Save your life as well as animals

Have you ever heard someone say that if they had been driving anything but a Volvo then they would not be alive today? I've heard it several times in the dealership when they come in to buy a replacement car and show the after photos of their accidents. Find more amazing stories at: Volvo Saved My Life. Do those stories make you want to buy a Volvo?

Now I'm sure you are wondering about the title of this blog. Above I mentioned saving your life by buying a Volvo but you are probably asking, "save animals?" Well on July 16 (7:30pm) at Le Chat Noir will be a bakers' dozen of Augusta artists lined up for CSRA Humane Society benefit, "Artists for the Animals". Come out to support the Humane Society!

WHAT: Artists for the Animals (benefits the CSRA Humane Society)

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. July 16

WHERE: Le Chat Noir, 304 Eighth St.

DETAILS: $15; features dance, music and the spoken word; www.csrahumanesociety.org; (706) 722-3322

Happy 4th of July!

What are your plans to celebrate our nation's independence? I know several of us plan to cook out and enjoy time with family, maybe even some fireworks! Here's the locations, dates, and time for the fireworks in the CSRA:

FORT GORDON INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION: 3 p.m. Friday, Barton Field, Fort Gordon; free; Jimmy Buffett tribute band, water slides, carnival, food and craft vendors; fireworks at dark; (706) 791-6779

RAYSVILLE FIREWORKS ON THE LAKE: Sunset Friday, Amity Recreation Park and/or Raysville Marina on Thurmond Lake, Highway 43 between Lincolnton and Thomson; $4 per car at Amity Park; fireworks over the lake; patriotic music simulcast on 101.7-FM; (706) 597-1000

DOWNTOWN AUGUSTA INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION: 4-10 p.m. Saturday, Augusta Riverwalk and Augusta Common; free; live music, vendors; children's area with games, rides and inflatables; fireworks at dark; www.augustariverwalk.com

FOURTH OF JULY PATRIOTS PARK: 4 p.m. Monday, Patriot's Park, 5445 Columbia Road, Grovetown; Free; gates open at 4 p.m.; live music featuring the Fort Gordon Signal Corps Band; children's activities and rides; food and drink vendors; fireworks at dark; (706) 312-7192

LEXINGTON COUNTY PEACH FESTIVAL AND FIREWORKS: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday. Gilbert Community Park, Rikard Circle, Gilbert, S.C.; free; ride prices vary; arts and crafts vendors; children's rides, food vendors, parade; antique tractor and farm equipment display, car show, Revolutionary War re-enactment, volleyball tournament; fireworks; (706) 892-5207

Keep cool on this wonderful weekend considering all of the month of June has been 90+ degrees out. If you plan to do your own fireworks please be safe!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!

Blood Drives

Have you ever donated blood before? Here's 8 reasons why you should:

1. Someone needs blood every 3 seconds in this country. An average of 40,000 units are needed every day in the U.S. There is no substitute for human blood.

2. 60% of the population will need blood at some time in their lives, yet less than 5% of the population donates.

3. Disasters like car accidents, fires, and other trauma cases happen every day and these patients need blood, and rarely do they need only one pint. A bleeding trauma victim can run through 100 units of blood in no time.

4. If all eligible donors would donate on a regular basis, four to six times a year, blood needs would be met and shortages could be a thing of the past.

5. For decades this nation relied on a large pool of blood donors from "The Greatest Generation," the heroic World War II veterans who considered blood donation to be an on-going patriotic duty. Sadly, that generation is fast disappearing and other new donors are not stepping forward to replace them.

6. Donating blood is safe and a healthy thing to do. Not only do you get a free mini physical, including blood pressure check, heart rate, temperature and iron levels, but it's the fastest way to lose a pound!

7. For men, there is a life-saving benefit to donating blood. Men are at higher risk for "hemochromatosis or iron overload" a potentially deadly problem where too much iron builds up in the blood. It can lead to heart disease and other major health problems. Research shows if men give blood 3 times a year, they can reduce their iron overload and therefore their risk of a heart attack by as much as 50%!

8. Blood donors are true heroes. In fact, your one blood donation will be broken down into several components, enabling you, with just one donation, to save up to three lives!

I know of several blood drives being held this week.

Blood drives today

- 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Doctors Hospital, 3651 Wheeler Road

- Noon to 6 p.m., Firehouse Subs, 1237 Knox Ave. , North Augusta

June 30th:

-Columbia County EMA 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM, 630 Ronald Reagan Dr., Evans, GA For everyone who donates blood you get a tshirt and a Chickfila meal!

