Greetings,
First of all, we
would like to extend a warm thanks
to everyone who voted for us in ACE Weekly's recent "The Real Best of Lexington"
Poll.
Lowell's was once again voted "Best Mechanic". As in the past,
we will strive to live up to the name.
Fall is here! Before you know it, our trees will begin turning bright patches of red, yellow,
and orange. With the year's end drawing nearer,
we want to take a moment to say "thank you" to all of our friends who have been in to see us
this year. With cooler days upon us and inclement weather not too far
behind. we want to extend an invitation to you to visit us again
soon. We'll check over your Toyota or Lexus and advise you of any
repairs that need to be made before winter. If you'd like to make an
appointment online, just click here.
We'd also love to get your
comments, so feel free to send us feedback. 
Lowell
In this issue:
Got a Small Dent or Ding on Your Toyota?
Get Out of Town!
Regular vs. Premium Gas
Top Shop Owners Visit the Bluegrass
Yes, We Do Automatic Transmission Work
Do You Have a Question?
Advertisements & Self-Promotion
Got
a Small Dent or Ding on Your Toyota?
In
recent years, paintless dent removal, often referred to as PDR, has become a
popular alternative to traditional sanding and painting when repairing dents and
dings. Many car dealers, rental
agencies, and insurance companies are jumping on the PDR bandwagon.
A
skilled technician, using PDR techniques and the proper tools, can often leave a
car’s original paint in place, leaving behind no visible signs of repair.
Yet, this time- and money-saving process is still relatively unknown to
most consumers.
Working
from behind the dent, PDR technicians use specialized tools to work the metal
back into its original shape. The
dent becomes progressively smaller as the technician works from the outside
edge. Eventually the dent
becomes small enough to blend in with the texture of the paint and disappears
completely. As long as the original
paint was not damaged on impact, these techniques allow even football-sized dents to be
repaired without a trace.
Depending
on the location of the damage, the work area is accessed by removing trim pieces
or panels, or through window openings. Most
repairs can be completed in one to two hours, and many PDR companies offer
mobile service to save even more time. Then
end result for you, the consumer, is a better repair that costs less and takes
less time to complete!
If
you need minor dents or dings repaired, check with a reputable body shop to see
if they offer paintless dent repair.
Get
Out of Town!
by Clay Drysdale
With fall upon us, now is
the perfect time to take the often-talked-about Sunday afternoon drive.
If you hop in the car to go, do yourself a favor and make sure you head out into the
countryside. We don’t live
anywhere near New England, doted on for its seasonal scenery, but the hills and
valleys of the Bluegrass have a wonderful beauty all their own.
A job I had years ago
afforded me the opportunity to travel many of the back roads of the counties
surrounding Lexington. Take a nice leisurely drive through rural Bourbon County or
Woodford County (or any county in the area) and the fall foliage in its
peak is truly a sight to behold. Why
not take a picnic lunch and make an afternoon of it? Be sure to take along a sweater or jacket and a light blanket
in case you decide to extend your outing until after sunset.
Evenings this time of year can get a little cool, but then again,
that’s what makes them so special. Without
summer’s humidity and insects, pleasant fall evenings are abundant in the
Bluegrass. 
Instead of a picnic,
perhaps you’d like to
dine indoors. Then make a
reservation for lunch at The Glitz in Nonesuch in southern Woodford
County. You'll be treated to a fabulous meal, as well as a beautiful,
relaxing drive down. If you haven’t
experienced this out-of-the-way eatery and antiques gallery, you’ll be in for a
pleasant
surprise.
If you’d like to
venture a little further, I’ve always been told that the fall foliage in Red
River Gorge is beautiful, though I haven’t had the opportunity to see for
myself. A visit to the Gorge would
make a nice day trip. Who knows…
you may even want to pack a tent and some essentials and stay overnight at one
of the campgrounds in the Daniel Boone National Forest.
We’re fortunate to live in an area abounding with natural beauty, especially as the seasons change. Get outside the city and take advantage of it. But don’t forget to check the weather forecast first. Nothing will ruin a beautiful outing in the country quicker than unexpected rain!
Regular
vs. Premium Gas
What About "Premium" Cars?
Over the years Clark Howard, the frugal economist, has repeatedly tried to convince people not to throw away money on premium gasoline when they really don’t need to. Many people have been convinced by the propaganda of the oil companies, who say that even if your car calls for regular unleaded you’re treating your car better if you use premium. Howard was stunned recently when he read that almost no one driving today needs premium gas. According to a USA Today story, cars that call for premium gas in the owner’s manual do not even need to use premium gas. It’s all a marketing ploy, yet one in eight people are still doing it. Only three to five percent of cars call for premium gas, but the reality is that only a few cars out there need it. People will continue to buy because they like the elitist idea. But even a Porsche does not need premium gas. Their engineers admitted in the story that their cars must be able to drive anywhere in the world, so they have to be able to run on regular unleaded gas. So, unless you’ve got an exorbitantly-priced car with a super turbo engine, stick to regular gas.
Top
Shop Owners Visit the Bluegrass
by Lowell Nigoff
Earlier this month Betty and I were the proud
co-hosts of the Lexington meeting of “Automotive Service Leaders”.
This “by invitation only” group represents some of the top
independent garages across the United States.
Betty and I have been members of this group since 1997.
The group meets three
times a year at various locations across the country, attending all-day seminars
focusing on the different aspects of shop ownership and management.
The meeting facilitator, Gary Gunn, is a real taskmaster who conducts two
days of meetings from 7:00 am until after 4:00 pm.
Breakfast and lunch are eaten during programmed discussions.
At night we go to dinner at local restaurants where (you guessed it!) we
discuss our individual shops and how to run them more efficiently.
One of the highlights of
our meetings has always been the shop tour.
Participants break into three groups to tour the local member’s shop,
with each group focusing on facilities, personnel, or procedures.
After the tour we return to the meeting room to roast (review) the owner
with our findings.
The group toured Lowell’s in 1999. Thinking back to my experience being roasted, it was difficult to sit for an hour and a half while the others told me everything that I was doing wrong! Ultimately, however, it led to a better shop for our customers and employees, as well as for Betty and me.
Why
yes... we do
do automatic transmission work!
Many of our customers aren't aware of all the types of work that we are able to perform on your Toyota. Tom Forzano, one of our trusted technicians for almost 10 years, has asked that we inform our customers that he is trained in transmission repair, one of his specialties. He has rebuilt many Toyota transmissions over the years, and is always eager for a challenge. So, don't forget to call or email us if you (unfortunately) happen to have transmission troubles.
Do
you have a question about car maintenance that you want answered
We love to hear from all our good friends and customers
who enjoy reading "Lowell’s Toyota Times".
If you have a question about anything related to your Toyota or Lexus,
feel free to give us a call at (859) 233-1173, or drop us a line at lowells@iglou.com.
Awards &
Honors
Better Business Bureau Integrity Award in 1991.
Voted "Best in the Bluegrass" in ACE magazine poll in 1997, 1999, 2001,
2002, and 2003.
Featured on a television special for employing women in a traditionally male
environment.
Featured on Hometown Heroes for work done in the community.
Be sure to check out our "MONTHLY SPECIAL" at www.chooselowells.com.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
"Lowell's Toyota Times" is published by Lowell's Bluegrass
Automotive. Opening in 1979, Lowell's is the the only independent repair
shop in the Bluegrass specializing in the maintenance and repair of Toyota and
Lexus vehicles.
To have your name removed from our mailing list, send us an email by clicking here. Just type "remove" in the subject line.
