We just had our last Presidents Day sale at our used car center on Union Ave. Well, technically we were working out of the construction trailer we’ve been in for the past three months, but we were on the same lot, anyway. It is surprising how quickly the time went by in our construction trailer. It seems we just moved in, and now this coming weekend we’ll be packing up again and moving to the Bisson Ave showroom. Next weekend, Irwin Hyundai will be moving to our current used car center location, and the used car department will be relocating to 59 Bisson Ave in Laconia, the site of our current Irwin Toyota and Irwin Ford new car showrooms. Between the new Hyundai franshise, the renovated Irwin Hyundai building, and the move to 59 Bisson Ave, there are many changes happening at the Irwin Zone. But the important things will stay the same, like our commitment to our customers, and to an honest and transparent sales process. We will continue to stand behind Irwin’s Worry Free Guarantee, and our mission statement,“To strive for the highest possible customer satisfaction while displaying, selling, leasing, and servicing all of our new and used lines.”

CNN Money reported yesterday that a new car is now more affordable than it has ever been. The report is based on findings from the Dallas-based bank, Comerica. Comerica has an index that expresses the cost of the average new vehicle in terms of the number of weeks’ pay for the median American worker. Currently, the average new car costs 23.1 weeks worth of median American wages. During the booming economy of the late 1990s, the average new car cost as much as 30 weeks’ pay. Even though the avergae sticker price has risen over the past 10-15 years due to inflation, the cost of a new vehicle as a percentage of household income has actually decreased 23%. The more affordable price of new vehicles combined with historically low interest rates and special factory financing make this the best time to buy a new car.

Toyota announced that it anticipates sales of 220,00 Prius models in 2012. The Prius family of vehicles is growing again this year, with a total of 4 Prii available by the end of the year. The 3rd generation Prius and Prius v wagon are already on the road, and 2012 will see the release of the Prius c and then Prius Plug-In. The Prius v (“v” is for “versatile”) wagon was released late in 2011, and offered substantially more interior space than the 3rd generation Prius. The Prius v wagon provides 34.3 cubic feet of trunk space, a 59% increase over the 21.6 cubic feet available in the current 3rd generation Prius. The Prius v also provides slightly more passenger room (97.2 cubic feet versus 93.7 cubic feet). All told, the Prius v is a much more spacious ride than the 3rd generation Prius  and is still rated at up to 44 mpg. The Prius v has nearly as much cargo space as a RAV4 and gets better fuel economy than a Yaris, making it a truly versatile wagon.

The Prius c (“c” for “city”) will be released this year, and is designed for younger drivers in urban environments. The Prius c is smaller and lighter than even the 3rd generation Prius, making it easier to park on crowded streets, and helping it achieve 53 mpg in city driving. The Prius c was designed with Millennials in mind, and as such it is available at a lower price point than the 3rd generation Prius, while at the same time offering more technological options. Toyota Division Group VP and GM Bob Carter commented that he expects the Prius c to sell between 30,000 and 40,000 units in 2012, or 14-18% of all projected Prius sales this year.

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid is one of the most eagerly-awaited models to be released in 2012. The Plug-In is sort of like the 3rd generation Prius on steroids. It will feature an enhanced lithium ion battery that will allow the Plug-In to drive up to 17 miles in electric-only mode before the small, gasoline-powered hybrid engine kicks in. The Plug-In, as its name implies, can be plugged into a normal household power outlet to recharge the battery. The appeal of the Priug Plug-In is that a driver could commute to and from work without burning a single drop of gasoline, and then on the weekend hit the open road and get 50 mpg. The Prius Plug-In bridges the gap between an electric car and a gasoline powered car, and provides the best of both worlds. It allows around-town commuters to ability to run a car emissions free for pennies as with an electric car, but it eliminates the biggest shortcoming of electric vehicles, which is that they can only travel about 100 miles before having to be recharged.

Look for the 3rd generation Prius, Prius v, Prius c, and Prius Plug-In at your NH Toyota Dealer.

Toyota recently announced its plans to invest $400 million in its Princeton, Indiana plant. The new investment will create 400 jobs, and will allow the popular Highlander Hybrid model to be produced in the US. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a popular model because it delivers a potent mix of fuel economy and power. At 28 mpg combined, the Highlander Hybrid gets nearly 50% better fuel economy than the conventional Highlander while at the same time delivering better performance and acceleration! Come to your local NH Toyota dealer to learn more about the 2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid.

