ASK GARY: Give mom the gift she really wants!

Where would we be without our mothers? Our answers can range from literal (nonexistent) to emotional (nowhere near the person I am today), but the bottom line is that our mothers are all extremely important to us, and we should, at least once a year, make sure we let them know. But gone are the days where our Mother’s Day present would be something we made for her during a school arts and craft project –as we grow older and the parental relationship matures, we learn more about the person behind all the smiles, hugs, and love, and wonder what would make my mother happiest?

This is an answer that may come from a private piece of information only a son or daughter has, but moms want a lot of the same things. A poll conducted by CBS Boston found that, after going out to brunch with the family, the activity mother’s favor most on their special day is having a spa day. It’s a great opportunity for relaxation that mothers are sometimes reluctant about getting for themselves, so giving it as a gift might be just the push needed for them to really enjoy themselves.

As a commitment to the tranquility of mothers everywhere, every vehicle leased or purchased from Jaffarian Volvo Toyota Scion  on or before Mother’s Day (May 12th, don’t forget!) will come with its very own $250 Day Spa gift for Mom. These gifts are valid at both Skin Serenity Medispa in Haverhill, and Sea Grass Therapies in Methuen, and would be a great way to surprise your mother this Sunday! Let Mom choose which of these locally owned fabulous day spas to go to.

More than anything, I hope everyone takes these next few days to truly reflect on what their mother means to them, and the ways that would best express this gratitude. Whether it be a spa day, a family meal, or a gift from the heart, just letting your mother know how much you care is the most important gift she could receive.

Happy Mother’s Day to all!

ASK GARY: May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and like actual motorcycles on the road, this might come as a surprise to you. With the weather getting warmer and sunnier, motorcycles will be more prevalent on the road, and we need to be sure they are noticed as well. One of the greatest dangers of cycling occurs when other vehicles do not see them, or fail to give them adequate space.

For those driving in cars and trucks, please be sure to check your mirrors when changing lanes and turning – don’t forget that we have blind spots and that turning your head is the best way to have full awareness of your surroundings. Newer models have indicators to assist in identifying a vehicle in your blind spot, but better safe than sorry. With more motorcycles on the road, share the road and give them plenty of space! Treat them like a full-sized vehicle, leaving plenty of distance between you and them and never try sharing the lane with them.

Motorcyclists will have heard this advice hundreds of time, but always drive defensively and visibly! As important as good riding gear is, the best way to stay safe is to avoid any incident in the first place. Knowing where vehicles have blind spots and doing your best to avoid riding in that blind spot can be lifesaving.

Drive (or ride) safely to make this a safe month for everyone on the road!

ASK GARY: What should I consider while driving this Earth Day?

Today is Earth Day, and it judging by the weather, it seems like Mother Earth is celebrating with us! As automobile owners, our choices and driving habits can have a significant effect on the environment, as they will also largely determine the choices and habits of our children. Today is a great day to take the initiative on cleaning up outside litter, buying organic local food , and turning off unused lights, but is also a chance to reflect on the way we do and perceive things.

A great thing that consumers are changing their minds over is the viability of hybrid vehicles. A recent study found that hybrid sales in 2012 were 40% more than in the previous year. I’m also very proud to say that Toyota has sold its 5 millionth hybrid, and has captured over 1/3rd of the hybrid vehicle market. Of course, there are many great non-Toyota hybrids on the market, and recent technological strides have made plug-in electric vehicles a viable option as well. For anyone thinking about purchasing a new vehicle, I’d recommend keeping an open mind about a hybrid or electric vehicle. The Prius C has been receiving many distinctions, from the IIHS Top Safety Pick Award, to awards for its good mileage/low fuel costs and high resale value. Our inventory can be found here, and remember that there are quite a few unexpected perks to owning a hybrid –for Earth Day, hybrids were allowed to park free in New York City, and given free washes in St. Louis!

Another habit many of us should reconsider is idling. Sometimes we’ll just be getting out of the car to make a quick trip, but the amount of fuel used by 10 seconds of idling is the same amount needed to restart the engine –meaning if you park for more than 30 seconds, you should turn off your engine. Beliefs that engines need time to warm up really only apply to very old cars and diesel engines, as most modern engines do not requires this. Idling engines also combust fuel below the peak temperature, leading to excessive residue build up. While turning off your engine doesn’t make much sense to do while sitting in traffic, the next time you are off running some errands, or run back home because you forgot something, consider turning off the engine.

And of course, making sure your tires are properly inflated can yield a drastic improvement on your fuel efficiency, and keep you safer in case of any emergency. It’s a quick and painless process, and can be done at almost any gas station. I’ve made a video on how to properly check tire pressure, and hope you take a moment to watch it.

