Archive for the ‘Awards and Special Recognition’ Category

“It” Lives!

Monday, April 26th, 2010

We tell you all the time that “Hassett Has It,” and it’s true … but what is “it,” anyway?

Anyone who’s ever been to Hassett of Wantagh knows we’ve got the cars. Anyone who’s ever dealt with us for repairs or maintenance knows we’ve got the service. And anyone who’s ever bought a vehicle from us knows we’ve got the best prices. They don’t just call us Long Island’s No. 1-volume Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Subaru dealer, you know.

Individually, none of these things are “it.” Not every dealership is as committed as Hassett to the best selection, the best service and the best prices, and these things are critical to our success, but they’re still not “it,” not entirely.

“It” can be hard to define. You definitely know when it’s there and you definitely know when it’s not, but it’s still difficult to pin “it” down. One thing is certain, though: You can’t fake “it.”

And when you’re as good as Hassett, you don’t have to. For instance, consider Hassett’s exclusive Owner Advantage Program: On top of the selection, the service and the prices comes this goody bag of complimentary benefits, which apply to every vehicle Hassett sells.

“The Owner Advantage Program is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to our loyal customers, and our way of saying ‘come on in’ to new customers,” says Hassett General Sales Manager Lou Evans. “We know we have the best prices on the greatest cars, we know we have the most efficient and professional service facilities on Long Island, and we’ve always made friendly and timely customer assistance a priority. But the Owner Advantage Program is the cherry on top … it’s our version of above-and-beyond.”

For a seven-time consecutive winner of the Ford Motor Co.’s President’s Award for Customer Service and a repeat winner of the Subaru Stellar Performer Award, improving customer service can be a daunting challenge. The Owner Advantage Program, therefore, had better be pretty special.

It is.

Free first service for all new and certified pre-owned vehicles. Every fifth oil change free. Unlimited free car washes for the first month of ownership. Free loaner cars available for scheduled service visits. Saturday service hours. Round-the-clock roadside assistance for all new vehicles. Exclusive access to Long Island’s largest parts inventory and the Island’s most skilled commercial truck service facility.

Add to these impressive benefits instant cash off on your next Hassett purchase, a rewards program offering five percent in service/parts credit for every dollar you spend and a plethora of impressive, vehicle-specific incentives – free first-year service and a 4-year, 50,000-mile, bumper-to-bumper warranty on all new Lincolns, and a three-year, 3-year, 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty on all new Ford, Mercury and Subaru vehicles – and you have the finest customer-appreciation package available.

You have the Hassett Owner Advantage Program. You have Hassett’s definition of “above and beyond.”

You have “it.”

Posted in Awards and Special Recognition, Ford, Hassett Automotive, Lincoln, Mercury, Monthly Spotlight on Hassett, Subaru, Trucks | No Comments »

Mercury rising, and rising, and rising

Friday, March 26th, 2010

It’s 80 years later, and Edsel Bryant Ford’s brainchild – a line of cars to fill the price gap between popular Fords and luxurious Lincolns – is still going strong.

The Mercury line has undergone some changes over the years, but remains a mainstay of American ingenuity. Named for the fleet-footed Roman god of commerce, the first car in the line (the Mercury Eight, a.k.a. the “Super Ford”) was designed to be powerful and stylish – and yet economical. After World War II temporarily halted production, the vehicle sped to new heights; by 1950, less than 20 years after the first Eights rolled off the line, Mercury sold its one-millionth car.

By the time “Rebel Without a Cause” James Dean drove a customized ’49 Mercury in the 1955 classic, Mercury’s legacy was set. The 1960 introduction of the Comet (Mercury’s first luxury compact) and the Meteor (a downsized sedan) reflected a growing trend toward smaller cars, but it was 1967 when Mercury burned its indelible mark on American highways with the arrival of the Mercury Cougar, the iconic muscle car.

The line would grow to include models of assorted shapes and sizes, with vehicles such as the well-appointed Grand Marquis and the sporty Capri (now a favorite among niche collectors) capturing the fancy of various market segments. Some models would be swallowed by the tides of history, others would rise to replace them – but the move toward smaller and more efficient vehicles was constant, as was the loyalty inspired by Mercury’s relentless quality.

