Ask Mike Blog

Spend Time, Not Money

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Give the Gift of Memories

Who doesn’t love coming home to a tree full of presents? There’s a special kind of mystery inside carefully wrapped boxes with bows on top. The labels may say ‘from Santa’ but we’re pretty sure all those mythical elves living in the North Pole are actually mom, dad, your brother and your sister, your neighbors and your friends. Presents are great but what we love most at Christmas is the loving warmth and security of our family and friends.

This Christmas, instead of spending money, think about spending time. Without the pressure of searching for the extra special, perfect gift and stressing over how much money is too much or too little, the holidays can again become something to treasure and look forward to rather than just a strain on your brain and bank account.

There’s just as many options for how to spend your time as there are to spend cash on. If you’re a fan of the outdoors, consider a winter hike or ice skating or visiting a light display or a Christmas Town. Hampton Roads has plenty of trails throughout First Landing State Park for the hikers in the family. Glittering light displays that dazzle all ages can be found at the Virginia Beach Boardwalk and the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. Christmas Towns are perfect for families with children! Nauticus in Norfolk puts on Charles Dickens’ Christmas Towne for the month of December, and Busch Gardens Christmas Town even has rides for the bigger kids (and adventurous adults).

If you’re a little bit more of a homebody or just prefer staying warm and cozy instead of braving the cold, there’s more than a few activities for you and your loved ones, too. Consider hosting some friendly competitions — best cookie, most elaborate gingerbread house, tackiest homemade sweater. Treat it like the Olympics with cookie medals! Adults will enjoy the competition, and kids will love the abundance of baked goods (and will have a blast decorating those homemade sweaters). Enjoy a memorable Christmas.

Years and years down the road, you’ll cherish that ridiculously tacky homemade sweater, the family hike and winning the golden gingerbread award at your own personal Winter Olympics? Memories are forever, enjoy this holiday season with the ones you love 🙂 Merry Christmas!

TM Auto Wholesalers

Happy Holidays ~ Mike Love and the entire Love Family!

 

To Grandmother’s House We Go

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Travel In Comfort This Holiday Season

The autumn chill has settled and the leaves are changing, bright pops of reds and oranges along the highways. Holidays are just around the corner, and we can all look forward to spending time in our cars, whether it be a short trip to the grocery store for extra stuffing or a long drive to Grandma’s house. The journey is the destination, as they say, and it’s important to keep comfort in mind during these long hours in the car.

 

Of course, comfort means different things to different people. When you’re looking for a new vehicle, it’s important to keep your specific needs in mind. For example, if you’re headed across state lines with four kids and a dog in tow, your first concern is space and durability. Are you looking for an SUV or a minivan? Would you prefer easy to clean leather seats? Then again, if your family goes all out on decorations, you might consider something with room to store your lights, trees, and figurines, like a pickup truck. But what if you’re looking forward to a romantic holiday of two? Something smaller and sportier might suit your needs. You can keep costs down on your get-away by going for a fuel-efficient option, too.

With your specific needs in consideration, it’s time to narrow down what exactly you’re looking for in a car — and how much you can afford. Start by creating a checklist of features you prioritize in a vehicle and narrow down your options from there.

Some things to consider while creating this list might be:

  • Safety Features 
  • 4WD, All-Wheel Drive, 2WD
  • Wheel Base / Leg Room
  • Luxury / Comfort
  • Towing Capacity
  • Fuel Efficiency
  • Reliability
  • Maintenance Costs
  • Price

 

Once you have your ‘Must Haves’ and a solid budget, it’s time to start looking at cars! Check out TM Auto’s inventory online, and feel free to call 757-560-4252 and ask for Mike Love. I’ll be happy to answer your questions and guide you through your next car purchase.  

The Big Gift

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THE BIG GIFT!

Is this the year? You know… for your teen’s BIG GIFT! That long awaited iconic symbol of freedom, sovereignty, and coolness. The singular most important possession that let’s everyone, everywhere know with absolute certainty, “I’m officially grown up.” This gift of all gifts represents the next chapter in your child’s life as well as your trust in them. It is the time-honored ticket to ride, their first car!

Like all astute parents and shoppers, you have questions… lots of questions. At the top of the list may be whether to buy new, used, or to pass down the family car. Well, rest assured that new, used, big or small, it’s going to be a hit. Your decision ultimately comes down to what makes the most sense.

The obvious choice is simply to pass down the family car. It’s often paid for and thoroughly road tested. When it comes to repairs and safety, nothing provides more peace of mind than knowing your car’s service record. It’s also likely to generate lower insurance premiums. There are plenty of good reasons to pass down the family car however; there are some “Not so good reasons” too. It’s a good idea to consider modern safety features such as side-curtain airbags, blind-spot indicators, backup cameras, and forward- and rear- collision alerts which are all good for new drivers. Passing down the family car makes sense as long as it’s safe and reliable.

New cars are also a strong consideration. The most up-to-date safety features and technology often come standard. Those with a good reliability record will need few or no repairs for at least the first three years of ownership. This means peace of mind, less headaches, and little or no maintenance costs. A new car is an easy sell as long as cost is not high on your list of concerns.  

Used cars are also a great choice. Affordable (not cheap) used automobiles are often the best way to go for teens and parents shopping for a starter vehicle. Buying the newest used car possible will likely get you the most up-to-date safety features available for your money. This is very important for novice drivers. By adding a few dollars for a good reliability record, you’ll have less repair costs and greater peace of mind. Check the CARFAX before buying to see it’s history. Small sedans and hatchbacks from mainstream brands, or even better, midsized sedans are great choices for fuel economy and lower insurance premiums.

This opportunity comes but once in a lifetime folks. Buy smart, enjoy the moment, and have a wonderful holiday! Find more articles on ASK MIKE’S blog here at www.tmautova.com and please share! Feel free to call or text (757) 560-4252 and ask for Mike Love. I’ll be happy to answer your questions and assist you with purchasing your next car, truck, or SUV.