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Buying a new car, it's exciting! And when that new car is a used car, there are steps to follow to make sure you're protecting your wallet, as well as buying the right car for you.

One of the most important steps is the test drive. Obviously, you want to see how the car performs.

But before you get behind the wheel of your potential new car, you want to make sure you can afford the vehicle. Sounds simple, we know. But it's easy to get caught up in new car fever!

So, get pre-approved financing first. Know what you can afford. Here at Joe Bowman Auto Plaza, we can help you with that. Or, you can talk to your bank or credit union.

Then run a vehicle history report to uncover any possible issues the vehicle may have had. Now that you've got those checked off your list, there are three must-do'...

It won't be long before Old Man Winter makes his appearance, wreaking havoc on both humans and the outdoors, and that includes your vehicle.

You already know that regular maintenance is one of the best ways to keep your car running smoothly in plunging temperatures. But cold weather has some sneaky ways of tearing away at your vehicle that you may not have thought of.

Here are some critical winter car care tips to get your car ready and keep it ready all winter long!

1. Making Your Car into Compost

If you live in a place with lots of trees, take care to clear them from your car! Twigs, old leaves, and other organic matter can cause the exterior of your car to deteriorate.

The air plenum near the windshield is a classic example. Leaves, twigs, and debris love to gather there. Got a sun roof...

Your teen driver is dreaming of a Mazarati for their first car and you're thinking more along the lines of a good 2nd hand used car. Ah, such is the life of a teenager!

Finding a used car that is reliable, dependable, and gets a thumbs up from your teen isn't easy. Fortunately, Joe Bowman Auto Plaza's Harrisonburg used cars can make the task much easier.

But what is the best type of pre owned car to buy for your teen? Here's what the experts say.

The Best Type of Used Car for Your Teen

The good news is that vehicles are much safer than when you were a newly minted driver. That's because crash safety standards and government laws are more stringent. You'll find this to be true especially if you buy a newer model vehicle because they have more safety features.

But to buy the...

Did you know that the average age of a car on the road is 11 years? Used cars are a valuable commodity, lasting years with proper care!

And with the price of new vehicles soaring, a good quality used car just makes sense. But remember, buying a car, new or used, is a complex process. It's important that you keep a level head and not buy your new car or truck based on excitement alone.

Why turn excitement to turn into buyer's remorse? So how can you keep that from happening? Here are our 5 tips for making a wise investment, one that pays you back for years to come.

1. Becoming Infatuated with a Particular Model

Forget about becoming infatuated with one single model. Take a wide-eyed approach. Decide in advance what you need and then work from there. Compare models and base your decisio...

Whether you buy a brand new Chevrolet or Cadillac or you buy a quality used vehicle from Joe Bowman Auto Plaza, here's something you may not know.

Our certified Chevrolet mechanics can service every vehicle we sell! Our mechanics are highly qualified with additional GM and Cadillac certifications, which requires that they must go through specific classes and training.

GM also updates our service team regularly on emerging issues, so they can stay ahead of the curve. So how does that help you if you've bought a used car from us?

Call it the trickle down effect, but knowledge is power. Whatever our techs learn about GM and Cadillac vehicles is very helpful in servicing all vehicles. It keeps our mechanics sharp, curious, and always searching for the right answers to mechanical challenges.

Ta...

Some good advice adages die hard. In the mechanical world, one of the biggest myths is that a vehicle needs to have the oil changed every 3,000 miles.

That WAS very good advice many years ago. But even the best of advice can become antiquated.

"There was a time when the 3,000 miles was a good guideline," says Philip Reed, a senior consumer advice editor for Edmunds.com. "But it's no longer true for any car bought in the last seven or eight years." 

If your used truck or car is older than that, you might want to stick to the 3,000 mile adage. Otherwise, the advice today is to follow your owner's manual.

But there's one caveat. You must determine your daily typical driving pattern. The Filter Manufacturers Council found that only about 20% of vehicles are driven under mild or norma...

Life gets busy and it's easy to take a well-running car or truck for granted. You've got the kids after school activities, work obligations, time to schedule with your family...the list is endless.

