Subie Divas

Talk about the weather

2011-07-07T15:35:00.005-04:00

We think this video and all the Pete Mertz videos are hilarious so we wanted to share them with all the Subie Divas!

We also wanted to mention that we think it's fabulous to have the BEST weatherman as our spokesman. We'd love to hear Geoff Fox's opinion of this guy!

Check out this video and then go here to the Premier Subaru World's Worst Weatherman page to enjoy more videos and see how symmetrical all wheel drive works. (You know if you have a Subaru that it's true, you don't have to worry about weather with symmetrical all wheel drive.)

Wrong Map- the World's Worst Weatherman
Subaru of America 4/25/2011
Pete describes the temperatures around the country. The only trouble is he's looking at a map with election results on it, not weather conditions.

Groundhog

2011-03-28T12:15:00.002-04:00

OK, all you Divas out there. Who wants to join in our blanket party for this guy?

Escape to Spring

2011-03-10T10:03:00.006-05:00

Got the end of winter doldrums? Not looking forward to the gloomy, rainy weather headed our way?

Join us at VanWilgens Escape to Spring this weekend. It's held in the greenhouse - think balmy and lush greens and flowers - and there's even wine tasting! If you get hungry LaCuisine will tempt your palate.

Nama and Jeff will be representing Premier Subaru in the rear greenhouse. Stop by the booth and register to win an oil change club card (good for six oil changes!).

Best of all - it's FREE! Friday to Sunday this weekend!

See all the details at www.vanwilgens.com.

BBBBRRRRRR!

2011-01-23T09:18:00.002-05:00

Baby it's cold outside! If you have to go out in it dress warmly- frostbite can occur in as little as ten minutes.
A good day to make a nice home cooked meal, watch a chick flick, and snuggle by the fireplace.
What's your favorite chick flick?
Nama has always liked "Same Time, Next Year" and "When Harry Met Sally"
What's playing at your house?

Blizzard!

2010-12-27T09:35:00.003-05:00

Happy Blizzard!

Nama's daughter got to experience the snow in her new Outback for the first time yesterday and posted the following:

"Subaru + snow = not getting stuck = happy Mandy!"

Happy Nama knowing she's safe!

Happy Holidays from the Divas to you!

2010-12-23T14:30:00.001-05:00

From Amy, Victoria, Virginia, Barbara, Jennifer, Kristen, Angela and Jaime (Your Subie Divas!)

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-23T14:12:00.002-05:00

From our home to yours - we wish you all Happy Holidays! Remember "Martha Stewart doesn't live here!" and let some things go- let the kids decorate, clean, and help get ready for company- enjoy their delight at contributing.

Take some time to do something for someone less fortunate than you- even if you can't afford much if we all did a little the world would be a better place. Even if it's just a kind word or a pat on the back. And sometimes "less fortunate" doesn't mean monetarily- it could be a friend who's going through a rough spot - make time to care.

Also take time to appreciate the special people in your life and tell them that they're special!

And most of all be good to yourself- as women we do and do and do. If we don't take care of ourselves there'll come a time when we can't do any more.
Most of all be generous with your hugs!

Hope all of you out there in DivaLand share the joy this season!

Diva Updates

2010-11-03T17:35:00.005-04:00

Hi all, sorry for the long delay between updates! We had quite the flurry of Subaru buyers at the end of October which kept all of our Divas very busy. Thanks for reading and look for more updates soon--don't forget to check out our Facebook page, too.

Here's the diva-land highlights:

TWO DIVA BIRTHDAYS

Bic on the 18th and Amy on the 28th.

Bic turned 21 this year and Amy turned 29. Or something like that. (Fuzzy math works for Divas.)

Another 2011 Forester is now Diva-driven by Target 10,000 Winner Kathryn Zurolo

Subie Divas congratulates Kathy Zurolo and her family, of Milford, Connecticut, on being the Target 10,000 winners! Premier Subaru conducted a three month long contest to celebrate the sale of our 10,000th car. The winner would receive a $10,000 purchase credit towards a new or pre-owned car here at Premier Subaru, or a $10,000 U.S. Savings Bond.

Over 1,500 entries were received for the contest. Premier Subaru engaged the marketing firm of Two Guys In Jackets to independently review the submitted entry form and audit the drawing. Kathy Zurolo of Milford, Connecticut was selected as the winner and chose the $10,000 vehicle purchase credit.

Ms. Zurolo and her family were at Premier Subaru on October 30, 2010 to pick up her ordered 2011 Subaru Forester.

As always, at Premier Subaru is doing everything we can to help the less fortunate this year. You can help us by bringing food for the CCA Thanksgiving Food drive and by bringing a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots to our showroom collection boxes. You can help us even more by telling a friend to do the same! This Diva is proud of the webpage she built promoting the charities- check it out here:

http://www.premiersubaru.com/season-for-sharing.htm

2011 Forester

2010-10-26T17:43:00.005-04:00

And here she is - Abigail and her new 2011 Forester!

2011 Forester

2010-10-25T19:05:00.002-04:00

SSSSHHHHHH - don't tell everyone - we have the 2011 Forester here at Premier. And, of course, the first one hitting the roads will be owned by a new Subie Diva! Congratulations Abigail - we're sure you'll get many miles of carefree driving!

Anyone else want to check them out give Barb or Jenn a call at (203) 481-0687.

Follow us on Facebook!

2010-10-13T18:14:00.001-04:00

So, now you can find Subie Divas on Facebooks! Check out our fan page and be sure to like it! I even created a little quiz to help you figure out if you're one of us! (The "LIKE" above is referring to the Facebook page.)

Also, we're looking for your car care questions for our next blogs (my muse has left me, or at least no new lights have come on in my car!!!) Comment or email us or call 1-800-411-4551!

