Happy Halloween some more...

Sweet video!!

The all new 750i with XDrive

The corporate executives living in the snow belt no longer have to worry about hauling their BMW 750i through inclement weather thanks to BMW making Xdrive an available option on the redesigned 7-series!! This vehicle is truly a work of art with the the world's best engineers coming together to make this the true Ultimate Driving Machine.

The new 750i comes standard with a 4.4L V8 engine with Twin-turbo technology!! This makes this engine put out 400hp and an astonishing 450lbs torque!! Thanks to BMW's usage of twin-turbos there is none of that acceleration lag that is usually associated with turbo engines.

The styling of the new BMW is very elegant without being too assuming and has won over many critics. With corona rings outlining the HID headlights everyone will know you're driving a BMW. The lucky few will get to catch a ride in the backseat of this ultimate luxury vehicle. Not only is this car a perfect drivers machine but it doesn't skimp on the amenities for those who are going along for the ride. There is enough room in the backseat for adults to stretch out and relax during a long trip. Some executive types may even prefer to opt for the extended length 7-series which is dubbed the 750Li. This vehicle has enough room in the backseat to prepare for a meeting while you are chauffeured around.

This German sedan is meant to be exclusive and therefore makes no compromises in any form. It is 100% BMW and if you are able to drive one you will soon realize why that is such a good thing.

Happy Halloween

New Ford Commercial:






















































Did I get you??????

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM PRESTON SHARON!!!!!!!!!

Getting to Know You

Here we are again. Another week, another employee. This week I got the pleasure of sitting down with Eddie Pagley, the Finance Manager here at Toyota of Boardman, for a few brief moments. Continue reading as I get to know Mr. Pagley a little bit better...

Me: "Hey Eddie! What is your full name?"

EP: "Edward James Pagley"

Me: "Do you have any nicknames?"

EP: "Eddie, Pags"

Me: "When is your birthday?"

EP: "September 5, 1980"

Me: "Where is your hometown?"

EP: "New Castle, PA"

Me: "How long have you been in the car business?"

EP: "3 ½ years"

Me: "What is your favorite Toyota and why?"

EP: "The Avalon because of the way they look, the way they drive and it’s comfortable."

Me: "Who are your favorite sports teams?"

EP: "Notre Dame, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Redskins and Duke."

Me: "When you were a little kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?"

EP: "A professional athlete."

Me: "What is your biggest pet peeve?"

EP: "Messiness."

Me: "If you hit the lottery, what would you spend the money on?"

EP: "A car, a house and a boat."

Me: "What's the best concert you’ve ever been to?"

EP: "Ozzfest."

Me: "What’s your idea of an ideal vacation?"

EP: "The beach; sun, sand and beer!"

Me: "Why should people come to Toyota of Boardman?"

EP: "Because of our Lifetime Warranty and superior customer service."

The Wheel Deal

The vehicle I'm referring to as the wheel deal is none other then the Corolla S. I've always like the look of the S model and never really took a serious look at what it has to offer. Here is a mid-sized sedan that offers great fuel economy, multiple safety features, reliability (espcially a new one bought from Preston Toyota because it comes with a Lifetime Warranty), and interior/exterior options that give the Corolla sporty look. The S comes equipped with an underground body kit, front spoiler, rear spoiler, sunroof, fog lights, alloy wheels and that's just the exterior. Some interior options that come on the Corolla S is the dark colored interior, upgraded sound system including a 6 disk cd changer, steering wheel controls, bluetooth, and satellite radio. I recently had a customer come and look at the corolla S and one important feature for her was to have enough room in the back for her daughters car seat. Needless to say she was very pleased with how much room there was for it being a midsized sedan and drove the car home that day.

Along with other major manufactorers, GMC is playing quite a large part in helping out the consumer during these economic times. There is a two part option as usual between financing and cash back on the Sierra 1500 Extended Cab and Crew Cab. There is the choice of 0% for up to 60 months or up to $6000 customer cash back! You could be driving a brand new GMC truck at an incredible rate...or even more incredible price. Other vehicles like the Acadia, Yukon, and Canyon are also offering the same incredible rate with comparable cash back offers. Maybe you haven't considered GMC in the past and in that case all you can do is try it. I promise you once you drive these new trucks and read the consumer reviews, you will understand what work GMC puts into these trucks.

