Christmas in November!
Holy Smokes, Volkswagen has opened a Thanksgiving Buffet of deals for the month of November. Three HUGE sale events are happening now.
“Sign then Drive” Event* is back! No “first payment due at signing”. Practically all we need is your signature. Volkswagen started this event many years ago. Its success rate has been so great that many other brands have attempted to copy. This is the easiest, fastest way to get into a new vehicle. Have leasing questions? Let us know. With our total transparent leasing process, we want no questions left unanswered. We’re glad to help but hurry, the event will expire and the best inventory will go first.
Tax Credits: Volkswagen Credit, Inc. (VCI) has announced tax credits on all lease contracts for all model lines. This could save you THOUSANDS! Just ask our employees, this is when they get their new cars! Without sales tax, a payment is considerably less.
No payments until next year! With 45 days to first payment, your first payment will not be due until 2022. Trade in your ride, skip that payment, have extra Christmas cash!
Hewlett Volkswagen just received a huge allocation of new vehicles making our selection better than we’ve seen in many months. Obviously with these three deals out there, the best will go first. We’re out to break records for the month of November and with these deals, the timing to get that new Volkswagen you’ve always wanted could not be better.
Come test drive your next vehicle today, we look forward to seeing you!
How To Buy a Car When There’s No Inventory!
As I mentioned in my previous newsletter, the microchip shortage is real and has caused shipments of new vehicles to dealers to come to a pedestrian crawl. We’re still getting deliveries but not nearly as many and obviously not fast enough.
While just about every auto maker is faced with this, the microchip shortage is just that, a shortage. The supply hasn’t completely dried up, chips are still getting made and installed into new vehicles but at a much slower rate than we’re all used to.
We’ve learned a few microchip production lessons along the way, but people ask all the time, “when is this going to end?” That question seems to have a different answer every time someone attempts to answer it. I too have my own opinion. Yes, Covid played a role in this. The original Covid outbreak (March of last year) more than likely started it. Chip factories did shut down and had somewhat of a stockpile of chips at the time, so they figured catching up would be no issue. That unfortunately hasn’t been the case. They’ve gone through their stockpile and a few manufacturers have had to shut down again due to other Covid outbreaks. The catching up part hasn’t caught up, so to speak.
VW did a really good job in the beginning at predicting this and pushed their microchips over to higher volume model lines so they could continue sales at a somewhat decent pace. That too has slowed down. At first, we’d sell 100 new Volkswagen’s in a month and VW would ship us about 100. Then the summer months arrived and we’d sell 110-120 or more but VW’s shipments went down from 100 to 60 to sometimes only 40 per month. Obviously, this created a lot of visible empty black top on our lots.
So, back to the title of this article: How to buy a car when there’s no inventory? Every auto manufacturer has some sort of “turn and earn” allocation system if you will. The faster you sell them, the faster they’ll send them. The cars (trucks/SUVs included) are still getting produced, albeit at a much lower rate, but they’re still coming. Being that the selection on the lot keeps shrinking, we have been forced to sell from the “incoming pipeline”.
If we do not have exactly what you’re looking for, chances are, one is incoming (or very similar) and will be here very soon. We take a $500 deposit and that gives you first right of refusal. Obviously, we won’t contract you until you take delivery but it’s a way to get a vehicle. If you change your mind or simply do not want it when it arrives, we give you your deposit back and sell it to someone else (usually the same day).
Like many other things in our lives these days, the auto industry is changing rapidly. While none of us can predict the future, what we can do is continue to offer the best sales and service experience possible.
Because some things out of our control may change, our commitment to exceeding your sales and service experience remains our top priority.
Stay safe,
John Chauvin, General Manager
Fall Car Care
By Samantha Gomez, Service Drive ManagerDid you know that October is the official Fall Car Care Month designated by the Car Care Council? Car Care months are designed to bring awareness and attention to the importance of regular car care and preventative maintenance.
In the fall, we can expect falling leaves and falling temperatures. Getting your vehicle ready for these conditions is important. Before you know it, cooler weather will be here. You know, sweater weather!