So, we've decided to go big and get on Facebook! Check us out. I even created this little quiz to help folks decide if they want to join us here in Subie Divas--check it out!

Fall Car Care--What does this light mean?

2010-10-04T12:33:00.004-04:00

The Mystery of the Light on the Dashboard SOLVED!

This week, in our second blog for fall car care month, I present a mystery solved by our Service Director, Dennis Cullen. Thanks Dennis! Do you have questions about taking care of your Subaru or ANY car? Put comment on our post below, get in touch with us on Facebook, or email sales@premiersubaru.com and we'll get an answer for you!

Q: This light came on in my car. What does it mean? What should I do?

A: That's a great question. Before I answer that ,let me start by saying with any light that should come on step one is to refer to the owners manual fora full explanation of the fault.

That light is referred to as the (TPMS) fault indicator. That's an acronym for Tire Pressure Monitoring System . In 2008 the Federal government mandated that this system be installed on all vehicles sold in the U.S. In a nut shell, what it does is just that. It continuously checks to make sure you have the proper air pressure in all your tires. What I normally tell our customers is to check and set your tire pressure every 3rd tank of gas.

As the weather gets cooler, the air pressure in your tires will drop one pound per10 degrees of air temperature decrease. Keep in mind, we may have set your tire pressure in the summer.

As for the tires themselves, it is common to lose a pound of pressure a month. For those two reasons this time of year is when we see an onslaught of phone calls just like yours.

This is what we tell our customers: after first checking your tires for damage, reset your tire pressure in accordance with the label on the drivers inside door panel. The light should go off after driving for a few miles.

If within a week that light should reappear you most likely have a puncture in one of your tires. At this point you would need to come in for a repair.

Although this light showing itself a few times a year seems like a pain, I can only imagine how many lives it has saved in the past 2 years alone.

Happy Driving!

Dennis

My.Subaru - Check it out!

2010-09-28T13:12:00.002-04:00

This will be the first in a few posts about Subaru Service for October Car Care month.

Okay, so I've owned my Legacy for over a year and a half. And I've kept up to date on service. But never before did I explore the wonders that are "My.Subaru." I guess being a couple hundred feet from our service department has made me lazy.

Should you not spend 8-10 hours per day a couple hundred feet from the best Subaru service department in the world, you should definitely check out My.Subaru if you like being organized and saving money.

I was on the site today because I'm updating our service center's info on our website and I was looking for value tidbits our customers could use. I found that there are lots of very useful applications and fun stuff on there.

You can download a copy of your manual, check out your service schedule, take a look at warranty info, keep track of what service you've had done on your car, and see if there are any recalls or service bulletins on your vehicle. Also, I thought it was great that you can type in your immobilizer code--seems like a safe place to keep something that you're going to want to be able to find quickly should you need it.

There were also about $70 of coupons for me on there.

As far as the fun factor, there were stories about Subaru owners, a calendar of local events for Subaru owners, and articles on Subaru racing.

It's also a great place to shop for your NEXT Subaru--it has special offers, a link to the Subaru Guaranteed Trade Program, and brochures for all Subaru models.

So, while I'm in the middle of giving our Service Department a facelift on the website (should be complete come October 1, 2010--check it out at http://www.premiersubaru.com/service/index.htm) get registered on and start using My.Subaru (https://www.subaru.com/my-subaru/my-account/index.html)!

Hope everyone's off to a great start for a fabulous Fall!

Baby Driver--why they got a Subaru

2010-08-03T16:58:00.000-04:00

Oh, this brings tears to my eyes! I can't imagine that I'll have to let my little girl drive away some day. You can bet she'll be in a Subaru, though! (I've got a ways--she's only 9 months old now. Just starting on the whole walking thing. I'm going to have a hard enough time with that!)

Legacy's one of the "Best Family Cars in 2010" and Thoughts from a New Mommy

2010-05-05T17:09:00.005-04:00

Awards continue to rain down on Subaru vehicles this year!

Most recently, the Subaru Legacy is one of the cars Parents Magazine and Edmunds.com picked as the Best Family Cars in 2010. The 2009 Forester was on this list last year, too. As a new mommy (to 5 month old Makenzi), this is no surprise to me.

It's so funny how your view of cars changes when you start carting around your own tiny human. When I started in the automotive industry, I took a liking to fast cars that looked sexy and garnered the attention of men. In fact, I have to admit that my bright red, turbocharged, sport packaged, windows-tinted car played a role in meeting my husband.

Now, with Makenzi on board, priorities have changed. Of course, safety is paramount. I don't just mean in protecting us if the car is in an accident (although my Legacy has plenty of that (click here to view some videos of how the Legacy held up even in 2000 compared to other cars out there--Dateline NBC Offset Crash Test 1999-2000 Midsize Sedans IIHS), I mean what the car does to make sure I don't get in an accident at all. VDC (vehicle dynamic control) is a must in accident avoidance in all types of weather. All wheel drive is also a necessity because in winter you can't afford to be stuck somewhere with an infant in the car.

What you might not realize is how much space someone who is 25" long and weighs just 15 lbs can take up. Between a stroller, a diaper bag, the huge boxes of diapers you buy, the high chair you need to get, the exersaucer you want to bring on a long trip, etc. you're requiring a whole lot of cargo room! Heaven forbid your spouse wants to come along, too. This forces you to think a lot about how space is used in cars.

Oh, and those little humans aren't cheap to have around. So cost is always a factor, not just in the price of the car but in maintainance and fuel economy. The Legacy CVT (an automatic transmission) now gets up tp 31 miles per gallon (yes, it is still all wheel drive!)