Great advertising

Everyone who watches even the smallest amount of TV has had to have seen at least one of Toyota's new commercials. I mean these things are on every channel it seems, airing all throughout the day, not just in the afternoon when no one watches TV, like some commercials do. Nonetheless, I'm sure you've seen at least one, and you have to agree with me in that they're quite amusing!

Every time I see the commercial about the great gas mileage as they drive around in their Corolla trying to catch their runaway dog, it makes me laugh. Its funny to me because that is exactly what my dog would do! LOL. Run away when he gets out, but stay somewhere in the neighborhood so that you can still track him down, and once you do, he'll look at you like he's ready to give in, then dart in the other direction! Haha. But that's not the only reason it makes me laugh. When the people in the commercial squeeze the dog's squeaky toy, my dog's ears perk up and he thinks the TV is trying to play with him!! LOL. He runs up to it and stares at it thinking it's about to play fetch with him. Then, when the dog shows up on screen in the commercial, he thinks its a real dog and starts barking and going nuts over it! And then, when the dog runs off-screen, he follows it, all the way past the TV, like the dog in the commercial is running away. He even goes behind the TV, trying to find where the dog went! Haha. Gotta love animals, right?

Another commercial that gets a chuckle out of me every time is the one where there is a father and a son in a Camry SE, going through an automatic car wash. As the father goes to press the button for the cheapest wash, the son in the back seat clears his throat and says no to the father, and does so until he gets the best wash available. Then, kicks his foot up on the seat to relax. The whole storyline being that with as dependable Toyota vehicles are, you may end up giving the car to a young one down the road. Take a look, see if they get a smile out of you!

Honda CR-Z Hybrid Sports Coupe

Staying in line with the ever popular green movement, Honda introduces its first ever hybrid sports coupe concept slated to hit stores late 2010. With photos and press just starting to hit the Internet this car looks to be the first vehicle available in the American market with the soul of a sports car and the carbon footprint of a prius! Honda has been long known for its technological innovations and extreme quality and this new design is no exception. You don't have to take my word for it though. Honda recently added a CR-Z page to its website in anticipation of this years later release. "Premiering at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, the latest CR-Z concept provided a glimpse at Honda's first sporty hybrid coupe, which will be formally unveiled in production form at Detroit's North American International Auto Show in January 2010. The 2-seat CR-Z combines futuristic styling, driving enjoyment and the latest in Honda hybrid technology. As striking as the car's sleek lines are, it's the environmental performance under the hood that sets it apart. Due to hit the streets in the second half of 2010, the CR-Z is that place in the universe where sport and efficiency meet." If the production model looks anything like these photos we all have something to be really excited about! Finally a vehicle that gear heads and the environmentally conscious can both love. Most importantly though, as a dealer, we are looking for your feedback. Do you think there is a place in the market for a hybrid sports car? With so many choices available to todays consumer and more and more hybrid models becoming available is this something that the sports car minded customer may consider when making a new vehicle purchase? As always, we look forward to your feedback!

Weekend Getaway

So it was that time again, it was the time when all the guys were away from their girlfriends for one night....it was guys night out! After High school and college it becomes harder and harder to have a night where its just you and all of your friends going out having a good time. I am fortunate to have a good group of friends that have been with me basically my whole life so we all really look forward to these nights. Since we were all going to be hitting up the bars and clubs in Pittsburgh we wanted to make sure to have one designated driver. My friend (and Internet Director) Bobby decided to take care of that problem and offer not to drink for the night. We really didn't want to have to make another person not drink but there were 7 of us! How were we going to find a legal and comfortable way to make it to Pittsburgh? Turns out the Honda Pilot Touring was the perfect answer.

If you're not familiar with the Honda product line and some of their recent redesigns then setting foot inside a Honda Pilot Touring might just blow you away. Not only does it come standard with 3rd row seating, but with high grade leather, a navigation system, and a top of the line sound system, the Pilot touring makes traveling fun. Even the two people in the back rows had plenty of leg room to sit back relax and enjoy the ride. The sound system was perfect. The Pilot has two speakers in the very back for the rear passengers to make sure they aren't just spectators on everyone's fun. The built in navigation system is so easy to use and gives the driver turn by turn audible directions but continues to play the music for the second and third rows!!

