Tobacco Avenue

Unlike the claims made in the automobile dealership’s television commercials, a recent 45-minute trip south to Colonial Honda was not worth the while of a local man who took the drive.

“The drive down [Interstate] 95 was like it always is - past the Philip Morris cigarette tower, through Chesterfield, nothing too special,” said Lionel Kornblith, a Henrico County resident whose while was not honored, as he is still in the market for a new four-door sedan.  “The deals were okay, I guess, but shopping at the much-closer West Broad or Pearson Honda could’ve easily been worth the drive - and my while.”

The non while-worthy excursion was planned after Kornblith’s viewing of a regularly-played TV advertisement for Colonial Honda, which pitches an inventory of more than 200 new and pre-owned vehicles - but only if people take the rather long drive down I-95 to an exit just miles before Colonial Heights. 

Though the commercials vary depending on monthly specials and various factory-to-dealer incentives, at the conclusion of every 30-second spot viewers are told by a car salesman that, if “you take the drive, we’ll make it worth your while.”

For Kornblith - who had his eyes on the featured lease of a 2008 Accord at $259 per month for 36 months with $2,499 due at signing - that bold claim wasn’t the case. 

“Whether my while’s worth was won really whittles down to whether the drive was worth it, which in this situation, it was not whatsoever,” he said. 

“Whirlwind, whippet, whelk, wheat, wheelchair, whistle,” Kornblith added.