Share the Love....

Planet Subaru is pleased to be a part of the Subaru “Share the Love Event” running from November 24, 2008 – January 2, 2009. During this event, the best deals of the year will be offered on the full-line of Subaru vehicles…and with each lease or purchase of a Subaru from Planet, $250 will be donated to the customer’s choice of one of five charities:

Meals on Wheels
Habitat for Humanity
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
National Wildlife Federation (NWF)
Boys and Girls Clubs of America
This “Share the Love Event” hopes to donate more that $4 million to these five charities. However, the more Subaru vehicles that are sold or leased, the more money is donated!

From the fun-to-drive Forester, to the rugged Tribeca, or the sporty and sleek Impreza, if you’ve been thinking about buying a Subaru for your loved ones- or yourself – now is the perfect time to visit Planet Subaru. Not only will you drive away in a stunning new Subaru for very little, but you will also be making a contribution to a worthy charity.

Spoil yourself this holiday season with a new Subaru from Planet and help make next year special for another person, animal or child. Save and give at the same time!

“Share the Love” with Planet Subaru this holiday season.

About the Charities

For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America have been serving as passionate advocates for young people in our communities. Clubs provide a positive place for kids and teens to find supportive and caring adults who mentor, empower and inspire them to reach their full potential. www.bgca.org

Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built nearly 300,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1.5 million people. www.habitat.org

Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) works every day with thousands of local Meals On Wheels programs and hundreds of thousands of volunteers who all share in the mission to end senior hunger. The organization provides the tools and information its programs need to make a difference in the lives of others. It also gives cash grants to local senior meal programs throughout the country to assist in providing meals and other nutrition services. www.mowaa.org

National Wildlife Federation(R) (NWF) is America's largest conservation organization, inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children's future. NWF unites individuals from diverse backgrounds through a grassroots network of 4 million members and supporters, and is joined by 47 affiliated state wildlife organizations. National Wildlife Federation's programs educate and inspire people from all walks of life to protect wildlife and wildlife habitat. NWF focuses their conservation work in three areas: confronting global warming, restoring wildlife habitat and connecting people to nature. www.nwf.org

For more than 142 years, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has been dedicated to rescuing animals from abuse, introducing and enforcing more humane legislation, sharing resources with shelters across the country, and advancing the care of animals through their unparalleled expertise in medicine, behavior, toxicology and forensics. www.aspca.org

Forester is MotorTrend's 2009 SUV of the year!

"So how does a small,quirky, former airplane manufacturer from the Gunma prefecture of Japan finish first among surprise offerings from established players and bold moves by newcomers? How does it beat a chest-thumping, head-turning macho mobile known as the BMWX6? How, when Ford wraps stylish sheet metal around a Gulfstream V interior and calls it Flex? How can it win, when Kia serves notice to the entire category with ts own body-on-frame,V-8 powered Borego, and Infiniti conjures up seven-speed transmissions and jaw dropping bird's-eye-view monitoring systems? Just how does the Forester do it?....  read the article

A few Planet Halloween images....

Didn't see any customers in costume! But we had fun!

Sexy Subaru Sumo Photo Shoot

Another in the string of fun advertisements from Subaru!

Have fun!

http://www.sexysubaru.ca/

Subaru 2.5 Liter Turbo Engine Named International Engine of the Year

Cherry Hill, NJ, May 8, 2008 — Subaru’s 2.5-liter Boxer turbo engine has won the 2008 International Engine of the Year award in the 2.0-liter to 2.5-liter category.

“This is a testament to the unique design qualities of our Boxer engine,” said Tim Mahoney, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Subaru of America, Inc. “Subaru has been producing Boxer engines for over 40 years and we are delighted to once again be recognized by the International Engine of the Year Awards committee.”

Juror, Christophe Congrega of L’Automobile Magazine, stated that the Subaru engine is: “A 2.5-liter Boxer full of torque and power.” This statement is backed up by the fact that Subaru’s Boxer engine beat BMW’s 2.5-liter 6 cylinder engine twice in its category for the International Engine of the Year Award in the last three years.

