So You Just Bought a Brand New Car, Now What?
Whether you are planning on keeping your car for several years or you know you will want to trade it in for the next exciting model, you need to keep your vehicle in top-notch running condition and avoid major mechanical disasters as best as possible. Routine preventative maintenance is the single most important thing you can do as a car owner to prevent future disasters. Any mechanic you talk to will tell you: the last thing you want to do with your car is ignore preventative maintenance. We talked to some of our Master Mechanics to find out exactly what you can do to keep your car running at its best.
Read Your Owner’s Manual
Has your owner’s manual been in your glove box, still shrink-wrapped, since you bought your vehicle? Well, you need to open it up! Your regular maintenance schedule is inside this informative paper weight, so you’ll want to make sure you read it. Every manufacturer varies when it comes to suggested maintenance timelines (i.e. when to get an oil change), so it’s important to read your owner’s manual in order to know exactly what your vehicle needs and when it will need it. Knowing your car’s specific needs will also help you talk to your service advisor at your next appointment. So find a comfy chair and snuggle up with your new favorite book, your owner’s manual!
Seriously, Get Your Oil Changed
We’ve all heard it before: “Needing an oil change every 3,000 miles is a myth.” While everyone has a different suggestion on when you should get your vehicle’s oil changed, it doesn’t change the fact that you need to get it changed regularly. Your owner’s manual (see, there it is) will tell you exactly when. Your specific make and model may suggest 5,000 miles or even as high as 10,000 miles, so it’s important to know what’s recommended for your car. Over time, the oil in your car picks up dirt and can turn to sludge; this can cause corrosion in your engine and, in turn, decrease the life of your engine.
Take Care of Your Tires
To make sure your car drives smoothly and your tires wear evenly, it’s very important to rotate and balance your tires according to your manufacturer’s guidelines. This will also increase the life of the tires (which can be very expensive to replace). Along with your regularly scheduled tire rotations, you should also get an alignment done on your tires when needed. This will ensure that your car drives straight and that your tires wear evenly.
Check Your Fluids and Replace Your Filters
You don’t need to learn to replace fluids, like antifreeze, yourself, but you should learn how to check them. This way you’ll know when it’s time to take your vehicle in to have your fluids changed and, more importantly, you’ll know if your vehicle has a leak. Along with fluids, your vehicle also has filters that need to be changed regularly. Your owner’s manual will tell you how often your fluids and filters need to be replaced, so be sure to read it over.
Routine maintenance helps you to not only prolong the life of your car but can also help avoid costly major repairs. If you have any questions about what routine maintenance your vehicle needs, you can consult your owner’s manual or give the experts in our service department a call. Our Service Advisors here at Milton Ruben are always ready to answer any questions you may have about your vehicle’s needs.
Sales Consultant Spotlight: Al Plemming!
We’re proud of our dedicated sales staff here at Milton Ruben Toyota. We consider ourselves lucky to watch these men and women do what they’re good at and love every day. Some of our staff have been here with us at the dealership from the very beginning, like our very own Al Plemming.
Al started selling Toyotas in 2007 at Toyota of Augusta. When asked why he chose Toyota, his answer was simple: “It’s a product I can stand behind.”
When Milton Ruben purchased Toyota of Augusta in 2009, Al was one of the many assets acquired in the deal. His love and knowledge of Toyota products make him an invaluable resource for the team. When management was asked what makes Al Plemming so important to the staff here, Chuck Easters said, “He’s passionate about Toyota!”
Al loves selling cars for Milton Ruben Toyota – not only because he loves the product but because he loves the people. He said he loves talking to his customers and co-workers in a fast-paced environment like Milton Ruben every day.
The military brought Al to the Augusta area. He’s made a home for himself in Aiken, South Carolina and he said he doesn’t have any plans on leaving anytime soon. He enjoys the many outdoor activities that Aiken has to offer his family and never passes up an opportunity to ride his bike or take a hike with his wife and children.
We’re glad Aiken has the small town, homey feel Al was looking for in a place to call home; it means we can keep him as part of our team for many more years to come. Thank you for your passion and dedication to Toyota for the last ten years, Al. We’re lucky to have you!
Drive Baby Rocks!
If you have been to a park around the CSRA lately chances are you have seen a painted rock tucked away under a bush or at the top of a slide. It’s a phenomenon that has taken over the Augusta area and we LOVE IT!
