Happy Memorial Day from our Family to yours. When your enjoying your long weekend please remember to thank those who have served or are serving in the armed forces! Thank you!
Douglas Auto Group Social Buzz Splits In Two
Starting Tuesday August 23rd, the Douglas Auto Group Social Buzz will split into two blogs. They will be the Douglas Infiniti Social Buzz and the Douglas VW Social Buzz. While this isn’t as complex as the cell division processes of mitosis or binary fission , our two brand’s DNA need their own footprints. So stay tuned for the Douglas Infiniti and Douglas VW blogs about to be created….
Infiniti Personal Assistant: Live Like A Celeb For Free
Ever watch the Bravo Channel and be jealous of a Hollywood megawatt ordering an assistant around? Well release that green envy from your body as Infiniti rolls out its Infiniti Personal Assistant Program.
With the purchase of any new Infiniti, the purchaser will receive 4 years of complimentary unlimited access to Infiniti Personal Assistant. This isn’t a computer trying to answer your questions. A real live personal assistant will be at your beck and call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can contact your personal assistant either synched in-vehicle through the Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System voice command or away from the vehicle via your cell phone. Besides emergency assistance, they can also provide a wide array of tasks: booking dinner reservations, making travel arrangements, providing movie times, stock market information, sports scores and more.
No, they won’t fix your marriage woes or pick your kids up from school. But Infiniti is the first luxury auto brand to offer 4 years of a free expansive concierge service. 4 year companion plans for friends and family are available for a nominal fee as well as Infiniti Personal Assistant fee plans for certified pre-owned Infiniti cars.
So no more fumbling around with your smart phone driving 65 MPH on the highway trying to bring up Zagat’s list of the nearest wine bars. Tap a button, keep your eyes on the road and enjoy the luxury and convenience of Infiniti Personal Assistant.
Fender Audio Adds Wow Factor To 2012 VW’s
Having Keith Richards sitting next to you in your car on your ride home is pretty cool, huh? Well, Volkswagen can’t give you that but they can give you the next best alternative. Fender Premium Audio System has now entered into an exclusive agreement with Volkswagen. Starting with the 2012 Passat, Beetle and Jetta GLI, you can have the raw emotion of live music inside your VW automobile.
Along with Volkswagen, Fender also partnered with Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America. Combining Panasonic’s over 60 years of experience with mobile audio systems and Fender’s talent in sound amplification has created a car audio system that is sweet music to anyone’s ears. This partnership took 3 1/2 years researching how to replicate a live concert inside a Volkswagen. The primary features of the Fender system are 9 speakers, a dedicated subwoofer and a 400 watt amplifier.
Another interesting feature of the Fender audio system in the VW is that it was embedded in the interior design of the vehicle. There is no undesirable vibration or rattling from either interior or exterior trim, as is so common in aftermarket stereo installations. From the clarity of the powerful bass response to the crispness of the detailed mid-range tones, the live experience at any volume in these 2012 VW’s is unmatched.
So if you’d like to feel like Springsteen is giving you a live performance inside your car while you are commuting to work on the Garden State Parkway or NJ Turnpike, think of giving the 2012 VW Beetle, Passat or Jetta GLI a test drive.
Back To School In Summit…Please Drive Safe
As the Summer in Summit starts to come to an end, there will soon be large masses of children walking, being driven or driving to school. As a Summit resident and father of two small children who will eventually commute to school, this topic of commuting to school safely certainly gives me pause. With that in mind, here are a few facts and tips to bear in mind once school starts:
1- Driving 15 to 20 miles per hour over the speed limit when running late only saves 30 to 40 seconds, due to the short distances most students travel from home to school. While the extra speed rarely keeps a student from being tardy, the added speed can quite possibly lead to wrecks, injuries or death.
a- most traffic crashes occur close to home.
2- According to the Safe Routes to Schools organization, of the leading types of youth pedestrian crashes, 33% are due to dart-outs — entering traffic mid-block, often between parked cars.
a- With that face in mind, always remember to cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
b- Never cross the street against a light, even if you don’t see any traffic coming.
c- Walk your bike through intersections.
d- Walk with a buddy.
3- Always wear your seat belt. Wearing safety belts lowers your risk of injury by 45% in the event of a crash. You are four times more likely to be killed or injured if ejected from the vehicle in a crash.
4- Last but not least, PUT DOWN THE PHONE WHEN DRIVING.
a- The age group with the greatest proportion of distracted drivers was the under-20 age group – 16 percent of all drivers younger than 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported to have been distracted while driving. (NHTSA)
b – Using a cell phone use while driving, whether it’s hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver’s reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. (Source: University of Utah)
So when you hit the road this cool Fall morning in September and are afraid of missing the 1st 5 minutes of Chemistry class, just remember there are always more important facts of life to be focused upon.
Summit Flavor of the Week: Summit Bagel
I had alot of trepidation about moving from New York to New Jersey. One of my biggest concerns, if not the biggest, was finding good food. When I moved to Summit, NJ, I was so relieved to find Summit Bagel. Located at 529 Morris Ave here in Summit, it is THE place in town for a bagel. Owner Phil Alarashi has over 35 years experience making bagels. He cut his teeth in the business working in Manhattan in the late 1970’s at Jumbo Bagel at 56th St & 2nd Avenue. Phil moved from Brooklyn to Jersey City in the 80’s and acted as part owner in several bagel operations in Hudson County. After owning Kosher Bagel & Bialys in Passaic Park and Rahway, NJ from 1994-2002, Phil took a leave of absence for a few years to tend to an ill family member.
