Update - Saturday service starting Feb 21!!!

I'm went to the dealership today and spoke with our service manager, Leasa, and found out that the start date will be the weekend after the Spokane New Car Show (Feb. 13-15).

We will have $$ saving coupons at the show. Please come visit our location out there! I will be working all 3 days there as well.

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Wall Street Bonuses...

The bonuses taken in 2008 from Wall Street corporate people were the same as what was given in 2004. The employees received up to $18 billion over the past year. Obama called it "shameful".....to say the least!!!!!!!!!!

I guess money was good last year for them....too bad so many others had to pay for their gains.

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Service and Parts open on Saturdays!!!!

Good news! Good news!!!!

Our 5-Star service and parts department will now be open on Saturdays from 8am to 3pm. This begins this Saturday and we are excited to be able to finally serve our customers 6 days a week.

Our service technicians are some of the best in Spokane. They put in hours of training each month and have at least 200 years of combined experience.

Also, our service manager, Leasa Feter, is knowledgeable and always puts customers first. If you ever have any concerns, questions, or suggestions, she is always available to talk to you.

Our parts department is also full of experience and customer service. They will do whatever it takes to get things done.

Please come visit us or call to talk to one of our service/parts staff.

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more Chrysler news

So, there are 12 new models that are being introduced in the next 18 months or so. This must be where the funds from the government loans are going towards. I think I had heard that GM had put the Volt (electric car) on hold while they straighten out their finances, so I thought Chrysler might have followed suit. I'm glad they did not because you can't sell cars if you aren't coming out with new product. So, there is a prototype that Chrysler is working on called the 200C. It's supposed to be an electric car that can run on one charge and a tank of gas for over 300 miles. If the car looks this good...I will be quite excited to drive it. Even though plugging in my car is a very weird idea.

Here is a picture of the car....very nice.
http://www.topgear.com/us/blog/more/chrysler-200c-concept-2009-detroit-auto-show/?gclid=CMDx0rS8spgCFR0SagodeVFNVQ

Last days of the month...deals, deals, deals....

Yes...if you want anything in our inventory, this is time. Jay wants a strong finish. We're doing alright this month because we have good cars at great prices. You can get a great deal on a car, for sure, due to the economy but there are a few out there that were told that it's a "buyer's market" and come in with unrealistic expectations. Yes, prices have gone down and yes, there are more options out there for the consumer. However, the market isn't in free fall where cars have no prices and they go for whatever someone offers or what they "think" it's worth. We have had UNBELIEVABLE offers where people will claim it's a buyer's market and offer half or 2/3 the value of the car and walk out when they can't get the deal. Also, it's always these same people that want to get a low, low price on the car they are buying and then think that their trade in is worth way more than what is offered. They want full retail on their car...which doesn't make sense because if the car you are buying has a reduced value due to the economy, why wouldn't your current older model car?

That always makes me laugh. The customer who claims that it's a total buyer's market and that prices aren't holding on cars...always seems to think their trade-in is holding value. It's funny...

SO...if you really want a great deal on a car...and you are serious...please contact us. You will get what you want with some great customer service.

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Austrailian Open

I love watching tennis. I am a terrible tennis player but I can appreciate awesome passing shots and massive serves. Andy Roddick will always be my favorite player. I wish he would either get his head into the game on a deeper level or do more due diligence on the opponent or concentrate harder during the match or WHATEVER it is that is holding him back from another grand slam title. I'm sure he's doing what he can...so I'm hoping whatever the mental block is will be fixed.

HOWEVER, I do have a "new" favorite now. He is Fernando Verdasco....quite cute. He's playing today so I'm quite excited to stay up and watch it. I just wish the time difference weren't so brutal.

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Chrysler and Fiat

So, the husband is back from New Orleans and I know he would never fully disclose how much fried food he ate down there, but I'm sure it was more than I would think was healthy. However, for some reason, the people in the South know how to deep fry ANYTHING and you almost feel like it's good for you because it tastes SOOO good and isn't as greasy as you would think. Must be the "Nawlins" magic....

So Fiat is gaining 35% ownership of Chrysler and they are still working out the details but everyone is working as hard as they can to make Chrysler a viable company. Jay actually met Jim Press, Vice President and Chairman of Chrysler, LLC, and he was very aware of current dealer situations and open to suggestions. He didn't act like he had all the answers. Between the dealers and Chrysler, we have to stick together and work on gaining customer business and confidence. His message was to stick together like family...and we intend to.

The word around the Chrysler people was that Chrysler and Fiat were going to start building small cars and more fuel efficient cars. That wasn't a surprise...however, people were also saying that it is most likely the Chrysler brand that will get these cars. It makes sense because Jeep doesn't really have passenger cars and Dodge might be a player but for now, the natural fit would be Chrysler. We are keeping our fingers and toes crossed!

