2010 Motor Trend Truck of the Year: Dodge Ram Heavy Duty

Despite the effects of the Great Recession on personal-use truck sales, there is still demand for
pickups ready to do hard work. The heavy-duty truck market has gotten smaller, but the guys
who buy those pickups are fiercely loyal to the segment-they need the extreme capability these
hard-working haulers provide. Some may wonder why anyone would own a truck that can tow
nearly 20,000 pounds, but for a lot of people in construction, those who transport vehicles or
goods, and those with ranches, this is just a part of everyday life.
Within the next few months, the heavy-duty category will heat up, as all three manufacturers
have all-new offerings coming. The Ram Heavy Duty is the first to market, and it's already ahead
of the game. When Ford and GM's all-new heavy-dutys come out, both new diesel engines are
going to require urea injection to meet emissions requirements that take effect January 2010. The
Ram Heavy Duty's Cummins inline-six turbo diesel, which puts out an impressive 350
horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque, met those requirements -- without urea -- over a year
ago.
2010 Dodge RamInstead, the Ram 2500 and 3500 use a NOx adsorber with precious metals that convert the NOx
into inert gases. Not only does this mean the Ram's emissions and exhaust systems are less
complex than those in the upcoming Ford Super Duty and Silverado/Sierra HD (which could
improve reliability and help keep maintenance costs down), it also means that, at the dealership,
the Ram will very likely have a price advantage over its competitors. And while in this size
category diesel is king, there are plenty of heavy-duty truck buyers who prefer gas power. The
5.7-liter Hemi, the Ram's base engine, has the most horsepower (383) and torque (400 poundfeet)
of any V-8 in its class -- and only the Ford Super Duty's V-10 has more torque than the
Hemi, but it still has less horsepower.
Read more by logging onto www.motortrend.com , search “Ram Heavy Duty”
…or…

December 10, 2009 / By Allyson Harwood - Motor Trend.

Search West Herr's Dodge Ram Inventory

Auto Leasing Returns to Buffalo in a Big Way.

“What’s My Lease Payment”? Buffalo Customers Are Asking Again.

Buffalo Car Dealers are Leasing AgainWhen the recession began in 2008, leasing a car became harder and harder to do. This left some of our customer looking at different options, such as used cars and less expensive cars, when their lease expired.

Lately we have seen the Car Manufacturers like Toyota, Honda and Ford leasing cars again. As they slowly return to the table with some really inexpensive lease deals, we thought this would be a good time to talk about the benefits of leasing as it compares to buying a car.

What is an Auto Lease?

Auto leasing is based on the concept that you pay for the amount by which a vehicle's value depreciates during the time you're driving it. Depreciation is the difference between a vehicle's original value and its value at lease-end (residual value), and is what determines your lease payment. 

Example: If you look at two cars, both costing $30,000 when new, where one is worth $15,000 after two years and the other worth only $18,000, the second car will cost less to lease it is worth more at the end.

How Do You Know You're Getting a Good Lease Payment?

Every month, car lease specials are advertised with eye-popping low payments to entice buyers to lease their car. Most times these advertised specials represent a genuine good deal but you should know all the facts before you sign that lease contract.

What to Look for When Leasing a Car

1. What is the lease payment?
   This is how much you will pay each month on your lease.
2. How Long is the Auto Lease For?
   This is how many months your lease is for.
3. How Many Miles do I get to drive the Car For?
   in most cases you get 10,000 or 12,000 miles, but if you think you will drive more, you can ask for more miles up-front.
4. What happens if I go over the miles?
   there is a cents per mile charge, usually 15 cents. If you find yourself getting close, because in some cases it is better to terminate the Lease Early
5. How much should I put down?
   The more you put down the lower your lease payment will be.
6. Do I have to pay sales tax?
   Most leases are based on you paying the sales tax up front, but you can include the sales tax in your payment.

I personally have leased many cars and trucks over the past years, and am really excited to see the programs on leasing getting affordable again.

Here are some examples of leases with $1,000 down plus tax, so you can see if leasing is for you.

Buffalo Auto Show Schedule

The 2010 Buffalo Auto Show is scheduled from February 10^th through the14th and will attract thousands of New York car enthusiasts.   The West Herr Auto group will be displaying the latest models from their 21 brands of cars for sale in the greater Buffalo area.

Buffalo Auto Show MapThe Niagara Frontier Automobile Dealers Association will once again sponsor the 2010 Buffalo Auto Show.  West Herr Automotive Group is proud to be involved once again as an exhibitor at the annual event.

Car enthusiasts are encouraged to mark their calendars now for the 2010 show schedule; February 10-14th.  Come witness the hottest new models of automobiles before they even hit the showroom floors!  Meet celebrities, bring the kids; there will be lots of fun for the entire family.  Don't miss your chance to one-stop-shop for your next hot rod.

