Adopt A Subaru

2005 Subaru Legacy GT Limited Wagon – $12,999

Neil — Tue, 04 May 2010 18:14:09 +0000

This Legacy GT Wagon is a very special model that’s spec’ed for the enthusiast who still requires some utility in his or her life. You won’t find many of these AWD turbocharged wagons equipped with a five-speed manual transmission like this one. It really gives this Legacy two personalities: Refined and highly functional for daily errands or shopping at the garden center, plus sporty and aggressive when you downshift and push the turbo’sfast-pedal to the floor. Automotive magazines of the time tested similar Legacy GT sedans and reported sub-6 second 0-60 mph times. That’s quick! But if you baby the throttle and drive efficiently, you can eke out very respectable fuel mileage. Since this is a Limited model, it has dual-zone climate control, power leather-trimmed and heated front seats, a six-CD changer stereo, a huge power moonroof and much more. And don’t forget the utility – fold down the seats and there’s gobs of room back there. This Euro-GT style wagon eats up highway miles effortlessly, as witnessed by its 107,050-mile service. Expertly prepared by our ace factory-trained technicians and lovingly reconditioned by the Evergreen AutoSpa, this rare manual-transmission wagon is ready for a new home. To adopt this powerful, refined and highly functional Subaru, contact Belinda at 1-877-842-4996 (car #0203A).

2005 Toyota Camry LE – $10,993

Neil — Tue, 04 May 2010 18:03:14 +0000

Here’s a great price for a very high-value Toyota. This well-maintained Camry is a great choice for family transportation or for a first-time driver. Its roomy interior and large 16.7 cubic foot trunk are great for trips to the store or a vacation. Camry’s efficient and refined 2.4-liter four-cylinder and five-speed automatic will provide yeoman service for years to come. It was EPA rated at 21/30 mpg when new, so you won’t be stopping at the gas station very often either. Safety equipment ranges from four-wheel ABS to driver and front-passenger airbags. Its Super White exterior really shines, and the durable gray cloth interior features split-folding rear seats for added utility. Standard conveniences include a power driver’s seat, air conditioning and an AM/FM/CD stereo. There’s just 65,430 miles on the odometer, and Evergreen Subaru backs this car with a 12-month/12,000-mile warranty and our exclusive “Maintenance on Us” program. Contact Belinda at 1-877-842-4996 to find out more about this durable midsize Toyota (car #0182A).

2006 Subaru Impreza 2.5i Wagon – $12,986

Neil — Sat, 01 May 2010 16:50:09 +0000

What a great little wagon! A lot of people find this generation Impreza Wagon a perfect fit for their lifestyles. It’s nimble and agile for around-town driving, yet with the back seat folded, you can fit a surprising amount of stuff in the cargo area. And of course it has Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and the renowned Subaru Boxer engine, so you can drive with confidence and control in all manner of weather conditions. The smoothand responsive four-speed electronic automatic transmission with overdrive makes driving easy, around town or around the region. This car’s pristine Regal Blue Pearl exterior is mated with two-a tone black and gray interior – a great combination. Having seen just 54,171 miles, this Subaru is ready to deliver years and years of service. Refreshedand ready – Evergreen’s factory-trained technicians have gone over this Impreza very carefully – here’s a perfect Subaru for someone to love. To adopt this easy-to-love Impreza, please contact Belinda at 1-877-842-4996 (car #0110B).

2008 VW Jetta S: German-Engineered Compact – $13,499

Neil — Sat, 01 May 2010 16:03:22 +0000

People buy Jettas because they have a certain German feel to them. This Laser Blue Jetta S automatic is your chance to experience it for yourself. Its 170-horsepower five-cylinder engine is mated to a smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission for both performance and fuel efficiency. Front-wheel drive and 16-inch wheels give traction and a comfortable ride. Take a seat inside and you’ll find a handsome and roomy interior with air conditioning, heated side mirrors and an eight-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo with an MP3 auxiliary jack. The 60/40 split rear seat folds down, and the trunk is extremely generous – plenty of room for a trip to the home center or a ton of groceries. For your safety, this Jetta comes with six airbags, and four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes. Take it for a spin, and you’ll understand why owners praise the car’s handling and agility. With just 31,700 miles on it, this beautiful blue Jetta is ready to provide years of service to its next owner. Contact Belinda at 1-877-842-4996 to adopt this German-engineered Jetta (car #4339).

