Tim's Travel Tips: Ann Arbor Hands On Museum

by Tim Joseph

This week's weekend get away is to the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum. I visited this museum in 2nd grade. We took the Am Track from Wayne and arrived in Ann Arbor. The thing I remember the most was the giant bubbles. Huge tubs filled with soapy water and sticks with ropes on them. I must have really been enjoying it because my teacher pulled me aside and said "Don't tell anyone, but we're going to do this in class in a couple weeks". It was our secret. The museum has hundreds of exhibits. A lot more than when I was there.

I haven't been there since then but my 10 year old has. I probably wont wait too long before going back.

Hours are Monday-Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday from noon-5pm. Admission is $8 for ages 2 and up, free for kids under 2 and free with a museum membership.

Chrysler Unveils Rolling Wi-Fi System

by Tim Joseph

Imagine this, you're driving down I-75 with your family and suddenly you can't remember how to get where you're going. You open up the laptop, look up directions, check your email, and while you're at it you order a new DVD from amazon. Next, this kids start screaming because the music you're listening to is getting stale and they want some variety. You go in and download more and they're happy. Sound like a stretch? Not anymore.

Chrysler unveiled its UConnect Web that turns your vehicle into a rolling hot spot. The service will have an MSRP of $449 w/ dealer installation expected to be $35-$50. You'll need a subscription which will $29 per month. It'll be available in August as a dealer add on MOPAR accessory.

For more information please contact your favorite service department at:
Dick Scott Dodge - 800-571-6906
Dick Scott Motormall - 800-486-2415

Dick Scott Rewards Cards

Have you checked your Dick Scott Rewards Card Points lately? Checking your points is as easy as going to our website, navigate to the "Rewards" menu and clicking on "Check Your Points." We'll need your email address to sign in so if you haven't given us that information yet please email us at rewards@dickscott.com with your email address and Rewards Card number. Once you're in you can check your points. Points can be redeemed for anything from a car wash or oil change to a discount on your next new or pre-owned vehicle purchase/lease. This is just another part of the "Dick Scott Difference".

Check your points here:
Dick Scott Dodge
Dick Scott Motormall
Dick Scott Kia
Dick Scott Nissan

Tiger Ticket Winner

Congratulations to Shigeo Kato, winner of four Tiger tickets and a Tiger garage parking pass. Customers who registered for online service scheduling during the months of April and May were entered into our drawing for the tickets. Next time you need service, schedule your confirmed appointment online with our new Online Service Scheduling tool. For more information click one of the following links:

Dick Scott Dodge
Dick Scott Motormall
Dick Scott Kia
Dick Scott Nissan

Once you're signed up you'll be able to make service appointment whenever you need it.

Tim's Travel Tips: Sterling Inn

by Tim Joseph

Starting today we're going to give you a new idea each Friday of what you can do over the weekend to get away and have fun.



Best Western Sterling Inn
http://www.sterlinginn.com/
(586) 979-1400
34911 Van Dyke Ave
Sterling Heights, MI 48312

• 5,000 sq. ft. indoor swimming pool with 110 ft. waterslide, lazy river, and vortex. Interactive
• Splash Play Park
• 2,300 sq. ft. indoor play park with tipping frogs, water bikes, waterslides, and giesers.

Dodge Brings 'Grab Life' Experience to the Michigan Challenge Balloonfest June 27-29

PRESS RELEASE
June 18, 2008 10:40 AM EDT

-- Free, three-day event lets consumers get in the driver's seat to see how Dodge vehicles handle real world challenges on specially designed test tracks
-- Dodge's all-new crossover, the 2009 Journey, takes center stage on test track
-- Dodge Challenger SRT8(R), back in Dodge line-up after 35 year absence, will be on display

What: Michigan residents have the chance get in the driver's seat when the Dodge brand's "Grab Life" tour comes to the Michigan Challenge Balloonfest, one of the premier summertime events in the state, June 27-29 in Howell, Mich., at the Howell High School complex. One of the highlights of the "Grab Life" tour will be the test track experience where consumers can get behind the wheel to put Dodge vehicles through real world driving situations, such as a slalom test, ABS brake zone, and speed bump and pothole suspension tests, designed to showcase the vehicles' performance and handling attributes. The 2009 Dodge Journey, the brand's all-new crossover, will be the featured vehicle.

Consumers will also have the chance to drive a Dodge Nitro and Dodge Charger. The Dodge Ram and Dakota pickup trucks will be put through their paces on a special track that will include water fording and hill climbing. In addition to getting behind the wheel, event attendees can visitthe Dodge "Grab Life" trailer to learn more about the full-line of Dodge products as well as visit the SIRIUS Listening Station, play video games, surf the Web for more information about Dodge at the Internet Cafe and peruse the Dodge Goods showcase. The "Grab Life" tour will also include displays of some of the brand's newest models, including the highly anticipated all-new 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8(R), Dodge Caliber SRT4 and Dodge Grand Caravan.

