What a Year at Butler Acura!

Let me start with a whole hearted “Thank you!” to all our Butler Acura Sales and Service customers! With your help we increased sales year over year by 89% and hit 112% of the 2012 sales goals set for us by Acura Corporate. Those two things together add up to the best year for new car sales in recent Butler Acura history!

After such a great year we are not about to rest on our laurels. Planned improvements to sales and service will result in a better selection of cars for your future purchases and a more comfortable facility. And new hires in the service department will reduce your waiting times.

As for staff, we will maintain our wonderful service department led by Joe Butterfield with master certified tech Chris May leading technicians in their training and development. On the sales side we’ve made some staffing changes. For those of you who don’t know me I am Peter McFadden, Butler Acura Sales Manager. For most of the past six years I had the privilege of meeting most Acura clients. Six months ago I moved from our Acura store to Butler Hyundai and Kia in Medford to continue my automotive education. Then, in October 2011 I was honored to take the helm of Butler Automotive Group’s luxury brand with an eye on making it more than it already was.

We have kept John Oliviera as our senior Acura product specialist. John’s customer service skills are fantastic and he makes the process of buying a car easy and fun. He’s worked hard to learn the brand and is already on his way to being among Butler’s elite sales consultants. John prides himself on making sure his customers are lifelong members of the Butler Acura Family.

John and I are joined by another of the company’s senior sales consultants from our Hyundai Store, Dave Peterson. Don’t let the fact that he is new to the Acura brand fool you. Dave completed Acura training faster than any other sales consultant with the exception of myself in the past six years and is rapidly becoming our Acura technology expert. Having been Hyundai and Kia certified for the last few years, Dave brings a new enthusiasm and perspective to the Acura store. Add to that the fact that he’s almost completed the grueling Ford Certification, as well, and Dave is poised to become the only Butler Sales Consultant certified in all brands we sell.

What does all this mean? It means Butler Acura’s future is brighter than ever before. With exciting new products like the Acura RLX, successor to the RL, on the horizon we look forward to a huge year with your help.

So, whether you recently joined our family or have been a member for years, thank you for helping make 2012 a phenomenal year. May 2013 be even better!

Happy New Year to you and yours,

Peter McFadden / Sales Manager, Butler Acura

2012: Blog Year in Review

(Thanks to everyone who read and commented on our blog this year!  We love sharing with you!  If there’s anything you’d like us to focus on in 2013 let us know!)

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 25,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this blog would power 6 Film Festivals

Click here to see the complete report.

The Hyundai Veloster C3 Roll Top Concept Debuts at L.A. Auto Show

Hyundai Veloster C3 Roll Top concept

With the Veloster Hyundai shattered the idea that compact cars had to be boring.  The4-passenger, 3-door hatchback sports a unique design, a budget price, and competitive fuel efficiency.  Now, Hyundai’s taking out-of-the-box thinking to another level with the Veloster C3 Roll Top Concept debuting  at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week.  Power the canvas roll top back and enjoy the open air freedom of a convertible.  Power the roll top forward, lower the back seats, and create extra space in the back for hauling oversized items.  The C3 even offers a tailgate for added flexibility!   Examiner.com calls it “over-the-top yet functional”.  Chris Chapman with Hyundai Design North America says he and his designers were aiming for a vehicle “that fits an everyday to a play day dual lifestyle.”  We think they nailed it.

Ford Ranger Shines in the 2012 Global Pickup Shootout

Need a vacation?  Join us “day-own und-uh” for the results of the PickupTrucks.com Global Pickup Shootout!  This year’s contest pitted the four most popular pickups in Australia against each other (the Aussies call ‘em “utes”).  They are the Ford Ranger, Holden Colorado, Toyota Hilux, and Volkswagen Amarok.  The competition was fierce and, as the reigning champ, the Hilux had the most to lose.  You’ll find all the dirty details at  http://special-reports.pickuptrucks.com/2012/08/global-pickup-shootout-overview.html.  We won’t ruin the entire surprise for you but, let’s just say, it’s a great day to be a Ford fan!

