Party Like a Rockstar!

Well,

I just want to personally thank everyone out there who voted for the mass amount of energy I will have tomorrow seeing that I will be drinking 6 rockstars. Be sure to check in later to see the new list of ideas for the Dice Challenge.

On another note, this past Saturday Preston Toyota sponsored an event at the First Baptist Church in New Castle, PA. The event was a Sportsman's Dinner for people all over Lawrence County. When I was standing in front of the church representing Preston Toyota by having a Tundra & a Tacoma on display, it hit me. I remembered about 2 years ago when I bought my vehicle, I was standing in Preston's showroom looking at all the photos hanging on the wall of various community events that Preston Toyota had sponsored. Standing there interacting with all the people allowed me to realize that I was now part of one of those events. I walked inside the church and was able to see a huge crowd oh people enjoying a dinner. I also saw various exhibits where people were free to look, ask questions, and receive different brochures. There was also a key speaker at the end to top off the event.

Upon leaving the event and seeing what a good time everyone was having and the enjoyable atmosphere, I came up with one thought. It's nice to know that I work for a company where I can sell some of the nicest vehicles, provide customers with unbeatable value especially with the Lifetime Warranty, and pride myself on customer satisfaction, however, at the end of the day, it's also nice to know that I work for a company that always reinvests back into the community for numerous events. Check out some of the other events and charities Preston Auto is involved with. http://www.prestonauto.com/community.htm

A Toyota Family

This new Toyota commercial couldn't help but remind me of my family...


The first Toyota in the family. My father gave it to me when I was in college and I haven't looked back.
This Rav4 was the second car purchased by my father after the Tacoma. My sister now drives it. When it comes to safety there is no other way to back it up. If my parents had it their way, my sister would be driving a tank covered in pillows.
My mother and father love their Toyotas. They drive them with confidence and dependence. A decade of Toyota vehicles will stay in my family for a long time and the Exclusive Preston Lifetime Warranty assures them of this. I don't just sell Toyotas but I drive them as well and so do the people I love the most.

James Preston
Internet Sales Manager
Preston Auto Group
www.prestonauto.com
email: jpreston@prestonauto.com
work: 1(888) 839-7855
Instant Messenger: JamesBPreston
Follow Me: http://twitter.com/prestonauto

Will the real Bill Grady please stand up?

Hello to all Preston Auto Blog readers! My name is Chris Flynn, and I am the internet sales manager at Preston Ford Lincoln Mercury Hyundai in Sharon, Pennsylvania. I have one of the most entertaining jobs anyone could have, and it is attributed to one of my employees. His name is Bill Grady, and he works in the internet department. This can be a tough business with a lot of hours, but when you have a sense of humor like Bill, it makes this job great! I had a chance to sit down with Bill and have a little Q & A session with him this afternoon:

CF

Bill tell me what led you to the car business?

BG

I owned my own business, and I started to miss the personal relationships that you can build with people. The car business is unique in the way that you can create your own littlebusiness by treating people the right way and building up a loyal clientele.

CF

Tell me about your family.

BG

I have a beautiful wife who owns Ludovici Dance Studio in New Castle, PA. I also have two beautiful daughters ages 11 and 8 and they attend Neshannock Area Elementary School. We also have a sheltie named Diva…and it is not the only diva that lives in the house! I am outnumbered four to one!

CF

I hear that you went to SRU, but I won't mention how long ago! Is there any advice thatyou can give to my sister who is attending SRU this year?

BG

Study very hard, but have a lot of fun too, because they are the best years of your life.

CF

So then what do you do for fun?

BG

I really enjoy watching football (Go Steelers) and like to play golf. My most favorite thingto do is watch my daughters dance, and once in a while show them a dance move or two!

CF

I have to assume that your favorite TV show is "So you think you can dance?"

BG

Yes, but only because I have no control over the TV remote.

CF

Well then I am afraid to ask, what was the latest movie you have seen?

BG

Hannah Montana

CF

Ouch, well let me switch gears then. If you could take one car from this lot and drive itacross the country, what would it be?

BG

I would like to go up to New England, because I have always wanted to go there one day.

CF

I thought you might take your girls to a Hanna Montana concert.

BG

You are probably right!

Honda Certified Used Cars

I'm sure a lot of you out there have seen the big red CERTIFIED letters scrolled across the hoods and windshields of various Honda models on our lot. Attention getting? Sure, but what exactly is a Honda Certified used car? More importantly, why should you be considering one out of all the other choices out there? Every Honda is a product of innovative engineering and quality manufacturing. And only well-maintained Honda models that are less than six years old or have a maximum of 80,000 miles are eligible for certification.