It's obvious by now that we had a great night out and the smooth ride of the Pilot helped ease us all to sleep on the way home. After a long night out dealing with all of us guys trying to recapture past experiences, I'm sure Bobby was thankful for the calming effect of the Pilot's jitter free ride.

Random Acts of Prius

So, being a Facebook junkie, it isn`t surprising that I found a really cool thing Toyota is doing. Richt now, if you go to the Toyota Prius page, you`ll see they`ve started a program called Random Acts of Prius. The idea is to do little acts of "kindness" for the environment. With every act you do you improve your rank on the site.

You start as an Eco Connoisseur and progress to a Hyper- Miler. As of today over 3500 Random Acts of Prius have been completed. Become of a fan of the Pruis on Facebook, and see what you can do to improve your day, your commute, or help someone in need. The way I see it Toyota is doing their part, maybe it`s time you start to do yours!

http://www.facebook.com/prius?ref=search&sid=503728130.579084895..1&v=app_139815434211

Satisfaction, Guaranteed

I know at some point we all have had the joy of watching a lovely infomercial. Usually, the product retails for around $19.99 and they send you 4 of them. Here's the best part, they are backed by a 30 "risk free" trial period. Now, in my opinion, a 30 day risk free period isn't something that really catches my eye on a $20 dollar product. However, there is one risk free trial period that seriously caught my attention, and that the 60 day satisfaction guarantee that General Motors puts on everyone of their new vehicles. The policy is simply this, buy a new GM vehicle and if you don't love it after 30 days, you have another 30 days to bring it back at no extra cost to you. Now this is no guarantee on some small little gadget. This guarantee is placed on a new vehicle that one will spend thousands of dollars on. When investing that much money into something, no matter what it is, isn't it nice to have the piece of mind knowing that if for some reason you no longer are satisfied with your vehicle you have the option to bring it back.

Luxury that you can afford

I have been around the car business my whole life. From the time that my grandfather sold Cadillacs to working for my father at Preston Sharon, it is safe to say that I have seen a lot of vehicles. So it is hard for me to be excited over any type of car. That all changed when Hyundai released the Genesis 4.6. Watch the video below to be very impressed with what this vehicle has to offer compared to the Lexus and Mercedes. What is even more impressive? Motor Trend just conducted a long term test after seven months and 10,684 miles in service. Here are the results. If you ask me, Hyundai breaks the mold when it comes to luxury car owners subjecting themselves to hefty maintenance costs.

• Months/Miles in service 7/10,684


• Avg econ/CO2 18.8 mpg/1.03 lb/mi


• Unresolved problems NONE


• Maintenance cost $42.87 (oil change/inspection/rotate tires)


• Normal-wear cost $0

Set an appointment to drive one today with Bill Grady!!! 1-888-259-7566

New!! Lease turn in center

The time has finally come. You have enjoyed your current vehicle for some time now, but your lease is ready to expire. What do you do? I'm sure you or someone you know is either dealing with this problem now or has had to at some other point in time. That's why we created this new service! Preston Honda is proud to introduce our new Lease turn in center! There are many questions you have to ask yourself at the end of a lease turn in. Questions like...Where do I bring my car? I want out of my lease, but its not quite expired, what can I do? Will I owe any money on my lease turn in? What other makes and models might be available to me that have current lease specials on them? Im over my mileage, what do I do next? I really like my car, can I buy out my current lease? And so on and so forth. Thats why we created this service. Not only to help our current lease customers at lease end, but to help all people who may be dealing with a lease turn in of any kind. We can accept your lease at turn in time no matter what make and model your driving! So, feel free to take advantage of our new service. You can let us know of your situation on our easy to navigate website at http://tiny.cc/fkdw5 Simply fill out the contact information on the right hand side, and you will be contacted by one of our lease turn in specialists whose job it is to make this transaction easy and convenient. Lease turn in time shouldnt be stressful, but rather a time to reassess your current vehicle situation and let the pros at Preston Honda help you find the perfect new vehicle to meet your needs and your budget!

Getting to Know You

It's time to meet the staff here at Toyota of Boardman. Every week I'll be sitting down for a little one-on-one time with each member of our sales team for you to be able to get to know us a little better. This week we have the pleasure of meeting the one-and-only Kevin Burick. Take a look while we step into Kevin's world...