Airbag Problems Prompt Hyundai Recalls

2012 Hyundai Sonata

The calendar reads “summer” but it feels more like recall season. After a handful of recalls issued by a number of automakers, Hyundai is following suit. The Korean auto company says it will be notifying owners of 2007-2009 Santa Fes and 2012-2013 Sonatas that the airbags may malfunction.

Hyundai says the mechanism in the Santa Fe that detects the presence of a passenger may fail to detect lighter adults. If the car “thinks” no one’s sitting in the passenger seat, it might not deploy the passenger airbag in case of a collision. The side curtain airbags are the problem in the Sonata. Hyundai says there might have been a glitch in the manufacturing process that could cause the bags to inflate without warning under normal driving conditions.

You can wait for your recall notice or take the initiative and give Hyundai a call for more information. The number is 1-800-633-5151. Be sure to reference the recall number that pertains to your vehicle 105 (Santa Fe) or 106 (Sonata).

(Source: www.motortrend.com)

How to Get the Most Mileage Out of a New Car

The auto industry is closely watching a California lawsuit pitting a customer against Korean automaker Hyundai. The suit was filed by Consumer Watchdog, a California nonprofit that describes itself as being “dedicated to providing an effective voice for taxpayers and consumers”. At issue is Hyundai’s claim that the 2011-2012 Elantra boasts fuel efficiency of 40 mpg. The plaintiff, Sacramento resident Louis Bird, says Hyundai television ads featuring the voice of Jeff Daniels led him to believe the car would get 40 mpg, period. That’s despite two facts: The ad’s small print included the Elantra’s expected fuel economy of 29 mpg in the city, and the Monroney sticker, like the one to the right, that’s required by law to be posted in the car’s window on the dealer’s lot, revealed the car was expected to get 40 mpg on the highway and 29 in the city with an average of 33 mpg.

We stand by our Hyundais and encourage every would-be owner to fully read the Monroney sticker before purchasing a vehicle. But we also think there are some best practices owners can engage in to guarantee they get the most mileage out of their new car, no matter the make or model.

First, understand that it takes time to “break in” a new engine. So, drive your car gently – that means no racing or gunning the engine.

Second, avoid using cruise control or, if you can’t live without it, alter your set speed every 20 miles or so, even if just by two or three miles. The engine needs variety.

Third, be patient. There’s no magic number but Butler Ford Fleet Manager Mike Cocchiara says following the first two tips for two or three thousand miles will probably do the trick. He adds, though, that it can take up to 10,000 miles to “break in” a diesel truck so, be sure to ask your sales consultant for specifics.

And finally, do your own research. Maybe the Monroney tells you everything you need to know. But, if not, www.fueleconomy.gov is a great place to start. In the meantime, we’ll keep our eye on Consumer Watchdog vs. Hyundai… and continue preaching personal responsibility.

To read the Reuters article visit http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/09/hyundai-elantra-lawsuit-idUSL2E8I9EGB20120709.

2012 Kia Awards… So Far!

2012 Kia Optima SX

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
It’s been a gloriously busy year for Kia and it’s not even half over! In the first 5 months of 2012 Kia took home ten prestigious awards, nine of which went to the Korean automaker’s products (the eleventh, a so-called “Effie”, honored a Kia advertisement featuring NBA superstar Blake Griffin leaping over a Kia Optima). A lot has been said over the past few years about the Kia brand’s skyrocketing quality. And, as this list proves, the world is taking notice. So, as we proudly acknowledge the kudos thus far, we look forward to still more kudos during the second half of 2012!

