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9808 Reisterstown Road
Owings Mills, MD
SALES 866-541-5036
SERVICE 877-283-3778
In This Issue:
Bringing Luxury to the People
EXCLUSIVE STIMULUS OPPORTUNITY
MileOne Makes an Impact in its Community
Losing lottery tickets used to create HUMMER H3
Trivia
Car Doctor
Plus Much Much More!
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For the customers of Heritage Imports- Volkswagen
Bringing Luxury to the People
By Donna DeRosa,
If cars had superpowers, the 2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2 V8 would be Captain Light Fantastic. Each time you start the VW Touareg 2, it salutes you with an impressive light show as the range-adjusting dynamic headlights calibrate themselves.
That's the story with this revised version of VW's sport-utility, as a range of exotic enhancements to the electronics expand its dynamic possibilities, while a number of luxury features have been added, like a stylish interior treatment and a power liftgate. It's a sport-utility with a superhero's range of special powers.
The Touareg 2 seems to have driven away from its VW heritage and become more like the Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne, with which the Touareg shares the fundamentals of its platform and powertrain.
Of course, this 2008 Volkswagen Touareg V8 rang the cash register to the tune of $55,750, and this makes us wonder, is the Touareg 2 now the sport-utility version of the Volkswagen Phaeton, a luxury sedan that never found its audience?
Touareg 2, the Sequel
Now known as the Touareg 2, this is really a sequel and not a remake of the original movie. Wheelbase, length, width and height are exactly the same as last year's model.
Cosmetically, the 2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2 is more of a nose-tipping than a full face-lift. The exterior changes include the new-look grille (chrome for the V6 model and matte chrome for the V8 and the V10 diesel) that clarifies the family resemblance to the rest of the VW line. The overall look is more aerodynamic, thanks to a redesigned front bumper, shapelier headlamp casings and more slippery side mirrors. The rear of the Touareg also gets aero with a rooftop spoiler, while the dark taillight lenses and reshaped exhaust tips are there for visual freshness.
Full-time all-wheel drive remains part of the program, and the six-speed automatic transmission still includes a low range for poor traction situations. The V6 version of the Touareg 2 now comes with a comfort-calibrated suspension as standard equipment, but the V8 remains a sporting proposition, and 19-inch wheels with 275/45R19 tires are part of the program.
Comfort Is the New Black
When you slip into the Touareg 2, you'll immediately notice how comfortable it is. The revised interior seems to have been inspired by the luxurious Volkswagen Phaeton and features the sedan's high-fashion architecture and luxurious, richly colorful materials. The sound ergonomics help place every little control within easy reach, and the tilt-telescopic steering wheel is now matched by a standard 12-way power-adjustable driver seat.
All this luxury makes you wish that the interior dimensions of the Touareg 2 had been expanded. With a total passenger volume of 99 cubic feet, the Touareg 2 should be plenty spacious for a five-passenger utility with its 112.4-inch wheelbase, but we still feel that rear legroom seems a little stingy at 35.6 inches.
Cargo capacity with the second row in place is still 31 cubic feet. With the 60/40-split-row folding seats down, capacity increases to 71 cubic feet. However, this is 4 fewer cubes than a BMW X5, which has been stretched for 2008 to afford an optional third-row seat.
Faster Than a Speeding Bullet, More Powerful Than...
You'll recognize this 40-valve 4,172cc V8 after its introduction to the Touareg lineup last year, and its rating of 350 horsepower and 324 pound-feet of torque remains the same. But the new application of direct fuel injection makes it possible to achieve peak power at 6,700 rpm, 100 rpm lower than before.
The Touareg 2 reaches 60 mph in 7.7 seconds (we put the transmission in Sport mode), and the quarter-mile arrives in 15.7 seconds at 90.2 mph. Not bad for an SUV that tips the scales at 5,240 pounds, although we paid the price with an observed fuel economy of 13.1 mpg.
Most of the magic for the 2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2 lies in the upgraded electronics. The stability control is already pretty sophisticated, as the relatively extreme threshold of intervention doesn't keep you from getting the most out of driving the Touareg at sporting speeds. But now the braking system incorporates brake assist, a dry brake function that skims the moisture from wet rotors to improve braking action, a supplemental boost in brake pressure to compensate for brake fade, and logic that controls understeer and forestalls rollovers. In addition, the ABS system now allows sufficient wheel lockup under braking on loose traction to allow a wedge of gravel or sand to build up in front of the tires, a measure that reduces braking distances by 20 percent.