Here are some items that you should have checked and inspected as the hot Texas summer months can take a toll on our vehicles.
1) Check your fluids– Much like your body, your vehicle needs fluids to keep it running. Assuring your oil is topped off is important for internal engine lubrication and other components. Coolant mixture content and level is important to help keep your vehicle cool to avoid overheating concerns. Washer fluid is a must to keep your driving visibility clear.
2) Check your tires and pressures – As we work our way into the cooler temperatures, cold air can cause your tires to lose air. Colder air is denser, which makes your vehicle less aerodynamic; and lower tire pressures can increase your rolling resistance. This is one reason why it is important to have good tread on your tires.
3) Check your battery – Did you know that a battery in lower temperatures produces less current than in higher temperatures? That is why it’s important to assure your battery is in good health. The last position anyone would want to be in is stuck in the cold. At Hewlett VW, we will check your battery for you anytime at no cost.
4) Wipers – Wipers are most important and most forgotten. In a lot of cases wipers are replaced when they fall apart. But why wait till then? Damaged wipers can lead to visibility concerns and often result in a scratched windshield that must be replaced. At Hewlett Volkswagen, we will happily install new windshield wipers for you. At minimum, it Is best to replace your wiper blades once a year.
5) Brake system– Slippery weather is around the corner. Keep your brakes functioning by inspecting them for wear. Brake fluids should also be checked regularly for moisture content percentage. If moisture content is high this can contaminate the system. A contaminated brake system will impair a vehicles ability to stop and may cause corrosion to system components.
6) Lights – It’s important to check all exterior lights, brake lights, headlights, license plate lights, hazard lights, etc., at least once each year. As the days become shorter, you may find yourself depending more on your vehicle’s lighting system. It is important for you to be able to see and the people around you to be able to see you.
7) Pack a winter car care kit – Be better prepared for obstacles and/or emergencies. A winter car care kit should contain: a flashlight and extra batteries, roadside kit, umbrella, blanket, hat and gloves, water, multi-tool, first aid kit and ice scraper.
8) Schedule time for fall car care– It is always easy to talk about taking care of our vehicles but the most important thing is getting it done!
Feel free to take advantage of our Complimentary Pit Stop Service or Multi-point Inspection. We would be happy to check any of these items for you, anytime! No appointment necessary, no purchase required. We look forward to seeing you!
Safe travels.
What’s All the Buzz Surrounding the New ID.4?
“The ID.4 is super easy to charge at home or at the Round Rock Outlet Mall!” Hewlett VW customer.
“The Hewlett Sales team was really easy and fun to work with. I leased a new iD.4 and Paul, Amanda and Mike made it a breeze. Thank you everyone for making this the smoothest new vehicle decision ever. The financial advantages of leasing an electric Volkswagen are compelling. The staff here is very friendly and supportive. By leasing from VW Credit, I was able to get the $7,500 Federal Electric Vehicle Tax Credit applied immediately to my lease which reduced my payments, the Hewlett VW team arranged to eliminate vehicle sales taxes with a special lease, I won’t have to buy gas, and my electricity to power the iD.4 is free for 36 months at a nationwide network of chargers provided by Volkswagen. The iD.4 is easy to drive and operate, and so quiet, it is our perfect commuter vehicle. The IQ.DRIVE features have also made my commute easier and safer. No regrets here.”
Russell
Austin, Texas
“The Volkswagen ID 4 is better than a good car, it’s a great one and surely a sign of even better EVs to come from VW.”
Tim Stevens
Road / Show
“The VW ID.4 ticks all the boxes you want for a traditional compact crossover that just so happens to be electric.”
Jeff Perez
Motor1.com
The Road to the 2021 World Car Awards journey concluded today with the declaration of the VOLKSWAGEN ID.4 as the 2021 World Car of the Year as voted by our 93 distinguished international journalists from 28 countries that make up the World Car Awards jury panel. This year’s winner was chosen from an initial entry list of 24 vehicles from all over the world, then a short list of three finalists as announced on March 30, 2021. The Top Three finalists for 2021 are the Honda e, the Toyota Yaris and the Volkswagen ID.4.
