I found myself a bit frustrated when a local radio station began playing Christmas music before the Thanksgiving holiday. I mentioned to my wife how crazy I thought this was. She, of course, corrected my mistake by indicating how short the Christmas season truly is. She was correct yet again. Shortly thereafter I awoke from my Thanksgiving dinner and began to embrace the holiday. All that is left now is the shopping!
In my 25+ years in the automotive industry I have seen many folks purchase new cars for Christmas gifts. My first was in 1985 when I was sneaking through a gate on Bayshore Boulevard late on Christmas eve with a shiny new car and a huge red bow. It was very cool. The sad truth is, especially now, many of us are not able to consider a gift such as a new car. There are many other items available for the car lovers in your life however so do not despair.
Most auto manufacturers offer accessories which can spice up your ride for the New Year. These accessories are specifically made to fit your vehicle. Some options require may require installation, painting or both. There are also a myriad of non-factory options available as well. There are many electronic items such as radios, navigation, Bluetooth, etc. which can be purchased and installed by your local dealer. But perhaps the greatest gift might be a service gift card or gift certificate from your dealer. These can be used for most anything the dealer offers from oil changes, annual services to full detailing services.
All of us with the Elder Automotive Group in Tampa wish all of you the happiest of holiday seasons with your families. We wish you peace and prosperity in 2012. Elder Ford of Tampa, Jaguar / Fisker of Tampa, Tampa Mitsubishi and Saab of Tampa are all collecting sporting goods for needy children through Replay Tampa Bay so please stop in with whatever you have or can give. We also are available for all of your shopping needs for the car lovers in your family. Happy Holidays!
Chris Warren
Chris Warren – GM of Saab & Mitsubishi of Tampa, A division of The Elder Auto Group / 813-579-2309
11608 N. Florida Avenue Tampa
CWarren@elderautogroup.com www.ElderAutoGroup.com
I recently bought a new 35mm digital camera for the family. This was not an overly expensive camera but not inexpensive either. When I purchased the camera I extended the factory warranty and included the damage waiver as well. I bought the coverage for two reasons. First, I did not want to have to buy a new camera if I broke it. And second, my piece of mind was worth the expense. These warranties that are available for small electronics are massively expensive in comparison to the price of the item purchased. It is with this standard that causes me to question why folks who are buying cars do not give themselves the peace of mind of added protection. A warranty just makes sense.