Whew. It's like having the Justice League of braking working for you. Of course, all you'll probably notice in everyday driving is the Touareg 2's impressive ability to stop from 60 mph in 120 feet.
Click here to find your own Volkswagen.
"Fix-it-Right-the-First-Time"
Congratulations to Heritage Volkswagen at Heritage Imports in Owings Mills. Mike Hoban and the Service Team at this store finished 14th out of 588 VW dealerships nationwide for (FRFT) “Fix it right the first time”. FRFT identifies the fifty top-performing dealers in completing campaign repairs.
All award winning dealers had to be above the National average as well as their Regional average. Heritage Volkswagen finished with an excellent score of 96.6%. Some of the factors that helped contribute to Heritage’s high score include ensuring parts are available when the customer arrives, tools and information are kept up-to-date and in good condition and Service Consultants speak with the customer after service and inform them of the work done.
Mike is very proud of the team at Heritage Volkswagen and attributes their accomplishment with “excellent technician training, proper service consultations, having all the proper and necessary information and having all the right parts at the time of service.”
The team’s excellent work will not go unrecognized. The team will receive 100,000 generation VW bucks, a reward that can be redeemed for different prizes, making this accomplishment rewarding for both the customers and dealership. Congratulations again to the team for helping set the high standards we aim for at all MileOne stores.
EXCLUSIVE STIMULUS OPPORTUNITY
The MileOne Automotive organization would like to offer you an exclusive opportunity to take your refund and double it on the purchase of your next Certified Pre-Owned vehicle. MileOne, The Mid Atlantic’s Largest Auto Group, will double your Stimulus refund up to $500…that’s $1,000 off the purchase of your next Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle. SHOP OVER 2,000 VEHICLES. If you are in the market for a Pre-Owned vehicle, there has never been a better time to buy.
We have taken in a record number of quality trade-ins including single owner vehicles still under manufacturer warranty. Save with warranty’s up to 100,000 miles, financing as low as 2.9% APR, rental benefits, 3-day money back guarantee and the areas largest selection of quality pre-owned vehicles.
This exclusive opportunity is for a limited time only and will not be available to everyone. Come early to ensure a great selection of vehicles. Due to the exclusive nature of this program, please ask for a sales manager from any one of our 29 locations.
*Offer valid only towards the purchase of a pre-owned vehicle from MileOne Automotive. Match is up to $500 for a total of $1,000 with customers $500 down payment. See dealer for details. Offer expires 5/31/08.
MileOne Makes an Impact in its Community
MileOne Automotive has 63 automobile dealerships and businesses located throughout Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. focusing on customer service and repeated business, the company sells close to 50,000 vehicles per year and sees another 500,000 people in its stores for service. “Each dealership supports a wide range of community organizations through a variety of ways,” explained David Metter, Chief Marketing Officer for MileOne. “By combining our efforts under one company, we could do more for a few organizations.”
“Throughout MileOne’s 3,500 employees, breast cancer has impacted many of their lives,” he added. “Therefore, choosing the American Cancer Society seemed to be a perfect fit. Not only does this opportunity provide MileOne with a way to truly give back to the communities with which we do business, it is a charity that everyone, including the customer, relates to.” MileOne chose to support the American Cancer Society based on the Society’s commitment to research, advocacy, and patient services. So the company began its involvement by participating in community-based events such as Baltimore’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer® and Relay For Life® throughout Maryland.
MileOne is a large corporation. Yet coordinating all 63 dealerships for a special cause is a positive experience. In 2006, MileOne had over 300 walkers and raised nearly $15,000 at the Baltimore Making Strides event, making them the largest corporate team in the event’s five-year history. MileOne also donates a vehicle for a raffle to benefit local Relay For Life® events. This incentive is what allows MileOne to go above and beyond in its efforts to help fight cancer.