The 65 judges on the International Engine of the Year Awards 2008 committee were impressed with the Subaru Boxer engine’s power in the 4 cylinder 305 hp Subaru Impreza WRX STI, but were equally impressed with the performance of the 2.5-liter turbo in the 224 hp Subaru Forester. The engine is also found in the 224 hp Subaru WRX and in naturally aspirated form in the 170 hp 2.5i Subaru Impreza and Subaru Forester. The jury noted that aside from being a performance powerhouse, the Subaru Boxer engine offers impressive fuel economy.

As judge Nikos Kounitis stated, “This powerful, fun-to-drive engine justifies Subaru’s persistence in Boxer engines.”

The Subaru Boxer engine is produced in several forms for world markets including 4 cylinder engines in 1.5-liter, 2.0-liter, 2.5-liter capacity and also 6 cylinder 3.0-liter and 3.6-liter versions. Additionally, the Company recently introduced the world’s first Boxer diesel engine for sale in Europe.

Caring for Subaru Turbocharged Engines

Protect your turbocharged Subaru vehicle with these recommended basic operation and maintenance guidelines.

New Subaru vehicles are thoroughly checked for quality and craftsmanship. Safety, performance, and dependability are given top priority in their designs, making them easy to operate and maintain.The following information updates factory recommendations for the care and maintenance of new Subaru turbocharged vehicles.

The Turbocharger

The turbocharger, commonly called a “turbo,” is operated by the energy contained in the exhaust gas. The exhaust gas spins a turbine inside the turbocharger at an extremely high speed (more than 100,000 rpm). That compresses the air/fuel mixture in the cylinders, which creates higher power output.Because of the turbine’s rotation speed and the high temperature of the exhaust gas driving the turbo, proper cooling is needed to maintain its durability. Engine oil plays a major role in lubricating and cooling the turbo, so following recommended oil change guidelines is important.Engine Oil and Oil FilterProper lubrication of the turbocharger requires high-quality engine oil. Some do not provide enough lubrication performance or durability when used in turbocharged engines. Using poor-quality oil or oil not designed for turbo engines may cause damage to the turbocharger and other engine components. Consequently, it is critical to follow Subaru vehicle owner’s and service manuals for recommended oil grade and viscosity.

A second key component of the lubrication system is the oil filter. The Subaru Genuine Oil Filter, available at your Subaru dealer, is the only filter that Subaru has tested to meet requirements for filtration and flow. Aftermarket oil filters may have different filtration performance and relief-valve opening pressure, which could affect filter and engine performance. Subaru Genuine Oil Filters help ensure optimum engine and turbocharger performance.

Engine Oil and Oil Filter Replacement Interval

Due to heat generated by the turbocharger and carbon deposits contained in exhaust gas, the oil in a turbocharged engine will deteriorate faster than the oil in a naturally aspirated engine. Therefore, special care should be taken to use proper grade oil and to monitor oil deterioration.Under normal driving conditions, the recommended oil and oil filter change interval for turbo vehicles is every 3,750 miles or four months, whichever comes first.However, for vehicles driven in conditions beyond normal, such as racing conditions, the oil and oil filter may require more frequent changing.

Racing-Type Driving

Racing-type engine stress doesn’t only occur on the track. Racing-type driving occurs when the drivetrain, suspension, and other vehicle components are used at near peak capacity. Any driving where the engine speed is kept high – either by using lower gears at higher speeds or using engine braking – is considered racing-type driving.

Important: A “track day” or autocross event requires an oil and oil filter change immediately before and immediately after the event. Make sure to check other engine fluid levels as well.

Engine Oil Level

Check the oil dipstick periodically to make sure the oil level is within proper range in order to keep the turbocharger properly lubricated and cooled. More frequent level checks are necessary especially when utilizing engine braking, because this increases the engine’s demand for lubrication.