Me: "Hey Kevin! Let's start out with a little basic info. What is your full name?"

KB: "Kevin John Burick"

Me: "Do you have any nicknames?"

KB: "Zeke"

Me: "What is your birthday?"

KB: "June 5, 1965"

Me: "Where is your hometown?"

KB: "New Castle, PA"

Me: "How long have you been in the car business?"

KB: "12 years"

Me: "What is your favorite Toyota and why?"

KB: "The 2010 Prius because it has the latest technology and gets 50 mpg. Great value for the money!"

Me: "If you could visit any country in the world where would you go and why?"

KB: "England because there is a lot of history, tourism, and I like the way they talk."

Me: "What is your favorite ring tone that you have downloaded on your cell phone?"

KB: "'Summertime' by the Fresh Prince aka Will Smith"

Me: "When you were a little kid what did you want to be when you grew up?"

KB: "Truck driver. I thought it would be exciting to see the country, like a big adventure."

Me: "What is your biggest pet peeve?"

KB: "People who can’t communicate and extremely slow drivers."

Me: "If you hit the lottery, what would you spend the money on?"

KB: "I’d help out a lot of unfortunate people, pay off all of my family’s debts, and then I’d buy a new house."

Me: "Who is your favorite music group?"

KB: "The Pet Shop Boys"

Me: "Who is that?!"

KB: "It’s a group from England! They had their biggest song called 'West End Girls' in 1985."

Me: "Who do people tell you that you most resemble?"

KB: "Dan Akroyd and when I was younger, Tom Hanks."

Me: "What makes you a great salesman?"

KB: "I’m down-to-earth, easy to deal with, and a no-nonsense kind of guy. Woo!"

2010 4Runner = WOW

Does anyone ever have a day off, and know that there is one simple thing that they're supposed to do, but completely forget to do it?! Yea, I did that this past Friday. - I totally forgot to BLOG!!! So now, today is my make-up for that, and although this post isn't on my normal posting day, it will still be just as juicy!!

This week I will tell you guys a little bit about the all new 2010 Toyota 4Runner. Man is this thing hardcore! With a new body style, and some interior features to enhance the perception, SUV-interested buyers are going to want to knock down our doors once these things come in. Bold distinctive styling, a heavy duty frame, and independent front and rear suspension is just the beginning of what you will notice about the new body style. Under the hood, you have something that no other competitor offers; dual independent VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence), controlling the intake and exhaust independently of each other, thus allowing more air flow for more power, all the while improving fuel economy!!

And of course, the Toyota standard, Star Safety System with ABS, Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, and Brake assist. That, along with high strength steel construction, rust protection with anti-chip paint, and side impact beams make this vehicle one of the most reliable, safest SUV's out there.

A few other added features include a standard rear spoiler. But wait, this isn't just any regular spoiler, not only does it help to keep the rear window clear and reduce coefficient of drag, it has a rear windshield wiper hidden up inside the spoiler, for a clean look and reduced chance of damage from a carwash or while off-road. Sticking with the back end of the vehicle, it has an easy-to-operate tailgate, and a rear window with integrated one-touch up-down operation and jam protection. Something new on this 4Runner is that they've gotten rid of the tailgate power-close-assist. However, this new door, isn't nearly as tough to open or close so it isn't even needed. Furthermore, the speaker system now offers a "party mode" to concentrate the sound to the rear speakers located inside the tailgate. Also, a totally new feature is the innovative sliding rear deck. This versatile feature can hold up to 400 lbs. and is good for loading and hauling cargo, or even tailgating in style.

The new 2010 4Runner has an enhanced exceptional ground clearance of 9 to 9.6 inches, with a water fording depth of an incredible 27.6 inches! And an improved fuel economy of 17/22 MPG! Before I start to bore you all with the rest of the features in this immaculate SUV, let me tell you one more thing it has to offer. Another innovative feature for Toyota, a rear folding seat that is 40/20/40 split. Most Toyota models offer a 60/40 split and that was to be considered the norm. Not anymore!