May 2012:

– Kia Motors America wines Bronze “Effie” at the 2012 North American Effie Awards

– Kia Vehicles Honored with “Top Scoring Car Awards of 2012” from Total Car Score

– Total Car Score names 2012 Kia Forte to “Top Cars for College Grads” list

– 2012 Kia Sportage recognized by USAA as “Best Value” for second consecutive year

– Kia places more vehicles on NADAguides’ “Most Versatile 2012 New Cars Under 20K” list than any other automaker

April 2012

– 2012 Kia Rio named to “Best Cars for Teens” List by VroomGirls.com

February 2012

– 2012 Kia Sorento named to “10 Best Family Cars of 2012” list by Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com

– Kia Rio and Optima named “Best Subcompact and Family Sedans” by Motorweek

– Kia Optima earns Kiplinger’s Personal Finance “2012 Best New Car Value” award

January 2012

– Kia Optima named Autobytel “2012 Sedan of the Year”

To read more about each award visit: http://www.kia.com/#/press/

To watch the Blake Griffin commercial visit: http://butlerkia.wordpress.com/2011/03/03/nba%e2%80%99s-blake-griffin-leaps-over-a-kia-optima-for-successful-slam-dunk/

2012 Ford Focus Electric: Coming Soon to Butler Ford!

By the dog-days of summer Butler Ford should have the 2012 Ford Focus Electric on the lot.  Starting this week, the electron-fueled Focus is on its way to 67 pilot dealerships in New York, New Jersey and California.  Each store will take delivery of a half dozen of the EVs, one of which will be used as a demo.  The Blue Oval’s rolling out the Focus Electric slowly, letting consumers get used to not only the idea of an electric Ford but also the $40,000 price tag.  Once the initial shock wears off Ford expects nearly a quarter of its vehicles sold by 2020 will be electric or hybrid.  The Focus Electric owns the title of most fuel-efficient five-passenger vehicle in America and gets the best city rating it its class with 110 MPGe (EPA-estimated 110 city/99 hwy/105 combined MPGe*) .  It’s being sold with an available 240-volt charging station and could even earn you a $7,500  federal tax credit.  So, keep an eye on this space!  As soon as we at Butler Ford have an ETA for the 2012 Ford Focus Electric, we’ll spread the word!

* MPGe is the EPA’s miles per gallon equivalent for electric mode operation

2012 Hyundai Azera Earns IIHS “Top Safety Pick” Honors

Kudos to Hyundai, yet again! The 2012 Hyundai Azera made the short list of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s “Top Safety Picks”. To earn a spot on the list vehicles have to pass front, side, rollover and rear-impact tests with a rating of “good” or better. The IIHS released a statement saying, “The Azera was previously tested for front and side crashworthiness. It meets the criteria for the award by earning good ratings in a recent rear impact test assessing whiplash protection and a roof strength test to measure occupant protection in rollover crashes.” The Azera is the seventh Hyundai to receive the Top Safety Pick honor.

To read more visit: http://www.hyundaiusa.com/about-hyundai/news/Corporate_2012_Azera_IIHS_Safety_Pick-20120516.aspx

http://www.butlerhyundai.com

 

Hyundai Elantra is the 2012 International Car of the Year (and Why That’s a Big Deal)

Hyundai Elantra: The 2012 International Car of the Year

Come January, The North American International Auto Show in Detroit is THE place to be.  Not just because it’s essentially a world stage for auto manufacturers to show off their latest and greatest but because it where the North American Car and Truck of the Year are named.

The big winners for 2012 are Hyundai for its Elantra sedan and the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque on the truck side.  You already know there are about as many automotive awards as there are publications and entities to award them.  Think “The International Institute of Highway Safety”, “Consumer Reports”, and “MotorTrend”, to name a few.  But North American Car/Truck of the Year honors are special because they’re not awarded by a single group.  Instead, the decision is made by 50 journalists from all facets of American and Canadian media, from print to broadcast to the web.  With 174 votes, the Elantra bested its closest competition, the Volkswagen Passat, by 13 points.  One member of the jury, Jayne O’Donnell with USA Today wrote, “The Hyundai Elantra is sporty, yet sensible. Luxurious, yet affordable. Spunky, but safe. The Elantra is a series of paradoxes and every one is another argument for the latest, impressive entry in the Hyundai lineup.”

Hyundai’s leaders are ecstatic, as well they should be.  It’s the Korean automaker’s second spin in the International Car of the Year spotlight after winning with the Genesis in 2009.  But this time around the award is more about bragging rights and branding than increasing sales.  According to Hyundai’s North American COE John Krafcik, the Elantra’s already so popular they’re barely keeping up with demand as it is!