Archive for the ‘Special Promotions’ Category

Creed and a Car Show: Hassett Hits the Road

Friday, August 20th, 2010

A busy summer at Hassett of Wantagh continues this week with a pair of road trips – one to support a great cause, and one just to rock out.

This Sunday, Aug. 22, Hassett will take part in the Wantagh Hook, Ladder, Engine Co. No. 1’s second annual Car & Antique Fire Apparatus Show (while Hassett will not be displaying any antique fire apparatuses, it will be showcasing several of its most popular makes and models). A portion of the proceeds from the event will support the Nassau University Medical Burn Center.

And then, on Tuesday night, Hassett will be at the Nikon Jones Beach Theater, showing off the latest Ford and Lincoln models while multi-platinum megaband Creed continues its comeback tour.

On the scale of events Hassett might participate in, these two are pretty far apart. But they have one important thing in common, according to Hassett General Sales Manager Lou Evans.

“These are fun events!” Lou says. “The first Wantagh Fire Department car show was a blast, and we’re expecting a great turnout this year. And anyone who lives on Long Island or grew up here knows there’s nothing like a summer concert on Jones Beach!”

The Car & Antique Fire Apparatus Show, which Hassett is sponsoring, is slated to run from 9 am to 3 pm Sunday in the Long Island Rail Road commuter parking lot adjacent to Wantagh Station on Park Avenue. Live entertainment is planned, along with numerous vendor raffles and food and refreshments provided by Applebee’s and Pepsi.

“It’s a great summer event,” Lou says. “And we’re very happy to be able to support the Medical Burn Center.”

The Creed concert is a special “Low Dough Rock Show” sponsored by WBAB Radio: Tickets are only $20 each, making it the most affordable show in the 2010 Jones Beach Summer Concert Series.

Creed, which rose to fame in the late 1990s, has sold over 26 million albums in the United States alone, featuring such chart-toppers as “With Arms Wide Open” and “My Sacrifice.” The band split up in 2004, but reunited last year for a world tour that continued into 2010 – and has led them to the Nikon Theater.

Along with being a sponsor of the concert, Hassett is bringing a brand-new, fully loaded 2011 Fiesta, a rock star in its own right: class-leading fuel economy, twin independent variable-cam timing, available six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission, electric power-assisted steering, available leather trim, Intelligent Access with push-button start, multifunctional LCD display and a top-rate SYNC ® system featuring hands-free Bluetooth-enabled phone, voice-activated music search, audible text messages, turn-by-turn navigation capabilities, real-time traffic updates …

The list sort of goes on like that for a while. Suffice it to say, the Fiesta is one knockout car, and Creed fans will learn all about it Tuesday night.

“It’s not just the fuel efficiency,” Lou notes. “It’s the driving experience. People get genuinely excited about this car.”

Just like Hassett gets genuinely excited about road trips. Really, is there any better way to spend your summer?

And Now for Something Completely Different

Monday, August 9th, 2010

It’s pretty obvious that Planet Earth’s chief inhabitants are turning a corner: Greener, smaller, big efficiency, small footprint … these are the definitions of “new and improved” now, the calling cards of everything “better,” from light bulbs to skyscrapers.

Somewhere in the middle of all that is an automotive revolution. It’s actually the most innovative era for cars and trucks since the Model T; the drive toward fuel efficiency has inspired an all-out environmental race, and enjoying a comfortable lead – as it did a century ago, when founder Henry mass-produced America’s first affordable car – is the Ford Motor Co.

And just when you thought “green” had run out of automotive steam, here comes Ford again, redefining parameters. Years ago, the world of sports-utility vehicles was turned on its ear by the one-and-only Explorer, still the most popular SUV of all time – and the most durable (according to Hassett Automotive Service Manager Marc Zergebel, of roughly six million Explorers ever sold, four million are still on the road). Now, everything about the Explorer is new – the platform, the efficiency, the amenities, the thinking – and once again, the world has changed.

How new? How’s this: The Explorer is no longer an SUV. Built on a smaller car platform that increases fuel performance and handling, the CUV – as in “crossover” – is completely redesigned, inside and out. And it still offers full-size comfort for seven passengers and a 5,000-pound towing capacity, right at the top of an increasingly crowded CUV field.