Kevin Leigh, Director of eBusiness at West Herr, commented about the upcoming show “The West Herr Auto Group is very excited about the new show as we will have a chance to display some of the most anticipated cars that include the 2010 Jaguar XF as well as the 2011 Ford Fiesta. “

Buffalo Auto Show Lower FloorplanConsumer looking to attend the 2010 Buffalo Auto Show should know that it is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Buffalo.  The Buffalo Niagara Convention Center offers access to great accommodations, shopping, thriving nightlife, world-class theater and exciting restaurants.

2010 Buffalo Auto Show Floor Plan UpperThe physical address of the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center, for the purposes of map requests on the internet, is 153 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202. The shows mailing address is Convention Center Plaza, Buffalo, NY 14202.

West Herr Auto Group is running special Buffalo Auto Show promotions, discounts and incentives.  Check their website at http://westherr.com for the instant savings on all new and used cars in stock with limited time show discounts.

New Videos for our partnership with Kelley Blue Book

West Herr reciently partnered with Kelley Blue Book to help our customers with trade on-line appraisals. As part of the new relationship, KBB asked us to create short videos to promote the brands we sell. These videos will be placed on the KBB Site, and in turn West Herr will use KBB on the West Herr Site to allow customers to get an accurate trade in value for their car.

While there are lots of free services out there, we felt that Kelley Blue Book is the trusted name in 3rd party trade appreaisals. Nothing but the best for our customers.

West Herr will feature its new cars, used inventory and branded videos on the kbb site.

Here are some examples of the brand videos.

• West Herr Ford Video
  
• West Herr Honda Video
  
• West Herr Toyota Video
  
• West Herr Jaguar Video
  
• West Herr Nissan Video
  
• West Herr Dodge Video
  

Top 10 Reasons to get a West Herr Subaru in January...

By Amanda Westley, West Herr Subaru

10.) Far more luxurious than a snowmobile.

9.) After the holiday festivities..ALL-Wheel-Drive is much more appealing than ALL-you-can-eat.

8.) $10,000 LESS than your neighbors Volvo.

7.) You must drive over the Skyway to get to Sabres games!

6.) You yearn to hear the purr of Subaru's Boxer engine.

5.) We welcome unwanted holiday gifts and goodies in on trade.

4.) Your new Subaru must not have fit in Santa's sleigh :(

3.) You can't see your mailbox through the icy flakes.. but still must make it to work on time.

2.) Your current Subaru has 290,000 miles on it.

1.) Subzero temp, 2 feet of snow, 40 mile an hour winds..making it safely to your destination..PRICELESS

Ready for a new Subaru?
Motor Trend 2010 Sport Utilitey of the year

Please feel free to call me direct 716-866-6435 for more details or to set up a test drive.Happy New Year,
Amanda Westley
West Herr Subaru
716.866.6435 (cell,fastest)
716.662.3565 (store)
awestley@westherr.com  

West Herr Launches Web Site Directory.

Site Directory WestHerrOnline.comOne of our team asked the other day, “Do we have a specials page?” My response was of course, it’s BuffaloOnSale.net, it’s there so you can show your customers the latest vehicles on sale at West Herr.

Today a new employee asked “where they go to get a list of managers”? So I show her the Who to Contact page on our westherr.com main site.

It came to mind that maybe, I should create a “directory” of sorts for the sites we manage. So today we launched westherronline.com a listing of most of our major sites all in one neat little package.

Enjoy.

Driving skills take a turn for the worse when texting

Text and Drive, Bad Idea.Texting among teenagers is not just normal, it is expected. The number one gift to 16 year olds this Christmas was a cell phone. Texting is so important to teens that in a recent study, young people said if given a choice between being allowed to drive or giving up texting, the texting wins. When teens choose to do both at the same time, is when the trouble begins.

As you can imagine, young people's driving skills take a turn for the worse when texting. “While car companies are designing cars to help focus your attention on the road, we are looking at our cell phone keyboards while driving through residential streets.” Says the National Highway and Safety Administration in  a recent study. “Your driving is worst when you are texting, mostly because texting forces you to look down in addition to moving your fingers.”

Not just teenagers are affected. There has been a rash of accidents lately involving the elderly as well, as texting becomes more prominent with the entire population.

So we ask, PLEASE DON’T TEXT AND DRIVE.  Pull over, or wait. It may save your life, or the life of a pedestrian or animal.

More Than Snow to Worry About, Deer Related Accidents are on the Rise

DRIVERS BEWARE… the rise in the deer population is causing an increase in deer related automobile accidents. According to Steve Schassler, DEC Region Four director, the current population of deer in New York State has grown to nearly 1,000,000.

1 million population in NYHere are a few basic safety measures to keep you safe and the number of deer related accidents at a minimum.

• Stay alert in the early morning and evening hours.
• Slow down… drive with caution.
• Use high beam headlights to make the deer’s eyes visible.
• Brake firmly when you notice a deer in the road. DO NOT swerve to avoid hitting the deer. By swerving, you could confuse the deer or lose control of your vehicle and cause additional damage and injury.
• Wear a seatbelt. Statistics show that most people injured in deer related accidents were not wearing seatbelts.
• Deer seldom run alone… check for additional deer entering the road.
   