The 2010 4Runner will be available in three different trim levels; the SR5 model, the Trail model (takes over the old Sport model, but has many more features), and the Limited model. Now each model has features and options exclusive to itself, and I'm sure by now you're probably ready to stop reading anyway! So, maybe once they hit the market, I can post an update, explaining a little more about each trim. But for now, seriously, check out this magnificent SUV and I'm sure you'll be amazed!! They're supposed to hit dealerships as early as November, so get your socks ready to be knocked off once you see these guys on the road!!

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Honda Listens...

I was out the other day doing a demo of the new CR-V that I just recently blogged about. I began talking about a lot of the new changes such as the more powerful engine that also provided better fuel economy. It was then that the customer told me how their previous generation CR-V felt underpowered but how Honda has a great reputation of listening to the customer and then making changes.

That's when I realized that Honda makes it their first priority to make everyone who drives their cars satisfied. If you want something extremely sporty you have the Civic Si and the Accord coupe V6 to quench your craving. If using up as little fuel as possible is your number one concern, then Honda makes the Civic Hybrid and also their all new Insight hybrid vehicle. The Pilot and CR-V take care of the small and medium sized families that need to go everywhere together, while the Odyssey seems to ask for a full size soccer team to hop on board. No matter what your interests are, Honda has a vehicle for you.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Consumers for Consumers

In search for a new laptop computer, the very first thing I did was go online. In my research I was comparing such things as brand names, product value, and quality. I then found myself looking at different blogs and testimonial pages considering what previous customers have said about that certain computer. Then it hit me. No matter what it is that someone is looking to purchase, there are always going to be reviews from previous customers who own or have owned that particular product. In my opinion, the best reviews one can look at, are ones from people who own the product you are looking to purchase.

As the internet sales manager here at Preston Motors, I realize how important customer reviews can be in regards to future business. Fortunately for me, I deal with a brand name, Toyota, that has built a reputation for itself and is well known for its quality and reliability. In addition to Toyota, I work for a dealership, Preston Motors, that has built a reputation as well, and is well known for customer satisfaction. I would encourage anyone looking to purchase a Toyota to see what others who own and have owned Toyota's have said. You can simply go to websites such as www.edmunds.com and www.consumerreports.org and read reviews. Here you will be able to see exactly what people think. I would also encourage you to ask people you see driving Toyota's what they think of their vehicle and see what they say.I feel that confident in the product to make a statement like that. In addition to those reviews, anyone looking to purchase a vehicle from Preston's, I would encourage you to take a look at what previous Preston customers have said as well. http://www.prestontoyota.com/testimonials.htm

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

A Demographical 180

"Did you see the new Lacrosse?"

Up until about a week ago these words never entered my vocabulary. Ever. Don't get me wrong the Lacrosse is a great luxury vehicle, but it never caught my eye. Until I saw this...

The design has now headed in the right directions. Coming from someone who once forgot about the Lacrosse, I can say with confidence that the new one has left me speechless. I almost forgot how much it changed...

Monday, October 12, 2009

Everybody Knows Somebody Who Loves a Honda

Does everybody really know somebody who loves a Honda! That's the question that American Honda Motor asked of consumers recently in their new Facebook social media experiment. Parallel with Hondas innovative image, this foray into social media comes at just the right time. With so many people using social sites like facebook, it just makes sense to be there with them! Studies have shown that people are actually going on their computers less and phones more with applications made specifically for these sites. Maybe the future isnt on the computer, but the cell phone! Just go to www.facebook.com/honda to check out the page. I thought this would be a great opportunity for our Honda owner base and for prospective customers of Preston Honda to either share their opinions, or gather some useful information from a great source. Current owners can go online while visiting their facebook pages and view what other people who own vehicles like theirs have to say as well as share their expierence. Potential customers who may be considering a Honda in the future can use this as a tool to read customer testimonials from people just like you who have owned the vehicles you may be considering. Everybody let me know what you think. Do you know somebody who loves a Honda?