“The Explorer is just amazing,” says Marc, who attended the invitation-only unveiling of the 2011 Explorer July 26 in New York City, rubbing elbows with Ford CEO Alan Mulally and TV pitchman Mike Rowe.

“I’m blown away,” he says. “It’s beautiful, it’s efficient, it’s high-tech, it’s safe. It still carries seven people in three rows of seating, very comfortably. It still tows 5,000 pounds. And it does it all with class-leading fuel mileage.”


“The shift from traditional SUV to the crossovers has been great for fuel efficiency, but typically, crossovers have two rows and seating for five,” Marc adds. “The market still demands a seven-passenger vehicle with the versatility of all-wheel drive and the ability to carry a full-size family.”

That family is going to want power enough to handle any road, task or weather, and they’ll get it, whether they choose the Explorer’s standard 3.5-liter Twin Independent Variable Cam Timing V6 or the optional 2-liter Direct Injection Turbocharged EcoBoost™ engine (promising 30-percent better fuel economy). Either way, the Explorer packs impressive horsepower and an aggressive six-speed automatic transmission.

That family is also going to prize safety, so they’ll appreciate Ford’s newest anti-injury innovation: the world’s first inflatable rear safety belts, an option designed and tested specifically to reduce head and neck injuries and enhance rear-seat safety for passengers of all ages. “Really a terrific idea,” Marc notes. “That much more protection, in case of an accident.”

And that family, of course, will want to enjoy the ride. In Ford’s exclusive upgrade packages, they’ll find the latest in mobile communications, security and entertainment.

“Automatic parking, Bluetooth technology, turn-by-turn navigation, traffic, weather, movie listings…” Marc says. “All sorts of information, right on a nice LCD touch-screen.”

Those features and more are indeed available via the optional Ford MyTouch™ System, which promises game-changing driver-connect technology. Responding to over 10,000 voice commands, the touch-screen and steering-wheel mounted controls, the latest incarnation of Ford’s groundbreaking SYNC System controls music, climate, phone and navigation systems, interfacing with passengers on three customizable LCD screens and even enabling WiFi.

Out-of-the-box thinking like this has always set the Explorer apart. But the 2011 Explorer represents a quantum leap, Marc says, sure to “capture the imagination and satisfy the needs of existing (Mercury) Mountaineer and Explorer owners, as well as a whole new market of customers we haven’t seen before.”

“This is exactly what they’ve been waiting for,” Marc says. “It’s the ideal choice for the family in search of quality, comfort, safety and efficiency. And it’s a total blast.”

Hassett expects to take delivery of the first 2011 Explorers later this year, but is already taking orders from excited enthusiasts. For more details on the new Explorer’s breakthrough design and topflight amenities – or to reserve the best ride of your life – swing by the dealership on Sunrise Highway in Wantagh today, or visit Hassett online

Brains of the Operation

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

Long Island’s top work-truck dealer. A networking event sponsored by a trade organization representing over 1,500 Island landscape design and maintenance

professionals. A college campus packed with environmentally conscious young-adult drivers.

Lou Evans is no dummy.

Lou, the hardworking general sales manager of Hassett Automotive, knows a marketing opportunity when he sees one. That’s why he made sure Hassett was at the Nassau Suffolk Landscape Gardeners Association’s July 14 networking picnic/barbecue at Farmingdale State College. That’s why he had Hassett join the NSLGA in the first place – to learn the needs of a critical customer base from the inside. And that’s why he was sure to bring along a shiny new Ford Fiesta when Hassett visited the FSC campus: Though shalt not pass, Lou figures, without offering.

“The kids thought the car was awesome,” he says of the nimble, 40-mpg Fiesta, the European sensation now redefining the U.S. compact market. “They were really intrigued by the economy and surprised at how roomy a small car can be on the inside. It has all the modern features and it’s so affordable … what better place to showcase this car than at a college?”

Clever as it was to showcase that new Fiesta, Hassett was sure to bring the big guns to the NSLGA networking event. Hassett’s pièce de résistance was a Ford F-550 – a Class 5 Super-Duty conventional truck that shares fender, grill, hood and cab designs with smaller pickup trucks – outfitted with what Lou calls a “landscape body.”