Consumers will also be able to test their knowledge in a Dodge trivia game and play Plinko to win prizes. Event attendees can leave with a souvenir of their day by posing for a photo in front of a backdrop of NASCAR drivers or the 2009 Dodge Challenger. Anyone interested in participating in the test drive experience must be 18 years or older with a valid driver's license.

Who: Open to the public

When: June 27-29, 2008

The test track will be open during the following times:
-- June 27: 4-9 p.m.
-- June 28: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
-- June 29: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

Where: Michigan Challenge Balloonfest Howell High School
Directions: The balloonfest takes place at the Howell High School
complex, with entrances on West Grand River Avenue, M-59 and Highlander Way.

Other: Area residents putting a variety of Dodge vehicles to the test on exhilarating driving courses, including waterfording and hill climbing.

Contact:
Jodi Tinson
(248) 512-2944 (office)
(586) 219-0677 (cell)
jt658@chrysler.com
SOURCE Chrysler LLC

GT-R's Have Landed

by Tim Joseph

A use submitted this picture to me and I've confirmed it's authenticity. This was taken in Jacksonville, FL. The GT-R's have arrived and will be sent to dealerships across the country very very soon. I do need to mention that we do not know how many are actually there. 1,500 were scheduled to come to the US and Dick Scott Nissan has no way of knowing what order we will receive them in.

There are also reports and pictures from Los Angeles and Vancouver of GT-R's sitting in lots and being driven off the boats. Nissan North America has mostly denied these reports saying the vehicles are still in Japan with a few of them parked in Hawaii. This has been debunked by many eye witnesses. I can't blame NNA for saying they aren't here. They're not set to be delivered for another month or so. We'll keep you updated.

Dodge's Nissan Car

A couple of months ago Chrysler and Nissan agreed to build a couple of cars for each other. Chrysler agreed to build a large truck for Nissan and Nissan to build a small economical car for Chrysler in the Dodge lineup. The picture above is most likely the vehicle we will see Nissan build. It is the Dodge Hornet. It is build on the Nissan Versa platform and is said to compete with the Mini Cooper.

Dick Scott Dodge - 800-571-6906

Dick Scott Nissan - 800-504-8536

Dick Scott Dodge Tent Sale

I love a good tent sale! Dick Scott Dodge is having its first ever tent sale June 19th to June 30th.

* Rebates up to $10,000 or 0% APR Available *

* Low Lease Payments Aavilable *

* Huge Selection of New & Pre-owned Vehicles *

* $2.99 Gas Special *

Our Test Sale runs from 9am on Thursday, June 19th to 9pm on Monday, June 30th. There will be hotdogs, popcorn and a huge selection of vehicles available. Don't miss out on a chance to test-drive the vehicle of your dreams! Our Experienced Sales Staff and Finance Specialists will be on hand to match the vehicle you want with a payment that fits your budget!

Also, in honor of our Tent Sale and 25th Anniversary Celebration:

Lube, Oil & Filter Special!

Come to Dick Scott Dodge Quick Lube

From June 19th - June 30th and receive

25% Off*

For more information call:

Dodge - 800-571-6906

Cannot be combined with any other offers or specials. Present coupon at time of write-up. Expires June 30, 3008.

Fuel Economy Series Part 4

by Tim Joseph

Nempimania: An obsession with getting the best fuel economy possible.

If you're really feeling it at the pump and have enjoyed out series then quite possibly you have Nempimania. I know I do. I've talked a lot about trading your car for one that's more fuel efficient or how to track your fuel economy. I've also told you how much money you can save with Nitrogen and how to calculate that savings. Now I'm going to give you some tips on how to maximize your fuel usage and save money. Imagine if everyone in America reduced their fuel usage by 20%. Most likely it would cause the investors to sell their shares in crude oil and cause the price to fall. I ended up only spending $10 on gas this week compared to $16 last week and $20 the week before. I have cut my gas costs in half. Just by using these techniques.