Important: Allowing the engine oil level to drop by more than one quart may cause oil starvation, oil pump cavitation, and bearing damage. Over time, this cumulative damage will cause turbocharger and engine failure.

Oil Changes

Carbon deposits produced by a turbocharged engine can accumulate at the bottom of the oil pan. When changing the oil, always drain the oil through the oil drain plug hole on the oil pan.A vacuum draining device could leave carbon deposits at the bottom of the oil pan and potentially contaminate the new oil.

Fuel Requirements

Turbocharged Subaru engines are designed to operate on premium unleaded (91-octane AKI or higher) gasoline. This is essential for maximizing performance and is required to prevent possible engine damage.

Driving Tips

1. Do not rev the engine or accelerate past half throttle immediately after start-up. Oil requires time to heat up for full flow, and high-rpm driving with a cold engine can damage the turbocharger.
2. After highway driving or high-load driving, Subaru recommends allowing the engine to cool by idling for at least 30 seconds before shutting off.

Modifications

Engine modifications such as, but not limited to, adding a boost pressure controller, using a non-genuine aftermarket air intake or exhaust system, changing the air bypass valve, “chipping,” etc., may negatively affect the warranty. Your Subaru dealer offers a line of Subaru Performance Tuning parts, which are designed and tested to Subaru standards and do not void the warranty.

Years of Driving
With proper care as outlined above and in your owner’s and service manuals, Subaru vehicles will provide owners many years of driving enjoyment.

Politics on Wheels

I know I should avoid discussing religion or politics but I've been going through my file cabinet doing a bit of spring cleaning and came across this article from the NY Times. It's a couple of years old but these days seems to be more relevant than the first time I read it!

Wonder how gas prices will influence the choice of truck for Republicans? :)

DRIVING; Your Car: Politics on Wheels

Make Every Day Earth Day

It seems only fitting that in honor of Earth Day, we all give something back to the place that has given us all so much. And not just one day, April 22, but every day of the year. Here are some simple things that you can feel good about doing and that will make the Earth an even better place to live.

• Get outside and explore: Enjoy the peace and serenity of an open space in your community.
  Take pride in your commitment to the environment: By caring about the environment you are promoting the importance of environmentalism as a mainstream societal value. This is ultimately how we will affect true change for the Earth.
  
  
  
• Learn to identify 10 simple native species: Knowing how to identify plants and animals that are native to your area is a simple way to connect with nature that will inspire you to care about the environment.
  
  
  
• Conserve water, heat and electricity. Turn off water, lights, and heat when possible. By using less water and energy, you will also save on your utility bills.
  
  
• Practice organic gardening: Use native plants when you landscape and consider alternatives to chemical pesticides.
  
  
  
• Teach children a healthy respect for the natural world: Kids learn best by following your example. Practice responsible environmentalism that will carry over into the next generation.
  
  
• Shop Smart: Show your support for businesses that practice environmental stewardship. Purchase products that are environmentally friendly.
  
  
• Drive less: Help reduce our country’s demand for oil and reduce green house gas emissions by walking or cycling to do errands, carpooling or using public transportation when possible.

(This list was originally posted by the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences)

The Tent is Gone!

Thanks to all who contributed Food Pantry donations to the Small Tent! We filled the back of a Tribeca with donations and dropped them off at the beginning of the month.

The tent is gone--congratulations to the winner of the raffle for the tent!

2009 Foresters are here and Subaru has just announced a new Guaranteed Trade Program on all 2003-2006 Subaru models. I'll post more details later this week.

There's a Tent in our showroom......

Ever since the tent arrived we've been wondering

"What's the story with the tent?"

We've set up the tent in our showroom and there are some great incentives this month to move our new car inventory in preparation for the arrival of the 2009 Foresters!