“This is the type of vehicle you most commonly see landscapers using,” the GSM notes. “They carry mulch, they carry topsoil, bushes, shrubs … for whatever they need to carry, this is the body of choice, as opposed to a mason body, for instance, that might be better for carrying bricks or cement.

“A landscape body has higher sides and more capacity,” Lou adds. “It’s larger, not necessarily by weight, but by volume.”

Like the Fiesta with FSC’s summer students, the F-550 was a big hit with the NSLGA members attending the July 14 networking event. That’s not surprising, considering Ford F-series trucks have been America’s No. 1-selling vehicles for three decades.

“You go to event where there are people representing companies that sell tractors and riding motors and other things that might interest professional landscapers and gardeners, and something like [the F-550] fits right in,” Lou notes. “It’s a big attraction. This is the vehicle they’re looking for.”

And between the green-   minded fans of the peppy Ford Fiesta and the green-thumbed admirers of the gritty F-550, Lou hopes the NSLGA road trip will generate some green for Hassett Automotive.

“Of course we do these things to increase sales,” the GSM says. “But they’re also educational. We want to teach those kids about Fiesta’s efficiency and affordability. We want to show the landscapers everything the Ford Super Duties have to offer. And we want to learn ourselves – what are those customers thinking when they see these vehicles, and how can we better serve them?”

Teaching, learning and making a few extra sales along the way.

Yeah … no dummy, that Lou.

Hassett & Shawnee Mt. Host Winter Adventure

Friday, January 29th, 2010

Record-shattering blizzards? Endless gray skies? Short, cold days and long, frigid nights? Don’t despair: Hassett of Wantagh is beating back the winter blues with an especially adventurous event.

It’s all downhill at Long Island’s most exciting Subaru dealer, where the Ski Hassett Subaru and Save event is gearing up for its big run. February may be the coldest month of the year, but the deals have never been hotter on one of America’s most popular makes. And through a special agreement with Hassett’s friends at Shawnee Mountain, everyone who purchases a new Subaru in February receives two lift tickets for a free day of fun at “the Poconos’ Favorite Ski Resort!”

From the weather-whipping Forester to the back-road-besting Outback, from the edgy WRX to the dynamic Legacy to the urban-legend Tribeca, all trendsetting Subaru models feature four-wheel independent suspensions for optimal handling, plus Subaru’s patented Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. And at Hassett Subaru, free Shawnee lift tickets make these outstanding vehicles even more special.

“Customers should take advantage of this fabulous promotion,” says John Fanuzzi, Hassett’s Subaru sales manager. “You take your rugged new Subaru up a mountain and you hit the slopes, and the skiing is on us. It’s terrific.”

A top dealership like Hassett naturally has friends in high places, so Hassett is thrilled to team with Shawnee on this special offer. Featuring 23 trails, terrain parks for all skill levels and the popular Pocono Plunge Snow Tubing Park, the East Stroudsberg, Pa., resort represents the best of the Poconos – the perfect winter adventure to break in your new action-packed Subaru!

Ski Hassett Subaru and Save also features “the best lease options ever on all Subaru models,” according to John, including the 2010 Outback – Motor Trend’s Sports Utility of the Year  – and the rest of Subaru’s super-sleek, super-safe line. Subaru was the only manufacturer to receive 2010 IIHS Top Safety Picks for all models.

Just one of many reasons, he adds, why Subarus continue to achieve new popularity among American motorists.

“Hassett’s Subaru sales were up last year over 30 percent,” John says. “Subaru is one of the only manufacturers with a year over year sales increase, whereas most automakers, even Toyota, were down.

“The redesigned Forester and the redesigned Outback Legacy are extremely popular cars,” he adds. “With all the latest technologies and safety features, it’s a whole different world.”

Ski Hassett Subaru and Save runs throughout February. For more information, visit www.hassettautomotive.com, or stop in and chat with John, or any of Hassett’s friendly representatives. See you on the slopes!

 

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

Party On: New Lincolns Roll into Hassett Oct. 15

Tuesday, October 6th, 2009

You know that Lincoln you’ve always wanted? It’s waiting to meet you at Hassett of Wantagh’s biggest Lincoln party of the year.