Observe The Speed Limit - Each 5mph you drive over 60 costs you $0.20 per gallon for gas.
Remove Excess Weight - This affects smaller vehicles more than large vehicles but the general rule of thumb is every extra 100 pounds in your vehicle will cost you 2%. At $4/gallon it costs you $0.08 per gallon.
Avoid Excessive Idling - You get 0 mpg when you idle.
Use Cruise Control - It helps you maintain a constant speed and will save you gas.
Use Overdrive Gears - If you have an automatic transmission, make sure you use the over drive gear.
Keep your Engine Tuned - Engines that are out of tune cost you 4% at the pump
Check and Replace Air Filters - Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your gas mileage by 10%.
Keep Tires Properly Inflated - 1 psi drop costs you 0.4% and it can add up quickly.
Keep Your Oil Changed - Not only will it make you engine run longer but it'll save you at the pump.

Personally, I have been shifting at 2,000 RPM's. Also, I've been shifting into neutral down hills and when coming to a stop. This will bring your RPM's down a lot, let your engine run easier and save you a lot of money.

In Part 5 I will highlight Dick Scott's most fuel efficient vehicles at each of our dealerships. That will close out our Fuel Economy series but whenever we hear of ways that will save you money at the pump, we'll pass them along.

To get into a more fuel efficient vehicle, please contact:
Dodge - 800-571-6906
Motormall - 800-486-2415
Kia - 800-730-9872
Nissan - 800-504-8536

Why Keep Trying?

"The best managers, the best leaders are…not the people who never fall. They'll fall but they'll jump immediately after. They'll try to get the lessons from what happened to them. They'll go further and they'll continue to stretch." - Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Nissan

Fuel Economy Series Part 3 1/2

by Tim Joseph

Last night after I posted my Part 3 article I got to thinking... How did they calculate my savings? I did some research and came up with a set of equations that yield the same results. I'm pretty excited.

To calculate your tire savings:
Cost of a set of tires / 4 = tire savings

To calculate you fuel savings:
((miles per year / mpg) x average cost per gallon of gas) x 0.07111 = fuel savings

Total savings:
tire savings + fuel savings = total

This is very quick and simple but could save you hundreds of dollars per year.

My example is: 15,000 miles per year, 32 mpg, $4/gallon average, 300 for a set of tires.
My tire savings is $75
My gas savings is $133.33
My total savings is $208.33 per year

I think $3.75 per tire is more than worth that kind of savings.

Also, remember, if you're in need of an oil change soon (and who isn't), we're offering the following special:
The Fuel Saver Special - 27 point safety inspection, oil change, nitrogen inflation in all four tires for $29.95.

Since most oil changes will cost you about $30, its like getting your nitrogen free!

Dodge - 800-571-6906
Motormall - 800-486-2415
Kia - 800-730-9872
Nissan - 800-504-8536

Fuel Economy Series Part 3

by Tim Joseph

Last November I got a couple of my tires replaced at our Nissan dealership. I said to the tech who did the work, "Why don't we put Nitrogen in the two front tires and air in the back two?" We both thought that'd be a fun experiment. After a very very cold winter and now a very warm spring I'm happy to say that the Nitrogen held up very well. A lot better than regular air. I've since filled the back two tires with Nitrogen but I have to ask myself.. what is it about this nitrogen that makes it better? How does it keep the tires inflated longer? Why is that important?

In researching this blog series I have read countless tips and tricks to get you the best gas mileage. One thing that every website out there agreed upon was the need to get your tires properly inflated. Nitrogen has become the gold standard in tire inflation. Because it has more mass, it migrates through the tire 3-4 times slower than compressed air. Also, it runs 20% cooler than air which leads to less tire degradation.

On average a tire filled with air will lose 2.7 psi per month. Nitrogen filled tires will only lose about 0.7 psi per month. This is a significant difference in tire pressure. When your tires are not properly inflated it is like driving your car through sand. The engine has to work harder and you use more gas. Nitrogen will also have you money on tires. 15% under inflation will result in 8% less tread mileage and 2.5% degrease in fuel economy.

According to a Nitrogen Savings Calculator I found, I save $208 a year with nitrogen in my tires. That made the $3.75 per tire charge well worth it.

Right now, Dick Scott has a fuel saver special - 27 point safety inspection, oil change, nitrogen inflation in all four tires for $29.95.

Dodge - 800-571-6906
Motormall - 800-486-2415
Kia - 800-730-9872
Nissan - 800-504-8536

Spotlight Employee of June

Mary Cay Bottrell, Office Manager at Dick Scott Nissan.

Mary Cay has been in the Automotive Industry for 18 years, the past 9 of them have been with Dick Scott Automotive Group. Currently, she is the Office Manager at Dick Scott Nissan in Canton. Mary Cay graduated from Flat Rock High School and lives in Dearborn Heights with her husband, son and their animals: a beagle named Mater and two cats, Sassy and Chuck. In her spare time, Mary Cay enjoys gardening and spending time with her husband and son. She currently drives a Dodge Nitro but her dream vehicle is a 1950 Chevy Pick Up.

