2014 is off and running, and the slew of new car offerings are already hitting the pavement, albeit in concept form and unreleased for now. Toyota JUST launched a concept for the future of performance cars, Nissan also is lifting the curtain on a new sport sedan concept.
The Toyota FT-1
Many other companies are releasing newly refreshed vehicles this year as well. Subaru, Ford, Kia, Dodge, Jeep, just to name a few. This is great for the automotive industry because it gets back to competition, to making a BETTER car for an affordable price point. A lot of manufacturers are getting back to performance as part of their vehicle lineup. Over the last 20 years, vehicles have mainly strayed away from fast, fun cars, in favor of high MPG and passenger room. The people that are interested in really experiencing their drive were relegated to very few options. It's not like the 90's, when we had the Supra, the RX-7, 3000GT, 300ZX, and many other powerful fun cars to be had. Those days are long gone.
The days of old don't have to disappear. We just need to adapt. Much like the muscle cars of the 60s, they can still be held high as the gold standard of fun, powerful, cars, and yet we can enjoy the new advances in technology that allows us to have lighter vehicles with smaller engines. Using our advances, we can achieve performance equal to or greater than the classics from the 60s, and the early 90s.
Nissan Sport Sedan Concept
How many of you see a 4 door gas miser sedan, and say "WOW" to yourself? Toyota realized as they said yesterday, they were making cars that appealed to all and didn't connect with emotions like the ones of the past. Now they are shifting focus to make cars that look stunning, and make you look twice instead of brushing it off as just another car.
There are so many options coming out now that bridge the gap between performance and economy, that it may be hard to choose when the time comes. Keep us in mind when you are looking for a new car. If it's not out yet, we will keep you in the loop as to when it is to hit the store! Check out the pages on Facebook for the motor shows and manufacturers as well, you get to see new models before they ever hit showrooms!
Here's a top ten list of sorts. Things that happened in the automotive world in 2013! Some are huge achievements, others are amazing, and a few are firsts!
1. Diesel makes an impression on us.
Diesel powered vehicles are commonplace in Europe. What makes us not want to jump on board here? Many newer cars/trucks are slowly embracing it as engines become cleaner and quieter. 2014 will be the turning point I think! The 2015 Nissan Titan gets a 5.0 Liter V-8 Cummins diesel engine! The Titan marks the first full size 1/2 ton truck from a non-Detroit company to get a Diesel power plant!
Perhaps the worst news in the automotive world was hearing Paul Walker had died. He was beloved by, friends, family, fans of his movies, and so many more. He will be missed by all.
Toyota US sells 2 million hybrid vehicles, contributing to 5 million total worldwide Toyota hybrid vehicles sold. It's a HUGE accomplishment given that most hybrids just don't hold their footing long. Toyota has a hit with the Prius and other vehicles. Toyota hits big hybrid numbers!
5. Ford's assembly line turns 100
Not many people think about the vehicle assembly line anymore, but Henry Ford and his team changed the industry forever. Originally workers went to the vehicles to put them together. Ford and company though it would save time, money, and amount of labor needed if the cars came to the workers. This process not only worked, but it's the same (with a few tweaks) that we use to this day! Assembly line is a century old!
6. Batmobile doesn't lose a wheel, sells for big bucks!
The original Batmobile from Adam West's Batman sold for a healthy sum this year. A businessman ponied up $4.6 MILLION after fees to purchase the classic ride. He plans on keeping it in his living room. Batmobile brings big money!
7. Windshield wipers may get wiped out!
McLaren, as well as the military utilize a new technology to keep debris from attaching to the windshield. Either in F1 cars, or Jets, a sonic barrier keeps anything from sticking to the glass surface. Gov. regulations would keep it from coming to our shores unless they are amended though. Currently windshields are required to have some sort of motorized wiping device with at least 2 speeds. Sound waves blast away wipers!
8. The presidential Cadillac gets topped off!
Whoops....someone made the mistake of the year. Transferred with the president to Israel on a trip, the limo was filled with the wrong fuel. No one knows for certain what kind of engine is in the car, but it's either filled with diesel when it shouldn't be, or gasoline when it shouldn't be. Either way is bad, but it resulted in a giggle from the rest of us. OOPS! Wrong Fuel Fool!