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TGIF!!!!

What a beautiful day since the sun is out?!?! A little bit of sunshine does the body good!!!! I now get why people in Seattle can get so depressed.

So, it looks like Gitmo is closing. I have mixed feelings about it. I don't think it's bad to have a place like that, but I think it was terrible what was happening there. As ironic as it may seem, there is still some expectation of ethical behavior in a war prison. So, how what do you do with all of the prisoners that are there and probably hate the US even more now due to their treatment. Yikes...what a quandary......

No new news on the Fiat and Chrysler partnership from the NADA conference that Jay is at. But everyone seems quite excited for it right now....I guess any forward news is better than no news!!!!

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Holy Microsoft!!! Lay-offs??????

I can't believe there are going to be lay-offs at Microsoft. I know many people that are employed there and it's in the mindset of the Puget Sound area that a job at Microsoft is as good as gold....no, platinum! People all want the "blue" name badge (permanent) as opposed to the "orange" one that clearly shows the world that you are only a temp. Such companies like Microsoft is what kind-of shields the Seattle area to a huge recession but I guess this economic downturn is bigger than I want to admit. I am a huge optimist so this kind of new shocks me. Well, and since Microsoft has always been hiring for as long as I can remember. Now I guess those blue badges are even more coveted.

At least gas is still reasonable. For now........

NADA begins this weekend. Jay is in New Orleans trying to get new information on the Fiat deal with Chrysler and just seeing what is going to happen in the next couple of months. Times are changing and if you're not willing to change..you'll be caught flat-footed. Good thing our staff is amazing and will do what it takes to make happy customers!

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Proud to be an American!

I don't wear a flag shirt on the 4th of July nor do I put any type of red, white, and blue on together at the same time for any occasion. However, yesterday, I was so proud to be a part of this great country. I was so amazed by the history made yesterday. I wanted to be in the cold Washington DC air witnessing it myself. President Barack Obama.....I NEVER thought it would happen.

So, now I'm rooting for him. The hill we all have to climb as a country is very steep but I know we can all do it. I have personally cut back on what I spend even though that's probably not what the retailers want...but there is more that I can do for the economy than spend money to get it going again. I think that is the biggest thing I walked away with yesterday. This isn't just personal....it's about a whole country not doing so great and we can all help each other out.

What does that mean? What am I supposed to do? I know it's not about taking out my meager savings and handing it out to people. What I can do now doesn't put money into pockets right away but it's more about investing in people and creating relationships. I can volunteer at a school. I can mentor a young person.....actually, I can just hang out with a young person and spend time with them. I can work at a food bank or clinic. I can commit to a small donation each month to the food bank. I'm sure there is much, much more....this is just the start...so I better get off my rear end and do something!!!

(Grandma not doing so well.....alive through machines and medication....)

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Martin Luther King Jr. Day

I am quite a conservative on a lot of things, but oddly becoming a little more liberal as I'm getting older. I think it's supposed to be the opposite. I think my personal religious beliefs are getting more and more conflicted due to the ever so quickly changing world. Well, not that my beliefs are changing but there are more "things" in the world that make me sit down and really think about why I believe what I believe in.

I think that is why I admire Dr. King so much. Because he knew exactly what he stood for and was not afraid to stand up for it. Yes, he was a preacher but he didn't try to save the world by condemning people to hell or forcing religion on people....but he was trying to make a world a better place but using religion as a tool and the teachings he believed in as a way of life. He lived out what he believed in and led by example.



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pneumonia

Well, my grandmother is 90 so her heart is a bit weak to get her better in a hurry. The nurses keep telling my mom to get "prepared" and that scares her something fierce. So, I just had to tell my mom that we all could "go" at any time. No one knows......we'll just keep praying for her for now.

I forgot what it's like to be in above freezing temperatures. I only needed a light coat and a scarf instead of down-filling, gloves, long johns, etc. Sigh.......

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Grandma in the hospital....

My mom's mom is in the hospital in Federal Way right now. She's 90 years old so I know it's "about time" for her to leave this world but one is never ready for that. So, I think I'll be heading over to that side of the mountains. Just to be safe. She's still in the ICU but expected to be moving to a regular room soon.

If I don't blog for a couple of days...that's what I'm doing.....

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Gas Prices.....