2006 Subaru Baja Sport – $15,989

Neil — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 17:47:55 +0000

This four-door Subaru pickup model has a loyal following, and this particular Baja Sport is from the last year of production so it’s well sorted. A one-owner vehicle, it was bought and serviced here at Evergreen, so we know it well. If you’re unfamiliar with the Baja, you owe it to yourself to give this vehicle a once-over. Baja gives you the comfort of a midsize sedan along with the utility of a small pickup truck. It’s got four doors, four comfortable seats, a nice-size pickup bed in the back and a neat “Switchback” cargo-opening/fold-down rear seat. Fold down the tailgate and open the Switchback, and you can haul anything from 2×4s to camping gear in the back. The highly functional roof crossbars add even more utility. Can’t you just picture a kayak strapped on top? Of course unlike any other four-door pickup out there it’s a Subaru, so that means it has Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, a strong Boxer engine, and in this case, a 5-speed manual tranny so you can precisely control the performance and economy. A deep Obsidian Black Pearl exterior and gray two-tone interior make this Baja Sport a stand-out. This well-maintained Baja has 70,499 miles on it, and for a Subaru, that’s just getting started. To schedule a test drive and fall in love with this Baja, contact Belinda at 1-877-842-4996 (car #0256A).

How To Find The Best Used Car

Neil — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:30:32 +0000

Technology has made searching for a used car easy. You can sit at your computer in your pajamas and search for the car you want within a set radius of your home. Probably the most popular site for this is Auto Trader (www.autotrader.com), which allows you to search by make, model, body style, year, price and even specific features, plus set the distance from your Zip Code – within 10 miles or all the way up to 500 miles away or beyond.

But just like a lot of product selections these days, you may find that you have too many choices. Among all the used Subarus within 50 miles of your location, how do you know which one is the best car?

Don’t Know Much About History
A good way to narrow the field is by getting information about the vehicle’s history: how many owners it’s had, how often it was serviced, and if it was in an accident. CARFAX® reports are available from most reputable dealers, and if the car has been serviced at a new-car dealership, they may even be able to tell you all about its service history. One of the most important questions to ask the seller is, “Are all the recommended services up to date?”

Beware of getting a vague verbal response. Some less than reputable used-car dealers actually throw in a new air cleaner and then say that a major tune-up was done. This can have a big impact on your budget, especially if you’re coming up to a major service interval, such as 60,000 or 90,000 miles.

Knowing that a used car was well maintained increases your odds of trouble-free service in the years ahead. Don’t accept a vague answer. Get the facts.

Who You Gonna Call?
Many late-model used cars come with a warranty. But, of course, not all warranties are created equally. Don’t be fooled by too-good-to-be-true warranties that are issued by some company that you’ve never heard of in some far-off state. You need to find out not only what the warranty does and doesn’t cover, but also who stands behind it. If you have a covered breakdown in a month or two, who are you going to call to get it fixed?

A new-car dealer has a big advantage here, since their “brick-and-mortar” store and their reputation stand behind the warranty.

Would You Buy A Used Car Here?
When you shop from a private owner, or a corner used-car lot, it’s difficult to know how much you can trust the seller. New-car dealers have much more on the line. First, they’ve passed a big hurdle by getting a new-car franchise; second, their regular monthly sales depend on good word of mouth; and third, there are several independent sources that rate dealer quality.

Check with the local Better Business Bureau, and look for an “A” rating. Go to Dealer Rater online (www.dealerrater.com) and find a “certified” dealer with good ratings (5.0 is tops). And don’t be afraid to look the salesperson in the eye and simply ask about the dealership’s reputation.