For those of you who have not heard about Entune, it is Toyota’s new voice-activated media system that is available on models such as the redesigned 2012 Camry and the Prius V wagon. Entune combines a large, colorful touch-screen with voice-activation to give you the best of both worlds. Stream over 750 radio stations from around the country with the free iheartradio app while making restaurant reservations through OpenTable. Buy movie tickets with the push of a button with the MovieTickets app. In keeping with Toyota’s commitment to safety, Entune will read will read income text messages to you, allowing you to keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. Entune even lets you dictate a response! Stop by Irwin Toyota today and ask one of our sales consultants for more information about Entune!

One of the first questions a car shopper asks is, “how much does this car cost?” Although there are a variety of sources available to consumers to answer this question such as sticker price, Kelley Blue Book, Black Book, etc. these sources ignore an important aspect of cost, which is the cost associated with car maintenance and ownership. A well-built car such as a Toyota may cost a little bit more up front, but can save literally thousands of dollars over time. To help you decided which cars are truly low overall cost (not just low sticker price), IntelliChoice.com has compiled a list of the 2012 Best Overall Value of the Year vehicles. As in previous years, Toyota models were at the top of the list thanks to their reliable performance and low maintenance costs. 9 Toyota vehicles won first place in their respective classes: Matrix, Tacoma, Highlander, Tundra, Prius, Prius v, Sienna, Yaris and FJ Cruiser. So no matter what type of vehicle you are considering, Toyota has built some of the most reliable rides on the road, ranging from hatchbacks to pick-ups, to minivans. Call you local NH Toyota dealer to learn more today!

Our service department deserves a big round of applause for being ranked #16 our of all Ford dealers in the entire country for tire sales! People have been coming in droves to have their tires replaced by our factory-trained Ford certified technicians at our Irwin Ford service department. Irwin Ford has made it easier than ever to schedule car service appointments with our online scheduling system right on our webpage. And if you don’t want to schedule an appointment, just stop by our Irwin Quick Lane express service center, no appointment necessary! Irwin Quick Lane is managed by Billy Salta, formerly of Salta Tire. Billy brings years of experience and excellent service to the table and will work hard to win your business! More and more people are finding out about our award-winning service team thanks to our price guarantee on all tires. If you are looking for new tires for your vehicle, call the service team at Irwin Ford and inquire about our price guarantee on tires.

I got my first look at the much-anticipated Scion iQ today when it came to our new car showroom in Laconia, NH. Irwin Scion was an exciting place this morning as our award-winning sales team got to test drive the Scion iQ. What is most impressive about the Scion iQ is that it is actually a 4-seater (the world’s smallest!). And sure enough, we tested it out, as you can see below. The Scion iQ has a turning radius of 12.9 feet, which is nothing short of amazing; it can turn around two king-size mattresses side-by-side!

With a length of 120.1 inches (10 feet) and a width of 66.1 inches (5 feet 6 inches), this nimble ultra-compact vehicle is designed with the city in mind. Its maneuverability and small size make it the ideal car for city driving, and its excellent fuel economy will be sure to save you some money as fuel prices continue to climb.  

The Scion iQ gets its fuel economy from a 1.3-liter, 4-cylinder engine which produces 94 horsepower and 89 lb-ft of torque. The fuel economy is improved with a continuously-variable transmission (CVT), which provides an infinite number of forward gear rations, ensuring the highest possible fuel economy.

Due to improved A-pillar positioning, the Scion iQ has large side windows which provide excellent visibility, and contribute to an interior feel which is surprisingly spacious and roomy for an ultra-compact car. Another pleasant surprise inside the iQ is the use of premium materials for the interior trim, providing a refined finish that outclasses other vehicles with a similar sticker price.

Did you know that the Scion iQ comes standard with 11 airbags? Seriously, 11! Drive with confidence knowing that this Scion was built for safety and style! And to sweeten the deal, when you buy a Scion iQ new from a Scion dealer, it comes with a free maintenance plan for the first 2 years or 25,000 miles, and 3 years of roadside assistance.

The rear lift-gate and 50/50 split folding rear seats give you plenty of options for how to load friends and cargo alike into this sporty hatchback.

If you want to learn more about the Scion iQ, call Irwin Scion today to speak with one of our new car sales consultants.