If you’re really committed to a successful Earth Day, ride your bike instead of driving today! Maybe even take a walk! And if you have to drive, do it with the A/C off, and the windows down! It’s a myth that open windows decreases fuel efficiency by increasing air resistance, and it’s certainly a nice change of pace to experience weather that makes us happy.

As always, drive safe, and drive green!

Our 3rd Annual Customer Appreciation Event is this Saturday!

Hopefully you’ve heard the news, but if not, this Saturday, we are hosting our 3rd Annual Customer Appreciation event. I hope that everyone interested comes out to Jaffarian’s Fishing Extravaganza, where Gene Ellison “The Fishing Machine” will be teach and answer questions in a friendly, highly interactive environment.

As a Professional Bass Angler and recipient of the Professional Anglers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, Gene Ellison remains extremely passionate about teaching, appearing at live demonstrations, teaching classes for children, and has even written a children’s book –Teach Me Fishing. Gene also has a weekly radio show, in which he speaks to amateur anglers about the experiences and insights gained from his years as a tournament angler.

So for all those interested in bass fishing, or have ever thought about fishing, I highly encourage you to come to our event this Saturday. Rain or shine (hoping for the latter!), we will have a cookout and our neighbors from the River Street Bait & Tackle Shop will join in the event, raffling off prizes. Bring your kids as well –the first 75 kids will receive a free fishing rod and activity books will also be available for the kids. Fun for all ages!

Check out the flyer below, and hope to see you tomorrow!

ASK GARY: How Should I Get My Vehicle Ready for Spring?

April showers bring May flowers, and if it means finally moving on to spring, I, for one, am ready for these May flowers. We’ve had some rough few months in New England, with sudden bouts of snow, rain and wind to dampen our spirits. And while it looks like the weather may finally be ready to move on, now is a great time to say sayonara to the gloomy days by treating your vehicle to the new windshield wiper blades it deserves.

Windshield wipers are not the most glamorous part of the vehicle, but they do serve the essential purpose of keeping your vision of the road clear. If your wiper blades have been leaving streaks, or have been skipping and squeaking, then it’s best to replace them now. Windshield wipers need to be able to keep your view of the road unobstructed even in the worst conditions –replacing worn out ones now means one less concern on your mind.

While we’re on the topic of saying our season’s farewell to bad weather conditions, now is a great time to remember to wash all the road salt off of your vehicles! As previously mentioned, salt is one of the main culprits of rust, and once your car develops rust, it’s going to be a long battle to completely eliminate it. Wash your vehicle now, paying special attention to the undercarriage, and behind the wheels –better yet, take your car to a car wash that also cleans the undercarriage. It might be the last time you see water hitting your windshield for several months!

Drive safe, and get ready for spring!

Jaffarian Volvo Wins Dealer of the Year

I’ve recently received the exciting news that DealerRater has named Jaffarian Volvo Dealer of the Year in Massachusetts. This is the second consecutive year that we’ve been awarded this honor, and it pleases me so much to know that our commitment to customer service is being so well received by our customers. What is even more rewarding is that the Dealer of the Year award is decided by customers. This means that our customers are not only receiving good experiences with Jaffarian Volvo, but they’re also sharing them online, allowing everyone to be a more informed customer.

I am extremely proud and thankful for my team at Jaffarian Volvo, as well the customers who shared their reviews. We will continue to earn our business and provide exceptional quality and service with everything we do. We are so grateful to earn this recognition, and you can bet we are trying to win it again next year.

Thank you all for your support!

ASK GARY: Toyota Deserves Credit for Innovation

Toyota has consistently been offering quality innovations to the industry in a way that often gets overlooked by consumers. If you stop to think about it, it’s simple to see how much Toyota has impacted the automobile industry: the company not only pioneered lean manufacturing for automobile manufacturers (now used by all manufacturers), but have established several trends in consumer vehicles, the Toyota Prius being the most recent trendsetter.

It is no surprise that this article in the Eagle Tribune contends that Toyota is a car manufacturer deserving of our respect. There are certainly no disagreements from me! The author uses a story of the Toyota RAV4 to illuminate Toyota’s innovative spirit, and how it has affected the entire class of SUVs for drivers. Even more interesting, he goes on to compare Toyota’s recent years to the classic years of General Motors, stating that this is the reasons American consumers love Toyotas so much.

I would highly recommend giving this article a quick read through. I’ve gotten my word in, but what about yours? I would love to hear the opinions and stories of my readers.

Safe driving!