Rock painting has given kids a new activity to do with their friends and family that gets them outside. It’s a simple activity that is putting smiles on faces all over town.
If you aren’t familiar with the “game” kids paint rocks with bright colors or short messages and then hide them for other people to find. When you find a rock you can post it on social media, replace the rock with your own painted rock, or re-hide it somewhere else. It’s so simple and yet so much fun!
Milton Ruben has decided to get in on the action! Beginning Tomorrow, July 18th, you will find Drive Baby rocks popping up at the parks around town. We have painted 9 rocks and hid them in parks around town from Grovetown all the way to North Augusta. Only 1 rock per park. These painted rocks can be turned in, by children ages 12 years and younger, to Milton Ruben for a fun prize! Here on our lot we have 3 buildings, we have 3 rocks for each building. The back of your rock will tell you which building to go to to receive your prize. Simply visit the sales desk and one of our awesome Sales Managers will be there to greet you. We are looking forward to joining in on this fun activity and we can’t wait to meet everyone! Be sure to pose for a picture with your rock and don’t forget the hashtag #DriveBabyRocks. See you out there!
As American As Apple Pie
As American As Apple Pie
With 4th of July around the corner, we know everyone in Augusta and the surrounding areas will be enjoying their own family traditions. Popular Independence Day pastimes range from spending the entire day around the lake to a simple BBQ at home. But one thing that seems to be a constant at the family parties? The desserts. Pie in particular seems to be a traditional American dessert that’s as old as America itself. But what variety of pie is the real American tradition? We’ve all heard the saying, “as American as apple pie and baseball.” But is apple pie the true American pie? We decided to ask around the Milton Ruben Toyota sales department to find out.
While asking the staff about their thoughts on pie as an American (or family) tradition, we received a large variety of answers. But one thing was clear: apple was the favorite. The reasons varied from Chuck Easters’ answer, “Apple pies are easier to make, (because) apples are more readily available all year,” to Dwayne Kanyton’s, “Apples are popular in our culture: ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away.’ You never hear any cultural references to cherry pie”
Some of the staff had different opinions. Some people don’t like pie at all (how un-American!). A few of the sales staff stated that they have other preferences over apple pie such as pumpkin or cherry. When asked if they thought any other pie flavor was more American, the answer was always a resounding, “no.”
So there you have it folks, according to our team, there’s nothing more American than apple pie! Happy 4th of July from all of us here at Milton Ruben!
Meet our New Sales Manager: Randy Hirneisen
The next time you’re in our Showroom, you may see a new face behind our legendary Sales Desk. Randy Hirneisen is our newest Sales Manager. He’s quickly climbed the ranks in our Toyota store, and we couldn’t be prouder to introduce him to you.
Randy has worked at Milton Ruben as a Sales Consultant since March 2016. In addition to this full-time position, Randy is also an active-duty Sergeant at Fort Benning in Columbus, GA. Originally from Davenport, FL., Randy now lives in the CSRA with his wife, Mallory, and his three children, all under the age of six.
Despite being busier than most, Randy still applied for the promotion to Sales Manager last month.
“I think I put in more time than the regular person, and showed more dedication,” he said about earning the position. “Plus, they knew about my performance as a Sales Consultant, and that contributed [to the decision].”
Already, Randy’s noticed that being a Sales Manager requires more responsibility. But he’s also aware that he has more control in the overall tempo of the sale, and that he gets to be more hands-on with Sales Consultants.
Between his easy demeanor and family history, it isn’t surprising that Randy’s done so well in our dealership. His father has been in the car business for 34 years, and currently works in Grovetown. When Randy told his father that he would also be entering the industry, Randy’s father was proud.
“He taught me almost everything I know, and then the rest I learned here,” Randy said.
As the newest Toyota Sales Manager, Randy’s not finished with his training yet. Currently, he’s mastering his skills as a desk manager and working on helping customers as efficiently as possible. His ultimate goal is to become the General Manager of a dealership, a dream that, at this rate, seems unstoppable.
Preparing Your Vehicle for Summer
Routine maintenance and being proactive about your vehicle is important at any point in the year, but we always like to focus on keeping your car healthy at the beginning of the summer. With the brutal heat, and likely road trip or two planned, your car works hard throughout the most-relaxed season.
Of course, our team of certified professionals is always willing to inspect your vehicle, and Multi-Point Inspections (offered with every service) cover many of the suggestions below. But, just to be aware of common summer problems, here are a few things to think about as the temperatures rise:
Certified Technician Dennis Miller repairs the air conditioning in a 2013 Dodge Durango.
