Newsletter

April 2011

Spring cleaning tips and information on the all new 2011 Toyota Venza

Common Sense Makes Safe Drivers

Have you have been cut off in traffic, tailgated, nearly broad sided by a red-light-runner or aggravated to the boiling point by rude drivers?  Unfortunately, the answer to these questions is more than likely, "Yes, many times."

The following driving tips and basic rules of the road are intended to improve driving skills, knowledge and manners.  The goal is to reduce stress, increase driving pleasure and save lives.

Before you start - Good driving starts before you put the key in the ignition.  To be at your best you should be alert, comfortable and safe.  So, like an airline pilot, follow this simple checklist before you take off.

Don't drink and drive - Half of all traffic fatalities are alcohol related.  Even with a blood alcohol level of 0.05 (below the legal limit of 0.08) drinking drivers are still twice as likely to be involved in a collision.  Similar odds face drivers on drugs, including prescription drugs and even over-the-counter medications.  In short, an impaired driver, even slightly impaired is a bad driver.

Buckle up - Even if your car has an air bag or automatic shoulder belts, you still need to wear both lap and shoulder belts to be protected in side and rollover crashes.  Safety belts have proven to reduce chances of serious injury or death in an accident by 50 percent according to the National Highway Traffic Safety administration.  In Maine it's the law.

Buckle up children - If they are not securely restrained, active children can easily distract drivers and cause accidents, or may be seriously harmed in accidents.  All 50 sates require that infants and small children be restrained in infant carriers, special safety seats or, in some cases, regular adult safety belts.  Child seats should be installed according to manufacturer instructions.  Safe Kids Maine conducts numerous free car seat checkup events throughout the state to educate families on how to safely transport their children.  For a list of upcoming events, please visit their website at www.tallpinesafety.org.

Make all necessary adjustments - Before you set out, make sure the driver's seat, steering wheel, seat belts, head restraints and rear-and-side view mirrors are positioned for maximum comfort, control, and visibility.  Check your map in advance so you know where you are going and select your favorite radio station before you take off so you never have to take your eyes off the road once under way.

Be in right frame of mind - This isn't always easy, but it's important.  If you are fatigued or emotionally upset, don't get behind the wheel.

Attention - Despite today's demanding traffic conditions, it's not uncommon to see drivers using one hand to read the newspaper or talk on the phone while taking notes with the other, and steering with their knees.  This might be a funny sight except that driving is a serious business – deadly serious.  Traffic accidents are the number-one killer of Americans under 40 years old.  You are playing Russian roulette when you fail to give your full attention to your driving.  There is a lot going on out there, and you may be called upon at any moment to respond to an emergency.

Bad driving habits and bad manners are more than irksome and rude.  They are dangerous and illegal.  We need more courtesy and cooperation on the road and bad driving habits just adds to the congestion and general aggravation.



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In-House News: Fresh Start Finance Department

John Haskell, Fresh Start Finance Manager is pleased to announce the addition of Nick Royal to the company.  Nick joins the Fresh Start team as a salesperson. 

The Fresh Start Finance department was started in 2004 and John Haskell was the only employee.  With the addition of Nick to their sales team, they now have 6 full time people in their department.  "The expansion of our sales team further strengthens our ability to meet the needs of our customers", noted John. 

Nick has an extensive background in customer service and is excited to embark on a new career.

Pictured: Nick Royal


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Employee of the Month

Every month at York’s of Houlton, the Management Team selects an individual for Employee of the Month. The employee is typically selected because they consistently turn in a stellar performance every month and deserve to be recognized for their hard work. Our employees are an important part of our business, for without our people nothing gets done! It is their dedication and diligence to quality and the day-to-day effort to keep everything moving that allows us to enjoy our reputation as a great place to do business.

The Employee of the Month for March was Jason Hurlbert.  Jason has been a Service Technician with York's of Houlton since 1997.  Jason is a diligent and hard worker.  He is extremely conscientious and takes great care with every vehicle he works on.  Jason is dependable, reliable and an all around great guy.  He gets along with all his coworkers and is never afraid to step up when he sees something that needs to be done.  Jason consistently turns out first-rate work and the Management Team sincerely congratulates Jason on all his hard work over the past 14 years.

