How can I minimize the costs of driving?

This is a timely question as continued rising fuel prices have people wondering how to reduce the costs of operating a vehicle. With increased spending necessary just to fill the tank, drivers wonder if they should put off spending money on car repairs and maintenance.

The answer to that is “No.” Taking care of your vehicle actually saves you money both on fuel costs as well as long-term expenses. Of course, there are additional things you can do to conserve fuel such as taking it easy on accelerating from a stop and driving at 55MPH on the highway. But, keeping a close eye on maintenance for your vehicle will actually save on fuel costs as well. And it is an investment that can pay off by extending the life of your vehicle.

Whoever thought filling the gas tank would cost $100? With gas prices continuing to rise, we all look for ways to save. While we can’t affect the price at the pump, taking care of your vehicle and ensuring it is operating at optimal efficiency will save you money over time. For more information on how to reduce total costs of operating your car, SUV or truck, both in the short-term and long-term, see our tips on How to Get Better Gas Mileage.

We are here to help you make informed decisions about servicing your vehicle. Visit us in Haverhill or call us at 866-937-8658.

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!

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: How did Volvo do in the recent crash tests covered in the press??

Each year the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) specifies a battery of crash tests, from many different angles, to help consumers make the right choices when it comes to automobile safety. This year IIHS conducted a new crash test called the Small Overlap Frontal Crash Test where 25% of a car’s front end on the driver’s side strikes a 5-foot-high barrier at 40 miles per hour. The outcomes of these tests were prominent in the press as news organizations showed the dramatic results. Only one European luxury sedan earned the highest rating of “good” rating from the IIHS, the 2012 Volvo S60.

Watch an incredible video of the 2012 Volvo S60 small overlap test below by clicking here.

In the very same test, both the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the Audi A4 earned a “poor” rating, while the BMW 3-Series earned a “marginal” rating. In addition, the Volvo S60 also scored the highest in Structural Integrity among all cars tested. That’s crucial because in certain crashes, a robust structure along with a strong safety cage work in tandem to absorb much of the impact thereby helping protect the occupants.

As a Volvo dealer, I am very pleased that the Volvo S60 earned great results during its crash safety test. Pleased, but not surprised. Volvo has a solid reputation for design, performance and safety. A reason my grandfather became the first Volvo dealer in New England back in 1958. We see the S60 continuing to stay as one of the safest new Volvo vehicles. Volvo has been performing thousands of Small Overlap Tests since the 1980s and keeping the results in mind when designing newer models.

Other automotive manufacturers may be content to design their vehicles to excel in existing tests, but Volvo is continually looking for new opportunities to improve on passenger safety. Volvo doesn’t build cars to merely pass crash tests, but builds them for people who will eventually drive them. Safety is utmost concern to Volvo and to me. Safe and Secure is more than a program that Volvo offers, it is the way they design and build automobiles. Visit our Volvo showroom online or visit our state of the art showroom to join the Jaffarian Volvo family and experience Volvo engineering for yourself.

Be safe…and secure.