Walt Kustra
Internet Sales Manager
Preston Honda
E-Mail: wkustra@prestonauto.com
Office#:1(888) 839-7855
Cell#: 724-730-0257
Fax#: 724-658-0736
http://www.prestonhonda.com/
http://www.prestonauto.com/
Instant Messenger: PrestonHondaNCPA
Follow Me:http://twitter.com/prestonhonda
Friend Us: http://tiny.cc/Facebook969

Friday, October 9, 2009

2010 GMC Terrain

Has everyone gotten a chance to check out a GMC Terrain yet? If not, I highly recommend it! Let me start just by saying this, I am an upfront, honest guy, and if I don't like the look or style of a vehicle, I will tell you that. For example, I was just in a Nissan Quest Minivan the other day, and I thought to myself, "man, who would design something like this? The placement of things inside is terrible!" Point being, I tell it how it is. The GMC Terrain IS an AWESOME vehicle!

I just sold one the other day to some great customers of ours, and it was actually the first time that I was in one. Now, with the model literally just hitting showrooms, I can understand people not even knowing what I'm talking about, heck even the insurance company didn't know what it was! But honestly, this is probably one of the nicest SUV's out right now, at a really great price, so please check one out! Take the Terrain that I was just in for example. It was the SLT package, that had leather, heated seats, moonroof, XM, bluetooth, etc, etc... It was just like a luxury vehicle, with chrome accents and all, real comfortable, the whole 9... Can you guess how much it was?? -- Well let's see, it is an SUV, 3.5 L V6, dual chrome exhausts, automatic start, and all the other options I already harped on... $40,000? No. $35,000? No. This sucker went for right around $33,000!! I was so shocked, I think I was more excited than the customer! LOL. Heck, I'd be in one if I wasn't only 1 year into my lease right now! But no, in all seriousness, please do check one of these out. I'm willing to bet that you're going to be impressed!!

Subtle...but just right

So my day started out as a typical rainy Friday at the beginning of the month with me just trying to get things organized for the weekend. I then received a phone call from a customer of mine who said he was going to stop in and take a look at the 2010 CR-V. He had previously owned an accord and decided he wanted to sit up higher and have the advantages of AWD. The good news for this customer is that Honda decided to revise the new CR-V!

The CR-V now comes standard with a 180hp i-vtec engine. That's an increase of 16hp!! They also made it more fuel efficient at the same time! I told this to the customer and of course they were excited that they were going to be able to enjoy the perks of the new SUV. We went on the highway during the test drive and found ourselves talking about college and the recent Penn State football game, as we were both fans, me being an alumni :). In the middle of our conversation the customer just blurted out "Man this thing rides nice!". It was the truth. While we were coasting down the highway we had semi-trucks passing us up, it was raining, and there was traffic but it never was intrusive to our conversation or comfort at all! The leather surrounding the cabin in our EX-L model was of the highest grade and extremely soft to the touch. The changes in the CR-V are definitely nothing major but they are enough to make a vehicle that was class leading become even better.

Before we even got out of the car the customer said he was sold on the vehicle and wanted to get the paperwork drawn up. This was one of those situations where the customer just completely fell in love and didn't even really need me to mediate the deal. I can only give the credit to the 2010 Honda CR-V for making just enough changes to be just right.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Is leasing perfect for you?

What brought me to think of this post are the incredibly low leases that Toyota is running right now. About 7 years ago my brother called me up to look at his brand new car. After looking at it and thinking how nice the car was, he goes " It's perfect, and the lease payment is so low." Right there I was no longer interested.

Reason being, I used be the first person to stand up and say that anyone who is looking to lease a car was ignorant, when in fact I was the one who was ignorant. Now that I know all the options and benefits of leasing a vehicle, leasing a Toyota is absolutely perfect for someone like myself and for a lot of my customers.

Just to name some of the benefits; a significant lower payment, always having a vehicle covered under warranty, never having to worry about negative equity on a trade in, getting to drive a new vehicle every 3-4 years, etc. I was so impressed with the Toyota leases, I relayed all the information to my parents, who by the way never leased, always bought. Well, recently my parents are now leasing a new Toyota.

Now I do understand that there are still going to be people who prefer to own their vehicles, however leasing is perfect for them as well. At the end of a lease term, those customers have the first opportunity to buy the vehicle they have been leasing, and buy it at a price that is below market value. So..........


Is leasing perfect for you???

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Enough Said

The Toyota Truck
And British People

Monday, October 5, 2009

Honda celebrates 30 years in our backyard

Less than a month ago American Honda Motor Co celebrated its 30th year of manufacturing here in the united states with a symbolic tree planting ceremony that was to represent the company's deep roots in America and its long standing relationships with the communities that have hosted their operations. This all took place right in our backyard at the Marysville, Ohio assembly plant pictured to the right.

