Chesapeake Auto Repair

Lease Or Buy?   Lease? Or buy? These are the options for Chesapeake car financing. It’s always a tough question for Chesapeake car owners. But here is some info that’ll help you make an informed decision. If you buy, you’ll pay the full cost of the car, with maybe an initial down payment, then monthly payments on the balance that pays down the loan principal, and the finance charge. Chesapeake car owners who lease, finance the portion of the cost of the car that’s used up during the term of the lease. You’ll pay some money up front; fees, security deposit, first month’s payment and maybe a capital reduction. The monthly payments include a depreciation cost and a finance charge. When the lease is up, you return the car to your local Chesapeake area dealership.  So how do Chesapeake car owners decide? First, how much do you have for a down payment? A lease usually requires a  ... read more

Recommended Service Intervals At West Service Center, Inc.   Most people in the Chesapeake area are aware that automotive manufacturers have recommended service intervals. Following recommended service intervals is very important. The engineers that design our vehicles have tested the various systems and components to meet durability and safety standards. Some of these standards are self-imposed and others, like those for emissions components, are government mandated for the areas around Portsmouth, Norfolk and Suffolk in Virginia. The maintenance schedules are designed to achieve the standards. Think of the benefits of following recommended intervals as falling into three general categories: Protection, Efficiency and Safety.Protection. Let’s start with motor oil. First of all, the engineers recommend a particular weight and type of motor oil for your van. All of their oil change recommend ... read more

Is Your Chesapeake Driving Severe?   People near Chesapeake Virginia often ask West Service Center, Inc. how often they should have a particular service done. It’s a great thing to ask. You can look at your owner’s manual, or have your Chesapeake Virginia service advisor at West Service Center, Inc. look up your vehicle in a service database. What you find is often a surprise to people – there are actually two service schedules. One is the regular schedule and the other is the severe service schedule. Service intervals are shorter on the severe service schedule. When asked, most folks in Chesapeake Virginia will say that their driving is normal and that the ‘regular’ schedule probably applies to them. ‘Severe service’ sounds pretty extreme – ‘I don’t drive like that’. Well, here is what the manufacturers say constitutes severe driving conditions; you can draw your own conclusions. If t ... read more

Protecting Your van From Theft In Chesapeake Virginia   Every car in Chesapeake Virginia is at risk for theft. So it’s up to us to make our cars a less appealing target and more of a challenge – hopefully sending potential thieves to look elsewhere. The National Insurance Crime Bureau recommends a layered approach to protecting vehicles: Common sense Visible and audible devices Immobilizing devices Tracking devices Let’s review each of these. First, common sense: you would be surprised how many vehicles are stolen from Chesapeake Virginia where the keys were left in the ignition with the doors unlocked. Always take your keys, and lock the doors. In fact, in some places it’s against the law to leave a vehicle unattended with the keys in the ignition. And don’t leave spare keys in the car or hide them outside – because a thief will find them. Try to park in well-lit areas that have ... read more