So, I have to wholeheartedly agree with the Parents Magazine/Edmunds.com distinction--the new Legacy is safe, has the space where you need it, and is a tremendous value. Those are all important to this parent!

(But I'm thinking that I'm glad the Legacy is as attractive as it is and is still available with a manual transmission, even if those aren't allowed to be requirements anymore!)

All things New York

2010-04-08T14:13:00.003-04:00

AAhhh - New York - the sights, the sounds, the smells, the people. I was in a New York state of mind yesterday. The day started with dropping Max off at doggie day care, followed by a dash for the train station in New Haven-they need more parking!

A Mom and her two children shared seating with me- they're from North Carolina and have relatives up here. They were enroute to New York to celebrate ten year old Evan's birthday. In the course of conversation we found out they have a 2010 Outback which they love- small world!

I shared my laminated map of NY to help keep them busy- challenged them to find the Empire State Building and the train station on it. We finally reached the long awaited tunnel and said our good byes.

Next up was a nice long walk to the Javits Center - after a few wrong turns I got on the right track and arrived sweaty and thirsty. Inside I made a beeline for the Subaru display and there they were- the new STis and WRXs. The wing is back on the sedan version and the five door is still available. Choices for everyone! Can't wait to go cruising in one.

Also in the NY theme - looking forward to getting a copy of Barbara Hannah Grufferman's book "The Best of Everything after 50. The Experts Guide to Style, Sex, Health, Money, and More." She consulted NY experts when faced with turning 50, wrote the book, and was recently on the Today Show sporting a red dress to show support of women's heart health.

You can check it out at http://www.thebestofeverythingafter50.com/.

And then after the train ride home it was off to band practice where playing Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" reminded me that Yankees-Red Sox baseball was on. By the time I was home plopped in front of the TV it was 1-1 in the ninth.

And in case you don't follow baseball - it was a New York night!

What will Subaru think of next?

2010-04-01T13:20:00.001-04:00

SUBARU TO INTRODUCE DOG DRIVING LESSONS FOR 2010*
Sales success leads maker to recognize pet’s role in family and emergency driving situations
Cherry Hill, April 1, 2010 – Subaru of America, Inc. today announced that it will introduce a nation-wide program of free clinics to teach pets how to drive vehicles. Inspired by Subaru’s current “Dog Tested, Dog Approved” TV advertisements (http://www.yourtube.com/subaru), the program is designed to instruct family pets on rudimentary vehicle operations such as applying a handbrake and activating emergency warning lights.

“Subaru owners index highly on pet ownership” says Subaru spokesman Kay Nighne. “And as we continue to out-perform the industry in terms of our sales, we thought it would be good to celebrate our partnership with ASPCA and integrate our owner’s cars and pets even more closely.”

The program will begin in the Summer and should it prove successful, a more advanced program will be developed for pets who enjoy all-wheel drive performance and will feature such specialized techniques as left-paw braking.

The two real-life stars of the Subaru Dog Tested ads, Heinz Variety Olive and Golden Retriever mix Zelda will be co-instructors on the ground breaking program. Neither dog was available for comment as both were feeling a little husky.

Spokesman for the program, and driving instructor for Olive and Zelda, April Fuhl said, “People assumed we had used camera trickery to make it seem like the dogs were driving the cars, but thanks to our training program, they actually were. Zelda especially loved learning how to pull donuts in the parking lot using her teeth and her tail. We admit we have had some trouble getting smaller animals to steer and operate the pedals at the same time, but using Lassie and Ned as our inspiration we are confident that we can bring Pet Driving to a new level.”

*Nope, not really, it’s an April Fool. Please don’t allow your pets to drive your car.

Spring!

2010-03-09T10:42:00.009-05:00

Hi all - This Diva spent a wonderful weekend in the greenhoue at Van Wilgen's Garden Center - as part of their "Escape to Spring" event. We showed off our cars, greeted many of our customers, and basked in the sunlight. Everyone loved that warm spring feeling after the crazy winter.

Diva Angie arrived with Jeff and their pooch Sasha on Sunday. Sasha worked on her socializing skills and did quite well accepting friendly pats without cowering too much. Jeff also met many of his customers and we agreed that we'll go back next year.

VanWilgens has the hardiest plants and the most helpful staff - they always can help you find what you need. Check them out here http://www.vanwilgens.com/.

Enjoy the spring!

Branford Land Trust

2010-03-04T14:56:00.000-05:00

Today, I wanted to just take a moment and let you know that Premier Subaru is proud to continue to be a Business Member of the Branford Land Trust. The mission of the Branford Land Trust is to preserve open space in Branford, and to promote our community's appreciate of Branford's diverse natural features. It is a GREAT organization with some absolutely wonderful members. When in Branford, make sure you check out their website to learn more about them, as well as the open space properties in Branford that they have been so influencial in securing.

Headlines

Subaru Sales up Again!

2010-03-03T18:24:00.002-05:00

Subaru is defying all odds again with a 38% increase in sales in February! I'm one happy diva knowing that I represent such a solid, growing brand! The redesigned Outback and Legacy models are certainly favorites among car buyers, just as we suspected they would be. Come check them out at Premier Subaru today!

Click here to read the article.

Number One!

2010-02-23T16:50:00.002-05:00

Subaru tied with Honda for number one in Consumer Reports Brand Ranking! http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/toyota-finishes-third-in-consumer-reports-brand-ranking/

And our Forester earned Top pick!

To the Dogs!

2010-02-23T16:39:00.004-05:00

Check out Zelda and Olive and their adventures through this link http://www.subaru.com/enthusiasts/index.html

Subaru Outback Named a Top 10 Family Car for 2010 by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com

2010-02-16T20:05:00.000-05:00

Can it be possible? YES IT IS! More great news on the 2010 Subaru Outback!