Today, Mercury is dedicated to the safest, most comfortable ride at the best price. From the Milan Hybrid (granted 4.5 out of five stars by influential reviewer CNET) to the Mariner Hybrid (deemed America’s most fuel-efficient mid-size sedan by R.L. Polk & Co.), Mercury is opening new doors to fuel efficiency, power and style.

The Milan and the Mariner have both been honored for their passenger-safety protocols. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the electronic stability-controlled 2009 Milan a Top Safety Pick for midsize cars, while the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2009 Mariner its highest crash-test rating.

The positive trends continued in 2010. Citing a design that’s “more European in style” and a “more contemporary” interior, reviewer AutoMedia.com deemed the 2010 Milan Hybrid “much improved” and praised “the mid-size segment’s best gasoline four-cylinder fuel economy.”

Other Mercuries garner their own positive press. AllAutoReviews.com called the 2010 Grand Marquis “the perfect family car,” while Car and Driver dubbed the 2010 Moutaineer “a quiet and supple driving experience” and “a true SUV for those who still want one.” Edmunds.com, meanwhile, called the Mariner and its smaller-SUV ilk “one of the near-perfect compromises of the automotive world.”

Bottom line: They don’t look like your great-grandfather’s “Super Ford,” but today’s Mercury vehicles maintain the same standards and value. Foreign-bred competitors are good at playing catch-up, but they can’t match Mercury’s automotive depth – or its innate understanding of the American driver.

Looking for the best deals in fuel efficiency, luxury and style? Look no further than the famous Mercury line. Of course, Hassett Has It – and we’re ready to share!

Posted in Awards and Special Recognition, Mercury, Monthly Spotlight on Hassett | No Comments »

Fiesta, Forever

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

It’s a European sensation. It’s the hottest thing to roll off the Ford assembly lines in a generation. And as it prepares for its U.S. debut this summer, it has domestic driving enthusiasts licking their lips and lining up, without reservation.

Actually, they’re doing it with reservations, but without hesitation, thanks to the nationwide Fiesta Reservations program. Part marketing drive, part grass-roots movement, Fiesta Reservations allows drivers to build their own Fiesta online, arrange priority order handling, receive personalized vehicle updates and qualify for a no-charge SYNC ® entertainment/communications system, as well as a free upgrade to premium sound – all leading up to ownership of Europe’s favorite new subcompact.

Projected to lead its class in fuel economy (30 mpg city/40 highway), Fiesta is proving how exciting efficiency can be. With a peppy 1.6-liter Duratec engine, twin independent variable-cam timing and an available six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission, Fiesta moves with a purpose. But the unexpected power is just the beginning: Consider the Ford-tuned suspension and other technological marvels, including the electric power-assisted steering – which compensates for cornering forces and speed changes to maintain weight and maximize fuel efficiency – and the new “active nibble control,” which overcomes minor steering wheel variations by introducing a nibble-canceling torque.

In short, this driving machine is built to perform. But what truly pushes Fiesta to the head of its class are its creature comforts – amenities usually reserved for more luxurious levels. Available leather-trim seats, Intelligent Access with push-button start, standard multifunctional LCD display and that super SYNC ® system (featuring hands-free Bluetooth-enabled phone, voice-activated music search, audible text messages, turn-by-turn navigation capabilities, real-time traffic updates and personalized news, weather and sports reports) enhance the Fiesta driving experience.

With Fiesta Reservations pouring in from around the country, the excitement is already building at Hassett of Wantagh, according to General Sales Manager Lou Evans.

“It’s very rare that a car like this comes along,” Lou says. “Not only a great car, not just a great driving experience or a really efficient model, but a vehicle that creates so much enthusiasm in advance. People are genuinely excited about this car.”

Perhaps the most exciting feature of all, Lou adds, is the price. With all those engineering wonders, all the high-tech innovations and that incredible fuel economy, you might expect to pay through the nose. But the four-door Fiesta – available in both sedan and hatchback models – has a starting MSRP of only $13,320.

“At that price, this car is going to be a massive seller,” Lou says.

All the more reason to stop by Long Island’s No. 1-volume Ford, Lincoln, Mercury dealer today and learn more about the fabulous new Fiesta – or visit www.fordvehicles.com/cars/fiesta and make your own Fiesta Reservation. You can also learn more about Fiesta on YouTube and follow the vehicle on Twitter.

