FIRST DELIVERED 2009 SUBARU IMPREZA STi! CONGRATULATIONS!

I would like to congratulate a current customer, Jay James of West Haven, for taking delivery of the 1st "all new" 2009 Subaru Impreza STi from Premier Subaru. Jay's new car has the BBS wheel package and is in Dark Gray Metallic. Jay traded his previous STi, a 2004 model in Silver, of which he took great care of. We are honored to continue to do business with Jay and wish him much enjoyment in his new car!

Subaru EPA Fuel Ratings

EPA FUEL RATINGS:

Drivers today are very concerned about gas mileage. Potential buyers of our 2008 models may question the lower EPA fuel estimates as compared to the 2007 models. The following information can explain this:

For years now, the EPA has received negative feedback regarding their fuel economy estimates. Consumers complained the EPA fuel estimates were not reflective of real-life fuel economy. In response, the EPA changed how they determine fuel economy estimates, beginning with the 2008 models. As a result, most 2008 models have similar of lower EPA fuel estimates than the same 2007 model. While certain models might not have had any significant changes, the difference stems from how the EPA now develops their fuel economy estimates.

There are many ways to help get better gas mileage right away:

• Follow the recommended maintenance schedule. A vehicle that is well maintained operates with a greater efficiency.
• Keep tires properly inflated. Underinflated tires require more energy to roll, which translates into more frequent fill ups.
• Take a load off! Heavier vehicles require more energy to move, so, carrying around excess weight also effects mileage.
• Don't drive aggressively. Speeding, quick accerleration, and hard braking all contribute to a decrease in fuel economy.
• Aviod excess idling. It is more effecient to turn the engine off while waiting and then restart the car.
• Combine errands. Several short trips all begun with a cold start can use as much fuel as a single, longer trip that covers that same distance.

If you have any questions regarding fuel economy, or, the operation of your Subaru, feel free to contact me.

Car Seat Installation Pointers

Eighty percent of kids riding in car safety seats are at risk because they are not buckled in correctly. Are yours?
Here are a few pointers for using children’s car safety seats.
The safest place for all children to ride is in the back seat.
An infant in a rear-facing seat should NEVER be placed in the front seat of a vehicle that has a passenger air bag.
If an older child must ride in the front seat, move back the seat as far as possible, buckle the child properly, and make sure he or she stays in the proper position at all times.
Check your safety seat instructions to ensure your child is facing the correct way for his or her weight, height, and age.
Make sure your child is not undersized or oversized for the seat.
Harnesses should fit snugly against your child’s body. Check the car safety seat instructions for how to adjust the straps.
Make sure your car safety seat has not been recalled. Call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Auto Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236 for information on recalled seats.
Check with a certified Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Technician to be sure you’re using your child’s car safety seat correctly. Find one by calling the NHTSA at (888) 327-4236 or visiting www.seatcheck.org.
See the brochure Car Safety Seats: A Guide for Families, available at www.aap.org.

We CAN Service the OTHER car in your driveway!

We are frequently asked by our customers if we work on vehicles other than Subarus. Well, the answer is “YES”.

Our Service Department is certified by AAA as an Approved Auto Repair Establishment. This carries beyond Subarus to include all brands of vehicles. In addition to being fully Subaru Certified, our Technicians are certified by Honda, Toyota, Ford and even Mercedes-Benz. Our tools and equipment are designed to support the maintenance needs of all vehicles. In addition, our Subaru Service Loaner Fleet and Customer Shuttle Service are available to you even for the non-Subaru vehicles you may own. We consistently shop our labor prices to ensure that they are competitive for both Subaru and non-Subaru vehicles. If you have any questions, or service maintenance needs, please contact Dennis Cullen, our Service Director, or myself at 1(800) 411-4551. Thank you again for doing business with us.

Those Letters You Receive About Your "Warranty Almost Running Out"

Good day! I wanted to reiterate a story we originally purchased in our August issue of our monthly newsletter distributed to our clients and friends. We still receive news from customers who have received post cards AND phone calls proclaiming the “end of their warranty period” and that “you have this one last opportunity to extend your warranty”. The unfortunate thing is that these post cards are being sent to consumers throughout the state by “unknown” warranty companies, hoping to prompt you to purchase an “extended warranty” from them. This is very similar to the “fishing” that some have done on the Internet through SPAM e-mails. The important thing to remember is: these companies do not know if your warranty is expiring or not. All they do is buy vehicle registration records and send you a post card that is “vague enough” to completely skirt the issue – often times, this makes the card seem legitimate to the recipient. I have written to the office of the Attorney General requesting that his office open a file on this matter (of which they have). If you have received such a postcard or have one in your possession, please forward to me so that I can provide it to the Attorney General’s office. These are unknown warranty companies who provide, at best, minimal warranty coverage for your vehicle. Often times, these “unknown companies” will only pay for a repair when the use of used parts or aftermarket parts is incorporated. We refuse to engage these types of repairs, since the customer is the ultimate loser in this scenario. Only a franchised Subaru dealer can offer you extended warranty coverage through Subaru of America. I am happy to personally answer any questions you may have regarding warranty coverage.

Welcome To My Blog!

Welcome!
After figuring out "what the heck" a blog was a couple of years ago, I decided to jump in and write one. On a day to day basis, I interact with customers, vendors, Subaru of America, State Representatives and others that pass on some valuable information. Well, rather than attempt to keep that information in my head, I figured "why not share it with our stakeholders?". Well, share, I shall.

I also want to encourage you to post your questions and thoughts. Thanks to the hard work of Brian (Edward) Canell, we do a monthly newsletter that reaches almost 5,500 households. (that's more than some of the local Shoreline newspapers!). But, things come up from time to time that I thought would really be beneficial for you.

So, let's BLOG on!

Bob