Mary Cay is our Spotlight Employee for June because of all the hard work and dedication she has shown for the past 9 years at Dick Scott. If you have a question or concern, Mary Cay is the one to ask!

Thanks Mary Cay for all that you do! You are an important member of the Dick Scott “Best Shot” Team!

Fuel Economy Series Part 2

by Tim Joseph

I'm all about fuel economy lately. Even though I live close to work I managed to save $4 in gas last week and hope to do at least that or better this coming week.

FuelEconomy.Gov is an excellent place to calculate and plan for better savings at the pump. On the bottom left hand corver of the page I discovered the "My MPG..." sections. In this section you can put your own vehicle in and track your gas usage. I clicked on View MPG Estimates from Drivers Like You and selected the 2007 Kia Rio. This gave me a list of other people and what kind of mileage they are getting. One user was averaging 35mpg while the other was averaging 32.9. Your mileage will differ based on yor driving habits of course. I drive a vehicle with a manual transmission and have been shifting at 2,000 rpms. I'm going slower but saving a lot of gas. It is very exciting to see that you can save money that way.

I read somewhere that following too closely to the vehicle ahead of you causes you to hit the breaks more often. Not only is it dangerous but it causes you to brake and accelerate more which costs you money at the pump. I'll be giving you more tips and techniques like this as I test them and as the series progresses.

If you're interested in a Kia Rio or Rio5 please contact Dick Scott Nissan at 800-730-9872

Fuel Economy Series Part 1

by Tim Joseph

Over the next few weeks I'm going to be writing a lot about fuel economy. Traditionally, gas is at its highest prices in the summer months when most people are traveling. It seems to spike even higher during holidays like July4th. With the 4th less than a month away, gas prices are expected to go up to $150 per barrel which is about $20 more than they are now. Today the gas station I pass on the way in to work had 87 octane for $4.05. At Dick Scott we have several high mileage vehicles that will get you where you want to go for a whole lot less. Vehicles like the Nissan Versa or the Kia Rio. I'll tell you a lot more about those vehicles as we progress in the series but for now let's talk about fuel economy in general.

FuelEconomy.gov is a great reasource for everything fuel related. Do yourself a favor and download the Fuel Economy Guide for 2008. A lot changed in the way fuel economy was calculated in 2008 so if you bought your car in 2007 you may want to see what has changed. You car hasn't changed but the new testing may give you a more accurate look at where your money is going.

One thing of interest on this website is the section about "Find Your Car's EnergyImpact Score". This made me think of a good friend of mine who had a 2005 Ford F-150 w/ the big 5.4L V8 engine. He drove around 15,000 mile per year. He traded it in for a Versa, admitting that there was no need to have such a big vehicle. I did a side by side comparison between the 05 F-150 and the 07 Versa and here is what I found:

	Versa	Ford F-150
Cost To Drive 25 Miles	$3.52	$7.04
Fuel To Drive 25 Miles	0.89 per gallon	1.79 per gallon
Cost to fill up	$26.81	$126.55
Mile on a tank	333	450
Tank Size	13.2 gallons	35.7 gallons
Annual Fuel Cost	$2110	$4220

Not only did Derek lower his payment a couple hundred dollars a month on his payment (even more on insurance) but he cut his gas bill in half! If you are considering a Nissan Versa or any one of Dick Scott's high mileage vehicles, please compare your vehicle to the new one to see how much you'll save. Now that's being frugal!

Dick Scott Kia - 800-730-9872
Dick Scott Nissan - 800-504-8536
Dick Scott Dodge - 800-571-6906
Dick Scott Motormall - 800-486-2415

All-new 2008 Chrysler Town & Country Wins Ward's Interior of the Year Award

from: TheAutoChannel.com

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., June 4 -- Ward's judges named the all-new 2008 Chrysler Town & Country "Interior of the Year" at the 2008 Ward's Auto Interiors Show, the publication's annual auto interior event. The prestigious top award emphasizes Town & Country's place as the premium minivan in the segment.
"Best-interiors nominees included the usual smattering of utility vehicles, from the sporty Mazda CX-9 to the sophisticated Volkswagen Touareg 2," said Eric Mayne, Editor - Ward's Automotive Reports. "But the Chrysler Town & Country's rich content and well-executed functionality made it the consensus winner."
The Chrysler Town & Country's seating and storage features gave it the leg-up in the 10-judge interior competition. The industry-exclusive Swivel 'n Go(TM) seating group was praised for its ability to face third-row passengers, and in-floor storage bins designed from the Stow 'n Go(TM) seating system provided a great solution to help eliminate unnecessary interior clutter.
"(Ward's AutoWorld) Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter swooned over the rich suede micro-fiber that accented the first- and second-row seats," Mayne said. "Finished in pearlescent white leather, the seating surfaces invoked macho Drew to use the L-word (love). But just as a successful campaign helps politicians cut through the clutter, a well-designed interior helps motorists manage it. On this issue, the Town & Country is a clear winner."
Read more at: http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2008/06/04/088960.html