How to Prepare for the Weather
In the South, it’s hard to imagine surviving without air conditioning in your home and in your vehicle. However, it’s also difficult to think about your air conditioning until you need it, and chances are, it went through a period of time with little use in your vehicle. Make sure that when you turn your air conditioning on, it blows cold air without any unusual smells or noises. Under the hood, inspect your air conditioning for any damaged belts or fins.
Speaking of cooling, it’s also important to to keep your engine cool to prevent the vehicle from overheating. Check that there are no leaks in your radiator, and that you have proper levels of (clear, not cloudy) coolant.
While we’re all hoping for a sunny summer, now is also the time for thunderstorms. You may have used your wiper fluid to de-ice your windshield in the winter, so check to see if you still have enough. If your wiper blades are streaking the windshield or peeling in any way, it’s time to replace them.
Certified Technician Juan Castillo works to rebuild the engine in a 2012 Scion iQ.
How to Prepare for a Road Trip
To ensure safety, we recommend a full inspection before embarking on a long or challenging road trip. While it’s always a good idea to have a professional check the battery, engine and any lights that have come to life on the dashboard, there are a few things you can do yourself before entering our Service Lane.
Inspect your tires for tread and cuts, and check that the air pressure is in accordance with the numbers listed on the driver’s side door. Be sure to do the same for the spare tire, and check that the jack is still in working order.
Pay attention if your brakes are starting to take longer to work, or if you notice noises or pulsations of any kind. A minor brake problem can soon be detrimental, so keep up to date with the state of your brake pads and fluid.
If your vacation includes towing of any kind, double check the hitch. Ensure that the safety chains are in order, and that the brakes and lights are working on any trailer you may use. Abide by your vehicle’s gross vehicle weight (GVW), and take special care when packing for proper load distribution.
Meet Linda and Dennis Giles
In honor of Mother’s Day, we want to spotlight a couple of our favorite employees: Sales Consultant Dennis Giles, Jr. and his mother, Business Manager Linda Giles.
“We’ve been a Milton Ruben family for a long time,” said Linda, who has worked in the dealership for 16 years.
Her husband and Dennis’ father, Dennis Giles, Sr., also worked at the dealership and, soon after he retired, Dennis joined the Sales Department, and has been working at Milton Ruben for 10 years. Currently, Dennis and Linda work in the same building, on either side of the Toyota Showroom.
While most people can’t imagine working with their mother and/or child, Linda and Dennis consider it to be convenient and beneficial. The two interact throughout the work day, but maintain their professionalism. In fact, while at work, Dennis calls his mother ‘Mrs. Giles’.
“We see each other all day,” said Dennis. “It’s not quality time, but it’s good to stay in touch.”
Still, it’s undeniable that the two look out for each other. With the decades of dealership experience in the family, it’s easy to seek out help (or offer it).
“Sometimes she gives me a hard time…she calls it advice,” said Dennis.
“I do it nicely!” laughed Linda.
Aside from 12-hour work days, the mother and son stay close through church and weekly family dinners. If one person has to stay late with a customer, the other will call to check in. And, when asked if they talk about the car business out of work, they both agreed that it’s hard not to bring up.
“It’s a common denominator in our family,” said Linda. “That and the grandkids.”
Congratulations to our LoseBaby 2017 Winners
Drumroll please!
We’re proud to announce our winners for LoseBaby, our annual company-wide weight-loss competition. Between January and April this year, LoseBaby participants swapped recipes, motivational quotes and even yoga poses with each other to try to become healthier. While body-weight percentages were recorded to find the winner, the theme of this year’s competition was stress reduction.
Participants all signed waivers to guarantee that all new habits were in fact safe, natural ways to become healthier. The two winners (one male and one female) each took home $500 at the end of the competition.
And now, here are our ‘biggest losers’:
Julia Brown and Tommy Swords are our 2017 LoseBaby Winners!
Julia Brown — Warranty Cancellation Administrator
Brown won through hard work and intense commitment. She stuck to a high-protein diet (“Eat protein until you never want to see another chicken or fish!”) and became a regular in both the cardio and weight rooms at the gym.
Brown’s advice to anyone looking to develop a healthier lifestyle is simple: “Get off the sugar and eat more vegetables and lean meats. Go to the gym, and just walk more.”
