobiles at varying prices. Some are priced low enough that many individuals can purchased them outright without the need for a payment plan. Trade-ins are valued highly as well, which can greatly help to reduce the price of any vehicle.

One of the best options for people with bad or no credit is online shopping. Hampton Roads residents do not need to drive around Norfolk looking for a used car that matches their needs and their price points. Instead, they can look at an online inventory to find exactly what cars are on the lot. Military members can used this online database while they are stationed in Norfolk or while they are away. Anyone can negotiate prices online as well, which also aids immensely in determining payment plans for those with poor credit.

A low credit score does not mean that an individual must live without a car. In fact, purchasing a car can help one to increase his or her credit score. Regular, timely payments reflect positively. This rebuilds credit and makes future purchases that much easier. Luckily, there are plenty of options for anyone who wishes to purchases a used car in Hampton Roads.

Welcome to our new blog!

If you are looking for a new to you used car, we have you covered.

Our Vehicle specials are updated regularly with great deals that are designed to help save you money. If you do not see a vehicle here that you are looking for, please contact us so that we may further assist you in the search for your perfect new vehicle.

Current pre-owned vehicle specials!

We also offer a wide range of car repairs and service updates including general repairs and maintenance, factory recalls and warranty service on all models. Whether you need an oil change, transmission service, brakes, or even a complete engine overhaul, we have you covered. Use our handy schedule service form to set up an appointment and one of our service advisors will contact you shortly.

If you have a specific question on anything, please use our handy contact us form and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.

Sincerely,
You’re local #1 dealer