Subaru Outback Named a Top 10 Family Car for 2010 by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com

Going to the dogs!

2010-02-06T11:26:00.002-05:00

Check out the poochies lovin' their Subies!

http://www.subaru.com/enthusiasts/index.html

Getting the most from your test drive

2010-01-12T15:20:00.001-05:00

Jen helped you research the many choices you have out there. Now that you've narrowed your choices down you'll need to test drive them to find the best fit. That means -horror of horrors- coming into a car dealership!

I'm going to try to make this process a little easier for you -knowing how things happen will take some of the uncertainty out of the picture. Hopefully this info will save you some time and help narrow down your final purchase.

Call ahead for an appointment. If you've dealt with the dealership internet person don't be surprised when they have a salesperson take you out for a ride. Larger dealerships have a dedicated internet department that only handles internet making it quicker for you to get answers online and salespeople who are familiar with the cars.

Ask that a car be ready when you arrive and set an appointment. If you do arrive and the salesperson has to go get the car from another lot, jump start it, put gas in it - you might want to consider how you'll be treated after the sale if this is how it starts.

For everyone's safety there are some procedures that are common in a dealership. One is filling out a "worksheet" jotting down your name, address, phone number and email address.

At this stage of the game NEVER give out your social security number - they only need to run your credit when you decide to buy the car- and how can you make that decision before driving the car? Besides, more hard inquiries on your credit bureau lower your score.

We'll also require a copy of your driver's license - our insurance companies need to know you have one!

Your salesperson should walk you around the car and point out features that make the car special then make sure you're comfortable in the driver's seat. How was the ease of entry into the car? Before driving off make sure you've adjusted first the seat, then the side and rear view mirrors. Does the steering wheel tilt or telescope?

Things to notice in the driver's seat include - visability - are there blind spots? How far in back of the car can you see? Are you comfortable with the view over the hood?

Are the controls accessible? Radio controls, heating controls? Is there any control you know that you use a lot that's not easy to reach without taking your eyes off the road? Are they easy to see from your driving position?

If you use an Ipod is there a connection? Does it interface with the radio? Is there BlueTooth?

How comfortable is the seat? Do you have plenty of headroom and legroom? What about shoulder room and is there an armrest? How about rear seat room?

Coffee drinker? Check out the cupholders- will they hold your cup? Does the position of them interfere with any controls?

Is there adequate storage for the belongings you usually leave in the car?

Now that you're comfortable - ask for a nice long test drive. While you can usually tell right off if a car is not the right one somethings only become apparent on a longer ride. Request highway and back roads.

How is the acceleration? Does the car seem to strain or can it handle it? Can you safely pass another car on the highway? Does the transmission shift smoothly?
How does the steering feel? Is the wheel comfortable for you to grasp? When you take the car into an empty parking lot how is the turning radius?
How do the brakes handle?
How does the car feel on a bumpy road? On curves? Does it strain going up a hill?
How do the air conditioning and heat work?

Once you've completed the test drive you've hopefully found the car that will bring you many years of driving pleasure.

Before you know it!

2010-01-11T19:07:00.004-05:00

Before you know it the warmer weather will be here - the days have already started getting longer! The Subie Divas are hard at work making deals, taking care of the phones and paperwork, and answering emails.
Please let us know if there's anything we can do to help you!

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-22T17:21:00.003-05:00

Happy Holidays to all! There's still some time left to "Share the Love" and we even have some Subarus looking for new homes.

Congratulations to Diva Jennifer Greenberg and husband, Michael on the arrival of Makenzie Autumn. We think she was worth the wait!

Don't be a Grinch!

2009-11-27T09:05:00.005-05:00

First off- many thanks to those who contributed to the food drive- it was a smashing success!

Share the Love event Dec. 5th 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Donations needed:

Backpacks, hats, scarves, mittens for Boys and Girls Club

Pet food, blankets, and towels for the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter

Small hand tools, aluminum ladders, wheelbarrows, power saws and drills for Habitat for Humanity

Come by, be greeted by boys and girls from the club, see a National Wildlife Federation volunteer and talk about what we can do, and check out the animals available for adoption on our "Adoption Tree"

Don't be a Grinch!

2009-11-16T19:38:00.002-05:00

Don't be a Grinch this holiday season! Subaru can help with the Share the Love event and Premier will help you make it easy to share the love.

For every new Subaru purchased between Nov. 21st and Jan. 4th Subaru will donate $250 to the cutomer's choice of five charities including Boys and Girls Clubs, Meals on Wheels, ASPCA, National Wildlife Federation, and Habitat for Humanity.

Premier is hosting a kick off event on December 5th - with donations accepted for all five charities and information available about all too. We may be looking for help in filling up our parts truck with some needed items for the holiday season - Habitat could use some hand tools for example.

We'll keep you posted on more details - mark the date!

Getting there - a ways to go yet!

2009-11-14T16:20:00.002-05:00

Help us fill 'er up! Don't let anyone go hungry this holiday season!

Help us fill 'er up!

2009-11-13T17:18:00.003-05:00

We need your help - we have a Forester on the showroom floor that we are filling with food to donate to those less fortunate through Christian Community Action.

Food has been trickling in - big thanks to Rich, Bob, and Brian and all those who've given so far. And we still have a ways to go. The food will help feed 1600 people- 50% are children so dig deep and come on down!

Premier is also a drop off point for Toys for Tots. Especially now there are folks who need our help!

Just do it!

Outback

2009-09-25T17:51:00.005-04:00

Motor Trend named the 2010 Subaru Outback the SUV of the year. It's also been named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety.
On top of that it's rated to get 29 mpg on the highway, has more rear legroom, and don't forget the beauty of all wheel drive.
All this and detergent to get the stains out!
Yes, you read it right! Outback detergent! Check out the infomercial www.outbackdetergent.com.

