The All New 2013 Subaru Legacy SPORT!

I am pleased to announce the mid-year introduction of the new 2013 Subaru Legacy 2.5i SPORT!  This mid-model year addition offers an attractive upgrade in appearance and value to the Legacy 2.5i Premium.

The Legacy 2.5i SPORT equipment includes larger 18" alloy wheels with a unique design, 225/45 R18 V rated all season tires, the all weather package, aluminum alloy pedal covers, fog lights with chrome trim rings, power moonroof, carbon fiber patterned interior trim, and black cloth upholstery with a distinctive silver stitching.

The Legacy 2.5i SPORT has a total retail value of $25,345.  There is a special package discount of $550 that results in a net MSRP of only $24,795!  This is only $505 more than a Legacy 2.5i Premium with the all weather package and power moonroof, providing an outstanding value and performance package.

Please see the 2013 Subaru Legacy 2.5i SPORT at Premier Subaru in Branford, Connecticut today.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a consumer safety advisory to alert vehicle owners and repair professionals to the dangers of counterfeit air bags.

 

NHTSA has become aware of a problem involving the sale of counterfeit air bags for use as replacement parts in vehicles that have been involved in a crash. While these air bags look nearly identical to certified, original equipment parts—including bearing the insignia and branding of major automakers—NHTSA testing showed  the airbags often malfunctioned or deployed dangerously.

 

NHTSA is not aware of any deaths or injuries connected to counterfeit air bags. 

 

Subaru vehicles are no more likely to experience counterfeit airbags than any other make’s.

  

To assist owners Subaru will direct customers to their corporate customer service hotline (i.e. CDS: 1-800-SUBARU3 or 1-800-782-2783) rather than their local dealer.   Likewise, Subaru dealers should direct concerned customers to the CDS hotline.  The CDS representative will  assist the customer in determining if a dealer inspection and/or air bag replacement is necessary.

 

In the near future, Subaru dealers will be provided with a specific inspection protocol for vehicles that may be at risk.

 

Key Points

·         NHTSA believes that consumers could be at risk if their vehicle’s air bag has been replaced within the past 3 years.  Vehicles  repaired at an independent body shop on behalf of a new vehicle dealer  may also be considered at risk.

  

·         It has been reported that some independent body shops provided inaccurate documentation to the insurance company that a genuine OEM airbag was installed when, in reality, a counterfeit one was used instead.  Thus, the dealer cannot simply rely on the documentation the body shop provides to verify that a genuine OEM replacement bag was used.  The airbags need to be inspected.

 

·         According to NHTSA, the supplemental restraint system fault detection system/warning lamp may have been deceived/deactivated using resistors or diodes.  Therefore, SSM3 (or other diagnostic equipment) CANNOT be used to reliably determine whether the air bag installed on a vehicle is counterfeit.  Again, the airbags need to be inspected.

 

·         If the customer purchased the vehicle used and  does not know the vehicle’s history, NHTSA suggests verification by commercial Web-based service (e.g. CARFAX®, AutoCheck®, etc.) to see if vehicle was involved in a crash where the air bags deployed. NOTE: Commercial vehicle history reports are good indicators of a vehicle’s history but may not capture all crashes.

 

·         NHTSA believes customers should bear the costs of inspection and/or air bag replacement.  If a customer is unwilling or cannot bear the cost, NHTSA recommends, as one option, that the customer speak with their insurance company.

 

·         NHTSA strongly advises technicians NOT to electrically probe counterfeit air bag connecting terminals because of the risk of detonation and possible serious injury.

  

·         While the scope of NHTSA’s announcement focuses on frontal (driver- and front passenger-) air bags, dealer inspection and/or replacement should include ALL air bags (as necessary), including knee, seat-mounted side, and roof-mounted curtain air bags to determine if they are counterfeit.

 

Premier KIA services ALL BRANDS TOO!

Due to our outstanding staff, Premier KIA has received  a number of really positive customer reviews for our service.  We appreciate that.  One of the advantages of Premier KIA is also our service technical staff's ability to service "all brands" of vehicles.  We have the tools and the skills.  Now, the advantage to our clients is simple - they already appreciate our service on their KIA vehicles and, now, they no longer have to search for an "unknown" repair facility for the "other car" in their driveway!

This just isn't a "saying" but, is put to use every day.  Plus, Premier KIA has studied the market to ensure that we are the most competitive - all while bringing you guaranteed repairs from an organization that you trust.  So, try us out for the "other car" in your driveway today.  As a matter of fact, we will do that first oil change for only $14.98 + tax - and, that includes a complimentary multi-point inspection and exterior car wash!

It is time to get back to the blog.  For some odd reason, I stopped publishing to this blog. Well, motivation from the recent AutoCon 2012 inspired me to start again.  I have altered the blog, now that we have a new KIA store as a part of our group, and will continue to publish information that I believe will be important to our clients and stakeholders at large.

This business has been changing at the speed of light.  More changes over the last two years than I have seen in the previous 10.  Tons of new technology and, more importantly, customers that have access to all of the information needed to make an educated decision - that is a good thing!