The certification process includes:

An exhaustive 150-point mechanical and appearance inspection, performed by the dealer, to ensure that each vehicle meets Honda Certified Used Cars standards.

Honda-trained technicians scrutinize all major vehicle systems, including brakes, engine, drive train, steering, suspension, tires, wheels, exhaust system and vehicle interior and exterior.

Dealer technicians recondition any component that does not meet our standards, or replace it with Genuine Honda parts

Perform up-to-date scheduled maintenance services.

Honda dealers run a CARFAX Vehicle History Report at no cost to you to assure that your Honda Certified Used Car does not contain any DMV-reported incidents such as salvage, fire, flood damage, odometer problems or lemon history.

A copy of each car's CARFAX Vehicle History Report will be kept at the Honda dealership and will be available for you to see.

Now, this is just a small overview of the extensive process we as dealers go through to make sure your Honda Certified Used Vehicle is in the absolute best condition it can be. For more information on the inspection process click the link below.
http://tiny.cc/txKr4

With that being said.... other than peace of mind, what does the certification process provide for you? It gives you the opportunity to take advantage of one of the BEST, MOST EXTENSIVE USED CAR WARRANTIES IN THE BUSINESS!

Honda Certified Warranty Coverage:

It covers major engine and transmission components, except for standard maintenance items, body glass and interior.

Honda will repair or replace any covered part that is defective in material or workmanship under normal use. There is a $0 deductible and the following major systems/components are covered:

Powertrain Items Covered
Covered for seven years or 100,000 miles (whichever comes first) from the vehicle’s original in-service date.
• Engine • Drive System• Transmission

Non-Powertrain Equipment Items Covered
Covered for 12 months or 12,000 miles (whichever comes first) from the original warranty expiration date or, if the original warranty has expired, from the Honda Certified Used Cars purchase date.
• Steering• Suspension• Electrical• Air Conditioning• Heating and Cooling• Fuel System• Switches• Audio Repairs (Honda audio systems only)• Sensors

Here at Preston Honda we are proud to be one of the areas premier Honda Certified dealers! If you have any questions about the certification process, what is covered, etc. Please feel free to get a hold of me at any of my contacts listed below or visit the Honda Certified Used Cars website at http://tiny.cc/1zZeY

To view our selection of Honda Certified vehicles visit http://tiny.cc/uDBqZ

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
http://www.prestonhonda.com/
http://www.prestonauto.com/
Follow Me: http://twitter.com/prestonhonda

New 2010 Toyota 4Runner Revealed

The Next Generation 4Runner was Revealed on Thursday at the Texas State Fair, pictures are below. The fifth-generation 4Runner is even more rugged and athletic with improved performance and fuel economy. A completely redesigned interior and unique cargo area make the 10MY 4Runner smarter, more spacious, and more versatile than ever. It’s the most capable 4Runner ever!

The 10MY 4Runner will be offered in three grades:
•top-of-the line Limited
•value based, well-equipped SR5
•plus the all-new Trail for outdoor adventurists who require maximum off-road capability

(Click image above to enlarge.)

(Click image above to enlarge.)

Also check out this video from Edmunds.

Please call either Preston Toyota at 1-888-839-7855 or Toyota of Boardman at 1-866-491-7203 to order yours today!

It's only the beginning...

I’ll never forget the look on my family’s faces when I told them I was going to be working in the car business. The words “utter shock” and “disbelief” come to mind. Actually it was more of a silent glance from person to person to see if I was serious or trying to pull a fast one. This was mainly due to the fact that before I started working for Preston Toyota the only thing I could tell you about a car was its color. I accepted their doubts and their puzzled looks and can confidently say that today I’ve proved every one of them wrong.


I am a recent graduate of Youngstown State University with a Bachelor’s Degree of the Arts in Sociology with a certificate in Psychology. I am fully aware and knowledgeable of human behavior and emotion and of the influences of culture and mainstream society. What I was not fully aware of or prepared for were the questions about the difference between all-wheel-drive and front-wheel drive or even what the power train was. However, I am always willing to learn and accept new challenges. Being an Internet Coordinator does not require me to know all of the specs and details about the vehicle though and sometimes I feel my customers can relate to me and feel more comfortable speaking to me first. Since, just like you, I’m constantly researching and asking the experts for answers.