2009-07-30T07:33:00.005-04:00

Mandy and Tammy walked 60 miles in Boston last weekend to support breast cancer research. Over 1600 walkers raised over 4 million dollars for the cause. Tired - yes, blisters - yes, great experience - yes! For more info click to http://www.3day.org/ - there's walks in the fall in Philly and DC. If you can't walk how about crewing?

Reminder: Barb invited you to join Facebook...

2009-07-22T09:06:00.001-04:00

facebook

Hi,

The following person recently invited you to be their friend on Facebook:

Barb Mather Mullen
97 friends
2 photos

Other people you may know on Facebook:

	Michael D. Mullen New Haven, CT		Tammy Aiello New Haven, CT
	Steve Potter New Haven, CT		Eileen Crane
	Pete Carletti New Haven, CT		Cynthia Caligan Hartford, CT

Facebook is a great place to keep in touch with friends, post photos, videos and create events. But first you need to join! Sign up today to create a profile and connect with the people you know.

Thanks,
The Facebook Team

Facebook is free and anyone can join.

To sign up for Facebook, follow the link below:

http://www.facebook.com/r.php?re=b1b168829f5e5032223837e2df684c80&mid=d10c17G5f90f858G2de778G46

This message was intended for namamullen.pastpint@blogger.com. If you do not wish to receive this type of email from Facebook in the future, please click here to unsubscribe.
Facebook's offices are located at 1601 S. California Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94304.

2010 Outback

2009-06-16T16:53:00.007-04:00

Nama attended training today on the new Outback and Legacy and couldn't resist taking a picture of the new Cypress green pearl Outback.

Some of the new features include framed windows, auto-on headlights, a continuous variable transmission that's smoother and more fuel efficient, a larger fuel tank for greater range, electronic parking brake -it eliminates the e-brake handle near the console for more room, etc, etc. And there have been reports of 30 mpg on the highway!

Take the link to http://www.subaru.com/ to see more.

The Legacy GT - the turbo charger is now mounted underneath the engine so the exhaust travels a shorter route yielding a 30% increase in responsiveness- less turbo lag!

Both cars are more roomy inside - increased legroom and cargo space. And you have to agree the styling is phenomenal.

The best surprise is that we have a 2010 Legacy here at Premier - it's not available for sale or test drives yet, but is on the showroom floor for your exploring pleasure.

So COME ON DOWN!!!!

Nine years, nine lives!

2009-06-02T12:14:00.004-04:00

Today marks my ninth anniversary here at Premier! I was here for about two months before Bob and Brian and was happy to welcome them aboard.

There were many changes back then - a cleaner work environment, more cars to sell, more papers to fill out - and somehow we all got together and made Premier a great place to work, buy a car, and get it serviced.

Thank you Bob and Brian - the road's had lots of curves and bumps along the way and each time we've bounced back and used up some of those nine lives, always landing on our feet. With some laughs, tears, and sweat along the way.

Looking forward to another nine and celebrating the tenth anniversary next year! Thanks to all who've been here!

Celia's Birthday!

2009-05-04T15:37:00.011-04:00

Recently some of the Divas gathered at Donovan's Reef to celebrate Celia's birthday. She claims no one has ever thrown her a bash like this one before!

Happy Birthday to the evening voice of Premier!

And, Jen, we missed you girlfriend!

Shoes and Vehicles, a Comparison Shopping Comparison*

2009-04-22T18:00:00.011-04:00

Greetings Divas!

I know women who will go into a shoe store and spend a couple hours trying on 50 pairs of shoes to find that perfect $49.99 pair they’ll wear 4 or 5 times over one season.

Some of those same women will purchase a car for over $25,000 that they plan to drive every day for 3-4 years without even getting in it first.

(I don’t entirely blame them, with some of the stories I heard about how bad they’ve been treated at dealerships--but that doesn't make it okay!)

Even women who do plan to test-drive the car tend to "over-research." All the knowledge about pricing, fuel economy, rebates, financing, etc. isn't going to help you if you sit in the car only to find that the seat pokes you in one spot on your back, or that you can't see out the back window or that you can't possibly fit that car seat and your other children in the back seat together.

To begin putting this blog together, I began by scouring the internet looking for “women car-buying tips” in the hopes I’d find a neat little list that I could just expand upon after giving proper credit to the original author. Unfortunately, I was a little disappointed.

I found a bunch of sites out there offering tips, but they typically said the same thing—“Do your homework, go online and research.” It’s great advice; everyone should go online and research. That’s how you walk into a dealership with the advantage. It’s advice I even gave a Subie Diva who was kind enough to make a comment about my last post who was concerned about feeling gouged by a dealer.

Most women I know, though, are so horrified by the experiences they’ve had or heard about that they do ALL their research online. While there’s a lot of good information out there, it’s a HUGE purchase. I would think that #1 on every women's car-buying tip list should be, “GO TEST-DRIVE THE CAR.”

Sure, it seems simple and kind of one of those things that should go unsaid. But I speak with hundreds of women each month who are online shopping for a car, and I’m always surprised by how many are really thinking they’ll go ahead and pick out a car without driving it.

My goal with this post is to try to outline when to move from “Go online” to “Go on in” to the dealership.