But no matter how you bone up on the hottest car of 2011, remember – Hassett Has It!

Posted in Awards and Special Recognition, Ford | No Comments »

Fusion Power

Monday, December 14th, 2009

The Camry. The Accord. The BMW 7 Series. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Pretty good cars … but not the best, not according to Motor Trend Magazine. 

Motor Trend’s prestigious Car of the Year is none other than the 2010 Ford Fusion, which bested a field of 23 entries – including those lofty competitors back there – to earn Motor Trend’s top honor. America’s most fuel-efficient midsize (and the country’s No. 1-selling domestic car) is “reborn for 2010 and … better, smarter, nicer, prettier, comfier, leaner, meaner and greener,” according to Motor Trend. 

Citing “a soup-to-nuts redevelopment so thorough, it’s as if the first-generation car never existed,” the magazine called the Fusion – from the Base S to the luxurious SEL to the super-efficient Fusion Hybrid – “an economical midsize sedan that doesn’t cost much, yet won’t bore you to tears.” 

Efficiency is, of course, the Fusion’s middle name. The Fusion Hybrid, with its EPA-estimated 41 mpg rating in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, tops the Camry hybrid’s best mileage by 8 mpg in the city and 2 mpg on the highway, while the four-cylinder Fusion – with its best-in-class highway fuel economy of 34 mpg – bests the Toyota Camry four-cylinder by 2 mpg. 

“We can’t say enough about this car,” says Lou Evans, Hassett of Wantagh’s general manager. “It’s such an attractive draw and customers love everything about it. It was already one of our top sellers, reflecting national sales patterns for the past two years, but now it’s off the charts, with Motor Trend honoring it like this.” 

A lot full of Motor Trend’s top-rated cars is just another feather in Hassett’s impressive cap. Hassett is already Long Island’s No. 1 volume Ford, Lincoln, Mercury dealer (as well as one of Long Island’s top volume Subaru dealers) and a six-time winner of the Ford Motor Co. President’s Award for exemplary customer satisfaction in sales and service. 

That means Hassett of Wantagh, in addition to fabulous certified sales professionals, boasts a world-class support staff that keeps customers smiling – and keeps them coming back. Throw in the fantastic deals associated with the Ford Year-End Sales Event, and now is the best time ever to purchase your own luxurious, fuel-efficient Ford Fusion. 

Motor Trend has crowned it. Ford is cutting fantastic deals on it. You know you want it. 

And Hassett Has It. 

Posted in Awards and Special Recognition, Ford, Hassett Automotive, Monthly Spotlight on Hassett | No Comments »

Hassett Pulls an Ace

Monday, December 14th, 2009

 

Ken Vighi knows Ford trucks.

Ken Vighi knows Ford trucks.

One of New York’s most knowledgeable truck experts has joined the Hassett of Wantagh team.

Ken Vighi, president of the New York Ford Truck Club Team, became truck sales manager at Long Island’s No. 1 volume Ford, Lincoln, Mercury dealer in October, and he hasn’t looked back. His new friends at Hassett “have been nothing but nice to me,” he says, and that means something coming from someone who’s sold Ford Motor Co. products for 42 years. 

Ken – KJ to his friends – is more than a Ford salesman. He’s a Ford fan. Long before he took the reins of the New York FTCT in 2004, he’d enjoyed a love affair with Ford vehicles, especially trucks. “Cut me open, I bleed Ford blue,” KJ says. “I believe in the product.” 

He still remembers the day in 1967 when General Motors workers went on strike – grim news for the young, aspiring GM salesman. “I was told to go work at a Ford store, and when the strike was over I could come back to GM,” KJ recalls. “If you learned one thing at GM, it was that Fords were junk. But, in reality, when I went to work for them I found out Ford was making great cars.” 

So ended KJ’s association with GM and began his lifelong relationship with Ford. While he’s sold every manner of Ford vehicle at one point or another, a special place is reserved in KJ’s heart for Ford trucks – particularly the flagship F150. 

“The technology, the ride, the handling, the quietness of it,” he says with considerable reverence, before reminding you that Ford F-series trucks have been the No. 1 selling vehicle in the U.S. for 29 consecutive years. 