Hassett, Long Island’s No. 1 volume Ford/Lincoln/Mercury dealer, is proud to present A Star-Studded Evening, your best chance ever to drive off in a brand-new Lincoln MKZ or MKS, or to snag an all-new MKT – with terms and incentives sure to dazzle even the most savvy shopper. A Star-Studded Evening, a nationwide Lincoln sales extravaganza, kicks off at 5:30 pm Oct. 15 at Hassett, located at 3530 Sunrise Highway in Wantagh.

Hassett’s friends and fans will tell you this dealership knows how to throw a party. But A Star-Studded Evening raises the bar – bigger deals, bigger attractions and bigger prizes, including the no-purchase-necessary Star-Studded Sweepstakes, a winner-take-all in-person drawing for a home-theater package including a stunning 65-inch plasma screen and state-of-the-art Blu-ray player.

The real stars of the evening, though, will be the exquisite automobiles. Hassett of Wantagh is the first dealership to take delivery of the all-new 2010 Lincoln MKT, a seven-passenger crossover, along with the blistering hot 2010 MKZ and MKS sedans – three of the finest machines ever to conquer American roads.

With the exclusive panoramic fixed-glass Vista Roof™, available navigation system with integrated Sirius Travel Link™ and the Sync ® voice-activated communications and entertainment system, the all-new, all-hot Lincoln MKT is the ultimate combination of performance and fuel economy. Featuring three rows of total luxury for the driver and six passengers, a 3.5-liter Ecoboost™ twin turbocharged direct-injection V6, adaptive cruise control and a collision-warning system, the MKT is one giant leap for luxury crossovers – and thanks to A Star-Studded Evening, one small step from your driveway!

The 3.5L Ecoboost™ is also featured on the brilliant 2010 MKS – the first full-size luxury sedan to boast the boost. With the thrust of a V8, the thirst of a V6 and lavish amenities such as heated and cooled front seats, rear-window power sunshade and leather trim, there’s no more comfortable ride. With high-tech features like the exclusive Intelligent Access push-button starter, voice-activated navigation system, THX II-certified surround sound and the Sync ® communications and entertainment system, there’s no finer luxury sedan.

Sirius Travel Link™, the Sync ® system, the climate-controlled seats … you’ll find all the bells and whistles inside the stunning 2010 MKZ. But Lincoln’s sportiest and most affordable model has something even its bigger siblings don’t – an exhilarating zip that only America’s leading luxury automaker can deliver. From the Blind Spot Information System™ (with Cross Traffic Alert) to the Intelligent All-Wheel Drive to the sport-tuned suspension, everything about the MKZ is designed to provide the ultimate driving experience – and we haven’t even mentioned the phenomenal fuel economy, the six-speed SelectShift™ Automatic transmission, the Quietcraft™ interior…

Nobody combines luxury and performance like Lincoln. And nobody throws a party like Hassett of Wantagh. Food, drink, fun with the WKJY radio crew, the Star-Studded Sweepstakes and fantastic package deals on the planet’s sexiest luxury vehicles – that’s how Hassett gets down. Come on by from 5:30 pm to 9 pm Oct. 15 … we’ll show you.

Adventure! Romance! And some wicked new cars!

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

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It’s like a Hollywood movie premier! Only it’s not Hollywood, it’s Wantagh. And it’s not a movie, it’s the all-new 2010 Subaru Legacy and 2010 Subaru Outback. And it’s not a premier … but it is a major event.

OK, so, it’s not at all like a Hollywood movie premier. But for driving enthusiasts and anyone looking for a great deal on new wheels, it’s a bona fide blockbuster.

September 24 is the day and Hassett of Wantagh is the place for the 2010 Subaru Love at First Sight Preview Event. Hassett is one of the first U.S. dealerships to take delivery of the shiny new Legacy and Outback models, and it’s pulling out all the stops for a one-night-only showcase filled with amazing cars, spectacular deals and a full slate of family fun.

DJ Jim Douglas and the WKJY staff are slated to emcee an event filled with music, food and fantastic prizes. But no spectacle (in Hollywood or Wantagh) is complete without romance and adventure, so the real stars of this show are the 2010 Legacy and the 2010 Outback.

Confident, dynamic and fun – that sums up the irresistible new Legacy, an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick featuring enhanced stopping power, all-wheel drive performance, optional turbocharger for the zippy boxer engine and a spacious, totally redesigned interior. One test drive and you’ll see how thrilling a sedan can be – one look and you’ll fall in love all over again.