To decide where to draw the line, I ask you to consider the decision making process you might use for shoes. There are 5 steps, no matter what the decision. I’ll use a table comparing a shoe purchase to a car purchase to illustrate:

Decision Step	Shoes	Cars
Need recognition	Bought new dress, no matching shoes	Lease is up on your current car
Information gathering/criteria determination	Consider various types of shoes and where you might purchase them	Peruse internet for details on the 200 car models currently available (600-800 if you’re considering a recent model year certified pre-owned car)
Evaluating alternatives	Once you’ve narrowed down the type of shoes and where they’re available, go in to a store or two and try on a few styles and sizes	Once you’ve narrowed down a few models that work for your needs and budget, go into dealership to experience the cars (and dealerships!!!)
Purchase decision	Grab a pair or two and walk up to the cashier with your credit card out	Decide which vehicle you want and at which dealership you’ll buy it and go and sign all the paperwork and pick up your new car
Post-purchase evaluation	Wear the shoes out and think about how they look and feel with the new dress	Drive your car and consider if it meets all the criteria you established and whether you’re happy with your purchase experience

See? The process is the same no matter the purchase. Obviously the car process might take a little longer. But at some point you’re probably going to want some first-hand experience with either product. And if there’s one you’d want to buy without trying, it’s the shoes, not the car.

As the customer care representative who handles inbound emails and phone calls, I thought I’d give you the top things you can and cannot do online:

TOP 5 THINGS YOU SHOULD DO ONLINE BEFORE YOU VISIT A CAR DEALERSHIP:
1) After you determine your budget, determine which vehicles fit and do some checking at the dealer level for pricing
2) Make sure your “have-to-have” features will be in the model that fits your budget (the car advertised at that low, low price may not have leather or even an automatic transmission)
3) CHECK OUT THE SAFETY FEATURES AND RATINGS on the car—go to third party sites like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/) that show crash-test results, recalls, and other safety ratings
4) Read thirty party reviews of the vehicles you’re considering such as Edmunds (http://www.edmunds.com/)
5) Contact a local dealer to set up your test-drive appointment (your first email/phone communication is really where your test-drive of the DEALERSHIP begins—if you don’t feel comfortable, call/email another dealer. (Wanna skip all the usual runaround? Call me—1-800-411-4551 or email sales@premiersubaru.com)

TOP 5 VEHICLE TOPICS YOU CANNOT RESEARCH ONLINE:
1) Does the driver’s seat feel comfortable to you and do you find the controls for radio, etc. easy to reach?
2) Are there blind spots at your particular height?
3) Will all of your family members and their necessary cargo fit comfortably in the car?
4) Is the salesperson respectful of your time and budget?
5) Do you trust the dealership’s service department and do they offer any perks for customers who buy and service there?

Hopefully by following these steps you’ll have a happy, easy buying experience! Remember, you’re the one with the pocketbook, so you’re the one with the power. If you don’t feel respected, don’t spend another minute with the dealership. There are good dealerships and good sales representatives out there—stop by Premier and I’ll introduce you to a few!

Keep an eye out for Nama Mullen’s tips on how to get the most out of your new car test-drive experience.

*These tips, of course, are really only necessary if for some strange, silly reason you are forced to purchase a car not sold by Premier Subaru. If you are in the USA, though, and you realize that the Subaru is the best car for the money, you are welcome to skip reading this and come on into the Premier to pick out a car. Perhaps it’s not a Subaru, but one of our pre-owned cars. You won’t need to worry about how to get a great deal or being treated right, those are our specialties. Thanks for reading my shameless plug, I’m done now. Well, after I mention that all the great deals are posted at http://www.premiersubaru.com/.

2010 Legacy

2009-04-15T12:57:00.001-04:00

You have a Picture Mail from barbara463@pm.sprint.com

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Live at NY Auto Show

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Send and receive Pictures and Videos through Picture Mail^SM. For more information go to www.sprint.com/picturemail.

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2009-04-14T19:34:00.001-04:00

Test

2010 Subaru Outback Makes Surprise Debut at New York International Auto Show

2009-04-13T18:00:00.000-04:00

2010 Subaru Outback Makes Surprise Debut at New York International Auto Show

New service hours!

2009-04-04T11:38:00.003-04:00

Subie Diva Angie is hard at work on her first extended Saturday in our service department! Service is open until 4 p.m. today.

2010 Legacy!!!

2009-03-31T18:26:00.007-04:00

Click on 2010 Legacy above.
It's here- first photos of the 2010 Legacy to be unveiled at the New York Auto Show that runs from April 10th to the 19th.
Check out the interior - love the lines!

Happy Birthday!!!!

2009-03-28T09:46:00.002-04:00

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy birthday today, Saturday, to our favorite General Sales Manager - Brian Dubosar!!!!

And Sunday - Happy Birthday to our General Manager - Bob Alvine!!

We hope they both enjoy their special days.

Warranty Scam Update...

2009-03-20T15:51:00.004-04:00

Hello everyone! Just a little update for all to see. Our general manager, Robert Alvine, is at it again! Please find below the letter that was written to the Attorney General of Connecticut, Richard Blumenthal, pointing out a specific company that has been harassing many of our customers and car owners.

Also, please click on the link below to view "Dealer Warranty Services" Better Business Bureau report...

http://www.bbb.org/stlouis/business-reviews/auto-warranty-processing-service/dealer-warranty-services-in-saint-charles-mo-310036859?noskin&fax=Y

Fast & Furious 2009 Subaru WRX STI on Inside Line

2009-03-20T12:28:00.001-04:00

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Barb Mather Mullen 9:28am Mar 20th	Fast & Furious 2009 Subaru WRX STI on Inside Line To namamullen.pastpint@blogger.com Wow! Barb has shared a link with you. To view it or to reply to the message, follow this link: http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=1171782986&k=3W15Y2S2TVVM5DDCRAY5YT
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The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Beers...

2009-03-19T14:27:00.003-04:00

Note: I was forwarded this short story and it's really touching so I thought I would share with everyone.