Pictured: Jason Hurlbert


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Product Information: 2011 Toyota Venza

Since it's introduction into the Toyota line, Venza has given people a new expression of style, comfort and quality.  Combining the sleek lines and driving pleasures of a performance sedan with the spacious versatility of an SUV, Venza opens you up to all kinds of possibilities.  Front-Wheel Drive or available All-Wheel Drive – either way, Venza is ready to lead you on life's next great adventure.

The Venza is a 5- passenger vehicle.  But in Venza, quality matters just as much as quantity.  So no matter where you're seated, you're made to feel as if the interior were tailored around you and your desire for sophisticated comfort.  Outside, a bold, coupe-like design hints at the refinement that lies within.

The Venza is as flexible as your schedule demands.  Running an errand that requires you to carry big, bulky items?  No problem.  With its rear seatbacks folded down, Venza has up to 70.1 cubic feet of cargo space.  And its rear seat features a 60/40 split, so you can carry a rear-seat passenger and still have expansive space left to hold the things you need to haul.  Even with the rear seats reclined and all the seats occupied, there's still plenty of room left in the cargo area for everyone's luggage.

The Venza is available with All-Wheel Drive.  The available system is called Active Torque Control AWD, and it actively controls each of the four wheels to optimize traction, distributing the engine's power to the appropriate wheels at just the right moment to help maintain secure traction on slippery surfaces.

There's a choice of two Ultra Low Emission Vehicle II (ULEV-II) engines: the standard 182-hp 4-cylinder or the available 268-hp V6.  Both engines are mated to a 6-speed Electronically Controlled automatic Transmission with intelligence (ECT_I).  With its 4-cylinder, Venza received and EPA-estimated 21/27 city/highway mpg rating, while the available Venza V6 received and EPA-estimated 19/26 city/highway mpg rating.

Stop by the showroom at York's of  Houlton today to learn more about the many features available on the all new 2011 Toyota Venza.




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Safe Side: Spring Cleaning? Don't Forget Your Car!

Winter can be tough on lots of things, including cars and trucks. Cold temperatures, snow and ice, road salt and pothole-causing freeze-thaw cycles put car batteries, tires, brakes and suspensions to the test.

According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration vehicle crashes due to neglected maintenance cause more than 2,600 deaths a year. Spring is the time to rid vehicles of winter's sins in time for summer travel. 

Since 1970, Americans have more than doubled their vehicle miles traveled, according to federal statistics. In summer, many of those miles are logged on driving vacations far from home; the last place motorists want to risk a breakdown.

Winter's "major deadly sins" can affect just about all vehicle systems, but some are especially vulnerable. Vehicle owners can follow these tips to ensure their vehicles are ready to roll:

Batteries: They work harder when it's cold, and winter can compromise their cranking performance up to 60 percent. Test and replace old or weak batteries, especially those more than three years old. It can be cheaper than a tow and replacement on the road.

Tires, wheels: Cold weather can reduce tire pressure, so make sure all tires, including the spare, are properly inflated and balanced, and wheels are properly aligned. Inflate tires to their recommended pressure - check the inside of your car door to find out what the proper air pressure should be.

Under-inflated tires can reduce fuel economy by up to 3.3 percent, cause premature tire failure and are a safety hazard. Tire failures and blowouts, often a result of under-inflation, contribute to 414 deaths and 10,295 injuries each year in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In addition to tire pressure, check for tread wear and any obvious damage caused by potholes or sharp objects.

Belts and hoses: Inspect and replace worn or cracked belts, as well as hoses that are blistered, brittle or too soft. Belts and hoses older than five years, even if they look intact, might need to be replaced.

Brakes: A spring checkup can uncover any winter damage. Inspect the brake system, including lines, hoses, and parking brake. Inspect brake fluid for proper level. Low brake fluid can be an indication of excessive brake wear or fluid leak. Have the brake linings/pads inspected and measured.

Suspension: Deep potholes aren't friendly to shocks and struts. An inspection to determine wear or leaks can alleviate bigger issues down the road.

Call or visit our Service Department with any questions you may have, we are here to help you and will gladly assist you with any problems you may have with your vehicle.




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Tech Tips by Chad Wheeler: Spring Cleaning For Your Vehicle

You should clean and maintain your vehicle at least once a year for peak performance, economy, emissions, and longevity.