9. First time ever vehicles are available on Amazon.
Amazon doesn't directly sell them, but a partnership with Nissan lets them spread the word about the new Versa Note. It was a first for the online retailer. Don't think it will be the last either! Shop for your car online.
10. Man jumps from space
People remember where they were for the moon landing, the JFK assassination, 9/11, and more. I think that the feat of Felix Baumgartner will also be remembered. He is the only human to go up far enough that you can see the curve of the earth, and jump. It was awe inspiring! There was real fear he might not make it just like the Apollo astronauts coming back from the moon. Read more here: Felix Baumgartner jumps from space...and lives!
All in all, 2013 was a great year. There were ups and downs, but each year more advancement, more technology, and more discovery spur us to keep going. All the things we take for granted today, were totally and completely far fetched at one point.
Take a new year, and try to change the world. If you keep focused on your dreams, NOTHING is impossible! Let's have one great year!!!
2013 is done, and a new year is starting. The new year allows us to sit back and reflect on our past and our future. Sometimes changes need to be made to make life better or easier throughout the coming 365 days of 2014 and beyond. Your car or truck is no doubt the second most important possession aside from a home. Some people will keep a car forever, and spend money over time to fix it and keep it running in top shape, while others will trade every couple years to get a new car. For some, the latter isn't an option.
Many folks rely on their car, but they don't always have the extra money to fix problems with an older vehicle as they age and become an issue. An older vehicle, with a larger engine and not maintained, can easily become more expensive than getting a new car to replace it. Add up the cost of fixing an engine module, a timing belt, transmission, or blown engine, and you are easily putting a hurting on your checkbook.
It might be time to look at a new vehicle. "It's too expensive" you may say, but it is sometimes more affordable than you think. As the new year looms, so do the next year models. What this means is that manufacturers place incentives in the form of low APR, cash back, or just flat out discounts on them to move them. Buying a 2013 at the end of the year doesn't put you behind either. What it does, is puts you ahead of the pack with used car values, so if you decide to sell it later, you have more equity! HOW? You take your car, a 2013 __________. You compare that to someone's 2013 ___________ that bought it in January of 2013. Your vehicles are identical, BUT you have 1 year worth of mileage NOT on it when you both go to sell them in say 2017.
Sure all that might sound good, but where is the payoff? Trade your car that's been nickel and dime-ing you to death, and get a great rate on a leftover 2013 model! You get an affordable monthly payment on a vehicle that's safer, more dependable, and much better on gas than your older car. While it might seem daunting, the confidence in knowing your car won't let you down will definitely be worth it in the long run. You can make a trip to Granny's house over the river and through the woods without getting stuck in the middle of nowhere!
Leasing options have grown over the years, and have also become less stressful, and just as easy as a purchase. The beauty is, you can decide after your lease is up if you'd like to buy it. It's basically a couple year long test drive. You pay less over that time, and can turn it in and be done with it if you'd like! If you've considered getting another car, but think you can't, stop and chat with us at Fitzgerald. Our low Fitzway price is right on the car, so no hassle with negotiating. We are a no pressure, family dealership. No matter what you do in the new year, make it a great one, and enjoy the moments in life that make it worth living!
Charitable giving is one of the best ways to help an individual, a family, or even a lot of families. We have teamed up with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve to be an official drop off location for Toys for Tots. Giving a toy to a child in need can make all the difference to them and the rest of their family.
We aren't just giving gifts, we are giving hope, smiles, and much more to these kids.
Bring your new unwrapped toy in and drop it in the Toys for Tots boxes in our Nissan or Toyota showroom and help Santa deliver this year! As an added benefit for you, we will offer a $100 discount off of the purchase of a new or preowned vehicle. (1 per customer)
We are so proud to be able to do things like this in our community! Please help us rally behind these kids and give them what every child deserves, a happy, and joyous Christmas day.
Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts,
The staff at Fitzgerald Auto Mall in Chambersburg
There are a lot of dealerships offering gimmicks for new owners these days. Many of them claim there is $XXX.XX amount of value built into it for YOU the customer, but it's not really that simple. Sometimes you have to do any work suggested, at that dealership and that dealership only. It seems like a great idea to start, but it limits you as to your choices with what to do with YOUR car.