“Employees and customers are both loyal toward these events,” says Jerry Fader, President and Chief Operating Officer. “People have told us that they purchase their vehicles from MileOne because we support a cause that is important to them. Our employees feel good about working for this company because of our efforts toward the American Cancer Society.” MileOne is committed to giving credit to its employee’s dedication and often features employees who strive to do more within their community by participating in a variety of events in the MileOne employee newsletter. During the last three years, MileOne’s fundraising achievements have grown from $148,000 to more than $250,000 for the American Cancer Society. Through the Relay For Life car raffle and participation in Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, MileOne has raised nearly $2 million dollars to benefit cancer-fighting efforts.
Losing lottery tickets used to create HUMMER H3
by Chris Shunk
With the rise in fuel prices in recent years, the HUMMER brand has been the poster child for gas-guzzling. For some, however, the rugged vehicles represent a dream come true. The husband-wife art duo of Lauren Was and Adam Eckstrom wanted to make their own H3, and they used $35,000 in worthless lottery tickets to get the job done. The couple's work of art is called "Ghost of a Dream," and the idea behind the name is that people often dream of buying a new car when they're scratching off their tickets.
The final H3 Lottery Edition looks incredibly true to life, and it includes windshield wipers, tires, tow hooks, and all its body panels made entirely out of lottery tickets. The rims are plastic molds lined with coins that represent the principal tool people use to scratch off the tickets. Even if the final work of art doesn't end up in a major gallery any time soon, at least someone has finally found a use for all those worthless lottery losers.
Ask the Car Doctor
Top Fuel Saving Tips:
We’re accustomed to our freedom, and part of that used to mean traveling with little concern about fuel prices. But with regular gas approaching $4 per gallon, those days of fossil fuel-burning gluttony are headed for the history books. As was the case three decades ago, drivers are forced to focus on methods to improve fuel efficiency, thereby saving money at the pump.
How we drive and care for our vehicles plays a big role in upping MPG. Call it conservation on wheels – or just smart motoring – but the payoff for adhering to the following simple tenets can be substantial.
This article is designed to give drivers a handful of ideas about reducing fuel costs, including maintaining proper tire pressure and keeping speeds down. They’re basic tips appropriate for anyone who drives, though there are numerous additional ways to avoid pricey trips to your local filling station. Besides adopting the recommendations listed on the following pages, consider carpooling, driving at off-peak times to avoid heavy traffic congestion, and planning errands to maximize fuel and time efficiency.
Use the Correct
Octane
Check your owner’s manual to find what octane level is required for your car’s engine. This information may also be displayed inside the fuel door or next to the fuel gauge on the dash. If there’s no call for the premium stuff, stick with good ol’ regular.
Octane relates to gasoline’s volatility factor in the combustion chamber, and has nothing to do with performance, so pouring premium into your base Corolla is money wasted. High-performance engines, on the other hand, need higher-octane fuel because the combustion chamber environment is much hotter than normal. Using premium fuel reduces pre-ignition, which can damage valves and pistons if allowed to go for long periods of time.
Properly Inflate
Tires
Keep your tires inflated to the proper levels. Under-inflated tires may deliver a softer ride, but they also make it harder for your car to move down the road, meaning your engine works harder and uses more fuel to maintain speed. In fact, a single tire under inflated by two pounds per-square-inch (PSI) increases fuel consumption by one percent. Furthermore, under-inflated tires are subject to premature wear and tread separation, while over-inflated tires can compromise handling, among other downsides. Make sure to check your owner’s manual or the decal in your car’s door jamb for correct inflation levels, and develop a habit of checking tire pressure every time you fill up the gas tank.
Maintain Your Ride
Clogged air and fuel filters, dirty oil, and low fluid levels can affect engine performance and fuel efficiency, as can worn out spark plugs in older or high-mileage cars. Change your vehicle’s engine oil and oil filter regularly and perform routine maintenance according to the schedule outlined in your owner’s manual, but beware of dealer service packages that are unnecessary and costly. For example, it may be beneficial to request that only services outlined in the owner’s manual be performed for your 15,000-mile or 30,000-mile service. By keeping your car in top mechanical shape, it will run better, last longer, and return better fuel economy.
Make sure that your automobile is up to date on its service schedule.
Click Here to schedule a service appointment at your nearest Mile One Service Center.
The Maryland Jockey Club.
The Maryland Jockey Club was the beginning of the state's passion for horse racing. Maryland used to host the Belmont Stakes before it was moved to New York, and still proudly hosts Preakness as part of the Triple Crown.
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