Shovel the Rubbish from the Interior
Hopefully you're not really in need of a shovel just yet, but truth be told, most vehicles could use a really thorough interior cleaning at least once a year. The first item of business is to remove everything that should not be in there. Extra winter coats, snowboards, camping supplies, and whatever else you can find. All these items do when they are not being put to use is weigh the vehicle down, creating drag, low efficiency, and subsequently more emissions.

Vacuum and Dust Interior
Once you have those big chunks out of the way, you can focus on the little dust bunnies. Beyond dust, most vehicles have a certain amount of interior toxins, which are emitted through its plastics, leather, and vinyl. These toxins often float around the vehicle and end up clinging to various points inside your vehicle, such as dashboard, windshield, seat, etc. To get rid of these toxins, you need to give your vehicle a good wipe down with a microfiber cloth and a Q-tip for the tight spots. When you are done with all the top surfaces, take a vacuum and suck up all the dust and particles that have collected in the carpet over the winter.

Don't Forget About the Windows
Beyond the danger of interior toxins that can stick to the glass surfaces, a dirty window is simply a hazard because of the decreased visibility they cause. You will particularly notice an oily residue on the front windows after using your defrosters all winter long. It is that oily film which can lead to fog and glare during the right conditions. Cleaning your windows correctly will take more than just a microfiber cloth, it will take some sort of cleaning solution, but there are a number of "green" cleaners that are really quite effective.

Wash Vehicle's Exterior
By the first of spring, most vehicles are usually in need of a pretty thorough bath. Some experts have said that the idea of keeping your vehicle clean will aid in aerodynamics, which will also help your vehicle maintain its top efficiency. The amount of improvement between a dirty and a clean car may not be too great, so the primary reason anyone should wash their vehicle is to make it look nice and to take care of the paint.

Give Vehicle a Simple Tune-up
Many people get their vehicle serviced before the winter, as they know it can be a particularly hard season on a vehicle's electrical and heating system. What they don't always consider is that the summer can be just as difficult, only straining different parts of the vehicle. Heat can be a huge enemy to any engine and the hot temperatures of summer, compounded by stop and go traffic, can cause a lot of wear and tear. To make sure your vehicle is ready for the hot weather, make sure your air filter is clean, spark plugs are functioning properly, oil is changed, and that there is no excess material blocking air from gaining access through the radiator.

At York's of Houlton we can help you get your vehicle in shape for the spring.  Call our Service Department or visit us online at www.yorksofhoulton.com to find out about our wide range of services.  We look forward to hearing from you.


Pictured: Chad Wheeler
 


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A Message from Dick York

Business has been on the upswing at York's of Houlton.  In fact, the results from last month ranked among the best single month performance we've ever had.  I think the improving economy has been producing a few more customers at our doors, but our long term plan, which has been to capture a slightly larger market share each year, is also showing positive results.

We realized many years ago that even in our limited market area business conditions fluctuate from month to month and year to year and those fluctuations affect our sales volume.  Practically nothing we can do, as a single business in a market with many competitors, has much effect on the overall size of the market.  So we began to identify information sources that we could use to accurately and consistently measure business results in a defined area and time period.  Now we are able to compare our individual results with the totals we obtain from outside sources to determine our share of the market.

As an example, we may have a sales goal of 90 cars in a certain month and at the end of the month we've only made 80 sales.  After we receive the vehicle registration data for Aroostook County a few weeks later, we may learn that our 80 sales was actually a better performance in relation to the total cars sold in the County that month.  With this knowledge, we have a better understanding of the effectiveness of changes we make to manageable resources such as our inventory, advertising and sales processes.

Another example of a change we are making to improve market share is the addition of our Tire & Auto Center.  We have been heavily promoting the fact that we have great deals on tires as well as competitive prices on most common vehicle repair and maintenance items.  Our goal is to have more people consider York's for those types of purchases.  Though we can't determine how our sales compare to any single competitor, the quarterly state sales tax data for Southern Aroostook will help us determine our market share.  Then we'll plot the results from each quarterly report to see if we are consistently gaining market share or if we need to do some tweaking.

It's almost time to start planting crops and I'm more anxious this year than I was last year.  Of course, last year on this date (April 22) we had already started planting.  I suppose another week or two won't matter much, but a few warm, sunny days would be wonderful.


Pictured: Dick York