We don't limit you with how you'd like to maintain your own vehicle. We offer our Lifetime Buyer Protection Plan, at a fully disclosed price up front, and allow you to make the choice if you'd like to add it or not. Here is an image of how it is of value to you, see below for more explanation.
ALL of this is included with the program, but let's break down some of the main items here! Lifetime $35 credits: You get 1 every 3 months, and it isn't just for oil changes. If you change your own oil, you can use it towards oil and filters. If you need tires, use it towards that. If you want to put a spoiler on your car, it's good for accessories. You can't pile them up, it must be used somehow, but it allows you to be flexible with how you would like to use it. Lets say you keep your car for 5 years, with JUST this part, that value is $35 x 4 times a year x 5 years = $700. SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS! That pays for itself right there. Free Check Engine Light Diagnosis: Right here, once you are out of warranty, can get expensive even before you find out what's wrong with your car. Most if not all shops and dealers will charge a minimum diagnostic fee, that can even be upwards of $90 as they bill you for 1 hour of labor. We will check what problem you have, and relay that to you at no charge, so if there is a major issue, you don't waste money before the first wrench is turned. Towing Discount: If your vehicle for some reason becomes disabled, and you don't have factory roadside assistance, you can be in quite the predicament. Don't get stuck on the side of the road without a plan. With this included in your vehicle, you can get a tow to ANY Fitz Mall location for FREE. This is up to $100 worth of the tow. We have locations in Chambersburg, PA, Frederick, Gaithersburg, Annapolis, Germantown, Lexington Park, Rockville, North Bethesda, Wheaton, MD, and Clearwater, FL. Cooling System, Electrical System, AC / Heating, and Preventative maintenance inspections and tests: All of these have a built in value, as the more you check on them, the less you are surprised by any problems. Mainly, the more you do for preventative maintenance, the less you have that can take you by surprise. Let's just say you replace your water pump and timing belt on a car that recommends it at 100,000 miles. You may spend some money here, but you can also use your voucher to defer some of it. The biggest advantage to checking these things, is that if it were to fail before you replace it, it could cost well into the thousands and thousands to replace the engine. We go over all these things and make sure they are performing at full capability. If we notice a belt worn, a hose starting to dry rot, or the AC system not performing to capacity, we will let you know immediately, so you can make a decision to take corrective action before anything big happens. These checks take time, many dealers will charge you for this each time you come in. We provide it free with the Lifetime Buyer Protection Plan. (yes you do pay for it up front with the cost, but the VALUE exceeds that cost with just 1 feature!)
Check out the website for even more details, but hopefully this will give you a little insight as to how we like to do business. Honest, open, transparent, and always presented to you so that you may make an informed decision based on what you want.
Fitzgerald Scion was proud to be a sponsor in this year's Uprise Festival, held at the Shippensburg Fairgrounds in PA. We had the opportunity to meet alot of nice people and listen to some great bands at the same time.
We took a new Scion iQ, Scion FR-S, Scion tC, and a Scion xB with us which all received alot of attention. The cornhole game, also very popular, allowed people to earn Fitzmall-branded mini-flashlights, mugs, cups, and shirts. It was neat to see all of the flashlights out after dark!
And then to top things off, we sent two guitars backstage to be signed by the artists for us to give away. The bands were very kind and some even posed for pictures while signing them! They turned out great!! The lucky winners will be announced on our Facebook Page on Monday, Sept 30, 2013.
Thanks everyone who stopped by to visit us at the Fitzgerald Scion tent this weekend - We had a blast!!
Fitzgerald Scion of Chambersburg PA will be participating in the 10th Uprise Festival 2013 at the Shippensburg Fairgrounds on Friday and Saturday, 9/20 - 9/21/2013. During the event, attendees will have the chance to enter to win one of many cool prizes including signed guitars, apparel, and more. Winners will be announced on our Facebook page on Monday, September 30, 2013.
Fitzgerald Scion is located at:
1436 Lincoln Way East, Chambersburg PA. | 717-264-3359 | www.Fitzmall.com
The Toyota FT-1 
How many of you see a 4 door gas miser sedan, and say "WOW" to yourself? Toyota realized as they said yesterday, they were making cars that appealed to all and didn't connect with emotions like the ones of the past. Now they are shifting focus to make cars that look stunning, and make you look twice instead of brushing it off as just another car.