As president of the New York Ford Truck Club Team – at 49 years running, one of the nation’s oldest Ford truck clubs – KJ’s mission is education and charity. Over eight annual meeting, the FTCT instructs young people on “how to be qualified Ford truck salespeople,” KJ says, while sponsoring fundraisers for the American Red Cross, Trees for Troops and other altruistic organizations. 

But at Hassett, KJ is all business – and business, he believes, is about to boom. 

“In the U.S., we were selling 15 million [Ford trucks] a year until two years ago,” he notes. “For the last two years, we’ve been selling about 10 million. That’s about 10 million total sales that weren’t made… and those buyers will be coming back to the market. 

“It’s just numbers,” KJ adds. “The American public has pulled its money out of the stock market and held back on purchases and put its money in the bank. Now it’s going to start spending again … I firmly believe it.” 

And Hassett of Wantagh is in the perfect position to enjoy that rebound, according to its new commercial truck manager.

“I’ve been around long enough to know that there’s always an up following the down,” KJ says. “With Hassett’s reputation, and this product line, I think we’re going to have a very good year – not just a good year, a very good year.”

Posted in Awards and Special Recognition, Hassett Automotive, Service, Trucks | No Comments »

Regarding Henry

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

To our friends and neighbors:

American business icon Henry Ford once noted, “Business is never so healthy as when, like a chicken, it must do a certain amount of scratching around for what it gets.” This was certainly a year for scratching, but thanks to our steadfast clients and some terrific deals on some really great cars, Hassett of Wantagh is stronger than ever.

So as we come to the end of 2009’s political and economic roller coaster, we want to thank the loyal customers who stuck with us through these tough times.

The recession that dramatically weakened our national economy is “officially” over, but its effects are still with us. America has just started on the road to recovery. This will be a difficult test of our national mettle, but as always, America will rise to the challenge. At Long Island’s No. 1 volume Ford, Lincoln, Mercury dealer, we’re proud to do our part by providing solid jobs – from the service lane to our showroom – and the most reliable vehicles on America’s roads.

You know, while Ford built what is arguably the most successful company in history, the Great Depression lurked. But Ford, as much a visionary as an automaker, was characteristically prepared. By 1929, he’d opened assembly plants in Australia, India and France, and had successful dealerships on six continents. Far from abandoning his American operations, the brilliant industrialist was actually addressing several concerns: A staunch believer in peace through international trade, he was also ensuring Ford Motor Co.’s continued viability, despite a declining American economy. “Before everything else,” Ford would say, “getting ready is the secret of success.”

There’s a sweet logic there. We’re getting ready for a big 2010 – but first, we’re closing 2009 with an expression of gratitude for our customers and friends: Hassett, a six-time winner of the Ford Motor Co. President’s Award for Exemplary Customer Service, is tying ribbons on a pair of customer-appreciation events, the Lincoln “Wish List” event and the Ford Year-End Sales Event.

“Wish List” is how Lincoln does a year-end clearance: the season’s best values on the entire 2010 line, including the standard in luxury sedans, the MKS; the mighty midsized MKZ; the finer all-wheel drive crossover, the MKX; and the all-new seven passenger luxury crossover MKT.

Representing the latest in opulence and technology, the Lincoln line (featuring the popular Active Park Assist system) boasts unmatched power, environmental responsibility and high-tech comfort – from the MKT’s three rows of luxury seating to the MKS’s available EcoBoost™ engine (V8 thrust with V6 thirst) to the MKX’s panoramic Vista Roof™. This “Wish List” has it all, wrapped in phenomenal prices, outstanding financing options, generous rebates and great lease deals. That’s what we call an economic recovery!

Also waiting under our tree is the Ford Year-End Sales Event, which features great deals on some of America’s safest cars. In fact, when the Virginia-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded its “top safety pick” this week to 19 passenger cars for the 2010 model year, Ford Motor Co. led the way with six awards.

Subaru, another make we know a few things about here at Hassett, tied for second with five Insurance Institute awards. For the record, neither the Honda Accord nor the Toyota Camry were among the Insurance Institute’s 2010 “top safety picks.”