"On behalf of the thousands of Honda associates in Ohio, past and present, I want to thank our local communities and the people of Ohio for their support and friendship during the past 30 years," said Honda of America President and CEO Hidenobu Iwata. "The significant growth we have experienced in Ohio would not have been possible without the trust and support of our community partners." During the tree-planting event, Iwata announced that Honda's auto plant in East Liberty, Ohio, will be the production site* for the new Honda Accord Crosstour crossover utility vehicle (CUV). The East Liberty Auto Plant recently earned the J.D. Power and Associates' 2009 Gold Plant Award for having the highest quality of any auto plant in North America. Going on sale this fall, the Accord Crosstour will be positioned at the top of the Accord lineup.

This is especially encouraging to hear because not only has Honda made a major investment in the US economy, but business is thriving and growing. Their not closing plants down or eliminating shifts on the assembly line. They are flourishing. I found this information especially interesting due to the fact that almost all of my 6 years in the car business have been dealing with foreign cars and foreign car companies. Obviously this meant changing a lot of peoples perceptions about what a "foreign" car company was. When I saw that Honda was celebrating this landmark it was just another example of how much these companies have invested not only in the American economy, but our local economy.

Honda became the first Japanese automaker to manufacture products in America when it opened its first U.S. plant in Marysville, Ohio. On Sept. 10, 1979, 64 Honda associates began producing the CR250 Elsinore off-road motorcycle in Marysville. The startup was so successful that Honda quickly announced plans to build an adjacent auto plant. The first Japanese auto plant in America, the Marysville Auto Plant started producing four-door Honda Accords in November 1982.

Over the past 30 years, Honda plants in Ohio have produced more than 13 million automobiles, 17 million engines, 1 million motorcycles, 2 million all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and nearly 13 million automatic transmissions.

Over the next 30 years you can expect to see extremely exciting vehicles, Like the all new Honda Accord Crosstour pictured below, continue to be made right in your backyard. Keep your eyes open for more details on this ultra versatile vehicle. Expected to hit my lot soon!

Walt Kustra
Internet Sales Manager
Preston Honda
E-Mail: wkustra@prestonauto.com
Office#: 1(888) 839-7855
Cell#: 724-730-0257
Fax#: 724-658-2261
Instant Messenger: PrestonHondaNCPA
www.prestonhonda.com
www.prestonauto.com
Follow Me: http://twitter.com/prestonhonda

Have you driven a Taurus lately?

Let me ask a question. Can anyone have an argument without involving google or youtube? In the past, if you were in a heated debate over something it usually ended in agreeing, disagreeing, or agreeing to disagree! Now, a few simple punches on the keyboard or blackberry and.....BOOM there is an answer. I ran into this the other day while I was having a little argument with my mom. As we sat there talking about the new 2010 Taurus she asked if I had remembered the old Ford commercial "have you driven a Ford lately?". I said yes, but I recalled it being "have you driven a Taurus lately?". No need for an argument because within minutes youtube was up and running. Unfortunately, I had to watch the old and corny commercial in disappointment. Another loss in the youtube court of arguments. I was not sad for long because there is nothing old and corny about the new 2010 Taurus!!!! Please check this car out and be prepared to be amazed with brand new Microsoft SYNC system and 3.5L EcoBoost v6 engine. So let me ask you...have you driven a Taurus lately?
http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/taurus/?space=Cars

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Toyota Floor Mat Recall

Recently, Toyota has issued a safety advisory for floor mats found in a number of different Toyota models, the cause of the recall was a major accident in California which took the lives of 4 people. To learn more about this horrific accident, I turned to the Internet,while researching, I found the news articles to be a little biased in some cases, but mostly informative. The blogs, being blogs were obviously biased. What I can`t seem to grasp, are all of the comments under each article. Some people, just commented on the fact that they`ve never had a problem before. Some people sympathize with the victims of the crash.What was shocking to me, was the bash fest on the Toyota brand.

