Are Subaru’s the best cars money can buy?

For years Subaru has been essentially a regional brand -- strong in the Northeast and Northwest but unknown in the rest of the country. No overnight success, Subaru of America -- the U.S. arm of Japan's Fuji Heavy Industries -- began selling cars in the U.S. 44 years ago and still ranks only 12th in size. Hyundai and Kia, which arrived two decades later, have developed broader product lines and sell several times more vehicles.

Yet Subaru has racked up more endorsements by independent arbiters of automotive quality and safety than just about any other manufacturer. Consumer Reports rates Subaru above Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and every other manufacturer in performance, comfort, utility, and reliability, and says the company makes the best cars in America. ALG (formerly Automotive Lease Guide), the industry's arbiter of residual value and used-car prices, named Subaru the leader in retained value among mainstream brands. And after crash tests, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety made Subaru a "top safety pick" across its entire product line, a distinction no other manufacturer can claim.

Fueled by this trifecta of achievements, just about everything Subaru sells is flying off dealers' lots this year. Despite a chronic shortage of inventory, the company has been breaking monthly sales records with regularity, and sales for the year are up 26% compared with last year's -- nearly double the 14% gain for the industry as a whole. Hurricane Sandy struck right in the heart of Subaru's customer base, yet the little car company saw sales jump 30% in October, vs. the industry's 7%.

What Subaru has done is to make itself into the first automaker that could be described as "artisanal" -- focused, individualistic, and really good at a very few things. With only limited resources, Subaru has made smart bets on features like all-wheel drive, developed memorable marketing and advertising that set it apart from the competition, and learned more about its customers than any other automaker. In appealing to them by geography, lifestyle, and, at times, sexual orientation, it has built the deepest loyalty in the car business. The company understands itself so well that for years its advertising tag line was the self-referential "It's what makes a Subaru, a Subaru."

Read more: http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2012/11/19/subaru-best-cars/

Avoid “Turkey” of a Weekend with Pre-Trip Vehicle Check

One way to avoid a turkey of a Thanksgiving road trip is to make sure the vehicle you will be driving is running well. A 10-minute pre-trip check is small potatoes compared to a big helping of inconvenience if you break down many miles away from home, according to the Car Care Council.

“A pre-trip vehicle check provides peace of mind, helping reduce the chance of costly car trouble and providing an opportunity to have any repairs performed by one’s own trusted technician before hitting the road,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “While no inspection can guarantee a car’s performance, it’s comforting to know proper precautions were taken to ensure a stress-free Thanksgiving road trip.”

The Car Care Council suggests the following 10-minute vehicle check to help ensure safety and reliability on the road:

• Check the tires, including tire pressure and tread. Uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment. Tires should also be checked for bulges and bald spots.
• Check all fluids, including engine oil, power steering and brake and transmission, as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.
• Check the hoses and belts that can become cracked, brittle, frayed, loose or show signs of excessive wear. These are critical to the proper functioning of the electrical system, air conditioning, power steering and the cooling system.
• Check lighting to identify any problems with exterior and interior lighting as the chance of an accident increases if you can’t see or be seen.
• Check wipers. Wiper blades should be replaced every six months. Make sure the windshield wipers are working properly and keep the reservoir filled with solvent.

The Car Care Council also recommends that motorists restock their emergency kit. To save on fuel costs during the trip, the council suggests that motorists avoid aggressive driving, observe the speed limit and avoid excessive idling. Gas caps that are damaged, loose or missing should be replaced to prevent gas from spilling or evaporating.

Courtesy of: http://www.carcare.org/2012/11/avoid-turkey-of-a-weekend-with-pre-trip-vehicle-check/

Travel Storys GPS

Discover our valley in a whole new way with TravelStorysGPS, a free app that shares vivid and engaging stories about the landscape, geology, wildlife, and colorful history along Wyoming Highway 22 and Teton Park Road! The launch of TravelsStorysGPS is being celebrated with an "App for an App" promotion- a free appetizer with the purchase of a meal at participating restaurants on November 16th: Rendezvous Bistro and Café Genevieve in Jackson, WY, Spoons Bistro in Victor, ID and the Mural Room at Jackson Lake Lodge in Grand Teton National Park. Download the app, enjoy your audio tour, and then show the last screenshot to your server to claim a free appetizer with your meal! One per party allowed.

Learn more: http://www.travelstorysgps.com/

40th Anniversary Party on Friday!

Join us for our 40^th Anniversary Party this Friday, November 9^th from 4PM to 6PM as we celebrate 40 amazing years serving and supporting the families, individuals, and businesses of Jackson Hole! Meet our founder, Earle Auge, and celebrate with the entire Teton Motors family. 

Check out some of our firsts: 

·  In 1972 Teton Motors brought GM back to Jackson Hole, and has been selling them ever  since.

· Longest running auto dealer in Teton County, and always run by the same family.

· Teton Motors opened in 1972 selling Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Buick.

·Headline on first newspaper advertising "Teton Motors, Inc.  A new automobile dealer as dependable as the Buicks and Opels he sells."

· Teton Motors introduced AMC/Jeep/Renault to its line In October 1982

· The first ever full color ad in the Jackson Hole Guide was by Teton Motors on October, 28, 1982 

About the dealership:

Teton Motors is a full service auto dealer. We sell new Chevrolet, Buick and Subaru vehicles.

Pre-Owned Vehicle Sales

·        Best Selection of Vehicles in Teton County

·        New vehicles added to inventory daily

·        Inventory turns over completely every couple of weeks

Service Department

·        Certified Chevrolet, Buick, & Subaru Service

·        Can work on ANY make and model

·        Most experienced technicians in town

Parts & Accessories

·        Genuine GM and Subaru Parts

·        Great deals on tires

Collision Repair

·        Body Shop

·        Paint

·        Approved provider to Insurance companies

The Future of Subaru

What does the future of Subaru look like? Edmunds peers into their crystal ball to discern the developments that are coming. Head over to their site to check it out and tell us if you like what you see: bit.ly/Uy9p0O

"Subaru BRZ

2013 Subaru BRZ: Don't expect any significant changes or additions to the BRZ for at least at year, but we've got good money on a turbo version (STI?) showing up inside of two years. It would, after all, be stupid to ignore the obvious goodness of such a car.

Subaru Impreza

2014 Subaru Impreza WRX/WRX STI: Expect a redesign for the WRX and WRX STI in 2014. Rumors are all over the place regarding the next generation WRX and WRX STI powertrains. Most prevalent as of this writing is the idea of an electric-powered turbocharger. We're not even sure if such a device can be called a turbocharger, but here's how the rumor goes: Heat energy from the exhaust gas would be used to produce enough electricity to power the air pump (turbocharger?). Simple physics and history have both shown this scenario to be implausible, but, hey, we're just sharing the rumors."

Courtesy of www.insideline.com