What’s Best For You?
Getting the exact used vehicle that you want – color, mileage, price – is not easy, so you have to realistic in your expectations. To stack the odds in your favor, only shop at reputable dealers, and get credible assurances that the vehicle is as good as it’s portrayed. A well-maintained vehicle sold by a top-rated dealer is worth spending more for – it will save you money in the long run.

When’s The Best Time To Buy A Used Car?

Neil — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:17:43 +0000

A quick internet search will turn up plenty of opinions about when to buy a new car. But what about used cars? Do the same rules apply? The quick answer is: No. Here’s why.

Let’s say you’d like to buy a used Subaru Outback. One of your relatives has one, and you’ve driven it once or twice, so you have a good feel for the vehicle – you know what you want. Since you live in New England, there should be plenty of used Outbacks available, right? Well, yes and no. A lot depends upon exactly what you want versus what you’ll settle for. And like all car-buying experiences, you should start with some clear guidelines to narrow your search, beginning with dollars and cents.

Budget
If you’re lucky enough to have cash available for your used-car purchase, that’s great. It will make shopping much easier. But if you’re like most folks, you’ll need to determine how much money you can put down and what you can afford in monthly car payments. There are plenty of online calculators for that, but the point is, know your limits. Let’s say that your budget tops out at around $17,500.

Keep in mind that with no money down, that equals about $380 per month. But there are so many variables – the age of the car, its mileage, your credit score – that this monthly figure can only be a rough estimate. Be prepared to make some compromises based on what you can afford. Now let’s look at other “rational” guidelines.

Equipment
Even though you can drive a “stick,” you probably want an automatic transmission. Since most vehicles these days come with an automatic, that makes things easier. Because you listen to a lot of music, you want a stereo with a CD changer, and you would really appreciate heated front seats. Add all of these “must-have” features to your used-car search guidelines. In addition, you’d love to buy a car with less than 50,000 miles on it – that may not be a totally rational decision, but you just feel that a lower-mileage used car will have a bit more “new” left in it.

Now comes the hard part – the less-than-rational guidelines.

Likes & Dislikes
When you’re looking to buy a used car, you’re less likely to get the exact color that you want. If you have your heart set on a green Outback, your choices may be limited. If you want a leather interior, that will narrow your choices even more.

So here’s your ideal used car: A green Outback with beige leather interior, heated seats and a CD changer, that has less than 50,000 miles and costs less than $18,000. Maybe you can start to see why the perfect time to buy a used car is…now!

Changing Inventory
Your Subaru dealer has plenty of used Outbacks, some of which may have been serviced right there. But this inventory of cars is constantly changing, and it’s pretty rare to see identical vehicles (as you might among the new cars). If you visit the dealership and find the perfect used car, it’s decision time. Another car with the same features, mileage, colors and cost may not be available for months – if ever. If you go back home to think about it, the next day that car may be sold.

Equally as important, you have to be realistic about all your wants and needs. If a silver Outback is available with all the right equipment, low miles and a good price, you should probably reconsider your insistence on green.

So the best advice for used-car shoppers? Once you find one that fits your needs, don’t let it slip away!

Spring Cleaning For Your Car

Neil — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:41:51 +0000

Some days it may not look like it, but spring really is just around the corner, and it’s a perfect time to give your car some much-needed TLC. Winters are tough on cars, especially in New England, but before you just dive into this project, get organized and follow an outside-in approach.

Outside: Cosmetics

Start with a good car wash. That should only be the start, however. After you drive home, get out the wheel cleaner and bug & tar remover, and go over the sheet metal carefully. If you spot any serious nicks in the paint, you’ll need to take a trip to your dealer or an auto-parts store for touch-up paint.

Cleaning the wheels is important for several reasons. First, you want to stop any corrosive action in its tracks. But it’s also a good way to check for loose or missing wheel-balancing weights, as well as the condition of the tires. Remember the old penny trick? Stick a penny – with Lincoln’s head down – into the grooves of the tires. If you can see all of Abe’s hair, your tires need to be replaced.

While you’re cleaning the glass (you were going to clean the glass, weren’t you?), take a look at the windshield wiper blades. It wouldn’t hurt to wipe them clean as well, but if you haven’t replaced them since the fall, you’ll really benefit from getting new ones.