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 beers.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things. Your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions. If everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like, your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else. The small stuff.

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first. The things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented. The professor smiled and said, "I'm glad you asked. The beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers with a friend."

Tips for Buying a Car--Part 1 Introduction

2009-03-10T16:15:00.008-04:00

Hello ladies! With Bickster’s blog on those annoying warranty calls being so helpful, I thought I’d see how else we might be able to help folks have a better car buying/owning/servicing experience. With all the experience the Subie Divas have, we’ve got to have some good advice, right? I mean, of course, for the poor folks who aren’t fortunate enough to be able to purchase from Premier for whatever reason—I guess if you live in a foreign country or want some sort of weird car that Subaru doesn’t make ;)

Since I’m on the car sales end of this business, I thought I’d start by seeing what kind of issues women have when they go to purchase a car and see how we could help.

I found out that women influence 95% of purchases and make 65% of new car purchases and 53% of used car purchases. (http://www.roadandtravel.com/newsworthy/newsandviews04/womenautostats.htm) You’d think that with that kind of influence a woman would feel like a queen walking into any showroom, right?

Wrong. A 2006 Capital One survey of 1000 women showed that 77 percent of women plan to bring a man along for their next vehicle purchase, mostly to feel that they're getting a fair deal. (http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2006/06/01/009311.html)

Next, I wanted to get the "word on the street" about how women feel about buying a car. I asked my female friends and family about they felt about buying a car. I can tell you that most didn’t feel like queens, that’s for sure. Here’s how they responded to the question: “What are your biggest pet peeves about buying a car,” with names, dealerships and car brands removed to protect the innocent (and not so innocent):

B: ..when the guy at (car brand) acted like the (large SUV) was "too big" for me...haha as if!! I bought from another salesman at that dealership who was a friend of a friend...I definitely mentioned it to him and made sure the other guy knew I went with the (large SUV)...and not the (small SUV) like he suggested-I love my (large SUV) -no way was I going to let him talk me out of getting what I wanted!!
E: The salesmen...why is it always men?
E in response to B: We ran into something along the same line a few years ago at(dealership)...would never go back there. Matter of fact there are a few dealerships around here we wouldn't go back to. Still don't like dealing with salesmen...like a woman wouldn't know what was under a hood..most of the salesmen don't either they just yes you to death until the sale is final...Oh I could get on a role with this question Jen!
One of the times we were purchasing a car I did it through the internet, I knew what we wanted since we had researched the car and such..I was contacted by the internet manager (female) who was fantastic...answered all my questions, knew the answers to everything .. and was a real "people person"...when I got to the dealership I thought I was going to meet with her to purchase the car...that was the understanding I got from her..she did come out and greet me and then poof I was in the hands of a "salesman" who tried to convince me that wasn't what I wanted...additionally he was NOT able to answer some of my questions, did not give me correct information about the car and got frustrated with my wanting to know specific things..we left that dealership and went to another. My feelings..if the internet manager had been able to sell me the car I would have bought it there...can you tell by my writing that I've am not really happy with dealerships.
H: Salesmen. talking down to me thinking I couldn't POSSIBLY know what I was talking about (when I knew more about that car than he did) or trying to convince me I wanted a different car than I had already decided I was buying. My sister lived in CT and got her car in MA because of condescending salesmen.
A: I've never had any trouble, but man do they HATE me! Once I know what I want I pit the hungry dealership managers against one another for the lowest price possible. Plus, I'm 6 feet tall and kinda mean.
L: Told me this story—When she went to test-drive a car she was told she wouldn’t be able to because it was a manual transmission. (Apparently the sales person didn’t notice she’d driven a manual there.) To make the transaction even more enjoyable, the sales rep directed his entire pitch at her 11-year-old brother.
K: Was kind enough to share how she went online and had already decided exactly what she wanted before she even spoke with anyone because she just wanted the newer version of what she already had. She contacted several dealers via phone and email and described her ideal vehicle. On two separate occasions at two different dealerships, she was told that they had her exact car. When she’d arrive at the dealership, the “exact car” would have an automatic instead of a manual transmission and about $10k-$15k in extra options that she didn’t want. She finally found a dealership (with a female internet manager) that located the exact car and sold it to her, no tricks or strings attached.

So, in summary, the women I talked to felt like they were typically steered towards a car they didn’t want and felt they were talked down to. And it seems like most of my friends and family found the quick solution to that problem—either find another sales rep at the same dealership or head out to another dealership. Other issues were that the process wasn’t what they were told it would be, and that information was directed at a male with the female.

(Another point I’d like to quickly make as part of the “shameless internet plug” program—none of the above women were attempting to purchase a vehicle from Premier Subaru. You can click here to see what our customers have to say.)

So I’m asking you, our readers, to chime in and let us know what you hate and/or love about the buying process. My next blog will begin with how to get the most out of your pre-purchase research, look for it on Thursday afternoon! After that, Barb’s going to help us out with some tips on what to do once you’re in the showroom!

"Your warranty is about to expire..."

2009-03-04T14:51:00.025-05:00

-ring ring- "Hello?"

-electronic recording- "Your vehicle warranty is about to expire. Please press 1 to speak with a representative"

If you are like many vehicle owners, you've probably received countless numbers of these calls over the past year (more recently it seems) from an unlisted number with a voice stating you will be out of warranty if you don't do something now. You may have been contacted by phone, letter, and maybe even post cards. Logically, like many of us (including myself) you pressed 1 in fear that there was something wrong with your warranty. The phone call then connects you with a representative. However, you find that once being connected and begin asking questions, they immediately disconnect the call. And since their number was unlisted to being with, the caller disappears as quickly as they rang through.