Dick Scott Motormall - 800-486-2415
Dick Scott Dodge - 800-571-6906

Next Generation Sorento?

by Tim Joseph

Remember a couple weeks ago when I wrote about the "Kia Of The Future"? It seems as if the future is rapidly approaching. Take a look at the picture below:

This picture has been traveling the internet under the name 2008 Kia Forte. It looks a lot like the Kia Koup concept car. Seen below:

The speculation is that the top picture is a rendering of the next generation Sorento or it's replacement called the Forte. We'll have to wait and see but if this is the direction Kia is moving it, watch out!

Ready to rumble: 2009 Dodge Ram Hemi is more powerful and more fuel-efficient

Here is an excerpt from an article in the Detroit News regarding the upcoming 2009 Dodge Ram. It is encouraging to hear at a time when gas prices are rising and people are buying smaller vehicles.

Ram's success is important
The redesigned pickup is Chrysler LLC's bread and butter. Profitable trucks pay the bills at the struggling carmaker, and the company's future rests on the Ram's coil-spring suspension, overhauled interior and potential 20 percent increase in gas mileage from powertrain and design changes.

And there's never a wrong time to introduce a great truck, said Stephanie Brinley, an industry analyst at AutoPacific Inc.
"Dodge can misstep on a midsize sedan and recover," she said. "If they misstep on the Ram, they can't."

Dodge readily admits what everyone knows. The suburban truckers -- those truck customers who have nothing to tow and only haul the kids to school -- are quickly becoming extinct. People are opting for crossovers or cars.

But there are still many more people in the United States who need a truck. Pickups are their livelihood, as much as a hammer is to a carpenter's.

"The segment is never going to go away," said Tim Longnecker, the automotive industry executive at Acxiom, a marketing and research firm that analyzes consumer trends. But, he noted, "It's not the best time to be coming out with a flagship vehicle."

A recent study by Acxiom shows that the silver lining in the storm cloud hovering over Detroit is this: pickup owners remain exceptionally loyal to their brand.

"These consumers come to the purchase decision with brand loyalty first," Longnecker said.
Accavitti said Dodge breaks down customers into five categories, ranging from strictly work truck owners to the equivalent of truck poseurs. The poseurs can't afford the fill-ups, but others can't afford to not to have a truck.

"The truck segment is still huge," he said. "We're very bullish on it."

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080530/OPINION03/805300348/1149/AUTO03

Dick Scott Goes Green!

by Tim Joseph

I mentioned a few weeks ago that Dick Scott would be collecting cell phones to recylce in support of the Plymouth YMCA. We've set up drop boxes where you can donate you old phones for a good cause.

Today we started a new paper recycling program at Dick Scott. I was given a small box that I'll use to recycle all my paper that would normally go into the trash. The program is called RecycleMax, Inc. Did you know that we produce more waste per person than any other country in the world?

With the office and writing paper we throw away each year we could build a 12-foot high wall from Los Angeles to New York City. One ton of recycled paper saves 24 trees, 2.5 barrels of fuel oil, 7,000 gallons of water, 4,100 kilowatt hours of electricity and keeps 3.5 cubic yards of materials from being landfilled!

Our janitor is a little more bored but we all feel like we're doing something positive by recycling an enourmous amount of paper. Paper I used today may someday end up as tissue paper, paper towels or a cereal box. Hey... it IS easy being green!

2008 Kia Sorento Wins Top Award

by Tim Joseph

Recently the 2008 Kia Sorento received top ranking in the AutoPacific 2008 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards in the midsize SUV category.

"Sorento's recognition by AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Awards shows that you don't have to spend a lot to be satisfied with your new vehicle purchase," said Tom Loveless, vice president, sales of Kia Motors America (KMA). "In these difficult economic times, it is good to know that you can still purchase an SUV with great amenities, options and standard safety features, and be satisfied with your decision."

The VSA awards are based on survey responces of more than 34,000 people. The respondents purchased their vehicles between September and December 2007 base their answer on 46 46 attributes for importance in the purchase decision and satisfaction after purchase.

You'll remember that I recently fell in love with a Sorento. It is just one piece of a great lineup that Kia offers. They're difnately moving forward as a company.