We're Hiring!

Think you or somebody you know would be a good fit working for our family of businesses? There is no time like the present to start your career in the Automotive Industry!
 
Village Automotive Group is currently hiring! We currently have job openings at 4 different locations ranging from part-time work to full-time employment!
 
If you have great people skills, and a fondness for technology (with the ability to explain it), these are opportunities you will want to explore.
 
Sales Associate: Proven automotive sales performer who seeks opportunity for a rewarding career with the potential to be highly compensated.
 

Product Specialist: Responsible to understand and communicate to customers product availability; services and technology. Must be knowledgeable of the products/services offered with a strong focus on customer satisfaction and retention versus negotiation/price.

Village Automotive Group is an organization that rewards achievement, enthusiasm and team spirit. We offer each person superior opportunities for development and growth. Our philosophy is one of open communications between employees and management which we believe is conducive to a positive work environment.

 

For more information visit www.villageautomotivegroup.com and click on the careers tab.

Your Monday Maintenance Tip: Fall Car Care

Just as we all change our clocks to “fall back,” and check the batteries in our smoke detectors, Fall is a good time to ensure our vehicles will carry us safely and dependably through another winter.

Here are the main things that are good to check this time of year:

Oil – Are you on track with your vehicle’s recommended oil change schedule? The cooler weather conditions can mean longer running times for a car’s engine due to prolonged idling while waiting for the vehicle to ‘warm up.’ Let’s face it, who likes sitting in a cold car?

Coolant – does your engine cooling system need to be checked? Many newer cars have lifetime fluid systems, but if you’ve had to have any repairs done that required “breaking the seal” you should have your system checked periodically to be sure all is well.

Windshield Washers – do you have plenty of fresh washer fluid to handle the season’s heavier usage, and are your wiper blades up to the demands of daily use? This is something you can check for yourself if you wish.
To check the condition of your washer fluid, simply remove the cap from the washer fluid reservoir and look down into it. If the fluid is cloudy or has visible debris in it, you will want to change it out right away. If it is transparent and the proper color just fill to the recommended level with the manufacturer approved fluid.
To check your wiper blades, examine for visible dry rot, cracks, splits or potential tears. Change if needed.

Tires – do your tires have good tread depth, and are they free of signs of wear? The wet conditions this time of year require good tires for maximum traction on wet roads. Since many signs of wear aren’t easily visible on a car parked in a garage or driveway, we’d be happy to check your tires for you.

Shocks and Struts – in addition to good tires, healthy shocks and struts are needed to maximize traction neccessary for safe driving in our soggy season.

Brakes – do you know if your braking system is ready for the abundant Eugene sunshine? Does your car take a little longer to stop? Do you feel a slight pull to one side or a wobble in your seat or steering wheel when you brake suddenly? Do you hear any squeal or squeak when braking?
Sometimes the squeak is due to the accumulation of brake pad ‘dust.’ This is normal for many vehicles. Just hose out your wheels as thoroughly as you can. (It’s best to allow to dry before driving.) If that remedies the squeak, good. If not, or you have any questions about your braking system’s performance, just bring your vehicle in and we’ll be happy to check things out for you.

Battery – more batteries fail in cold weather than any other time of year. It takes more power to start a cold engine, and cold also decreases the available cranking power the battery has available. Batteries don’t always die slowly. They can fail without warning, too. One customer’s car started normally one morning, then five hours later, the battery was completely dead. No lights were left on, etc. The battery, still under warranty, simply died.

Seals, Hoses and Belts – these are things that are usually tough to check yourself. An obvious sign of failing seals, hoses or belts is a leak or a squeak (in the case of a worn belt), but not always. A broken seal, hose or belt usually means you are stuck wherever you are when it happens. So, to prevent being stranded on a wet road a seasonal inspection of your belts, hoses and seals can help make sure you make it through the winter problem-free.

Headlights – are they pointing straight ahead like the should, and are they as bright as they ought to be? Do you have any dimmed or burned out bulbs? Is there condensation inside the headlamp housing? These are all indicators that your headlamps could need a little work to perform at their peak. After all, you’ll be depending on them more during the wetter, darker days and nights ahead."

 

Courtesy of AbsoluteAuto.org

Our customers appreciate us as much as we appreciate them!

"Our car-buying experience with Lexus of Wayzata, and particularly with Jon Stusse, was a good one. Jon’s professionalism, calm demeanor and can-do approach made all of our interactions positive.
What may have made our experience somewhat out of the ordinary was the extended time period involved. From the time we met at the Minneapolis Auto Show in March, to ordering in April, and through delivery in August, Jon made it a point to keep us up to date on the status of Lexus’ production of 2013 RX models with the feature that is of great importance to us, the Blind Spot Monitor. By the way, it was worth waiting for.
We appreciate the way Jon kept in touch with us and his straightforward approach to the selling process. His detailed knowledge of the vehicle also helped us throughout the process and at delivery.
It was a pleasure dealing with Jon, and we look forward to an ongoing positive relationship with Lexus of Wayzata."

Employee Spotlight - Mike Gleason

This month the Lexus of Wayzata Pre-Owned Department is proud to highlight Mike Gleason our Pre-Owned Sales Associate this month.

