One of the surest things we here at Charles Barker Pre-Owned know is that eventually all the new car technology we see on current model year cars will arrive in our lots once drivers in the Virginia Beach area look to trade up. That means we like to stay on top of the latest technological innovations, even if we are a used car dealership; it gives us a good look into the future.

With gas prices going up, drivers in the greater Virginia Beach area probably wouldn't think used SUV sales are on the rise. Most would say that more fuel-efficient used cars are increasing in popularity, and while it's true, Charles Barker Pre-Owned is here to tell you the same holds true with SUVs too.

Every year many parents in the Virginia Beach area have teenaged children who will soon be driving. It's a big step in both the child and parent's life, and aside from the safety and well-being of the new driver, cost is also an important factor as well. It's why Charles Barker Preowned recommends Forbes "Ten Best Used Cars For Teen Drivers," helping parents and teens find make an informed decision when looking at a car for the newest driver in the family.

Expressing hesitation towards purchasing a used car, be it for its dated looks or outside sources questioning their reliability, is something drivers in Virginia Beach have surely felt, or heard before. It's a fair argument, because used cars are subject to wear and tear from the amount of miles they might travel, but at Charles Barker Preowned, we're here to tell you that you don't need to worry about buying used, and Consumer Reports agrees.

Even if you bought your car used, you want it to sparkle like new, right? Alright, let's say that you're not the biggest fan of taking time out of your day simply to make your vehicle look good. Did you know that keeping your vehicles windows clean can be a matter of safety too? It's been proven that keeping your windows free of grime can increase both visibility and reaction time. And…

Lately, the Charles Barker Preowned blog has been filled with information about maintaining your vehicle and changing your oil. And while we stand by the information that we posted, we realized that we left out one factor when changing your oil that's important to consider. And that would be viscosity.

What exactly is motor oil viscosity? Think of it in terms of thickness or consistency; the thicker the oil, the higher the viscosity. In…

In the end, we all know that they wind up here on our lot at Charles Barker Preowned. But what about right after a vehicle is discontinued? It might surprise you to know that long after production is ended, many dealerships continue to sell new models. It makes perfect sense too. Why would they stop selling a perfectly good new car just because it's no longer being made? If anything that might spark an…

When we here at Charles Barker Preowned told you about why and when you should change your vehicle's oil and filters, we left one key part out. And that's exactly what your engine oil does. This is important to know mainly because it serves a critical function within your vehicle, and perhaps knowing what it does will inline you to bring it in to be serviced with us more often.

From the moment…

If there's one thing that we can safely say here at Charles Barker Preowned, it's that we about every vehicle that comes into our service center as though it were one of our own. That's why we're dedicated to keeping you informed regarding everything from simple maintenance to more complex car care and everything in between.

Today, we'd like to discuss a problem that plagues many drivers: Oil and filters…

A large amount of how well your vehicle performs on the road is subject to the condition of your tires, and we here at Charles Barker Preowned are here to explain.

There are two basic things to keep an eye on when checking out your tires. The first is how inflated they are. If your tires are under inflated, they'll require more force to more the vehicle, which results in lower fuel economy. On…