Just after my 20th birthday I decided to buy a car. I remember the rigorous process of calling around and looking for the best price. I remember the dealerships that were rude and the dealerships that were patient and answered my questions. I remember my frustrations of feeling like I was being taken advantage of or not taken seriously because of my age and gender. I know what it’s like to be in the customer’s shoes and I take that into consideration with every person I talk to.


I enjoy my job and the people I work with. I’ve learned that not all salesmen are bad and are out to rob you of your hard earned money. Being a woman in this industry is definitely challenging at times. I do get customers who think I’m a receptionist and do not want to speak to me, but the people who respect and appreciate me for my customer service skills make it all worthwhile. The car business may be a man’s world now but we women are certainly making our mark and I’m eager to see what the future holds for us!

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

Let me begin by saying, I really don`t know anything about cars. I came from working in a predominately female industry. I was a manager for a very busy Salon and Spa. I worked closely, with about 100 women, on a day to day basis. So, needless to say, walking in to the Automotive Industry, I was a little freaked out. Hearing all the stereotypes of how women are treated, and the "skeezy" car salesman, I thought I wouldn`t last a week. To be honest, the first week of training I was still a little skeptical. And then I realized, I can do this. It`s really just customer service and talking to people, and if I can do anything, it`s talk.

Now that I`ve been in the industry for about 5 months, I couldn`t be happier. I truly enjoy being able to help my customers. Everyday I learn something new, whether it`s one of my coworkers teaching me the difference between crew cabs, access cabs, and regular cabs or one of my customers reaffirming my belief in the quality of the vehicles we sell. Now, I`m not gonna sugarcoat it, it`s not all rainbows and butterflies. I still have challenges that come up. I have some customers that refuse to deal with me because I am a woman. I have people who don`t take me seriously because I`m a woman. There is still ALOT I need to learn to become successful in my position. But, as you can probably guess, I just wanna have fun. And, I have alot of fun doing my job!

Is this really a Honda??

Growing up we all have certain hobbies that we are interested in and activities to occupy our time. It just so happens that my hobby was learning everything I could about cars. I loved looking at the pictures and reading about the horsepower and the different 0-60 times (A measuring standard used to asses acceleration abilities) of my favorite vehicles. Now I have to admit that back in the early 90's when I was picking my favorite exotic cars, the Honda Accord didn't exactly fall on that list (the accord would have been on my dad's list).

Then I took a look at the redesigned Honda Accord coupe. Every time it went down the road I did a double take. From the sleek cat like projector headlamps to the chrome door handles on the V6 model, I had to admit that this car looked stunning! The V6 comes standard with 18" rims and dual chrome exhaust, everything you need to catch gazes from all jealous by-standers. Alright so it looks muscular and fast...big deal..how does it drive? With 271hp available at your command lets just say there will be many premium German luxury sedans that will catch a good view of your exhaust tips.

I sat in the drivers seat and couldn't believe how perfect the layout of the controls. The leather wrapped steering wheel came standard in my model (EX-L V6) and was great for holding my grip when I was taking those tight bends around the road. I can honestly say that this car made driving fun. Just to prove that this wasn't the Honda Accord I saw in car magazines in the early 90's, I tested out the acceleration of the 271hp engine and lets just say...there is a black BMW that could probably tell you my license plate number.

Dice Challenge

Hi Everyone,

First I want to start off by introducing myself to everyone. My name is Jason Discello, known to my friends as "Dice", and I am the internet sales manager at Preston Motors. I am a graduate of Westminster College where I earned a BA degree in Business Administration/Accounting. At Westminster I played football for 4 years and was also a member of a national fraternity, Sigma Nu.

When creating this blog, the internet department had challenged me to come up with something unique. With that being said, I am now introducing the "Dice Challenge." The idea behind this challenge is to gather suggestions on different things I should do throughout the week, WITHIN REASON that is. When i presented this idea to the group I was feeling pretty good about it, that is until one of my co-workers suggested my first task, walk to work. Every Wednesday be sure to check and see what my challenge was for the week and if I completed it.

The floor is now open to suggestions and votes............

p.s. we have to out vote the whole walk to work idea

Gauranteed Tremendous

I don't know if you have seen the latest installment of Curb Your Enthusiasm but Larry David truly puts the Prius to the test. In a rush to break up with his girlfriend Larry speeds throughout the streets of L.A. with a new 2010 Prius. This is for all the nay-sayers out there regarding the power of this Hybrid vehicle. Take it from Larry, the ultimate nay-sayer, master of bitterness, and the king of cynicism that the Prius is a vehicle second to none.