2012 Volvo S60, XC60 R-Design

Jun 20, 2011 - 1:41:22 PM

A few months ago at the New York International Auto Show, Volvo rolled out its upcoming S60 R-Design model, just as it had done in LA, in Detroit, and in Chicago. This wouldn’t have been a major news event were it not for one interesting bit of information: instead of the previously communicated 300 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque, the T6 under the hood of the new-for-2012 model would now produce 325 horsepower and 354 lb-ft. Same goes for the 2012 XC60 R-Design. But where did all that newfound power come from? Did it just fall from the sky?

Officially, Volvo’s PR folks and product planners have been shy about answering that question, but behind the scenes we’ve heard rumblings that the source wasn’t Volvo’s own powertrain engineers. We can now confirm that Polestar, Volvo’s Swedish partner for its racing efforts in STCC and WTCC, deserves the credit. You might also know the Polestar name from the C30 Polestar Performance Concept Prototype that made its rounds from the 2010 Gothenburg Auto Show, to European media members including the BBC’s Top Gear, and most recently, into our own hands this past weekend.

A team from Polestar accompanied us on our C30 test drive, having just come from an annual Volvo dealer conference in Florida, where the company informed dealers about the tie-up. All 2012 S60 and XC60 R-Design models will leave the factory with stock engines and the Polestar software will be installed at port here in the US before heading to dealers. Additionally, we’ve been told more announcements are coming soon about Polestar performance upgrades being offered through all of Volvo’s US dealer network for pre-existing models. We’re assuming that likely includes the option for current owners of cars with T6 engines to buy the more aggressive tune. As for the two new R-Design cars, Volvo’s planners are still trying to decide how to communicate the Polestar upgrades and the cars may or may not wear small Polestar badges like the one you see above. We’ll find out for sure when we drive the car in just a few months. This is exciting news for enthusiasts — if the Polestar upgrades catch on, we may see some seriously sporty Volvos in the near future and perhaps even the Polestar name reaching the level of AMG or BMW M.

-Swedespeed.com

Gas Prices

Normally when summer starts the gas stations start jacking up the prices of fuel because of everyone going on vacations. Surprisingly the prices have not jacked up as bad as to be believed or at least not yet. I was playing around on the Augusta Chronicle site and found they have an "Area Gas Prices" page. If you click the link you can look around your area and see what the gas prices are. I think that is very cool. Unfortunately, the lowest priced gas is in Burnettown which would be a little bit of a drive for me to get to and wouldn't be worth it.

What did you guys do this past weekend? If you went to the Farmer's Market on the River Saturday you could have seen one of our salespeople, Erica, down there showing and selling her artwork under the Verge magazine's tent. As well as drawing while she was there. She also was selling some of our receptionist, Charlotte's photography prints. Who knew what talent we have here at the dealership!

Here's something to cool you off with the crazy 100+ degree we have been having..

New 2012 Subaru Impreza - Soon to Hit Dealer Showrooms

By JAKE LINGEMAN on 4/20/2011

The redesigned 2012 Subaru Impreza made its debut in New York on Wednesday with a more refined look, a longer wheelbase and a new four-cylinder engine.

The Impreza's horizontally opposed 2.0-liter produces 148 hp and returns 36 mpg on the highway, even with all-wheel drive. Fuel economy is maximized with electric power steering and low-rolling-resistance tires.

The 2.0-liter engine replaces the previous 2.5-liter flat-four and has a longer piston stroke, leading to smoother operation, Subaru says. Hydraulic engine mounts also filter out engine vibrations. Buyers can choose from a five-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission.

Bolder wheel arches and accent lines on the body panels are key traits of the redesign. A new hexagon grille has a bigger badge in the center. Designers pushed the base of the windshield forward about eight inches, which enables the front doors to open wider. The new Impreza uses a greater amount of high-strength steel to improve crash safety while minimizing weight gain. Stability and traction control are standard.

The overall length of the new Impreza is about the same as the previous model, but Subaru stretched the wheelbase by about an inch. Redesigned door panels give occupants more hip room, while back-seat passengers get two more inches of legroom. Subaru says it used a better grade of materials in the interior.

The 2012 Impreza is available with all of the connectivity features you might expect, including Bluetooth, HD radio, iPod connections and navigation--many of them optional.

Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110420/CARNEWS/110429980#ixzz1PG5p5nOn

Check out other's comments: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110420/CARNEWS/110429980

Summer!

Who is having a great summer so far? We certainly are and we have you the customers to thank for that! We are starting June off with a great bang! We have a new GM by the name of Phil Hughes. Two new salesmen, Scott Dreyfus and Chris Masters. Scott has come to us from our Mazda store. Chris use to work at the Augusta Chronicle. Please come by and say hello!

Have you gone to hang out at the lake, yet? Certainly a beautiful area to take family and friends for a good time in the water whether you are on a boat or not, swimming, skiing, wake boarding, or fishing. I've been out there fishing in the evening and catching fish. Charlotte's been out with friends hanging off of a float.