The tent represents the great savings everyone expects at a "Tent Sale" but we're skipping all the antics and distractions associated with the stereotypical tent sale - just the straightforward, great pricing you expect from the undealership!

But we've decided to put the tent to another use!

We'll be accepting donations of canned goods and non-perishables to fill the tent and we'll donate it all to the Hanover Food Pantry at the end of the month.

Needs: Canned meats and products with meat such as stews; other non-perishable foods; cereals; regular tea; toiletries (shampoo, soap, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.); toilet paper. (Please, no perishable foods, produce, or medications.)

Anyone who buys a car this month, services their car at Planet and/or makes a donation will be entered into a raffle to win the tent! *

And to top it all off we'll enter your name into a raffle to win the tent at the end of the month after we drop off the donations at the Hanover Food Pantry!

Let us know if you have questions!


*actually no purchase or donation necessary to enter the raffle

Sometimes you just can't imagine what fun we have at Planet!

Some of you may have seen the "flying monkey" I keep in my drawer at work. It was a gift from my daughters who imagined what fun I could have with it in a large wide open space--like our showroom for example. It's a small slingshot cleverly disguised as a super hero monkey complete with mask and cape.

The splendid balloon display in our showroom left over from Washington's Birthday has started to look a little tired so one night last week the monkey said - "the balloons must go!"

Here's how the monkey works and a close up of a slight modification to facilitate the balloon removal....

And then the fun begins.....

Not the most professional posting but fun anyway!

Yes -- we are the undealership! :)

Snow and Ice in Minnesota...

This Planet Subaru Impreza made the trip to MN
and it looks like Andrew's having a good time!

This snow is about 6" deep, and old so it's thick... A jeep cherokee got stuck in it. ;)

Actually my third race, no pics from the second. This one had a track about 1.5 miles long - about 2 minutes round trip. Tied for sixth out of 22, but only did two timed laps. I think I could have done better. Either way, it was exceptionally fun. Next up is an autox driving school in april.

For more photos......

http://carl-s.smugmug.com/gallery/4441850_Ln26D#261050752

and

http://mnsubaru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22898http://mnsubaru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22898

Subaru Fuel Economy Ratings.....

Many customers--especially some of our long-time Subaru customers --have inquired about the lower fuel economy numbers on the 2008 Subaru window stickers as compared to previous years. For example a 2007 Outback showed 22 mph city and 29 hwy and the 2008 reads 20 city and 26 hwy. Why? Did Subaru change the engine? Aren't they going in the wrong direction?

These new numbers are lower but more realistic. New lower estimates (starting with 2008 models) more accurately reflect our current stop-and-go traffic and commute driving patterns, faster speeds and acceleration, air conditioner use, and colder outside temperatures. MPG estimates will also be adjusted downward to account for factors that are difficult to replicate in a laboratory, such as wind and road surface resistance. New fuel economy estimates will be lower for most vehicles. This is not because auto makers have designed the same vehicles to be less fuel efficient—it is because our new test methods take into account factors that have been missing or not fully accounted for in the current (2007 model) tests. Because some vehicles are more sensitive to these factors than others, the impact of the proposed changes will vary from vehicle to vehicle. The city MPG estimates for conventional (non-hybrid) vehicles would drop on average by about 10-20 percent from (2007 model) labels, while the highway estimates would drop by about 5-15 percent, depending on the vehicle. Hybrid vehicles, city MPG estimates would drop 20-30 percent from (2007 model) labels. highway MPG estimates, the change is about the same as for conventional vehicles.

There are many ways to help get better gas mileage right away:

Follow the recommended maintenance schedule. A vehicle that is well maintained operates with a greater efficiency.
Keep tires properly inflated. Under inflated tires require more energy to roll, which translates into more frequent fill ups.
Take a load off! Heavier vehicles require more energy to move, so, carrying around excess weight also effects mileage.
Don't drive aggressively. Speeding, quick acceleration, and hard braking all contribute to a decrease in fuel economy.
Avoid excess idling. It is more efficient to turn the engine off while waiting and then restart the car.
Combine errands. Several short trips all begun with a cold start can use as much fuel as a single, longer trip that covers that same distance.

