IT’S TIME FOR ME TO BUY

It’s time for me to buy. The auto collapse has begun to stabilize, there is the “Cash for Clunkers” incentive of $3500 or $4500, and the stars have aligned properly, so it’s time for me to make my move. But what should I buy? There are hundreds of choices of all shapes and sizes. It has to be the right decision, since we will live with our choice for the next ten years. We need a mid-sized vehicle. We need something that enjoys fuel economy, but can still tote hockey and soccer bags, along with a few players, or family members. But on the other hand, we take long road trips, and we need something that is comfortable and fuel efficient on the highway. Does this mean an SUV, crossover, or a sedan?

We are coming from years of quality service from our 2002 Ford Windstar van. Nothing matches the versatility and flexibility offered by the mini-van
(http://maineautomall.blogspot.com/2008/07/minivan-dead-or-alive.html), but we are ready for something new and little more exciting on the road. On the other hand, we don’t want to step backwards, or lose the utility that we have relied on for years. What to buy?

Since it’s best to start at the top, and then work down, I did just that on a recent vacation. It was a “guy thing”. Five guys in our family of all ages, shapes and sizes, paid a visit to a New York Bentley/Lamborghini/Aston Martin dealership. It was a car guy’s Disney World. Model names like Arnage, Gallardo and Vanquish seemed exotic, but oh so comfortable. When the salesman asked, “Can I help you with anything today, sir?” I responded, “I guess I am just dreaming.” He knew what to say, “Is there anyway that I can turn your dream into reality?” I paused for a second, as I tried to imagine in every conceivable way how I might fit a hockey bag into a nice, new Lamborghini. A nice fantasy, but my search to replace our mini-van was not in this showroom. Besides, nothing on the lot would qualify for the “Cash for Clunkers” program.

So, what should I buy? I am curious of the hype associated with the launch of the new, redesigned Ford Taurus. It’s to be a large, near luxury sedan with decent mileage numbers. Most importantly, it’s to be affordable. The Taurus would be perfect for our long road trips, but cumbersome around town. Yet to be released and site unseen, it too is a fantasy. Also in the Ford stable is the crossover Edge, interesting but probably too expensive. One of the mini-SUVs is a possibility. The Nissan Rogue has an interesting design, but is it too small? A test drive will answer that question. Same with the Ford Escape, the Honda CRV and the Toyota RAV4.

It’s time for me to buy. The incentives will disappear, once the recovery really takes hold. The “Cash for Clunkers” program expires in the fall, or when the allocated funds are used up. The time to move is now, or I will regret the lost savings for years to come. The search goes on…what do you recommend??? It’s time for me to buy.

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Another happy customer from Pride sent us this letter


Hi Darrell and Al,

A while ago my mom referred me to Pride because she knew and respected Al from the Cash group.  Since then I’ve received great customer service during the several times I’ve been into the shop.  However, I wanted to send a special thanks for the customer service I received when my car was at another shop.  Yes, I know that’s unusual, but my car broke down away from home and your shops and I had to tow it to a totally unfamiliar shop.  I received some, what I felt, odd information from that shop and called Pride for help.  Darrell spent several minutes talking with me and ultimately said go ahead an give them the OK to run one hour of diagnostics on the car, if they can’t find it in that time something is wrong.  Well that was great advice.  The shop found the problem quickly and repaired it for a reasonable cost.  I wanted to thank Darrell and Pride for helping to ease my mind in a very challenging situation.  This certainly was way above and beyond customer service and I am grateful!  I will always remember that and I’ll be referring Pride out whenever I’m asked.  Thank you so much!

Best,
Lisa U. Parker Colorado

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Customer Recommendation letter for Pride Auto Care in Parker CO

We received this letter to Darrell Pridemore at the Parker Store recently and wanted to share it.

Mr Darrell Pridemore,

A huge thank you to you and you Mechanics for the service, professionalism and dignity that was provided when you recently repaired our vehicle. I do not wish to criticize other Automotive Centers in the Parker area; however I honestly believe Pride Auto Care is the only Automotive Center in Parker who truly treats every individual who enters their establishment as the most important person. This standard has definitely set your business far above others operating in the area.

Once again thank you.

Respectfully,

Deric W.

Thanks Deric, we believe in treating our customers like we'd want to be treated ourselves, and we are proud to be part of the Parker Community.

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Four Pridemore Brothers Three Pride Auto Care Stores

Pride Auto Care---Come Ride with Pride!

Our Parker Colorado Auto Repair Shop With two, long time successful full service tire and auto centers under our belt, why did the four Pridemore brothers decide to buy an existing Parker car care business and set up their third shop there? Simple… We love this area and wanted our next great car care location to be in our own backyards. WE were amazingly blessed to find the old Hometown store…it was just the right place for us. The original owner was “hands off”, tired of the car care business and has wanted out for some time now. While the old Hometown crew recently had a decent technician or two in the fold, the store was understaffed, un-marketed and starting to get rundown. But, to their credit, the store crew had a pretty decent reputation for good service of late and were situated in a prime Parker location...right behind the Super Target in the Parker Valley retail complex. Douglas County and Parker are one of the premier areas to live in in Colorado, heck in the whole country for that matter. It’s a clean, beautiful growing city that still embraces the country charm that makes it such an awesome place to live and rear a family. Of the four brothers that makes up the Pride Auto Care ownership, two of us live near the store, one just “over the line” in Centennial and the other lives in Parker off Bayou Gulch Rd. WE are hands on owners. We work at the stores we operate and that makes a difference because it’s our friends, and neighbors, our extended “family” that have us work on their “pride and joy!” They trust us. They see us at school, at church, at grocery store, at the movies…these are our neighbors. We know they expect nothing but great, honest service and a fair price from us and that exactly what they’ve gotten for over 19 years now. We are now working on the second and third generation of drivers in many of the original families who’ve been our customer’s for almost 20 years. We love people and love fixin’ cars. The new store in Parker is an exciting first for us as our original two stores were built new in 1989 when two of the four brothers were just manager and technician at the time. Then in 2001 we became minority owners in the operations and eventually bought the business outright in 2005. We’ve been looking to expand to a third store in the southeast corridor” since then and Parker is perfect. A great town with amazing people and a great country feel. What more could we ask for. Store Hours Mon - Fri 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Pride Auto Care - Member of the Better Business Association

Pride Auto Care is proud to show our affiliation with the Better Business Bureau of Denver/Boulder Colorado. We have a rating of A+ and are excited to continue this level of service to our loyal customers of over 20 years.