Inside: Cosmetics

Even the few car washes that clean the inside of your car do a very cursory job. Get in there with a vacuum cleaner and get out the gunk from the folds of the upholstery, under the seats, etc. Remove the floor mats and clean the carpet well. And make sure that when you reinstall the floor mats, you hook the driver’s mat into place so it won’t interfere with the gas pedal.

Speaking of safety, you should also clean out any debris that may have fallen into the seatbelt latches or the parking-brake mechanism. You don’t actually eat sesame-seed bagels when you drive, do you?

Under The Hood

If you’re like most drivers, you probably haven’t checked under the hood in a while. Now’s a good time. Check the oil, and top up if necessary. The windshield washer reservoir probably needs to be topped off as well. Check for any twigs or leaves or other debris lodged in the engine compartment, and wipe off the engine cover and other cosmetic covers. If you have a turbocharged Subaru model, it’s a good idea to run the vacuum cleaner hose over the intercooler fins to make sure nothing gets in the way of top performance.

A lot of other items should be checked under the hood as well – coolant and brake fluid levels, battery terminal corrosion, serpentine belt condition, air filter, automatic transmission fluid, etc. Most of these service checks should probably be left to professional technicians. So schedule an appointment at Evergreen Subaru and give your car’s engine a good spring cleaning as well!

Low-Mileage 2007 Legacy 2.5i – $16,498

Neil — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:55:42 +0000

Talk about the “new” barely rubbed off! This ’07 Legacy 2.5i Special Edition has seen only 20,000 miles of service – that’s hardly broken in for a Subaru. Check out the Newport Blue Pearl exterior and ultra-clean Warm Ivory Tweed fabric upholstery. The standard 17-inch alloy wheels sparkle as well. This Legacy is calling out for adoption. Want more qualifications? It’s a Special Edition model, so that means a power moonroof, power driver’s seat and electronically controlled automatic transmission are standard. So are all the expected Subaru virtues, including Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and a smooth and economical Boxer 4 engine. Safety features abound, including four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, six airbags and even a Safety Brake Pedal system that can help prevent leg injuries. Practicality is also a plus, with 60/40 fold-down rear seats and plenty of trunk room. Contact Belinda at 1-877-842-4996 to adopt this barely used Subaru (car #4312).

Did The Toyota Recall Stall Your Shopping Plans?

Neil — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:29:55 +0000

Try A Subaru Instead!

While the rest of the automotive world seems to be stuck in Reverse gear over the past few years, Subaru has been the brand on the move. They’ve been posting record sales, increasing their market share and retaining their resale value…and they’re doing it the old fashioned way – with great products.

Back-To-Back Wins

The Subaru Forester was totally redesigned for 2009, and it won the prestigious Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year award. The Subaru Outback followed suit for 2010, and it repeated the feat, winning the 2010 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year award. Incredible – no other automaker has even won two back-to-back Motor Trend awards like that.

Safety & Value

The Subaru Legacy has been an Insurance Institute “Top Safety Pick” since the 2006 model year, and the completely redesigned 2010 model carries that tradition even further with more safety features as standard equipment.

You want value? Check out the Subaru Impreza. It’s an Automotive Lease Guide (ALG) award-winner for its high resale value. In fact, Impreza has higher predicted resale value than competitive Honda, Nissan, Mazda, or Volkswagen models (based on ALG’s 2010 Residual Value Awards’ Brand Rankings for Mainstream Brands).

The Subaru Tribeca has also earned more than its share of accolades and awards, including Forbes.com naming Tribeca “One of the 15 SUVs Worth Buying” and “One of the 15 Safest 2009 Cars.”

Unequalled Anywhere!

What people are seeing in these vehicles is great design, terrific comfort and fantastic value. Add in the fact that they’re engineered for safety and come standard with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, and you’ll be hard pressed to find their equal in any showroom in America. So don’t put your plans on hold – visit Evergreen Subaru and check out the wide range of new and used Subaru models today.