Ford’s Insurance Institute honors came on the heels of Motor Trend Magazine naming the Ford Fusion its 2010 Car of the Year. The Fusion – which Motor Trend dubbed the “do-it-all sedan [that’s] better, smarter, nicer, prettier, comfier, leaner, meaner and greener in every way” – is one of several Ford models featured in the spectacular Year-End Sales Event. Also featured is the Ford Escape, always a favorite of the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study.

“A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business,” according to old Henry Ford, and we couldn’t agree more. So we’re working hard to thank a community that has always embraced us. From our family to yours, have the safest and happiest of holiday seasons. We’ll see you out on the road!

Best,

Lou Evans, General Manager, Hassett of Wantagh

Posted in Awards and Special Recognition, Ford, Hassett Automotive, Lincoln, Mercury, Special Promotions, Subaru | No Comments »

Twice The Exceptional Service

Friday, October 2nd, 2009

How dedicated to service is Hassett of Wantagh? That’s difficult to quantify, but let’s start here: We offer not one but two specialized service departments, each equipped to deliver the ultimate service experience at prices that make competitors nervous.

 Hassett’s main Service Center is loaded with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and staffed by factory-trained and certified technicians ready to apply the latest tools and techniques to any automotive need. Whether it’s your new Ford, Lincoln, Mercury or Subaru model, or any pre-owned vehicle, we fix it right the first time, from oil changes to transmission repairs – a superior level of automotive service only Hassett can deliver.

 Hassett’s Commercial Truck Service Center – located on Seaford Avenue, just one-and-a-half blocks from Hassett’s main facility – is equally impressive. The 12,000-square-foot satellite facility is equipped to handle every truck-servicing need on all makes and models up to Class 8. Specializing in repairs and maintenance on diesel engines, hydraulic systems, motor homes and even construction equipment, Hassett is large enough to handle any commercial fleet – but attention to the smallest details allows Hassett to cater to the individual owner/operator.

 “Gas or diesel, we do it all,” notes Marc Zergebel, Hassett Automotive’s service manager. “Quality service, competitive pricing and guaranteed satisfaction are just a few of the many commitments Hassett makes to its customers.

 “With commercial trucks, we offer the shortest down time,” Marc adds. “With personal vehicles, our unmatched reliability makes the difference. And with all of the vehicles we service and repair, our goal is to exceed the customer’s expectations, every single time.”

 Featuring Ford/Lincoln/Mercury Genuine Parts and Service, Hassett of Wantagh is Long Island’s No. 1 Ford/Lincoln/Mercury volume dealer. It’s also a multiple recipient of the Ford Motor Company’s coveted President’s Award (given nationally to dealerships providing superior sales and service) and a Subaru Stellar Performer – a distinction reserved for dealerships that qualify for a Subaru-designed certification program containing more than 200 attributes and standards for improved customer service.

To learn more about Hassett’s spectacular servicing options, or to schedule an appointment, call Hassett today. You can reach Hassett’s main Service Facility at (516) 785-7800 or our Commercial Truck Service Center at (516) 785-0000.

Posted in Awards and Special Recognition, Hassett Automotive, Service, Trucks | No Comments »

Hassett Wins It Again!

Monday, June 29th, 2009

Takes Home Ford Motor Co.’s President’s Award for Exemplary Customer Service for the Sixth Straight Year!

Long Island’s No. 1 volume dealer proves that Hassett Has It … Again! Widely recognized on Long Island for the number of cars it sells, Hassett of Wantagh has proven once again that they consistently outperform dealerships in other areas of the country as well.

Hassett strives to provide the best possible experiences for its customers in all aspects of sales and service, and its efforts have once again resulted in the dealership being honored with the coveted President’s Award! Dealerships winning this prestigious award are recognized for their outstanding efforts in reaching higher, exceeding all expectations and achieving extraordinary results. Award criteria are stringent and must include exemplary results in areas of Overall Sales and Service Satisfaction, “Recommend Dealer for Sales” and “Recommend Dealer for Service.”

Statistics are gathered through completed customer survey forms and a dealership must achieve all of the award criteria — and rank within the top two positions of the group — to win. Hassett has again exceeded customer expectations in all areas.

Hassett is incredibly proud to give customers the sales and service experiences necessary to once again earn them this significant award, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that Hassett Has It!

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