Vehicles eligible for the World Car of the Year award must be produced in volumes of at least 10,000 units/year, must be priced below the luxury-car level in their primary markets, and must be “on-sale” in at least two major markets, on at least two separate continents, between May 1, 2020, and May 1, 2021.
Tell Me More, Tell Me More, About The New ID4
Volkswagen’s first – from the ground up – designed electric car for our market is a huge hit. It’s an SUV called ID.4 that seems bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. Its spaciousness welcomes small and large framed drivers alike. Volkswagen did it right. Rather than making the ID.4 look like a spaceship with tiny little tires or something out of a Sci-Fi movie, this vehicle looks like a regular car with inherently Volkswagen styling. I was pleasantly surprised by this car the first time I drove it. Oh, and it is super quiet, too. In fact, it is so quite Volkswagen gave it a voice! The ID.4 actually projects an electric car sound below 20 mph, when there is no noticeable road noise, so pedestrians can hear it coming.
For charging, imagine, if you will, filling your gasoline powered car up from your home and rarely or never having to visit a gas station unless you were taking a long trip. With the ID.4 your garage is your “gas station”. Installing a level II charger in your home is already commonplace and it can charge your car overnight, so you always leave home with a full “tank” (charge) if you want to. With a range of 250 miles or more, most people will find this is all the charge they ever need; so, day to day commuting and errands don’t require a visit to a charging station. If you do end up on a longer trip, Volkswagen partnered with Electrify America in building charging stations all over the country. In fact, Rainer Zietlow and Derek Collins recently embarked on an ID.4 cross country trip to visit over 600 VW dealers crisscrossing 48 states. To make things easy, the ID.4 takes a standard type1 (J1772) charging plug available at most all charging stations (Tesla charger plugs are different).
With fewer moving parts, less maintenance is required. Imagine no more oil changes! You will still need some maintenance items like tires and brakes from time to time like all cars do, but overall, you’ll spend less time taking care of your car and more time enjoying it.
Electric cars have some nice features like no carbon emissions and Volkswagen has added more to the ID.4 like the following driver focused features:
Keyless operation with no start stop button. All you do is get in the car with a key in your pocket or purse and put your foot on the brake to put ID.4 in gear and you’re off. Leaving the vehicle is as easy as putting it in park and getting out. The ID.4 is smart enough to turn itself off.
Free charging for three years at Electrify America stations all over the country.
Over the air software updates eliminating the need for a trip to the dealer for updates and enhancements or new features.
These are just some of the advantages of the ID.4 so there is no wonder the ID in ID.4 stands for Intelligent Design.
The ID.4 has only been available for a few months and there are already over a hundred running around the Austin area; so, come check them out. Maybe you will be as impressed as I am with our new electric car.
As always, happy motoring.
Tom Fornshell, Service & Parts Manager
LLumar® Window Tint
Let’s face it, Texas is hot. Window tint is not something we always think of during the fall or winter months but come summer – we’re all looking for ways to cool off. Sometimes when it’s 100 degrees outside, the inside of your vehicle can climb to 130 degrees.
Did you know that 74% of all non-invasive melanoma skin cancer cases are found on the left side of the driver’s body? (according to skincare.org).
Did you know that window tint can block 99% of UVA rays?
Did you know that we install LLumar® window tint at Hewlett Volkswagen?
LLumar offers the highest quality product along with:
o Style & privacy,
o More than 99% UV Protection
o No electronic signal interference
o Limited Lifetime Warranty (guaranteed not to turn purple or bubble)
o Heat rejection
Summer is here. If you did not get your windows tinted when you bought your vehicle, have no fear! It’s not too late.
Come by today and speak with a member of our VW Sales Team or call our Accessories Department for more information 512-681-3194.
With an appointment, we can get you in and out quickly. Let us install your window tint and help make you and your car, summer cool!