Since Mike started at Lexus of Wayzata, he has worked in the Pre-Owned De

partment. We will be celebrating his 7 years of employment on November 1st, 2012. Mike has always respected the high level of customer service Lexus of Wayzata expects from all our employees and he believes that is the only way to do business.

I asked Mike to tell me his favorite part about his position and he commented, “I enjoy meeting customers, building relationships and developing friendships with each and every person. I try to always take the time to hear about their life story and share a cup of coffee with them anytime they visit me at the dealership.”

Mike has had a successful sales career in our Department because he understands how to market himself and work with other employees as a team. I am sure he learned these skills in his previous career where Mike worked for 31 years in the Music Industry. He was a Director of National Accounts and previously the Detroit Sales Manager for a music company that worked directly with artists to promote and sell their music to large retail stores. Mike started his career in the music industry early in life in Detroit where he grew up. He was 15 years old and was working for bands and artists to sell their music to local stores.

Currently, Mike has lived in Minnesota for 22 years and has been married for 37 years to his wife Rebecca. They currently have three children and three grandchildren, with a new grandchild on the way this February.

Mike and his wife are extremely proud of their kids. Their oldest son Michael is a registered nurse and works in hematology/oncology at the University of Minnesota Fairview Hospital. Michael is married with a daughter and another one on the way.

Mike’s youngest son Nicholas graduated from St. Cloud State University and now works for Farmers Insurance. He is married with two sons.

Their daughter Michelle is currently completing a fellowship at the University of Minnesota in Cancer Research and is working on a Masters Degree in Clinical Research. Mike and Rebecca had one of their proudest parent moments when Michelle received her PhD in microbiology, immunology and cancer biology about 2 weeks ago. She has focused her research efforts on cancer in hopes to find a cure after her Uncle recently passed away from Cancer.

Mike spends as much time as possible outside of work with his family. He also enjoys exercising everyday and leading a healthy lifestyle. If you don’t catch Mike working out, you might find him riding his Harley on the Minnesota roads.

We have enjoyed having Mike in our Pre-Owned Department and look forward to all the new customers he will introduce to Lexus of Wayzata.

More Details on the Lexus LF-CC Coupe Concept

Motor Trend had an opportunity to talk with the Lexus Design group manager Takeshi Tanabe about the new LF-CC concept that debuted yesterday, and it’s definitely worth reading — here a couple quotes:

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Unlike other Lexus hybrids, the body design doesn’t aim to make explicit the hybrid powertrain or fuel-economy potential. “We used to show the cars were hybrid, but now this is more emotional and sporty,” says Lexus Design group manager Takeshi Tanabe. The long nose will also house gasoline engines, which at present consist of a version of the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four (IS 250), 3.5-liter V-6 (IS 350), and the 5.0-liter V-8 in the IS F in the U.S. This would be the first IS hybrid.

Tanabe explains, “In the past, Lexus was about reliability, quality, comfort, and silence. We still have that, but we are adding emotion through the design to attract younger buyers. From now, from the new GS and this CC Concept, we’re adding excitement.”

“Maybe some will like this car; maybe some won’t,” says Tanabe. “I don’t want to say we’ll offend people who don’t like it, but I do want to be distinctive.”

 

Courtesy of Lexus Enthusiast

 

 

Lexus of Wayzata Gives Back

Since 2009 when Lexus of Wayzata teamed up with the Three Rivers Park District Forests Forever program, we have planted over 564 trees in the Carver Park Reserve.

Your tree will last generations, provide beauty, help clean the air and restore wildlife habitat.

We appreciate your eco-friendly awareness that allows us to give back to the environment.

 

Your Monday Maintenance Tip: Car Starter Problems

A car's starter is one of its more important engine components. It is a small electric motor that engages the engine when the driver turns the key. Once the engine begins to run, the starter disengages. A bad starter is just one possible reason an engine won't start, but there are symptoms that can help pinpoint a problem with a starter.

Clicking

• One of the most common symptoms of a bad starter is a clicking noise when turning the key to the "on" position. The clicking comes from under the hood and should be clearly audible since the engine won't even begin to turn over. If the engine does begin to turn over but never starts or if there are multiple clicks until the driver releases the key, the starter is actually functioning and the problem is elsewhere.

Headlights

• Headlights that are dim before trying to start the engine indicate a bad battery and the starter might be fine. However, when the lights shine at full brightness but become very dim when the driver turns the ignition key, the starter is almost certainly the problem. In this situation, the alternator is sending electricity to the starter, reducing that available for the lights. Even with the boost, the starter is unable to start the engine.

Smoke

• Smoke coming from under the hood can also indicate a faulty starter. This can occur when the starter motor burns out. If possible, open the hood and try to pinpoint the source. It may be possible to see smoke coming from the starter, which is in a metal cylinder mounted on the engine. Even once smoke clears, the starter may have a burnt smell.

Heat

• A faulty starter can cause battery terminals or wires to heat up. Like the dim headlight symptom, this comes from the alternator trying to send extra electricity to the starter. Always exercise care when handling battery terminals. If they cool down after the driver releases the key, the likelihood of a starter problem increases.

Courtesy of eHow.com