It’s the mantra of a world going green … but an auto dealership? That depends on the dealership, of course. At Hassett of Wantagh – where the Ford Fusion Hybrid, the North American International Auto Show’s prized Car of the Year, is among the best sellers – reducing, reusing and recycling take entirely different meanings, and important ones at that. 

Namely: Reduce your expenses, reuse some of the highest-quality automobiles in the world and recycle your enthusiasm for the car-buying process.

Hassett is giving older cars new leases on life through its well-stocked and meticulously maintained Pre-Owned Division. According to Pre-Owned Sales Manager Sal Rivela, the division is tearing it up of late – a sign, Sal suggests, of a national economy on the mend.

 “Things were so bad last year, and a lot of buyers stayed away,” he says. “Now they’re coming back, and they’re looking at pre-owned first as they try to stay within a budget.”

 That’s never been easier at Hassett, where up to 100 top-quality pre-owned vehicles are waiting for a new home. Makes and models of every shape and size – four-cylinders or six, practical mid-sizes or sporty convertibles, even the coveted Shelby GT500 – are readily available, along with “the biggest inventory of pre-owned Ford Mustangs on the Island,” according to Sal.

 “We specialize in Mustangs,” he adds. “They’re the hottest cars right now.” 

Pre-owned Ford Explorers are popular among those in the market for an affordable and reliable SUV, Sal notes, while pre-owned pickups – particularly Ford’s super-tough F-250 – are also showing resiliency.

Every vehicle in Hassett’s Pre-Owned Division undergoes a 131-point checkup, an exhaustive battery of tests designed to optimize the vehicle’s residual value and street life. The best of the best become Hassett Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles, with six-year/100,000-mile warranties, 24-hour roadside assistance, lower interest rates – currently as low as 3.9 percent – and even a full tank of gas.

And for every pre-owned vehicle Hassett offers, the dealership provides a Carfax report at no charge. “We have absolutely nothing to hide,” Sal says. 

Longtime customers expect nothing less from a dealership with a 26-year history of stellar service. And with Hassett offering top-dollar for trade-ins and planning a bevy of pre-owned specials for the coming President’s Week sales bonanza, the time is right to come in and check out the deals.

“These are great cars,” Sal says. “And the best part: They’ve already gone through depreciation. When customers go with one of our certified pre-owned cars or trucks, it’s all about short- and long-term savings … and finding the perfect vehicle, at exactly the right price.”