Born and raised in Youngstown Ohio, I totally understand the "Buy American" viewpoint that most people have. My father started working at GM when he was 20 and then Delphi, until recently when he took early retirement. We have always had GM cars. So, when I told my dad I was going to work for Toyota and Honda, I was a little nervous. We had a long talk about the brands, and, he obviously knew way more than me. He also told me that they were solid brands to work for. He told me to be open minded and I was. I learned alot about both companies, and I learn more everyday, but I really believe I`m selling a great product.


But, back to the bash fest, I couldn`t believe it! I really felt, like I was reading a lot of really uneducated responses. Some people were fighting through their messages, some people were making up facts,(which I know because I researched it). I just couldn`t believe what I was reading. I felt like they were using this as an excuse to say horrible things about Toyota, and losing sight of the fact that people had lost their lives. In the end, I think that we should learn from the things that happen in our lives, and if we can, work on making ourselves better through that. As a company, I feel that Toyota did the right thing. And my heart goes out to all the families affected by this terrible accident. To learn more more about the recall and how to proceed from here, please follow the link provided below.

http://www.prestonauto.com/floormatrecall.htm

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Login Trouble?

Ever have trouble remembering things? Especially usernames and passwords?! Well, I do! And it bugs the heck out of me! - I have about a million different usernames and passwords for everything from espn.com to verizonwireless.com, and everything in between! Now why am I posting about this you may ask? Well, after a busy end of the week in car sales, I needed to post a little something on this blog here to finish up the week. So, as I was trying to log in to the blog, in order to post, I couldn't remember my login info! Man, was I frustrated! However, after about 45 minutes of incorrectly entering the wrong info, I finally figured it out. (Sigh of relief)

So now, after that frustration is out, let me tell you about a truck, that I hadn't known too much about until this week. The Toyota Tacoma! No, I don't own one, however, I sold two this week, and man are they nice! Honestly, it probably is one of the most convenient trucks out there, especially with the electrical outlet in the bed of the TRD package! (Great feature for tailgating, or any use, needing an outlet) This truck gives you the accessibility of an SUV, with the essential functions of a Pickup Truck; a bed and 4WD (in most models). The access cab gives you a nice feature in order to access the back seat, with the convenience of a regular size bed. And the 4 door gives you a nice, long cab, larger back seat, and although the bed is smaller, you still have one, versus an SUV not giving you that feature. I could honestly probably go on and on about this truck, but I don't want to take up too much of everyone's time. Still, this truck is amazing, and I think if you're in the market for a truck or SUV of any kind, you should definately check out the Toyota Tacoma!

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Making the Soccer Mom or the young Playa' look good

We all know the typical stereo type for the modern day SUV driver, which is usually a Mom who is family oriented and somehow ends up driving all the neighbor kids to soccer practice. Now don't get me wrong, for many Americans the practicality of the vehicle they drive is all they really care about. So when Bobby told me that the 2009 Pilot was going to be my new demo to drive lets just say I was a little less than thrilled. I mean come on I have an image to uphold here?!?! Then I saw him pull around my Black on Black Honda Pilot EX-L and all my preconceived notions were thrown out the window....


The first thing I noticed was the amazing presence the vehicle had when pulling up to the curb. The front end was squared off and almost looked tough! This Pilot had a prominent grill which glistened silver under the sunlight and contrasted perfectly with the brilliant black paint. Going around to the back of the vehicle I noticed the dual chrome tipped exhaust that signified, dare I say...sporty?? I jumped in the driver seat eager to see if the Pilot could live up to its new rugged exterior.

I knew Honda was known for setting the standard for a high quality interior but this was really over the top. The electroluminescent gauges are a work of art and really need to be seen to appreciate. Heated front seats and leather upholstery everywhere made me feel like I was in an Acura. The 3.5L V6 performs extremely well in this vehicle and lives up to the fact that Honda makes the smoothest engines in the market.

Once I had the engine revving a little I hit the stereo system and tested out Honda's 7-speaker sound that comes standard with a subwoofer. This system was great. The bass hit hard enough to get noticed at a stop light and the clarity of the speakers makes listening to music a blast.

Add in the fact that this SUV comes standard with a third row of seating and we come to the conclusion that this is really is not just for the family oriented driver. It offers plenty of luxurious amenities that make it a true drivers crossover. Let's just say it was a sad day when I had to give my demo keys back.