One of my favorite lines from a customer this week....

"So bottom line, I realize that my goals are unrealistic, but at least I’m realistic enough to realize that! :) "

Subaru Outback Named 2008 Best Family Vehicle By Kelly Blue Book's KBB.COM Website

CHERRY HILL, N.J., February 12, 2008 – Subaru of America, Inc. today announced that the intrepid 2008 Subaru Outback has been named to Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com’s first annual list of “Best New Family Vehicles.” From a long list of vehicles that qualified in varying degrees as safe, roomy and affordable, the expert editors at Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com selected this year’s 10 Best New Family Vehicles by evaluating each on such factors as capability, fuel efficiency, resale value, and the all-important kid-friendliness.“Family safety and comfort are built into every Subaru,” notes Thomas J. Doll, executive vice president, Subaru of America, Inc. “And we’re honored that the 2008 Subaru Outback – a vehicle that will safely deliver the kids on a rainy school day, then whisk them down an old dirt road for a weekend hiking trip – has been recognized by the experts at Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com in the very first year they have chosen a list of ‘Best New Family Vehicles’.” “Combining SUV-like versatility with car-like ride, handling and efficiency, the oft-overlooked wagon makes a great family hauler,” adds Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book and kbb.com. “Long popular in northern parts of the country for its proven all-wheel-drive systems, the Subaru Outback is just as attractive for its premium-like accommodations and proven reliability.” Families will also be pleased to know that the accolades for the Subaru Outback go beyond the prestigious Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com nod – the Outback also achieved the highest rating (“Good”) in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) frontal offset, side and rear impact tests. In addition, the Outback received 5-star ratings for the driver and front passenger as well as the rear passengers in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) crash tests.

Fiji Republicans and Subaru Democrats.....

From the LA Times...

Another tip of the hat to Mike Allen over at Politico.com for pointing out a new New Yorker article that looks inside the ultimately successful campaign of Sen. John McCain, the Republicans' presumptive presidential nominee regardless of what happens in Wisconsin today.
The long, well-written piece by Ryan Lizza in the Feb. 25 issue is full of delicious detail about life on the trail on and off the McCain bus.
One particularly revealing passage may surprise some readers about how well-refined political campaigns have become in their research and determining our political leanings and distastes from seemingly superficial tastes. This enables them to "micro-target" messages to numerous niches, which is what is invisibly going on right now and will continue through Nov. 4.
The revelation comes from Steve Schmidt, a Republican political operative who's worked for George W. Bush, Arnold Schwarzenegger and now McCain. He was just talking as the bus cruised along the highway between stops not long ago when he said:
During one back-of-the-bus conversation, he explained that in 2004, when he was working for Bush’s reëlection, “we targeted voters not where they lived but how they lived their lives, in the same way that credit-card companies do.”
He went on, “And so we know, for instance, that among independent voters there are life styles and behaviors that identify them as Republicans or Democrats. For example, the GMC Yukon is a Republican vehicle, and Volvos and Subarus are the most Democratic vehicles.
"Republicans have Fiji water preferences, versus Democrats, who have Evian water preferences. You have a huge grouping of consumer data, so you can micro-target messages to common groups, finding pleasure points and anger points on issues.”
And you thought you were making up your own mind about the candidates. The complete New Yorker article is available here.
-- Andrew Malcolm

When Planet Customers move away....

I love it when our customers take the time to write something like this....

I lived in the Boston area for 10 years, and bought my first Subaru (a
2003 WRX) from Planet Subaru. Had a great experience, both with the car and with the dealership. Our family left the South Shore for Evansville IN about 9 months after we bought the WRX. I traded about 8 months ago for a 2007 STI--a great car, but certainly not the same dealer experience. The thing is, they're a pretty good dealer, as typical dealers go. But just wanted you to know that you guys do a great job--wanted to take the license plate frame with "Planet" for the new car, but my dealer was a bit offended by that suggestion.
Congratulations on your citation in Automotive News!