It's still a mystery to me what forces exactly influence the gas prices at the pump to go up or down. One day it's the violence in the Middle East. The next day it's the refineries and still, a different day, it could be due to a possible hurricane that may or may not go past an oil drill in the middle of the ocean. I was listening to some "analyst" the other day on some news program and they were saying the next price spike in gas prices will make this summer's price spike look like child's play. They said since price of a barrel of oil and demand has gone down (also with the tanking economy), companies are not investing into new refineries or upgrades to existing ones, technology, research and development, etc. They were saying that when the economy comes back and the demand for gas is even higher than it was last summer, the same technologies will be providing us gas without any upgrades or improvements for more demand, etc. so the price of gas will be higher than ever. Just great......

So, I guess that means that electric cars seems maybe a little more appealing. I admit, I'm a creature of habit and I don't like change. I'm like most people. So, it will take me a while to get used to even the idea of pulling my car in for power. It's cool but how will it perform? Am I a Formula One driver on the roads? No....but I still like my car to go when I press on the gas and my interpretation of "go" might be different than most drivers.

Yes, I think the Big 3 need to invest in fuel efficient cars but will it be what EVERYONE drives in the future or just a minority like hybrids. I guess that is the risk that companies have to take....

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College Basketball!!!

I love it!!!!! I have always enjoyed it and loved the level of effort and passion in the play. In high school, I had a friend that was in love with UNC and we drove up to Key Arena to watch their shoot around. I even got a picture with Dick Vitale. If I had clearly understood who he was back then, I think I would have kept better tabs on that picture!

This weekend was good for sports, although the Huskies lost in triple overtime to Cal. That should have been a win for us because we had a lot of chances to put Cal away but we kept letting them stick around and eventually win. I'm going to say that it's because we only have 2 seniors that were playing at the time and our flashy guard, Isaiah Thomas, is only a freshman. We need to play smarter and make free throws. I'm sure that is a thorn in the side for many players but come on, Jon Brockman!!! Let's do something about it!

I know being in Spokane, I should LOVE the Zags. However, I do not. I think Mark Few is a phenomenal couch and there have been some exciting games, but I more appreciate them instead of falling all over myself for them like some people in this town do. I do wish they were in a harder or more competitive conference so the "exciting" games aren't only in the pre-season or once the Dance begins. That might make me love them if they had awesome games all season long.

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Appointments....

I can't believe the number of people who make appointments with a sales consultant and just blow them off. It's incredible. I would NEVER just blow it off without a phone call or some type of communication. No wonder sales consultants get a bad reputation of always calling you because if a customer skipped out on an appt. with me, I would be calling to follow up too!!!

I can understand that life happens or your schedule gets busy all of a sudden but most people do not show up and do not call. Can you believe that? Not even a phone call to say they are not coming or that they bought elsewhere or that they are running late, etc. Now, if a sales consultant didn't show up for an appointment, the customer would complain and then go all around town saying how bad things are.

Would you skip out on a doctor's appointment without calling? Would you not call your friend if you are supposed to meet them and you are late? Would you show up late to a movie even??!!! I know that these situations aren't exactly 100% the same, but common courtesy does not exist for sales consultants most of the time. And our guys are good guys......

I understand that it's part of the business but it's really amazing the things you learn about people and human kind when you work in a car dealership.

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Florida vs. Oklahoma

I suppose I should want Oklahoma to lose since they beat the Huskies so badly earlier in the season. But that wasn't hard to do since they lost to every team this season. Hopefully these new USC coaches will help the Huskies....and it's too bad because I really liked Ty Willingham. And if my son happens to go to UW someday, maybe we will have a winning football team by then. 15 years should be long enough right??????

Well, if Florida wins, my husband gets to pick the movie that we will be watching and if Oklahoma wins, then sappy chick flick here we come. I love them. Actually, I like any movie with Hugh Grant in it first and then some other romantic comedy follows that.

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I'm back!

It's still me, Yoon Yi, but I'm finally back in Spokane. My trip to Seattle was extended quite a bit due to Snoqualmie pass being closed so many times and the snow coming down like it was being paid to do so. Anyway, the roads were so icy last night that I thought I was driving in an African safari by the dealership. I was so happy to see rain last night and today to melt that stuff away. I never thought I would ever be happy to see rain coming from Seattle. Never say never!

So, Top Pot doughnuts are a problem to me and my waistline. The real Top Pot shops in the Seattle are are so good.....the raised ones are so delicious and their coffee isn't bad either. Their maple bars are the bane of my existence right now. Jay and I have decided to lose a few pounds and just eat healthier (and less) this year...however, these darn doughnuts come dancing in my dreams at night. The ones are Starbucks aren't the same.....so, if you head into Seattle sometime and you like doughnuts, you should try this place out.

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Happy New Year!!!

Wow...2009 already. I can't believe it...it's been a tough 2008 but I know we are blessed beyond words. Thank you to all who have helped us this year. We really appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts!!!

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