Phil’s next venture was to open Summit Bagels in 2006 in Summit, where he currently resides with his wife and children. Every morning and especially on the weekends, Summit Bagel is packed with loyal followers. When I asked Phil what makes his bagels so special he says, “when you’ve been in a business for 35 years, you tend to learn a thing or two.” Besides Phil’s special ingredients, he says the real secret is in the processing of the bagel. “From the timing of the mixing of the dough, to the timing of the resting of the dough on the table all the way to the timing of the proofing (rising) of the dough, it’s all very critical in making a great bagel.”
The Bagel Master
For recommendations, my daughter absolutely loves the French Toast bagel. My wife and son actually call up Phil ahead of time and he makes two whole wheat sesame bagels from scratch just for them. So next time you’re in the mood for a bagel “just like they make in Manhattan”, head down to Summit Bagel and you won’t be disappointed.
Meet Nick
Here To Serve
Sitting down to speak with Nick Malanga of Douglas Volkswagen was quite refreshing. Here is a man proud of his country, his state and his occupation. He was born and raised in South Plainfield, NJ. Nick attended high school at Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, PA. From high school, he went on to acquire a B.S.C. in Marketing from Rider University. While initially starting in the auto industry in 1996, Nick came to Douglas Volkswagen in August of 2000 and has been with us ever since as a Sales Consultant.
He currently resides in Warren, NJ and when he’s not working for Douglas Volkswagen, he enjoys fishing down in Point Pleasant. Nick also proudly belongs to the Central Jersey Volkswagen Club. The purpose of this club is to restore and maintain antique Volkswagens…(I guess you can take the guy out of Volkswagen but not the Volkswagen out of the guy). When not fishing or tending to antique automobiles, Nick is also busy as an active member of the South Plainfield Elks Lodge.
During my conversation with Nick, he consistently hit home that customer service is his top priority. “No matter what question, comment, or concern a customer has, I will ALWAYS give the courtesy of a return phone call. I pride myself on making customer service and respect for my customer’s time my #1 priority.”
From Nick’s military upbringing to his passion for maintaining old VW’s to his philosophy about customers, reliability and accountability are the themes that shine through. So when your VW racks up the mileage and you’re not sure about whether to get a new one, you know you’ll get an honest answer from Nick.
Remove Those Car Buying Jitters…Be Prepared
You walk into a dealership, your heart flutters a little bit and you’re unsure whether buying or leasing a new car is actually the right thing to do…..been there done that….multiple times. While there is a wealth of information out there on the internet regarding automobile purchases, there is still an overwhelming sense of anxiety for consumers when they walk into the dealerships.
One of the major reasons that can be attributed to this phenomenon is that consumers get caught up in the type of car they want and not in the important transactional details. Here are a few preparation tips to help alleviate that dreaded anxiety when you walk into a car dealership.
1- Know your credit score ahead of time. Your overall payments will be based off this all important number. Knowing your credit score better helps you understand the framework of the transaction.
2- Try and get pre-approved for financing before you purchase. Don’t get stuck sitting around a dealership lot trying to figure out what you can afford. Knowing that your financing is in place clears your head to focus on the physical details of the car.
3- Make an appointment with the dealership. Me personally, I don’t like to buy a sandwich from a shop unless I feel comfortable with the place. Make an appointment for a test drive, chat the Sales Consultant up so you feel comfortable conducting business with them. Then make another appointment (after securing financing) to go over the final specs and details of your car purchase.
So be prepared & happy car hunting….
The Pieces Fall Into Place……Infiniti JX Photos!
The build-up has been brewing over the last few months and now more pieces to the puzzle exist (see below). There are now 6 photos of the 2013 Infinity JX, a new luxury crossover the will go on sale in the Spring of 2012. Next week a small gathering will get it’s first look at the JX at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The JX’s official world debut is slated for the November 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show. The JX will feature 3 row seating, 7 seats, futuristic vehicle telematics and a gorgeous interior. To be continued…..
Employee Spotlight: Meet Aaron
Considering I’m a diehard New York sports fan, I had major reservations about spotlighting our Infiniti Sales Consultant Aaron Goodwin. Born and raised in North Philly, Aaron wears his Philly sports pride on his sleeve. In a dealership filled with Giants and Jets fan, it should be a lively Fall here at Douglas Infiniti.
Aaron graduated from Howard University in 1994 with a B.S. in Finance. He has been in the automobile industry for 13 years and has been with Douglas since September of 2001. Three times Aaron has been awarded an Infinity Award of Excellence. In 2007 he won the Premier Award and in 2008 & 2011 he won the Elite Award. The Premier award is for being nationally ranked in the top 25% for yearly sales volume. The Elite Award is for being in the top 25% yearly national sales volume and also being ranked above the national average in the Customer Service Index.
Aaron and his wife reside in Newark, NJ with their three daughters aged 14, 13, and 4 (considering I have one 5 year old daughter who goes around all day saying
A big asset to Douglas Infinity
“Daddy, eyes on me”, I don’t know how Aaron does it). When Aaron is not busy rooting for all things Philly, he spends his free time hanging out with his daughters, going to church and sleeping.
So if you ever watch your Giants lose a heartbreaking game to the Eagles this year, feel free to stop by Douglas Infiniti and let Aaron know how you feel.
Douglas Auto Group Social Buzz 