In This Issue:

Greetings
An Important Message to Our Customers
Dealership Troubles
Courtesy Shuttle Service
Hard Times (for criminals)
How about a Lowell's gift certificate?
 Do you have a question about car repair or maintenance?
Lowell's Toyota Tidbits
Were you pleased with your recent visit to Lowell's?
Share a Recipe
Advertisements & Self-Promotions

Hello,

Occasionally, we do things which aren't directly related to servicing Toyotas, but are still worth sharing with our customers and our community.

Last week, Lowell's released the Bluegrass Vehicle Report, a study which profiles what kinds of cars we drive in Central Kentucky.  As we assembled the report, we discovered fun and informative facts about what we drive.  Some examples: All of the details are in the Report, which you can view and / or download for free from our blog. 

Since we had fun putting the Vehicle Report together, we felt that students could have fun with the data, too.  So we have also released Lowell's School Tools, a companion guide which helps teachers, parents, and students create their own fun and interesting findings from the automotive data.  Students can use School Tools to exercise their creative, mathematical, and research capabilities. 

You can view and / or download a free copy of School Tools here. 

I hope you enjoy,

Rob


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An Important Message to Our Customers...

Lowell’s can perform all preventive and factory scheduled maintenance on your Toyota or Lexus, whether it’s brand new, mature, has 5000 or 500,000 miles. 

Our extensive inventory of parts and years of Toyota and Lexus experience will keep your new car warranty (and all extended warranties) intact, no matter where you bought your car. 

To protect your warranty, all required service we perform will be noted in your maintenance book and recorded in our database for permanent record.

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Dealership Troubles

In January, the Wall Street Journal ran a page one story about the troubles facing two dealerships in southeastern Kentucky. One of them, Johnny Watkins, had filed for bankruptcy.

At the time, we predicted that there would be a lot more dealership closures in 2009, especially in smaller towns. 

Then, a couple of weeks ago, we received an auction notice to liquidate the assets of Maysville Ford.

Why is this happening to dealers in small towns? There are a few key reasons:

  • There really isn't enough critical mass of car sales to support a dealership in a small town. So dealers have to draw customers from nearby cities, usually with discounts that squeeze their profitability. 
  • The most profitable part of the dealerships come from service to vehicles after the sale. When out-of-town customers purchase from a small-town dealer, they tend to have their cars serviced somewhere else, as the dealer is too inconvenient for frequent maintenance. So small-town dealers lack the service customers that larger dealers have. 
  • The heavy reliance on car sales (and the lack of substantial service sales) means that small-town dealers are much more sensitive to economic downturns. As car sales plummet, the service business is what has sustained many big-city dealers. The smaller dealers just don't have that cushion. 

The economic realities of being a dealer in a small town mean that a lot of them won't survive over the next couple of years.

               
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Courtesy Shuttle Service   
Lowell's offers shuttle service to your home or work.  When you make your appointment, just let us know that you need a ride, and we'll be glad to give you one.  Our "fleet" is waiting at your service.

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Hard Times (for criminals)

The Baltimore Sun reports that the economic slump has dried up the market for stolen vehicles and parts (especially when coupled with more sophisticated ignition systems).  As a result, car theft in Baltimore has dropped some 25% in the past two years.

Business is tough.  Even for the criminals.

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Lowell's Gift Certificates


Are you trying to decide what to get that special someone for a birthday or other special occasion?  How about a gift certificate for repair or maintenance work at Lowell's?  We can print one (or more) out for you, good for any amount you'd like.  They make an ideal gift for a family member or co-worker who drives a Toyota, Lexus, or Scion.  Just give us a call at (859) 233-1173 or email us if you'd like to purchase one.

   

 

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 Do you have a question about car repair or maintenance?  We love to hear from all our good friends and customers who enjoy reading Lowell’s Toyota Times.  If you have a question about anything related to your Toyota, Lexus, or Scion, feel free to give us a call at (859) 233-1173, or drop us a line at lowells@iglou.com.

 
   
 
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Lowell's Toyota Tidbits

Scion most reliable...  Toyota's Scion brand topped the list of most reliable cars in a major consumer magazine's annual vehicle reliability rankings released recently.  The top brands overall were Scion, Honda, Toyota, and Lexus.

Not so good news...  Toyota said recently that its February '09 sales fell 40% from February a year earlier.  Likewise, GM and Ford reported 53% and 48% decreases respectively for the same period.

   
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Were you pleased with your recent visit to Lowell's?

 If so, then tell a friend, relative, or co-worker who drives a Toyota, Lexus, or Scion.  If you weren't happy with your experience at Lowell's, then let us know.  Call (859) 233-1173, email us, or stop by - we want to know how we can improve. 


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Share a Recipe
A regular feature in Lowell's Toyota Times

This edition's recipe is for salmon patties.  It was sent in by Amy Messer, the daughter of Lowell and Betty.

Amy writes:
"I believe that one of the most overlooked convenience foods is canned salmon.  With food costs soaring, canned salmon is extremely economical and it provides good heart health omega-3s as well as calcium and protein.  It's also shelf-stable, so buy lots when they're on sale.

"I like to take a can of salmon and add an egg, some blackened or cajun seasoning, and panko crumbs.  Combine them (use the world's best kitchen utensil, your hands!), and form them into patties.  The amount of egg and crumbs should result in an easily formed patty.  Adjust each as needed, although I recommend adding the egg first, then adding the crumbs until the desired consistency is reached.  Smush in some extra panko on the outside of the patty to provide an opportunity for a nice crust.  These are easiest pan sautéed in a little butter or vegetable oil over medium high heat.  Cook in batches, being careful to not overcrowd the pan.  I serve these with a little mayo/horseradish/fresh lemon juice mix.  You can make these small and serve with a vegetable or make large and eat as a burger.  I've also cooked and frozen these for a quick and easy mid-week dinner.  Put pieces of wax paper between patties and you can use as many or as few as you'd like."
If you have a recipe you'd like to share, send it to us at lowells@iglou.com.
Rob

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Lowell's Awards & Honors
::Better Business Bureau Integrity Award in 1991.
::Voted "Best in the Bluegrass" in ACE Weekly poll in 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2007.
::Voted "Favorite Auto Repair Shop" in the Lexington Herald-Leader Readers' Choice Poll in 1994 and 2007.
::Featured on a television special for employing women in a traditionally male environment.
::Featured on Hometown Heroes for work done in the community.


   Don't miss our "MONTHLY SPECIAL" at www.chooselowells.com.
  

“…the place is almost legendary for its customer service”
The Lexington Herald-Leader, July 21, 2008

 

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______________________________________________________________________________________________
 Lowell's Toyota Times is published by Lowell's Bluegrass Automotive.  Opened in 1979, Lowell's is the the only independent repair shop in the Bluegrass specializing in the maintenance and repair of Toyota, Lexus, and Scion vehicles.

          

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