Her motivation came from a few places. Last year, Brown came in second-place in the LoseBaby competition. She said that she kept that fact in the back of her mind this year, and it helped to push her even further.
And, with a daughter who is a body-builder and coworkers who join her at the gym each morning, Brown has a support system to combat even the most unmotivated feeling.
Acknowledging the need for moderation, Brown did take a break once during the competition, during a vacation to Biloxi, Mississippi. She plans on spending her $500 cash prize on another vacation this summer. However, Brown says she’s not finished losing.
“I still have a goal. I’m still working. I still go to the gym every morning.”
Tommy Swords – Business Manager
Swords says he owes his success to the Atkins Diet, especially since his routine featured “not a drop of exercise.” When LoseBaby was announced, he decided to utilize the 90-day timeline.
“I was planning on going on a diet anyway, so I just decided to win the contest!” Swords said, laughing.
Swords speaks highly of Atkins, calling it the perfect diet for him. Though the diet focuses on lowering carbohydrates intake, Swords still ate whatever he wanted. He called this the key to success.
“Find the right diet for you so that you won’t get bored, and commit to it,” he said.
Though he didn’t originally plan to give away all of his winnings, Swords is donating his entire prize to Rabbi Kirt Schneider. He’s so fond of Atkins that he says he’s happy to go back to it at any time. However, that didn’t stop him from visiting Dairy Queen after his final weigh in for LoseBaby.
— — — —
Congratulations to all of our winners and a huge shoutout to everyone who participated! We’ll see you next year!
Women
Winner: Julia Brown – 7.1%
2nd Place: Ashley Stevens – 5.9%
3rd Place: Nicole Cain – 5.7%
Men
Winner: Tommy Swords – 12.9%
2nd Place: Andy O’Harrow – 7.4%
3rd Place: Jeff Hennen – 5.4%
Putt for Prizes This Month
The tourists that were here for golf are long gone, but we have our own “green” for you to try! Through the end of the month, our Toyota Parts Department has turned into an easy and unique one-hole course.
The rules are simple: try your hand at our careful setup, and in one lucky stroke, you could win. No playoffs here. All it takes is one try for you to have a shot at cash and prizes from Milton Ruben Toyota.
So, when you’re in for service this month, and you get tired of the free coffee, the many TVs, the complimentary computers and the loaded Showroom, we invite you to take a stroll down the hill to our Parts Department. You may drive away a winner (although we know you always feel like a winner at Milton Ruben).
Anniversary Editions Dominate 2017
Don’t get us wrong. Every vehicle that drives off our lot is special, because we know just how life-changing it can be to an individual. And we know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some of our employees get excited about a truck they have to climb to get into, while others drool over the latest hybrid technology. This difference of opinions has prompted heated “car-talk” for decades.
But vehicles that commemorate a significant milestone will always hold a unique place in our hearts. Maybe they remind us how far the auto industry has come. Maybe they bring back memories of our first car. Or perhaps they just make us excited to see what’s next. Either way, 2017 is a wonderful year for special Anniversary Editions for several of our brands.
Here’s a spotlight of a few of them:
2017 Toyota Corolla 50th Anniversary Special Edition
The most popular car in the world turned 50 this year and it looks like Toyota threw a black tie soiree. The Special Edition oozes sophistication, from its special badging to its 17-inch alloy wheels. The car comes in Black Cherry Pearl, Blizzard Pearl and Classic Silver Metallic, and features Black Cherry contrast accents throughout the interior to add a stylish touch of luxury.
2017 Chevrolet Camaro 50th Anniversary Edition
The legendary Camaro also turns 50 this year, and, to honor it, Chevy released anniversary editions in both coupe and convertible 2LT and 2SS models to celebrate the classic style AND performance of the vehicle. It’s built to move, but once it slows down, check out the distinct Nightfall Gray Metallic color with special 50th Anniversary stripes, badges, and grille. And, when you’re not driving, relive history with the web page Chevy put together highlighting the six generations of the Camaro.
2017 Jeep Wrangler 75th Edition
The Jeep Wrangler technically turned 75 last year, but that hasn’t stopped Jeep from continuing the celebration into 2017. Available in the Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited, the 75th Anniversary Editions, in a nod to their predecessors in WWII, include a bronze interior and exterior and premium wheels, as well as the special badges that prominently feature 1941, the year of the first Wrangler.
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