Steve

We ship cars all over the country now so Steve can still do business with the undealership if he'd like!

Subaru Impreza "Outlook" Sport?

Nice write-up in the Boston Globe for the Outback Sport--- Obviously spell check doesn't care whether it's Outback or Outlook... :)


Subaru Outback Sport

I'm not the first person to wonder....what is "partial zero"?

Hybrid, PZEV, SULEV....what does it all mean?

Subaru offers the most fuel efficient All-Wheel Drive vehicle lineup in America. Subaru also offers Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) certified Legacy, Outback, and Forester models which are available for sale anywhere in the U.S. Subaru PZEV vehicles meet California's Super-Ultra-Low-Emission Vehicle exhaust emission standard.


So, just how green is a PZEV machine? Well, if you just cut your lawn with a gas mower, congratulations, you just put out more pollution in one hour than these cars do in 2,000 miles of driving. Grill a single juicy burger, and you've cooked up the same hydrocarbon emissions as a three-hour drive in a Subaru Outback PZEV. As the California Air Resources Board has noted, the tailpipe emissions of these cars can be cleaner than the outside air in smoggy cities.



ZEV: Zero Emission Vehicles have zero tailpipe emissions and are 98 percent cleaner than the average new 2003 model year vehicle. They include electric vehicles and fuel cells.

AT PZEV: Advanced Technology PZEVs meet SULEV tailpipe emission standards, have zero evaporative emissions and include advanced technology components. A plug-in hybrid or a compressed natural gas vehicle would qualify in this category.

PZEV: Partial Zero Emission Vehicles meet SULEV tailpipe emission standards, have a 15 year /150,000-mile warranty and have zero evaporative emissions.

SULEV: Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicles are 90 percent cleaner than the average new 2003 model year vehicle. But still, not a PZEV.

Who do we take care of first.....?

How about this article?


In all of our talk about taking care of our Planet--how about taking care of ourselves?

"To get an extra 14 years of life, don’t smoke, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, exercise regularly and drink alcohol in moderation. That is according to a study published January 8 in the Public Library of Science Medicine journal. After tracking more than 20,000 people aged 45 to 79 years in the United Kingdom from about 1993 to 2006, Kay-Tee Khaw of the University of Cambridge and colleagues found that people who adopted these four healthy habits lived an average of 14 years longer than those who didn’t."

When will Subaru offer a Hybrid?

It's one of the questions I hear the most....

This is an interesting post on a very interesting blog....

Subaru Electric car?

And the Winner is.....

Planet Subaru impreza on Pelican lake in MN ! SubaruMN sponsored the event.

Looks like Drew Browning was having a great time and he came in first in a rally on the ice!

A great AWD Video....!

E-mail from a happy customer on a snowy day....

Hi Mike and Deb,

Thanks for your check-in call, Mike. I *love* the car and couldn't be happier with it. Thanks for providing such an easy and enjoyable purchasing process. To tell you the truth, I was dreading buying a new car, but was pleasantly pleased with Planet Subaru's efficiency, courtesy, and attentiveness. I'll look forward to servicing my car with you.

Thanks again for calling! And, yes, what a good day to test out the capabilities of the car -- although, I think I'll stay in today. :)

Diana

2009 Forester !

2009 Forester Info!

I have to start somewhere!

A new year and a new sign at Planet! I'm approaching my 5th year at Planet Subaru and what a ride it's been! I 've learned so much about people and cars and there are so many stories.
Exactly what form this blog will take I'm not sure. I can't tell you how many times I've said..I should write a book about selling cars...what would it be...a "how too"? ... a mystery?.... comedy ?...drama?...it's really a bit of everything!

If you can bear with me we'll see what happens....