Climb behind the wheel of the new Outback and let the adventure begin! A bold new take on Subaru’s most rugged model, the Outback’s symmetrical all-wheel drive, higher ground clearance (8.7 inches), enviable fuel economy (29 MPG highway) and ready-for-anything options (fold-away roof rails, under-floor cargo storage, 12-volt outlets and more) let you tackle any driving challenge. Take it for a spin and you’ll know – the horizon has never been closer.

Making these attractive vehicles even more desirable is Subaru’s Guaranteed Trade-In Program (ensuring the highest possible trade-in price for your old Subaru, plus an additional $500 in Subaru Rewards) and a complimentary two-year maintenance program for all new vehicles purchased during the Love at First Sight event.

The fun and deals are scheduled to run from 5:30 pm to 9 pm at Hassett of Wantagh, located at 3530 Sunrise Highway. See you Thursday, Sept. 24, and remember: When it comes to spectacular romance and adventure, only Hassett Has It!

Recycled Rides: Cash for Clunkers Program Sweetens the Deal for Customers with Trade-ins

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

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Hassett of Wantagh, Long Island’s largest Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Subaru dealer is proud to announce their participation in the Cash for Clunkers stimulus program, which kicked off on July 24th.

This eagerly anticipated, government-sponsored program makes it easier and more affordable than ever for customers to turn in their old vehicles for vouchers of up to $4,500 toward the purchase of a new ride!

At Hassett of Wantagh, customers who take advantage of this program will receive a government voucher of $3,500 or $4,500 toward the purchase of one of 20 fuel-efficient Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models or any Subaru in exchange for their qualifying trade in. The Cash for Clunkers voucher is in ADDITION to all other manufacturer incentives offered when purchasing a new vehicle.

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To see if you qualify and for additional information, visit www.cashforclunkers.ford.com or download a printed
reference guide below:

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Then visit Hassett of Wantagh, Long Island’s No. 1 Volume Dealer, to RECYCLE YOUR RIDE! The program runs through Nov 1, 2009, or until the government allotment of $1 billion runs out. HASSETT HAS IT!

Ford is different, and so is Hassett, and we’re out to prove it.

Monday, June 29th, 2009

Ford is different, and we’re out to prove it.

You can see it in the new high-quality, fuel-efficient vehicles we’re delivering to you — with the lowest financing possible. And by not taking any government assistance, we’re in control of our own future. We’ll just stay focused on making the best cars and trucks possible.

We’re doing our part to keep the economy moving in the right direction by offering you value for your money. You’ll find this value in any of our fuel-efficient, high-quality,technologically advanced cars and trucks.

When you step into the Hassett showroom and grab the wheel of any Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury vehicle, you’ll see and feel the difference almost immediately. It begins with quality that can’t be beaten by Honda or Toyota. And it continues with features like our EcoBoost™ technology, designed to deliver the fuel efficiency of a V6 engine with the power of a V8. We also offer the most fuel-efficient mid-size sedan in America, the 2010 Ford Fusion.

As a Ford, Lincoln, Mercury dealer, we’re proud to be a part of this new direction. But the difference doesn’t end there. Ford CEO Alan Mulally put it like this: “The real difference is in our plan, the strength of our great new products, and our quality, fuel efficiency, safety, and value.”

Hassett is different, and we’re out to prove it. The Hassett automotive family will introduce you to a higher level of ownership pleasure and value than you’ve ever known.

As a Hassett owner, you’ll receive a level of personal attention and service excellence that has made Hassett a Long Island legend. Whatever it takes to make your driving experience a happy one, Hassett Has It! That’s why we’ve been one of the tri-state’s leading dealerships for more than 30 years.

At Hassett, you’ll always find the finest selection of quality vehicles at the best prices. Just as important, you’ll deal with professional sales & service people who recognize your importance and worth, and go beyond your expectations to deliver complete satisfaction.

It’s this total dedication to our customers that has earned Hassett a sterling reputation among Long Island’s civic, business and financial communities, as well as national industry prominence. For six straight years (2003-08), our dealership has earned Ford Motor Company’s coveted President’s Award for customer satisfaction!

Visit us soon and experience why Hassett of Wantagh enjoys such esteemed recognition and outstanding customer loyalty … Hassett Has It!