But we'd like to make a recommendation. Put your vehicle on your to-do list for regular maintenance! Here's why. The Car Care Council did a survey and found: 

• 25% of cars had low or dirty engine oil
• 18% needed new belts
• 13% had low or contaminated brake fluid
• 16% needed new windshield wipers
• 27% had low or contaminated washer fluid
• 18% had dirty air filters
• 18% had dirty air filters

An incredible 89% of the vehicles in the survey needed at least one service or repair. Each of the above are simple checks, many you can do yourself, and they are not expensive corrections.

Regular car mainte...

No one has to tell you that your car is an investment! That's why you want to do everything you can to protect and extend its life.

You've got to perform regular maintenance to keep your vehicle running smoothly. And if you want to keep it looking like new, you have to clean the interior and exterior.

What do the pros do? Here are 9 car care tips they swear by!

Wash Your Vehicle with the Right Suds

Don't assume that dishwashing liquid is the right cleaner for your car! Yes, it's a great degreaser for dishes, not for vehicles. Not only will it remove dirt, grease, and old wax, but it also sucks out the oils from your car's finish.

Using dishwashing liquid repeatedly will shorten the life of your car's paint job. Instead, use a cleaner formulated for washing vehicles. Check an auto parts sto...

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it should be a duck, right? Well, not always.

According to Carfax, mileage rollback, or the illegal act of changing the mileage readings on a vehicle to make it appear to have lower mileage, is one of the most frequent types of fraud in the used car selling process.

For example:

• Disconnecting or resetting the odometer
• Altering or changing the numbers
• Replacing the odometer without providing notice

Sneaky, huh? So how can you protect yourself from getting ripped off when you buy a car privately? Here are 7 ways to make a safe used car purchase.

7 Ways to Keep from Getting Ripped Off When Your Buy Privately

1. Compare Mileage Readings. The very first step to protecting yourself from odometer fraud is to compare the odome...

When you're ready to buy another car and you want that car to be a quality used vehicle, you've got plenty of options.

With only about 350 new car models entering the market every year, the used car market provides thousands of choices!

The bigger question is, "Which has the better value, buying from a private seller or from an auto dealership?"

It's a great question and there are pros and cons for each. Take a look.

Buying A Pre-Owned Car from A Private Seller

When you buy a used car privately, you'll likely pay less for the vehicle. That's because dealerships in Harrisonburg have more invested.

• Car dealers must cover the cost of reconditioning the vehicle
• Must pay for advertising
• Must pay a salesperson for a commission
• Dealership must pay the administrative costs related to the purc...

7 Great Reasons to Buy A Used Car in Harrisonburg

In a world where the norm is to buy new, new, new, you might wonder why anyone would choose to buy a used car, truck, or SUV.

In fact, the Harrisonburg used car market is huge! From private sellers to auto dealers with used car lots, there's no shortage of pre-owned vehicles to choose from.

But why buy pre-owned when a new car comes with a standard manufacturer's one-year warranty? And they have all those bells and whistles!

Here's Who Buys Used Cars and Why

For parents with a teen, buying a high mileage vehicle makes sense. There's no sense buying a brand new Grand Am or Chevy Silverado 1500 truck! That's money wasted. A quality used car with high mileage is the smart way to go.

If you're just starting out, renting an apartment, or saving ...

If your credit history is "bumpy" or you're recovering from a bad credit, you've no doubt seen ads like the one below.

"Bad credit? No Credit? No Problem!"

And it's true. You can buy a vehicle is your credit history has been rocky. The problem with these types of Harrisonburg auto loans is the interest rate. They're outrageous.

And that's the problem. High interest rate car loans make it difficult to build any equity, much less recover from a poor credit rating. Plus, some bad credit specialists will saddle you with a loan that's designed to fail, resulting in repossession of the vehicle.

Why? For the disreputable dealer, repos are a significant source of income.

Getting A Decent Car Loan When You Have A Bad Credit History

The first step in getting a good auto loan is to know your credit s...