While state and local wildlife agencies look for ways to control the deer population, protect you and your family by taking extra precaution when traveling on roadways.

Subaru gives Meals on Wheels a helpful ride

BATAVIA -- Meals on Wheels in Genesee County recently got a boost through a grant and special donation program from Subaru.

The OFA received an initial grant of $1,000 from the car company, then learned if they invited a Subaru dealership to participate in an activity, they could get another $1,000.

Sharon Audino, nutrition coordinator at the Senior Center, said the OFA invited personnel from West Herr Subaru in Orchard Park, the nearest Subaru dealership, to come to Batavia and help deliver a route for Meals on Wheels.

On Tuesday, Amanda Westley, sales and leasing consultant at West Herr, arrived at the Senior Center with a new Subaru, in which RSVP volunteer Dave Thompson loaded the meals for a route.

West Herr Subaru's Amanda Westley and Dave ThompsonThe donation from Subaru will provide 200 holiday meals for elderly and home-bound on Christmas and New Year's Day, Audino said.

''We are really excited to be able to provide these extra meals,'' Audino said.

Through the recent program, buyers who purchase a car from Nov. 21 to Jan. 4 can designate one of five organizations to receive $200 to $250 from each sale. Organizations are Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls clubs, American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the National Wildlife Federation.

Subaru nationwide has donated $1.8 million in 2009 to various charities throughout the country, Audino said.

Source: The Daily News 
By Virginia Kropf news@batavianews.com

Friday, December 11, 2009 11:05 AM EST

How To Survive A Road Trip With Children

Road Trip with KidsWe all love visiting our relatives or returning home for the holidays, but preventing our kids from killing each other while cooped up in the back seat  is a whole other matter. Traveling with your kids can be fun, but their attention span and the need for frequent potty stops can send even the calmest parent over the top. These tips are from parents like you who love our kids, and would like to keep it that way.

The Basics

• Start with a clean car: Sounds basic, but clutter causes stress, especially when you have the family car packed to the brim with clothing, car seats and snacks.
• Adjust the car seats: after months of use, kids car seats can become entangled or even loose. Properly secure the car seats following the manufacturer directions. Your children will thank you for it.Secure the car seats
• Pack the least needed items first: There is nothing worse than needing a diaper only to discover that you packed them 1st and they are buried all the way in the back. Hold off packing the most needed items till last, this way you know right where they are.
• Pack a special backpack:  for each child, with crayons, books, toys, activity sets, stickers, hand-held games-- including some new wrapped surprises for little kids. (But don't give out all the loot at once!) Tip from http://travelwithkids.about.com
• Pack most needed items within arm's reach: Snacks, tissues, hand sanitizer and special treats. When the children start to escalate, or need their nose wiped, it is just plain smart to have the solution at hand.
• Dress the kids comfortably: loose and comfortable cloths, help with road fatigue. This applies for the adults too.
  

While on the road

• Play Some Games: kids love to play road trip games, there are so many but we all love the basics like I Spy, the scavenger hunt, count the cars by color, are all popular.
  • Here is a site that lists the top 8 free road trip games
  • This site is a great resource for car travel games for all ages
• Plan frequent stops: We plan to stop every 2 hours at a minimum. Let everyone get out of the car, go to the bathroom. We bring a soccer ball and let the kids kick it around for few minutes at roadside parks. It always amazes me how a little fresh air and running around, helps them enjoy the trip.
• Crayon Map, with major landmarksMake a kids map: Before we travel, we help the kids make a map with crayons and colored paper, with the major cities along the way listed. This way they can follow along with the road signs, so they know where they are. "When my 8-year-old asks "Are we there yet?," I hand him the map and ask him to figure out how much longer we’ll be on the road. Knowing how to read a map is a valuable life skill, so it makes me happy that he’s learning, and he’s happier that he has a job to do." –Marcy from Rome, NY
  • Use the Rand McNally Road trip planner for the older kids
  • interesting article on how Google Maps has become a fun trip planner 
  • Another fun trip planner from free trip map, this will list hotels along the way
• A Warm Car Makes them Sleepy: My mother (of six children) let the car warm up a little when it was time to sleep. Kids naturally fall asleep. when they are tired and when its warm. Just make sure the driver has some Red Bull :)
• Stay over along the way:  If it is a long trip and you can afford to stop, consider spending the night somewhere along the way. 16 hours of driving is no fun for anyone, especially small children. Many of the less expensive hotels have pools or the kids eat free. This blog has a good list of Child Friendly Hotels
• DVD players and Portable Video Games can save your sanity: they may be expensive, but a good portible DVD can make a long trip more fun for your kids, and give you an hour or two of peace. In the months before your trip, don't play the new releases at home. Save them for the road trip, because a new movie will be that much more entertaining.
  
  While we think that the free family games are great, a portable video game can really entertain your kids. Again save that new game for the trip.
  Make sure you have car chargers.

While road trip is fun and quite frankly my favorite way to travel, a little preparation can make it an event your kids will love and talk about for year. Make it fun, and you'll have fun.