This is a nationwide scam that is plaguing many car owners. The company has no name. They have no caller ID. They have no relation to the dealer or place where your vehicle was purchased. The numbers they are calling are randomly chosen without any knowledge of your vehicle or any existing warranties you may have on it. Even if you are registered on the "Do Not Call" list, they seem to have found a way around it and continue to contact you anyway. If you press #2 as stated in the recording to be removed from the list, the calls continue to come in. And there may not be anything we feel we can do about it.... or is there?!

At Premier Subaru, our General Manager, Robert Alvine, takes these scams and the effect it has had on our customers very seriously. On multiple occasions over the past few years he has contacted many branches of our government in order to find a solution to this ongoing and increasingly harassing warranty scam.

Please find below a link to his most recent correspondence to the Attorney General of Connecticut, Richard Blumenthal.

http://s598.photobucket.com/albums/tt62/premiersubaru/?action=view&current=LettertoBlumenthalREWarrantyCalls_P.jpg

Premier Subaru is recommending to our customers and all vehicle owners alike to have a voice. If you are receiving these calls or mailings, take the time and contact your local branch of government. Write a letter to the Attorney General of Connecticut. Let them know how these never-ending phone calls and mailings are disrupting your everyday life. The more voices that are heard, hopefully, the more our government will stand up and help.

Maybe then we can put an end to feeling of dread when we hear our phone... -ring ring-

Happy Birthday!

2009-02-28T09:01:00.002-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Holly Scoville, Sharon Drakos, Cathy Schwanfelder, Marcel Blanchet, Arlene Schwartz, Adam Schaefer, and Debora Earl all blow out candles today.

The Subie Divas hope you all have a very special day!

Happy Birthday!

2009-02-27T09:24:00.003-05:00

Happy birthday to Cornelius Sansone, Lenny Hutchins, Jackie Barker, and Greg Kennedy!

HI ALL

2009-02-26T10:36:00.002-05:00

Just to let all of you know that it's such a pleasure to be back in the Automotive business again. I have been blessed to have Barb for a friend now...let's see....mmmmm....since 1998...and also my new friends, Amy, Bic, and C ...

2009-02-26T10:26:00.004-05:00

GLAD I'M HERE

I'm looking forward to my silver anniversary (April 9th) for working in automotive accounting. I've worked for Saab, Chrysler and now Subaru. Hats off the the best dealer principal there ever was, Bob Alvine.

Happy Birthday!

2009-02-26T10:07:00.002-05:00

Big birthday wishes today to Judd Garziano, Ron Butin, and Michell Koss!

Belated birthday wishes (yesterday) to Richard Edwards, Darren McGowan, Henry Miller,Liz Santamaria,Cinthia Greco, and Terrence Finn!

Day Off

2009-02-25T08:55:00.002-05:00

Catching up on all that fun stuff at home - laundry, the cat box, vacuuming, dishes, etc. Looking forward to taking Max for a long walk later and have to go pick up his food.
After 20 years in the automotive field I have learned that sometimes you really need balance in your life. Everyone needs some - especially in these hectic, connected times.
The power of the intraweb - I connected with a dear friend last night and we're meeting Sat. night for coffee!

modern technology

2009-02-24T18:50:00.000-05:00

this intraweb stuff is here to stay! live from my mobile -it's not true -you can teach an old dog new tricks!

Subie Divas: Thanks for letting me post!

2009-02-24T18:28:00.000-05:00

Subie Divas: Thanks for letting me post!

Today!

2009-02-24T15:09:00.002-05:00

Today Paula and Russ picked up their new Legacy - it took us a while to find them the right car, but once we did the rest was easy!
Yesterday Anne got her new Outback - thank you! That's at least her third from me.
Hubby is traveling for work this week - is there a girls night out there somewhere? I'm going to take advantage and try to clean up and organize his home office- must be nice to have a secretary, huh?
Jen is sitting next to me answering all those email inquiries from folks looking to get into a new or preowned Subie.
Max is either sleeping on a chaise lounge or chewing his new smelly bone on my bed - get off of there, Max!

Thanks for letting me post!

2009-02-24T15:07:00.004-05:00

Hello all! Thanks to Barb for inviting me to post here on Subie Divas!

I'm newer addition to the Premier Subaru Divas crew, and I'm excited to be a part of the team.

My entire career has been in internet automotive sales--I started off as an internet sales manager in Tulsa, Oklahoma. From there, I worked in software and online advertising sales to car dealerships. In fact, over the last 5 years or so I've probably been in over 250 car dealerships.

That, along with my own experiences as a consumer, have shown me that being female can be tough when it comes to buying or servicing a car. Sometimes men expect that my husband makes my purchase decisions or that he'll know more about problems I might have with my car. Sometimes the conversations I overhear in dealership showrooms aren't very respectful.

Not so here at Premier, though. When I joined the team here back in August, I joined a dealership that has women in every department (click the link to meet our staff). There's Barb in new car sales, Laura in pre-owned sales, Jamie and Angie in our service department, Amy, Victoria, Celia, and Ginny in our administrative and accounting department, and now me in the Customer Care Center.

All of us "Subie Divas" here have experience in various aspects of buying and owning a Subaru--from getting the best deal to keeping a car in tip top shape. And we've got stories, I assure you!

So, thanks to Barb, we're planning on sharing. Better yet, we're interested in your experiences and questions about buying and servicing a Subaru--good or bad!

How can we help make your Subaru ownership better and or easier?

Oh, and this is my new car, which I just got in January and I'm still so excited about!!!

My Subie

Welcome!

2009-02-10T19:56:00.000-05:00

Hi all! We hope to help anyone out there through the car buying and servicing process. Any questions you have, we'll answer! Stay tuned for more fun and photos.