Honda Insight "Beach" Commercial

Has anyone seen the new Honda Insight "beach" commercial? The reason im asking is because it did air yesterday about 15 times during the Steeler game. What struck me as odd the first time I saw it was that I even noticed it. I mean during a Steeler game, as all Steeler fans know, we get a little too into it! At first I thought that maybe I just saw the Honda logo and since I do work with them it just caught my eye. Then....It hit me. After about the 3rd or 4th time it aired. I didnt like it. Not at all actually.

First off the commercial starts out with a couple of Insights driving down the road then simultaneously parking next to each other. The theme here is that it looks like one, but is actually two. This goes on throughout the video. People look like they are standing there doing something, then move to a different pose or stance and another person pops out. I just dont get it. It was definitely creative and neat to watch, but what did it have to do with the insight? At the end of the commercial the tag line "the hybrid for the rest of us" came on. I just didnt get it. I was totally lost and by the fifth time id seen it the Steelers had already missed their first of two field goals that would ultimately cost them the game. Im sure if I watched it again in another context Id be more objective, but who knows. Let me know what you thought about it if you saw it. It was certainly not as bad as those ridiculous Prius commercials ;)

Walt Kustra

Internet Sales Manager

Preston Honda

E-Mail: wkustra6382@gmail.com

Office#1-888-839-7855

Fax#724-658-2261

I.M. - PresonHondaNCPA

http://www.prestonhonda.com/

http://www.prestonauto.com/

Follow Me: http://www.twitter.com/prestonhonda

Lethal Leases Through Month End!!!

Toyota has always been known for aggressive, low payment leases, thanks due in part to a strong financial arm and because Toyota's hold their value so much their residuals are comparatively high with competition and therefore leases tend to be the lowest on the market. However this month in particular the leases are lower than ever!

Toyota started off the month with extremely low money factors on nearly every model, for clarification a money factor (also called a lease factor) is the interest rate you are being charged. It is expressed as a multiplier that can be used to calculate your monthly payments. For example, 7.2 percent interest, when expressed as a money factor, is .0030. To convert a money factor to an interest rate, multiply by 2,400. To convert an interest rate to a money factor, divide by 2,400. (Always use 2,400 regardless of the length of the loan.)

Additionally, as alluded to earlier, the residual value is the leasing company's prediction of what the car will be worth at the end of the lease. The residual value is also important because it affects your monthly payment. The higher the residual, the lower your monthly payments. Toyota already has some of the highest residuals on the market, but in mid September, according to the Wall Street Journal "As part of its fourth-quarter push, Toyota will raise the projected resale value of its vehicles used in calculating monthly lease payments, said dealers briefed on the plan. That will enable Toyota to offer attractive rates at a time when some other auto makers have cut back on leasing."

Basically, the combination of the low interest rate with the increasing of already high residuals, really makes this the best time ever to lease a Toyota. Below is an ad we ran in the local paper, the New Castle News, that breaks down just how good the leases are right now!


(Click the image above to enlarge.)


(Click the image above to enlarge.)

Whatever people are selling, they are always saying that it's "the best time to buy," but my dad who has owned this Toyota dealership since 1989 literally said that these are some of the best leases he has ever seen! Plus at Preston Toyota we offer the area's largest selection of vehicles for you to to choose from, but act fast because these lease specials do end at the end of the month on 9/30/2009!

Brian Carbone

A bit small, but this is me!!

Who am I?

Hey everyone! My name is Brian Carbone, and I am the newest employee of our Internet Department here at Preston Auto. I'd like to tell you guys a little bit about myself so that you can feel more comfortable reading my posts each week, rather than have no clue who this guy is! I am a recent graduate of Westminster College, where I graduated this past May with a Bachelors degree in Public Relations. I grew up in New Castle, PA and attended Ne-Ca-Hi, where I played basketball in 9th grade, and played various roles in plays and musicals in 10th, 11th, and 12th grade. While at Westminster I participated in various organizations and clubs. I was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity where I held the role of recruitment counselor my sophomore year. I enjoy all sports, watching and playing, as well as just about anything fun to do! Like I said, I just graduated from college, so the car business is still pretty new to me. I never thought I'd be here today, but in actuallity I like the business! I'm a people person who loves to talk and the great part about my job is that I get to talk to all different kinds of people about completely different topics on a day to day basis. My only hope is to be successful at it! So please, continue reading my post, get to know me a little better and hopefully we can eventually earn your business in the future! Thanks a lot. Go Steelers!